6o LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Although hunting was over in our country, the Hertfordshire woodlands 

 were still echoing to the cheery cry of the veteran, Bob Ward. To see 

 this renowned venator under perhaps the most trying conditions for any 

 huntsman, the hot sunny scentless days of April, a lot of us, including Major 

 and Mrs. Tait, ]\Ir. and Mrs. Waters, Messrs C. E. Green, Oliver, 

 Dickinson, Bagot, W. and G. Sewell, Sworder, Mills and the Essex 

 Huntsman, sallied forth on Monday, April gth, to Hertford Heath. But 

 though we found Bob Ward looking as hale and hearty as ever, we have to 

 record a blank, for we discovered no fox in the extensive woodlands through 

 which we meandered from 11.30 to 3.30. Nothing daunted by our lack of 

 sport on the previous Monday, we determined to have another look at the 

 Hertfordshire on Saturday, April 14th, when they met at Bell Bar. To 

 get there safely, in the loose dusty state the roads were in, necessitated 

 driving (pneumatic tyres had not been invented). One of the party who 

 possessed a limited stud, consisting of a cob and a hunter, put one in the 

 shafts and tied the other on behind, and starting at 7 a.m. arrived in 

 Northaw in time to do justice to a good breakfast at the Vicarage ; from 

 which two of the boys, one of whom twelve years later obtained his blue 

 in the Cambridge boat, were just starting off to school. Mr. C. E. Green 

 and ]\Irs. Waters driving up about this time, we jogged on together to 

 the meet, where we arrived early and found a large muster ; Lady Maud 

 Cecil, now Lady Selborne, and two of the Premier's sons being among those 

 present ; while the Essex County was ably represented by ]\Iajor and Mrs. 

 Tait, Mr. C. Bury, Mr. Hill, Messrs. Pemberton-Barnes and Hargreaves, 

 in addition to those names already mentioned. Of course a run on such a 

 hot, dusty day could hardly have been expected, but it was satisfactory 

 finding a brace in Sherrard's after drawing Northaw Wood and Hatfield Park 

 blank and to note the persevering way in which Ward followed out the 

 faintest clue which eventually landed a good many at 4.30 p.m. some thirty 

 miles from home — where the cob arrived at g.30, having led back as well as 

 he had come out. 



SEASON 1883-84 

 Actually commenced, vide Lord Rookwood's note in Messrs. Ball and 

 Gilbey's book, on September 14th at Latton Park, but my first memo- 

 randum is of an early start at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, September 19th, from 

 INIoor Hall to overtake Keppel, and arrive in time to see a cub killed and 

 the huntsman flying a locked gate after another that jumped up out of a 

 field near the Osiers and, crossing the Sheering Road was bowled over by 

 hounds near Down Hall. A third whoop did not satisfy them. I wonder 

 whether the Master was out, for they went on to Matching Park when I 

 left, a good many out, including Mr. A. Deacon and his daughter, Mr. 

 Loftus Arkwright, ]\Iessrs. Jones, Steele, Oliver, Bagot and Dickinson. 



Went out late enough with Charhe McKee Monday, October 8th, a 

 mild, muggy morning, to miss a very good half- hour's run from Knightsland 

 to Navestock, which some at least of the following had enjoyed to the full : 

 Sir Charles Smith and his son. Col. Lockwood, Messrs. Arthur Capel- 

 Cure, Keppel, Bagot, Ball, Fowler and Sworder. There was a lot of grass, 

 and Bob Ball on " Boycott " had fairly led the way over it. However, 

 before we left them we had our fill of jumping over blind fences after one of 

 the many cubs found in Kettlebury Springs on a journey to Greensted 

 Woods and back. 



After despatching a Shalesmore cub on Wednesday, October 17th (a 

 wild, blustering morning), a capital gallop was brought off from Bush 

 Wood by Barbers up to Theydon Rectory, a run which only Mr. C. E. 

 Green (who was riding " Chance "), Mr. Harry Bagot and his sister, and 



