64 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Yes ; Matching Green has come and gone once more, leaving us all a 

 year older ; and perchance, if we have hunted with the hounds that meet 

 there, a little wiser, not only in regard to taking our fences in a more 

 sober fashion, but also what is of vastly greater importance — in our care 

 for the farmer's interests, and thereby our own, in not riding recklessly 

 over seeds. A great deal of good was done last year by our Master's 

 timely circular, and I do not think we shall forget it. Fortunately, 

 farmers' prospects are brighter this season than last. Not only has the 

 harvest been better than any of late years, but the seed-time, so far, has 

 been very favourable ; wheat already shows a good plant in places, and 

 can easily be seen even by those not given to notice such things as 

 farmers' crops and farmers' fences, and think they can ride anyhow and 

 go anywhere with a pack of hounds, in many cases not subscribing a 

 penny piece towards the damage they cause. Thank goodness ! our 

 country is not one for cockney riders on galloping cabhorses ; for the fields 

 have only one gate and four ditches which are as safe to catch a cockney 

 as a trap is to catch a mouse who is fond of toasted cheese. 



Matching Green of 1883, hke Matching Greens that have gone before, 

 was welcomed by us all as the commencement of the real business of 

 hunting, and the happy reunion of friends. No doubt there are many who 

 welcome it simply for the sake of seeing themselves in a pink coat once 

 more ; but the majority go there with one object, to ride to hounds with 

 one of the best packs over the best plough country in England. Yes, the 

 sandy Roothing ploughs when hounds run are something out of the common, 

 and are no more to be compared with the sticky pastures in Leicestershire 

 than a fine Kent golden hop is to be compared to a coarse Bavarian. 

 We had Queen's weather this year, and slipping along to covert behind a 

 pair of good horses is very conducive to a contented frame of mind. 



Arriving at the meet in good time, our contentment increased and 

 reached its highest point as we swung leg over the saddle, and exchanged 

 greetings with our friends, and noted the arrivals. Certainly, there were no 

 pink coats visible when we first arrived ; but one soon blossomed forth 

 on the person of Mr. Calverly riding " Phantom." Sir Henry arrived 

 punctually, mounted on " Multum in Parvo," who beat all the feather- 

 weights in the red-coat race of 1880, and seemed in his usual good spirits, 

 and had a cheerful smile and word for everyone. Lady Ibbetson graced 

 the meet with her presence, and many of England's fair sportswomen and 

 brave sportsmen, both mounted and on wheels, half of whose names, even 

 if there were space to record, memory could not recall. Mr. F. Green's 

 drag had its usual load of good sportsmen. Miss Maitland occupying the 

 box seat, and fifty other names take only about as many seconds to write. 

 Mrs. Arkwright, whom we were very pleased to see out again after her 

 severe illness; Major and Mrs. Tait, Mr. H. Bagot and Miss Bagot, Mr. 

 O. E. Coope, Mr. A. Deacon and Miss Deacon, Mr. Chisenhale Marsh, 

 Capt. Meyer, Mr. Capel-Cure, Mr. A. Capel-Cure, Mr. A. Caldecott, 

 Mr. G. Hart, Mr. Porter Mathews, Messrs. Sworder (2), Mr. Miller, Mr. 

 Mills, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Usborne, Mr. Bevan, Col. Sir Lumley 

 Graham, Lieut. -Col. Lockwood, Mr. E. Gibson, Mr. Todhunter, Mr. 

 Sands, Mr. Walmsley, Mr. Roffey, Mr. H. E. Jones, Major Tower, Mr. R. 

 Ball, Mr. E. Ball, Mr. Hargreaves, Mr. Keppel, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. T. H. 

 Ridley, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. Pemberton Barnes, Mr. Foster, Mr. 

 Dickinson, Mr. Horner, Mr. Tudor Quare and son, Mr. Sewell, Mr. 

 Melles, Mr. H. Stevenson, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Mr. G. 

 Dawson, Mr. Her\ey-Foster, the two latter on wheels, both showing how 

 their hearts are in it to be there. Let us hope before the end of the season 

 they will be showing us the way, as they used to when hounds really ran. 



