l6 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIxVRY 



and the stile out of the Bury Road giving quite a zest to the performance. '-'■ 

 But let me hark forward. It was a very sporting looking field that met at 

 Roxwell, composed of members of various hunts; one or two well-known 

 performers with the Stag Hounds being there. The first covert (the Osiers) 

 was drawn blank ; the second (College Wood) held a fox ; though, unfortu- 

 nately, not a straight-necked one as he ran a ring for thirty-five minutes. 

 One thing rather struck me during this run, when the hounds were crossing 

 a ploughed field partially covered with snow, it was very hard to distinguish 

 them, their colour and that of the ground being so similar. The going was 

 remarkably heavy, the snow balling freely in horses' feet. The prospect of 

 a sure find at Screens somewhat compensated for Boyton Hall Springs 

 beino- drawn blank. On the way there, those who missed the road by the 

 fields derived some amusement from the task of extricating themselves out 

 of a boggy lane. It was almost dark before we were galloping as hard 

 as we could through the spongy and snow-clad rides of Screens to a ringing 

 view holloa. The hounds ran at a ratthng pace to Berners Wood, a short 

 but merry burst, in which Mr. Tabor and Mr. H. R. Bagot both took 

 advantage of a good start and kept it. As we rode homewards it was 

 freezing hard. Very few people anticipated that we could have such a 

 severe frost after last year's experience, but the uncertainty of our winters 

 still affords a topic of conversation for o'l toaaoi. 



In a good run of one hour and thirty-five minutes from Lord's on 

 February loth, Mr. F. Green riding his horse " Hardware" injured him so 

 badly in two falls that he had to be killed. On the last day of the same 

 month, at a High Ongar Meet, Mr. Roland Bevan made his dchiit with the 

 Essex Hounds, and he has doubtless not forgotten the Thaxsted Meet on 

 March 24th, when after running for two hours and ten minutes, they lost at 

 Linton, in Cambridgeshire. Mr. F. Green did not reach home before 

 12 at night. 



If I have not written any account of these hounds during the last 

 few weeks, it is not from lack of sport to write about, for they have 

 killed a good many foxes lately, all of which have taken a good deal of 

 killing, and have consequently aflforded capital sport. It is simply due to 

 laziness on my part, and nothing else. One thing struck me forcibly 

 the last time I was out with the hounds : — that, though towards the close of 

 the season, foxes, from one excuse or another, are more hard to find, yet 

 the number of sportsmen who assemble to see them found by no means 

 diminishes, but rather increases. Is it because fences are more easily 

 defined, and gaps through them more numerous, or because, the days 

 getting longer, there is less danger of being lost after a hard day ? 



Certainly the truth of my statement was borne out by last Saturday's 

 (March 13th) meet, which took place at the Green Man at Harlow, at 

 half-past-eleven, after a meeting of those interested in the hunting of the 

 country. Apropos, I think it must be a matter of congratulation to one and 

 all of the members of the Essex Hunt, that at this meeting Sir Henry 

 Selwin-Ibbetson undertook, with a certain guaranteed subscription, to take 

 the entire management of the hvmt. I believe he had previously bought 

 the hounds from Mr. Arkwright. I am sure none of us could wish for a 

 better master, and we can forecast the prospects of sport next season with 

 every feeling of satisfaction. 



Though no brilliant run took place on Saturday, it was a day of enjoy- 

 ment to most, for who could help enjoying themselves on such a glorious 

 day, the sun's rays, though powerful, being tempered by a gentle breeze 



* Mr. Ba^ot was one. 



