446 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



side. The only two who charged it were the Hon. Henry 

 Petre and myself, at the same moment and about thirty yards 

 abreast. He got over, but only just and with difficulty, and 

 told me that the effort took away his breath. " Tip." jumped 

 splendidly in the widest place and with room to spare. I did 

 not know the place nor had I seen it before, but I recollected a 

 tradition that it was a wide un, so I put a little extra steam on, 

 afterwards Edward Ind told me that he had also jumped it in a 

 much narrower place and his horse swerving he nearly got in. 

 He knew the place well, but seeing Henry Petre and myself 

 get over at a wide part he thought he might safely try at a 

 narrower. 



The hounds raced this fox for twenty minutes, giving myself, 

 Henry Petre and Edward Ind very hard work, for he ran a 

 circuit and every turn was away from us and the ploughed land 

 too deep to make it advisable to cross it, except with the aid of 

 a water furrow, which was not always to be found just when 

 wanted and going in the right direction. We ran round by 

 Pitsea Station and Vange Creek, where we had to give it up 

 and trotted home in excellent spirits with the good day's sport. 

 Very few, indeed, saw anything of the second run, for of those 

 who stayed many gave up the attempt after a field or two, their 

 horses being unable to go the pace, even with the advantage of 

 a rino-. 



The Essex Union and South Essex countries are united 

 under the Mastership of Mr. D. Scratton, who hunts four days 

 a week, and with a splendid pack of hounds and such a first- 

 rate Huntsman as Charles Shepherd and a capital whip like 

 Joe Bailey, promises to have a good season and show all the 

 sport which such a country is capable of affording. I have 

 taken one of his foxhound puppies to walk. 



(At end of summary of season 1862- 1863 the following- 

 notes) : — 



N.B. — Singularly mild open season with scarcely a touch of 

 frost, and that in November. Arkwright had a very good 

 season, Scratton but a poor one, C. Shepherd having left, and 

 it being Nimrod Long's first season. 



The staghounds were most refreshing after having been 

 without them for one season. Horses (all mine) went well and 

 without accident, "Woodpecker " (the youngest) showing great 

 promise. " The Baroness " won her and my first steeplechase 

 at Childersditch on April 9th, against a field of ten horses, in 

 the Hunters' Stakes. In this race one horse was killed and 

 two riders (huntsman and whip) injured. 



