450 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



improvements on their predecessors, the former coming from 

 Lord FitzwilHam's country and the latter being grandson, and 

 a not unworthy representative of his renowned namesake — had 

 a very fair season's sport, above the average. But by neglect 

 and mismanagement he allowed all my foxes in Thoby Wood 

 to be trapped and slaughtered by Mills, of Swallows Cross, 

 of fox-destroying notoriety. 



A hunt dinner was given to Loftus Arkwright on March 

 24th. Scratton had but a poor season, and his temper, never 

 very good, was certainly not improved on the very last day of 

 the season, when his supporters had subscribed most liberally, 

 and had added ^200 to abolish " capping." * He stopped the 

 hounds and sent them home without any adequate reason, to 

 the disgust and annoyance of a large field, including several ladies. 



Harriers. Tom Bridge's is a very fine pack, and mosdy 

 have good sport, though their quaint old Master likes to keep 

 them to himself as much as possible. 



Frederick Petre's is a new and mixed lot and will doubtless 

 be improved, unless, indeed, he gives them up, in consequence 

 of his wife's decease. 



Staghounds. My exertions, aided by the kind and efficient 

 support of Lord Petre, were successful in re-establishing the 

 staghounds, Mr. Henry Petre consented to take the Master- 

 ship on a guarantee from myself and my friends, and arranged 

 with F'rancis Barker for meeting the hounds and keeping both 

 hounds and deer, and Lord Petre built kennels at "Westlands," 

 consequently I had the advantage of having them in my own 

 parish. Arthur Heathcote, to whom our old pack had been 

 sold, let us have back some six or eight couples on my 

 representation, and other hounds were purchased. 



Considering the weather, and that the hounds were strange 

 to each other and to their business, and all the establishment 

 new, they had a good season, with very fair sport. The runs, 

 perhaps, were mostly too long, but that is unavoidable when 

 scent is deficient, and the deer mostly ran out of the good 

 country and into the cramped parts about Chelmsford, Ongar 

 and Epping. But our Huntsman was persevering, up to his 

 work, and knew every inch of the country, and our Master was 

 courteous and conciliatory, enjoying the sport and going like a 

 workman. The fixtures were more widely distributed than of 

 yore, and the hounds were more popular than ever, better 

 supported and every one pleased and satisfied. 



* This is interesting in view of the tendency of the present day, 1900, for some Hunts to 

 introduce capping as a means of increasing the Poultry Fund and diminishing the size of the 

 fields. — Ed. 



