Here follows an admirable sketch of Mr. Adams waking up Leech with, "Now, Jack, my boy! There's no time to lose; we've ten miles to go to cover." [Illustration: "Now, Jack, my boy! There's no time to lose. We've ten miles to go to cover!"] "Tuesday, December 14, 1852. "MY DEAR CHARLEY BOY, "Hip! hip! hurrah! The almanack is finished, and now for a day with the Puckeridge. "I shall come down if you will take me in on Friday evening, to hunt on Saturday and Monday, I hope. Mark talked of coming. I wish he would. He says he should not ride, but that's all nonsense. Do you think Pattison has got a horse that would carry him? Oh, I have had a rare benefit of work! I have been positively at it ever since I saw you. I want freshening up, I assure you.... Lots of fresh work, old fellow, so I think I may manage a _real_ horse soon. * * * * * "With kindest regards. "Ever faithfully yours, "JOHN LEECH." "Notting Hill Terrace, "January 26, 1853. "MY DEAR CHARLEY, "If you could ride my horse to-morrow (Thursday), pray do; it would save your own, and do her good. And the meet is close to you--Langley Green. I should have written before, but I have been harassed with work beyond measure. And as it is, the first number of 'Handley Cross' cannot come out until March. Mind you have the mare well worked, there's a good fellow, as I don't want, like our friend Briggs, to find her disagreeably fresh. * * * * * "Believe me always yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH. "C. F. ADAMS, ESQ." "Saturday, February 26, 1853. "MY DEAR CHARLEY, "I suppose the frost has departed in the country, and that you have now what is called 'open weather.' It is very disagreeable here--wet, cold, and boisterous. "However, if you can spare time (after riding your own, of course), I wish you would give the mare a benefit. I expect she will otherwise be a great deal too much for me. * * * * * "I am, my dear Charley, "Yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH. "C. F. ADAMS, ESQ." "32, Brunswick Square, "Saturday, January 21, 1854. "MY DEAR CHARLEY, "Thank you for your note. I _can't_ come down to-morrow, but I hope after next week to make up for lost time. I have got through some work that has been fidgeting me. I shall have a little more leisure. The meet on Monday is Dassett's, I see, so pray give it the mare; I have been so queer myself that I shall want her particularly 'tranquil.' I have sacrificed the moustaches for fear of frightening the horses in the field. They were getting too tremendous. "_If_, _if_ I can get away next week at all, depend upon it I will, for I want fresh air and a little horse exercise. "With kindest regards, old fellow, "Believe me always yours faithfully, "JOHN LEECH. "C. F. ADAMS, ESQ." "Saturday, December 22, 1855. "MY DEAR CHARLEY,