Back to Album belonging to Colonel F F Colvin 9L (1860-1936). Contains newspaper cuttings and paper ephemera
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Item 0071
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| Accession number | 912L : 2124/6 |
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H sa th m th lif 81 fo n RELATE of tab 18 " 1890 . THE ALBRIGHTON HOUNDS . The meet was at The Bell Inn , at Tong , on Saturday . The morning was na boisterous , wet , and miserable as it is possible to describe . The natural sequence was that the field consisted of but a limited number .. The ball was set a - rolling by drawing the Mere Cover , the Mere High Covert , the Cowhay Wood , and the Cottage Wood without finding . The Dog Kennel Wood likewise was answered our call in the negative . All suspense , however , the relieved , when our noblest friend broke away from Mr. Hartley's Gorse . Then did hounds settle down , and so did the field that was bent on rectifying the mistakes of the primary draws . Quitting at the Wheaton Aston end of the enclosure , he made straight for Little Onn , and spl splitting the difference between the Burst and Blymbill Lawn , there , bite Sytch in his wake . It was a matter of utter im the White possibility to attain his ends in this respect and and accordingly the Mount Cover on the outskirts of Weston was now evidently his point . But whether he acquired the latter I cannot venture an opinion . One thing is pretty certain - he astutely beat u Pitmore . The first twenty minutes of this burst were really good , being over good scent - holding turf , and the unfortunate boisterous influences failed to damp the ardour of the followers near to B of the chase . Burlington Osier Bed was next called upon , and were quickly away in full view of a good substantial In fact , it was the narrowest shave Reynard had ever experienced of losing his brush , for one of the pack actually grasped it once . Luckily for the one , however , the grasp not sufficiently arm , and thus by a mere fluk Le Slipped there and bustled on over the Watling Street Road . Repelled by a rustic , he wheeled into over ran a the line , which bock - yard , and in consequence hounds been recovered , they drove him along splendidly through the e osier bed and over the tip of the hill . He scurried on over the Lilleshall Avenue , through Sheriffhales Big Wood for the Red Hill . His heart , however , failed him , and so he again sought refuge in the Big Wood , where he scored a victory , whilst the teld were hurrying up in a a blinding snowstorm , which broke the game as up as three o'clock . The The Hem Wood Hem was the fixture on Monday last . sport in duplicate . One of the foxes went away for the from which point he swung over the Madeley Road , and past Fletcher's Rough . Before reaching Kemberton he doubled through his original sanctuary , and then crossed the Shifnal and Madeley Branch of the Great Western Railway , and shortly after wards beat us . The Hem Wood was appealed to a second time , in vain , so on to Ranleigh Cover . With little ado hounds put a fox , and getting away in view , they pressed him over three fields , and he then managed to secure himself in a large culvert connected with the mines , and so was allowed to abide . From here we jogged to Haughton Gorse . Finding therein immediately , a great pace . going up to to the the Naird Farm , then veering somewhat to right , he scurried over the main line of the Great Western Railway , and went on nearly up to Priorslee Collieries , and here getting on to some cold the road plough , we had a slight check . A cast for'ard o'er brought their noses to it again , and on they went , and with Mr. Maseffeld's cover on the right , he popped over the Watling Street Road , and ran his followers out of scent near the Granville Pits ( not far from Sheriffhales Big Wood ) . A fairly good run of some One of a brace of foxes subsequently found in but up was 800n 40 minutes . ar Hill Gorge , or and ran in view of the pack Mr. Brown's term at the Shossed the park Foon , through the Red Hill abberr cover . big scored a victory near Mr. Masefield's cov Stafford Castle usually attracts 8 gathering only went to prove the rule ... there punctually d Hill Cover , and shortly afterwards he company , and Tuesday's Both of the Masters were time , and among others were Colonel Heneage Legge ( 9th Lancers ) several other brother officers from Man and chester , as also several representatives of the Meynell , North Staffordshire , and Warwickshire Hunts . At the outset matters were of a most discouraging type , and the bitterly cold east wind did not augur much success in the way of sport . The Castle Wood and the Berry Ring were alike unproductive of the sport to - day , so on we went to Coppenhall Gorse . After some slight hesitation , hounds put up a fox therein , but at the outset scent field . was very indifferent , and there was a check in the very first the lane for some distance , it true wag we accepted The 118 . occupying a earnest Scott held them off . Our fox had gone over the Bradley Road and and also the Littywood Banks , but ran hounds out of scent at Billington . After a couple more blank draws , Mr. Morris , of fox in store store for Wood Eaton Manor , informed us that he had a fox