With the H,H. 21 



breaks cover in the direction of ^^ The Grove/^ where^ 

 after a few minutes^ run, he is lost. 



Splendid and enjoyable as the day was, yet it was 

 bad for scent, the ground being very wet and cold, 

 and fetlock-deep even on the light lands, whilst in 

 some of the rides in the covers it was exceedingly bad 

 going, the horses sinking up to their knees at every 

 step. The first thing that struck me was the tendency 

 of the men hunting with the " H. H/^ to override and 

 head the hounds. They are fortunate in possessing 

 so courteous and easy-going a gentleman-huntsman 

 as Mr. Deacon, who appears to be one of the sort 

 alluded to in an old anecdote. 



On the occasion of an over-eager sportsman start- 

 ing after the fox himself, he was asked whether he 

 thought he could catch him, and replying ^^ No,^' was 

 requested by the Master " to be so good as to allow 

 his hounds to try if they could.^^ Those who were 

 acquainted with ^^ Old Conyers ^^ of the Essex hounds, 

 Lord Gifibrd, or the late Lord Fitzhardinge would 

 have been greatly astonished if, under such provoca- 

 tion, they had not heard much stronger remonstrances, 

 couched in language which we remember to have 

 heard described as being ^^ neither ParUamentary, 

 parochial, nor otherwise.^' It would be well if such 

 energetic performers would study ^ Thoughts on 

 Hunting,* a volume which, though of ancient date, 

 contains much sound and seasonable advice on the 

 subject of the evils of over-riding hounds — a process 

 by which many a good run is spoilt. By all means 

 let the hounds have a good start, and then in a sharp 

 burst over the open, in the best parts of the ^^ H. H." 

 country, if you can tread on their tails you may be 



