DATES OF THE PRINCIPAL HUNTS 19 



pack were originally staghounds, and were only- 

 changed into foxhounds in 1793. The list of masters 

 of the Hambledon Hunt goes back to 1791, and the 

 Hursley was originally part of the H.H., and dates as 

 a separate establishment from 1837. The Garth, again, 

 has existed in its present state since 1850, but the 

 country was hunted long before, and Sir John Cope 

 was master from 18 17 to 1850, while Mr. Garth, from 

 whom the hunt takes its name, was in office from 1852 

 to 1902, and only died two years ago. The Old Surrey 

 and the Surrey Union can each claim a life of a hundred 

 years, but the Burstow were a harrier pack little more 

 than forty years ago, and most of their country was 

 originally a part of the Old Surrey. The list of masters 

 of the East Kent begins with Sir H. Oxenden in 1814, 

 but the West Kent is of considerable antiquity, being 

 one of several hunting establishments which were 

 founded by Mr. John Warde, who hunted the Wester- 

 ham country (from Squerries) in 1776. The Tickham 

 country was hunted a hundred years ago by Sir 

 Edward Knatchbull, and afterwards by Lord Sondes, 

 but the present hunt dates from 1832. The Eridgewas 

 taken from the West Kent in 1879, the East Sussex as 

 at present constituted dates from 1853, the Eastbourne 

 from 1 89 1, and the Southdown from 1843. But at 

 some former period the East Sussex was a very im- 

 portant hunt, as the Southdown was part of it, and the 

 Eastbourne was formed by dividing the Southdown. 



The Essex Hunt can show a list of masters which 

 dates back to 1785, the East Essex dates from 1820, the 

 Essex and Suff'olk is of rather uncertain origin, but 

 has existed in its present state since 1817, while the 

 Essex Union dates from 1822. The Puckeridge and 

 Hertfordshire were originally one and the same 