bis offer as a piostored fox And Accordingly enough we found his statement correct . a culvert between Haughton and Church Eaton . From this he was quickly ousted , and both fox and hounds , equally He led the van down to run in real smart , settled and " rasped away " as straight through Barton Cover , and though hounds steadily gained ground on their quarry , and were soon close upon twisted short , and after covering much of the previously he made for the Reule Cover as his intended grief was Despite therefore plentiful , although nothi well as the home facts , the gallant officers alluded to , as well these confreres , held their own throughout this " thruster " in a most But to return to our fox at The Reule . creditable manner . was now joined by a further brace of foxes , and it is not at all im probable hounds changed , and followed the rival fox . Well , there were , at all events , three distinct lines denoted by the noses of the pack . The one taken up was over the Stafford and Wellington the London and North - Western Railway , and on for Ranton Big Wood . This he left on the right hand , and beat his followers near to Mr. Blewitt's , at Lawn Head , at the close of about 1 hour 35 minntes ' gallop . tFences were big , and fields very serious . He Few turned up at the Plough Inn , Weston Heath , on Thursday , somewhat accounted for , perhaps , by the counter attraction of 3 coursing meeting at Aqualate . Lynn Wood contributed our first After going for Lynn Farm , he went on to Woodcote Hill , the latter at the Lilleshall end , he nopped over again quitting the Newport and Shifnal road , and sped on nearly to Hungry Hill . Over the Burlington farm , through the shrubbery there , across fox . and Street Road , and and nearly up he the Lilleshall crossing the the Watling to the Dog Wood was the line taken . Then cros Racecourse ran into and after some bustling about in in the latter , they Lilleshall Wood , pushed him out on the Weston side , and we hunted him at a re duced pace to the Forge Mill Osier Bed , where we lost him . We found an afternoon fox in the Whyte Sytch , which broke away at a deuce of a dust . He cleared the high boundary wall of Weston Park , and after crossing the latter he shot through Cowhay Wood , but after all he saved his brush by running out of scent near Tong BOSKIE . Knoll . Decker THE SUBALTERN'S FRIEND . CLANK of sabre and wave of lance , Loud , hoarse command and trumpet blai While chafing nag curvet and prance , You are un moved , a charger rare , Cool and steady . Silken jacket and starter's flag , Plunging horses and riders keen , You're away in advance like a hunted stag , And to cut down the field , Fit and ready . ween , Chorus of hounds and huntsman's cheer , fox afoot and the scent breast high , How bold to fence , how kind to steer , " Forward ! " eager to follow nigh The best of packs . Easy amble and paces slow , On her ear his honeyed whispers fall , Up and down in the crowded Row , And you seem to sympathise with all , Sweetest of hacks . Galloping field - day , breakneck course , Pytchley Hounds , or a summer ride , Are all the same to you , good horse ; Happy the man on you astride , Subaltern's friend ! Serried ranks in the grim attack , Crack of rifle and hiss of shell , Honour gained in the squadron's track , Slain together , who fought so well ,. Brave boy , good horse , lie where they fell A golden end ! 66 CANGER " " Let Me Like from a cab . " chestnut Here is a Gull story , which , though a to some , to the thousands who have never heard it is worth telling . Sir William's butler was a great character : a small dark man , always white - chokered , and dressed in black , with a calm solemn manner . His income from tips must have been large , as the waiting - room was always crammed , and the order of audience was settled by him . One day , summoned to the street - door by a more than ordinary fierce knock , he found an excited individual just alighted " Sir William Gull in ? " " Yes , sir . " " I want to see him . " Appointment ? -no ! I'm very ill . " Have you an appointment , sir ? " I want to see Sir William . " " Impossible , sir , without an appointment . " Naughty word emitted by visitor ; then : " When can I see him ? " " Well , " Tuesday next sir , " after consulting paper , " at eleven on Tuesday next . " know -- ! I'm very ill ! I tell I must see some one ! Do you you any one near who could see me ? " Servant , after cogitation : " Well , sir , there's a gentleman over the way - a very respectable practitioner named Jenner - he might be able to see you ! " be a Soldier Fall ! Sir William Jenner has let his house in Brook Street , and is leaving London , intending to reside at his place in Hampshire . A HINDOO'S PETITION . An Indian paper states that the following petition has been sent to a Political Resident in one of the native States : - " Respectfully sheweth , - That your honour's servant is poor man in agricultural behaviour , and much depends on seasons for staff of life . Therefore he prays that you will favour upon him , and take him into your saintly service , that he may have some permanently labour for the support of his soul and his family . Wherefore he falls on his family's bended knce , and implores to you of this merci ul consideration to a damnable miserable