THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
139
which the malting town of Bishops Stortford stands) enters the Lea. Next
comes Dobb's Weir and Tumbling Bay. I have never fished this district,
but am tempted to visit the place some day, as it has a most inviting
appearance, and hoists a public announcement that anglers may obtain
tickets at the neighbouring hostelry—'The Fish and Eels'—on the bank,
which we noticed in passing. Next comes Carthagena Bay, the reason for
which Spanish cognomen appears to be unknown. Here," Mr. Bramley
adds, "I have spent many days with rod and line, and remember a once
familiar angler, the late Charles Bradlaugh, M.P., whose name and angling
skill will not be forgotten while so many specimens of his sportive success
grace the walls of the hostelry just below, viz., the 'Crown' at Broxbourne.
A change has come over the 'Crown' so far as ownership is concerned.
Change is a law of nature, if law and change do not form an anachronism.
Laws are immutable, and, in this respect, mutability is immutable. Anglers
have for years known a distinctive figure, Mrs. Benningfield, whom
probably they will know no more as hostess of the 'Crown,' for, although
still continuing to reside in the neighbourhood, the lady has sold her
interests in the house and gardens, and the fishing arrangements.
" King's Weir attracts us, and calls for a halt. We step on the bank
and find an old friend and well-known angler drinking in the breezes of this
healthful place, and in the closing act of struggling with a 31b. bream.
There are several chub flaunting their bright backs before we leave. The
pool here is rented by some half-dozen London anglers, who appear to have
in hand what is commonly described as 'a good thing.' Eels are said to
abound ; chub and bream, too."
On the way Mr. Holmes discourses on some salient points in the
geology and geography of the valleys along which we are steaming, and
Mr. Webb exhibits the mollusca found, giving some interesting talk on
their habits and mode of occurrence. Mr. Webb also exhibited a fine
specimen of the very curious "graft-hybrid" Cytisus laburnum-adami, which
came from Mr. Winstone's garden at Epping. A copious description of this
form, so interesting to plant physiologists, will be found in the English
translation of Kerner's Natural History of Plants, II., 570-1 It will be
remembered that a specimen from a garden at Buckhurst Hill was exhibited
by Prof. Boulger, at a meeting of the Club on May 24th, 1884 (see Journal
of Proceedings, E.F.C, vol. iv., p. c.)
A very refreshing tea, with plenty of fruit, was served on board. Very
cordial votes of thanks were passed to Major Flower for his kindness so often
shown, and also to the Lee Conservance for the use of the boat, and to Mr.
Corbie for the trouble he had taken in connection with this, our fourth
voyage, and we found ourselves approaching Waltham Abbey, the end of the
excursion for most of the party. As Mr. Bramley writes :—"These last few
miles for quiet sylvan beauty are not the least attractive. In the distance we
view groves of trees, behind which are some extensive works for the manu-
facture of gunpowder, cordite, Sc, which stimulate our martial pride in this
age of actual wars and rumours of wars. Waltham is noted for its neighbour-
ing old-time convents, its former line of 27 abbots and numerous monks, and
the famous Abbey, which has held its own for centuries. Tradition ascribes
the first thoughts of the Reformation to have been hatched in the mind of