LOUGIITON SIIAWS '^'] 



a gloom has been cast on the proceedings of tlie last few weeks by the loss 

 of a true friend to this hunt in Mr. Perry Watlington, who Avas universally 

 esteemed. A very large field had mustered to meet the hounds at Brook 

 House on Saturday, March 25, 18S2, among whom I noticed the following: — 

 Sir H. Sehvin-Ibbetson on " Stockbridge," Sir Charles Smith, Mr. Hervey 

 Foster, Major and Mrs. Tait, Lieut. -Col. Lockwood, Mr. K. and Miss 

 Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Waters and Miss Fane, Mr. and Mrs. Elder, Rev. L. 

 Capel-Cure and Mr. A. Capel-Cure, Mr. Vigne, Mr. Bury, Mr. G. Dawson, 

 Messrs. F. and C. Green, Mr. R. Bevan, Mr. Lawrence, V.S., Mr. J. V. 

 Walmsley, Mr. J. Longbourne, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Wyllie, Messrs. E. and 

 R. Ball, Mr. P. Hargreaves, Mr. H. E. Jones, Messrs. J. and L. Pelly, Mr. 

 W. Sewell, Mr, Allsopp and Mr. Roffey. I was sorry to see so many farmers 

 absent. That hard-riding septuagenarian, Mr. Sworder, of Tawney Hall, 

 had not sufficiently recovered his recent accident, when hounds last met at 

 Brook House, to put in an appearance, although, fortunately, he was soon 

 well again. Mr. Hart and Mr. G. Brown were also absentees ; but I 

 noticed Mr. Sworder's sons, Mr. Mills, of Garnish Hall, Mr. Saward, of 

 Patch Park, Mr. Green, of Parndon, Mr. W. Symes, and Mr. B. Dickin- 

 son, of Rundells. There were several Essex Union men out, and a large 

 London contingent, who rode hard and fell freely. 



The day's proceedings were slightly delayed by a meeting, which was 

 held at the Secretary's house, to arrange about the steeplechases, which, 

 owing to their success last year, are to come off again at Harlow Bush, on 

 Tuesday, April nth. Two point-to-point races, over three-and-a-half miles 

 of country unknown till the start, one for members of the hunt, the other 

 for farmers, being the great attraction. 



A fox having been viewed in the morning in the neighbourhood of 

 Theydon Garnon Rectory, the surrounding fields and coverts were drawn, 

 but without success, so we adjourned to Loughton Shaws, a few inter- 

 vening fences being productive of grief to at least one individual. Hear- 

 ing him call out, " Hold up, old man ! " I turned my head just in time to 

 see him come a buster over his horse's head, though why everyone laughed 

 I don't know, as it was entirely the horse's fault. Taking the right side of a 

 blind fence which leads down to Loughton Shaws, I had the satisfaction of 

 seeing how cleverly some horses could jump, as they had to come over the 

 fence I have alluded to. If I had wanted to choose two confidential 

 hunters, I should certainly have picked out the Messrs. Ball's, a bay and a 

 grey, as they came over one after the other as clever as cats. Scarcely had 

 I observed this dual leap before a welcome whimper was heard. Mr. 

 Hervey Foster's face was a study when he remembered he was on a pony. 



Luckily for him, Mr. C. Green's second horse was at hand ; he did not 

 require much solicitation from, its owner to exchange mounts. Reynard, 

 not liking his quarters, soon came out of the forest side, but seeing a horse- 

 man at the corner of the covert he doubled back, and broke the other. 

 Bailey soon had his hounds on the line, and by the way they first settled 

 down it looked as if they meant running ; but the fox had taken a sharp 

 turn, and hounds flashed over it ; a holloa to the right was heard, and 

 hounds were soon running towards the river Roden, which, unfortunately, 

 the fox did not cross. There was a beautiful open country beyond, and we 

 should probably have had a good run ; turning to the right, hounds ran very 

 well over the meadows by the side of the river, which, in a wet season, 

 would probably have been under water, but that day rode quite springy. 



A brook soon presented itself, which was safer to ford than jump, as a 

 good many discovered when they found themselves in it. The hounds soon 

 crossed the line near Chigwell Lane Station, some enthusiastic navvies 



