3 1 2 Tallyho. 



hounds, showing evident signs of hard work. An 

 energetic and excellent sportsman is Mr. White, a 

 quiet and unpretending horseman, who is all there 

 " when the bell rings," that is to say, he rides hard 

 and close to hounds when occasion requires, and 

 especially so I was told when he performs on the 

 little short-legged white horse which he rode this 

 day for awhile, who is a rare animal through dirt, 

 and especially clever over the high banks and big 

 ditches which abound in this sporting part of the 

 world. 



By this time we have arrived at the four cross roads, 

 to find a ^^ field ^' of some forty well-mounted men 

 assembled, amongst whom I recognise Mr. Courage of 

 Shenfield, a welter weight, mounted on a horse 

 thoroughly up to the mark, who rides well to hounds ; 

 Mr. Lescher, also a heavy man, well-mounted and a 

 good sportsman ; Mr. Cotton, though no longer in 

 his j)7'emiere jeunesse, yet cau hold his own over the 

 stiffly enclosed fields of Essex with any of the young 

 ones, which is saying much, for if a man can go 

 the pace and live close to hounds in this country, he 

 must have pluck, judgment, and nerve ; Mr. Morgan, 

 who looks like a workman ; Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. 

 Helme; a young lady on a grey horse, who seemed 

 to pay the greatest attention to the instructions of the 

 cavalier in attendance, who was always close at 

 hand to ofier advice and assistance should occasion re- 

 quire — a very proper, polite, and pleasant proceeding, 

 by the way, for the cavalier ; and many others with 

 whom I was unacquainted. 



Then we moved off, and the hounds are speedily 

 thrown into a cover close at hand, and the cheery 



