MR. LEWIS PIIILLirS INVITES THE HARRIERS TO MARLES FARM 245 



Racing across Rye Hill Common towards Parndon Woods, the hare 

 fortunately doubled back, and led a merry chase towards Latton Bushes, 

 where she obtained sanctuary, for hounds were whipped off. Anotlier very 

 good gallop was afterwards enjoyed, nearly all on the grass, Mr. Phillips 

 getting a capital view of the chase as it swept past his house. Mr. Parham 

 would not avail himself of the convenient gates, but sent his good horse — 

 the " Priest " — at a succession of fences in a manner that must have 

 astonished even that seasoned fencer. 



Never was ground harder, and consequently never was cub hunting 

 carried on under more adverse conditions than at the opening of proceed- 

 ings this season. Hardly any one going out with hounds gave cause for 

 some grumbling on the part of farmers. Very little pleasure, if any, could 

 be extracted from an attempt to ride to hounds before the heavy, soaking 

 rains which commenced falling in October. This was rather fortunate for 

 me, for having dislocated my shoulder in September, I was precluded from 

 attempting to ride, my first venture being when hounds met at Parndon 

 Woods, the time 8 o'clock. The morning was quite a merry one, and was 

 enjoyed by all who took part in it, and included Messrs. Steele, Arkwright, 

 Pelly (2), Sewell (2), H. Fowler, Jones, Kemp (2), Green and Todhunter, 

 and Mrs. Waters. 



We had quite a nice little hunt from Parndon Woods over some of Mr. 

 Smith's fields, and killed our fox ; another found napping in a turnip 

 field shared the same fate, and a third from Roydon Park was finished off in 

 Tattle Bushes. 



However much diversity of opinion may exist about the first of every- 

 thing being the best, not excepting the first kiss, the first peach, and 

 the first rose of summer, no difference of opinion can possibly be enter- 

 tained as to the pleasure of the first real gallop with hounds that falls to the 

 lot of those who have entered on the season's duties. Is it not delightful 

 to feel the rocketing bound of a free-going horse under you once more, to 

 whisk over the blind ditches, and to feel that your nerve is as good, aye, 

 better than ever ? Ask those who were out on Saturday, October 21st, 1893, 

 at the 8 o'clock meet of the Essex Hounds at Sheering Street. PU give 

 you some names of those who were there to choose from. The Masters, 

 Mr. Loftus Arkwright and Mr. Bowlby, Lord Rookwood, Miss Jones, Miss 

 Docwra, Messrs. Bevan, Bowlby, jun., Chaffey Collin, F. Ball, W^ and G. 

 Sewell, E. Caldecott, Doxat, Lines. It was a quick find in more senses 

 than one, for the covert of that name was true to its reputation, and a stout 

 cub went away at once, as some found to their chagrin who arrived too late 

 on the scene. Running nearly up to the Sheering road, there was a gather- 

 ing of forces at the gate leading into it. Mr. Jones popped in and out 

 before the lock was picked, and those who followed found that Bailey, at the 

 tail of his hounds, had found the only way through the covert. 



A man at plough viewed the fox away from the wood, which was soon 

 left behind, as were many more, including a check-coated sportsman,''' for, 

 coming a cropper, his nag went gaily on without him, and the fun was over 

 by the time he and others caught them at the Forest. It was a good, fast 

 gallop, and quite enough for horses with long coats and short of work. 

 Quick Wood was drawn again, and then Moor Hall coverts ; chopping one 

 fox, hounds got away with another on good terms, which they ran to ground 

 at Heathen Wood. On the way back to Moor Hall a roving young cub was 

 viewed. Bailey clapped hounds on at once, and they gave us a merry 

 dance to Sheering Hall and Durrington House, towards Hyde Hall. 

 Coming back, hounds ran him over the Harlow road and the big clover 



* Mr. W. Sewell on "Berserker." 