like your honour's unfortu nate petitioner . That your lordship's honour's servant was too much poorly during the late rains and was resuscitated by much medicines , which made magnificent excavations in the coffers of your honourable servant , whose means already circumcised by his large family of five female women and three masculine , the last of whom are still taking milk from mother's chest , and are damnably noiseful through pulmonary catastrophe of the interior abdomen . Besides the above - named an additional birth is through the grace of God very shortly occurring to my beloved wife of bosom . That your honour's damnable was officiating in several capacities during past generations but has become too much old for expousing hard labour in this time of his bodily life ; but was not drunkard , nor thief , nor swindler nor any of these kind , but was always pious and affectionate to his numerous family , consisting of the aforesaid five female women and three masculine , the last of whom are still milking the parental mother . That your generous honour's lordship's servant was entreating magistrate for employment in state to remove filth , etc. , but was not granted petition . Therefore your lordship will give to me some light work in the department , for which act of kindness , your noble lordship's poor servant will , as in duty bound , ever pray for your lordship's longevity . " No. 1,932 . - Jan . 4 , 1890 . THE ESSEX HUNT . A LOCAL paper states as follows : " At the meet of this hunt at High Easter on Saturday , Dec. 21 , the field was swamped by about forty sportsmen who came by special from Colchester , to the inconvenient crowding of the regular hunt , and the riling of those who are not alto gether favourable to the hunt , but who tolerate it with patience and good humour . However , the day's sport was a caution , resulting in a blank . " We extract the foregoing passage , as it throws light on the following correspondence . - ED . ] SIR , As some local papers have published comments on the large numbers of visitors hunting from Colchester with the Essex ( Mr Green's ) hounds , and knowing that all the visitors on the occasion mentioned were officers of the garrison quartered here , I venture to ask you to put the public in possession of the real facts . At the commencement of the season , several members of the Essex Hunt , whom I happened to meet , kindly expressed a hope that myself and brother officers would hunt , when convenient , with them , and accordingly sent us a card of their fixtures . Acting on this , on the 14th of last month , their meet being at Fyfield , myself and seven other officers of the regiment railed to Chelmsford to hunt with this pack . We had a most enjoyable day , having had excellent sport . Before leaving , at my request , the secretary introduced me to the master , and I thanked him for the sport shown us . On our way home the hospitable secretary gave us some lunch and gruelled our horses , and said how glad he was to see us out , but said , " I must tell you that at the meet this morning the master ( Mr Green ) asked me who all the strangers were . " I replied , They are the Royals , from Colchester . ' He replied , But there are so many of them . ' He then asked me who sent them a card . I replied , ' I did . ' He then said , ' You had no business to do it . ' I answered that , according to our rules , soldiers at Warley and Colchester were to be considered as ourselves . " The secretary then asked me to take no notice of this , and hoped we would think nothing of the matter , and expressed a wish to see us out on the following Saturday . On that day , the 21st , ten of the regiment went to the meet at High Easter , when it soon became apparent that we were not so welcome as we were led to believe we should be ; and perhaps it will scarcely be credited , a gentleman was heard to say that , owing to the presence of strangers , he had ordered the earths to be opened in his coverts that were drawn that day ; and not only was this done , but he boasted how successful he had been , as his coverts were drawn blank . On returning , the officers not understanding the way in which they had been received , I wrote to the secretary , and inclose copy of the cor respondence . In conclusion , I beg to add that I have served for thirty years with the regiment , and been quartered all over the United Kingdom , and hunted with every pack accessible from these various quarters , and this is the first and only occasion on which the officers of the regiment to which I have the honour to belong have not been most cordially received everywhere . ALLAN MACLEAN ( Colonel Royal Dragoons ) . Colchester , Jan. 2 . ( Copy ) . Colchester , Dec. 23 , 1889 . Dear Lockwood , -My brother officers and myself feel that though you and several other members of the Essex Hunt have gladly welcomed us at your meets , still there seems to be a feeling prevalent in the field that it is overcrowded . Accordingly , we think that we had better seek sport elsewhere , unless you , as secretary , I believe , of the hunt , will write and tell us that it is the wish of the master and hunt committee that we continue occasionally to hunt with your pack . Imay add that we should not think of hunting over your country without sending the