MR. FREDERICK PETRE SELLS THE HOUNDS AGAIN 449 



Many broken limbs and ribs were the result ; my escape was 

 a narrow one, for the man who stood immediately behind me, 



Mr. Griffiths, of C — • , with his hands on my shoulders, 



was nearly killed and is crippled for life. 



From Notes, 1866-1867. 



Another wet, heavy and boisterous season throughout. 

 Two severe frosts in January stopped hunting for three weeks. 

 March, with deep and continuous snow and frost, was like a 

 second January. December was open but very wet and 

 stormy. February was a beautiful hunting month. In April 

 to the end the land was as heavy as in mid-winter. Our 

 steeplechase course, as late as /\pril 25th, though drier on 

 surface, was even more sticky and holding than last year, 

 making examples of most of the horses and giving more falls 

 than on any previous occasion. 



Foxhounds in Essex did not have so good a season as last 

 year. In Loftus Arkwright's case it was chiefly the fault of 

 the Huntsman, Tom Wilson, who with the first whip, " Fat 

 Jim," is leaving at the end of the season. Scratton's Hunts- 

 man, Harry Rees, is good, quick and persevering, but his 

 country is very sticky and dirty in such a season as this has been. 



Harriers. Except two days with deer, saw no sport with 

 them. 



Staghounds. The deer ran well and strong, and the 

 country being deep and holding, our horses had enough to do 

 to hold their own. Our Master, Frederick Petre, hunted them, 

 and consequently we had longer and more dragging runs than 

 last season. We hunted on Friday, April 12th, and to the 

 surprise of all the subscribers, the hounds were sold on the 

 following Monday and went out of the country, before our 

 Master had vouchsafed a decided reply to the enquiry whether 

 he would or not continue them for another season, and without 

 giving us the chance of buying them. 



From Notes, 1867- 1868. 



Weather. November and February, ordinarily two of the 

 wettest months, were the driest on record. December 

 alternated between frosts and slow dry thaws. January, for 

 the first half, was continuous frost and snow, and for the latter 

 half was very wet and stormy, giving me four soakings. 

 March was mild and moist, therefore it was not a good season 

 for hunting. 



Foxhounds. Arkwrieht havinor a new Huntsman and first 

 whip in Stephen Dobson and Dick Christian — both bemg great 



29 VOT . II 



