20 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



1880. — The meet on Saturday, December i8th, was at Thornwood Gate, 

 and I was glad to see present most of the members of the hunt who were at 

 the same fixture last year, among them being our popular master, Sir H. 

 Selwin-Ibbetson, riding "Fritz"; our secretary, Mr. Hervey Foster ; Lieut. - 

 Col. Howard, Mr. R, Wood, on " Ireland," and Miss Wood, Major and Mrs. 

 Tait, Mr. G. Dawson, Messrs. F. and C. Green, Mr. Todhunter, Mr. A. 

 Capel Cure, &c. ; the farmers being ably represented by Mr. George Hart, 

 Mr. Sworder, Mr. W. Symes, and Mr. Geo. Brown. The day was cer- 

 tainly propitious for fox hunting — cloudy, with temperature not too high. 

 No fox at home in Maries and Orange Wood, and with a certain amount of 

 disappointment we followed the hounds as they proceeded to a covert near 

 Copped Hall, which borders on the forest, and towards which the foxes in 

 that neighbourhood generally make. Bailey had hardly entered this covert 

 before he viewed a fox away, and in almost less time than it takes to write 

 it, he had his hounds out of covert, and on the line of what proved to be a 

 rare good fox. Disdaining the forest, he set his mask for the open, and a 

 very handy bridle road only just enabled the field, by galloping their 

 hardest, to keep near the now flying pack. It was a pretty sight, after 

 going about half a mile, to see hounds crash full cry through the fence of a 

 narrow belt of trees and race up the opposing hill, a grass field, then a 

 ploughed one ; and here I cannot do better than describe this part of the 

 run verbatim, as I had it from a rustic who enjoyed the unwonted sight. 

 " He was a foine fox, sir, and I seed him well as he came toilin' across the 

 plough, which balled on his feet, so that he could hardly get along, and he 

 was scarce twenty yards in front of four hounds who wer' leadin' the others 

 when he gained the fence. If he ha' had another fifty yards to go on the 

 plough they must ha' had him, as they were pullin' up to him every yard, 

 but soon's 'e got on the grass, away he went." At this point Mr. G. 

 Hart, Mr. G. Dawson, and the huntsman leading, entered the field with 

 the hounds, and galloped down to an unjumpable brook. Mr. Hervey 

 Foster, on a very clever horse, slid down a bank, a good six-foot almost 

 perpendicular drop, and, with a scramble, got safely up the other side, and 

 was well rewarded, for hounds never faltered, but raced away towards 

 Orange Wood. Mr. R. W^ood and his sister and a stranger got over the 

 brook all right, and they and Mr. Hervey Foster had it all to themselves 

 for the remainder of the run up to Nasing Common ; time, seventeen 

 minutes from the find. The remainder of the field were pent up in a corner 

 until someone found an accessible place, which, safely over, they galloped 

 and jumped in the wake of the hounds in a vain effort to catch them ; but it 

 was no go, the pace was too hot, and unless they got over the brook with 

 the hounds they were out of it. Most of the field came up at Nasing 

 Common, and followd Bailey in a long cast which he made, a successful one 

 too, as far as finding the fox went, for up he jumped, dead beat, in the 

 middle of a field ; but, being close to a large wood. Galley Hill, which was 

 no doubt his home, he managed to save his brush. Parndon Woods were 

 next drawn ; but the rain, which had now begun to come down in drenching 

 showers, quite destroyed all traces of scent. 



Wednesday, December 22nd, 1880: the meet was at Down Hall, and, in 

 spite of a pouring rain, a great many availed themselves of the hospitality of 

 Sir H. Selwin Ibbetson, and did justice to a very good breakfast which had 

 been provided for them. The rain, which commenced at 7 a.m., went on 

 all day, with scarcely a check, and I expect very few had a dry garment on 

 by the time they reached home. The chief sport of the day was afforded 

 by two foxes who had taken refuge in a high tree covered with ivy, when 

 the hounds were thrown into the Down Hall coverts. A yokel, a long 