hunt a regimental subscription . I feel sure that you will quite understand our motive for this letter ; namely , that we do not wish to intrude where we are not welcome . Hoping for an early reply , I remain , yours sincerely , ALLAN MACLEAN . My dear Colonel , -I am exceedingly sorry to say that these delicate times do prevent our master and hunt from welcoming even such good sportsmen as yourself and brother officers in the hearty manner we always used to . I myself am exceedingly annoyed by farmers about the large meets , and in one or two bad cases have failed utterly to convert their minds ; and must therefore make myself unpleasant and selfish . There is no doubt everyone will have to hunt in that part where they reside in a very short time . Oddly enough , I was going to write to you and ask you only to bring one or two out at a time , and also to say that our Friday country , which is easily got at from Braintree , is by far the best , and very few are out , and the farmers there do not mind who or where you go or ride over their land . Fortess Hall , Great Bardfield , Thaxted , Badwinter , Ashdon Mills , Stebbing Bran End , are all excellent meets , and easily done from Colchester . Thank you so much for your letter , and I am very sorry for the cause . Yours sincerely , ROBERT LOCKWOOD . Bishop's Hall , Romford , Dec. 24 , 1889 . 721. The Last Dance . - J . HAYNES - WILLIAMS . ANENT a paragraph I wrote last week , concerning the dispute between the Essex Hunt and the officers quartered at Colchester , a friend writes me that I certainly did not take a sufficiently wide view of the case : For some time past the Essex Hunt have their fields abnormally large , owing mainly to the presence of cockney hunting men , who coming down from London in the morning , and being for the most part ignorant of the essence of the sport , caused great damage to the farmers by needlessly galloping over their growing wheat and other crops . The In order to prevent this unbearable nuisance Mr. Green , the Master , determined on not allowing any strangers to come out , unless they were willing to pay a subscription of thirty guineas to the fund . This was all as it should be , and no one could fairly grumble at such a measure , when directed at this particular class . The aspect of affairs becomes , however , totally changed when applied to the officers of a popular sporting regiment quartered in the neighbouring garrison , and also to members of the neighbouring Hunts . facts have already been published . Mr. Robert Lockwood , Secretary to the Hunt , at the commencement of the season welcomed Colonel Maclean and the officers of the Royal Dragoons , now quartered at Colchester , in the hunting field , and said he trusted they would often have the pleasure of seeing them out with the hounds . He subsequently confirmed this by sending a card of the meets to Colonel Maclean and endorsed his previous verbal invitation by one in writing . It appears , however , that Mr. Green took exception to the number of strangers " who were present on that occasion . Mr. Lockwood explained who they were , and added he had invited them to come out as often as they liked , upon which Mr. Green said he would not I have done so , and on the next occasion when Colonel Maclean and his officers availed themselves of Mr. Lockwood's invitation the conduct of Mr. Green towards them was extraordinary to say the least of it . The worthy master actually gave orders the earths should be left unstopped , in order that the officers might enjoy a blank day's sport . Not only this , but the behaviour of some of the members of the Hunt towards the officers was insulting to a degree . They were openly told , " they were not wanted , " and when Major Ames , a real good sportsman , whom the cockney members of the Essex Hunt ought to be only too glad to see among them , had the misfortune to have a spill , certain members of the Hunt so far forgot themselves as to exclaim , Thank goodness ! that's one of them done for . " Colonel Maclean and his officers hearing these remarks very properly left the field , and the gallant Colonel indited a letter to Mr. Lockwood inviting an explanation of this extraordinary behaviour , at the same time asking if it were really the case that their presence in the hunting field was unwelcome . Mr. Lockwood replied that unfortunately such was the case , at the same time recommending that the Colonel and two officers " should " come out on Fridays " i.e. , their far- off meets . Great indignation is felt among the country gentry throughout the whole of Essex at these inhospitable proceedings , and Mr. Green should remember that he himself is a Londoner and a self - made man whose position in the County is not yet sufficiently strong to justify such a line of conduct . It seems needless to put it all on the farmers , as no one will believe the British Yeoman has so deteriorated in hospitality as to wish to deprive officers and gentlemen from taking part in the National Sport of Hunting . General regret is felt that the days are over when good sportsmen and country gentlemen like Sir Henry Selwyn Ibbetson and Mr. Loftus Arkwright were at the head of affairs , for the Essex Hounds would not then have obtained this unenviable notoriety for want of hospitality . PUREY |
