io The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



W. Hine Haycock, 1852 to 1874 ; E. B. Forbes, 

 1874 to 1878; R. S. Fuller, 1878 to 1885; H. E. 

 Stenning and Sydney Shorter to 1896 ; Mr. Borill, 

 1897-98 ; and Mr. John Loveys from 1898 to 1904. 



A complimentary dinner was given to Mr. Mortimer 

 (of which more anon) on his retirement at the Bridge 

 House Hotel on 3 May, 1877, with Mr. Leveson-Gower 

 in the chair. Presentations of purses and tea-service were 

 made to Sam Hills, and altogether that was a memorable 

 sporting occasion. Sam Hills' attitude, when he had to 

 return thanks, reminded one of the old huntsman's 

 advice — namely : if you can't speak, holloa. 



With respect to the Old Surrey country generally, we 

 may say that it is a hill and vale country, with, alas ! an 

 abundance of flints. There are few fences on the hills. 

 In the vale plenty of grass is found, and it is strongly 

 fenced, principally stake and binders, ditches on one side 

 or the other, and sometimes on both. The country is 

 not now hunted north of Croydon. Wire is far too 

 abundant in certain regions. During recent years, too, a 

 great change has come over the country on account of 

 numerous estates passing into new hands, and getting into 

 the possession of tenants who, unfortunately, think more 

 of shooting than of hunting. The result is that their 

 coverts are usually drawn blank. 



The best part of the Old Surrey country is now from 

 Oxted to Edenbridge from north to south, and east from 

 Redhill to the boundary of the country close to Seven- 

 oaks. That consists of a large percentage of grass, fairly 



