214 BIRDS SHOT BY THE REV. FRANCIS GISBORNE. 



1794. Jan. 1st. I Snpe. 



2nd. I Mallrd., 3 lb. 2 oz. 



3rd. I Wild Duck wing'd, not got, I Snpe. do., 

 I Thrush. 



4th. I Snpe. in River, not got. 



6th, 1 Snpe. 



7th. I Wild Duck, i Snpe., i do., i Wat. Rail. 

 N.B, — After having shot at another Water Rail, on putting the 

 charge of powder into the gun, it instantly took fire, blew the 

 head of the flask from which the charge was poured quite away, 

 the powder flask also out of F. G.'s hand, but without kindling 

 the remr. of the gunpowder in the flask ; knock'd off F. G.'s 

 hat, which was much scorched, as were his eye-brows, &c., in a 

 less degree, no material harm being further done. It is pre- 

 sumed some spark of fire remained in a bit of the brown paper 

 w.idding which had unaccountably not been projected out of the 

 barrel, an event which never happened to F. G. in the course of 

 45 years' shooting, and which, it is to be hoped, very rarely 

 happens, as the consequences might be fatal. The fire certainly 

 took place without the intervention of the flint, as the gun was at 

 half-cock after the explosion, the hammer being flung up about 

 half-way from the pan. 



The Register ends with this very exciting bit of experience. 

 That the unfortunate charge knocked off only F. G.'s hat and not 

 his head, is a matter of sincere congratulation to the Parish of 

 Staveley, for, after this very narrow escape of his valuable life, it 

 is still true to say of the worthy rector that, like The Jackdaw of 

 Rheims, 



" He long lived, the pride 

 Of the country's side. 

 And at length in the odour of sanctity died." 



It was not until the year 182 1 that he departed this life, aged 

 eighty-nine, after having held the Rectory of Staveley for the long 

 period of sixty years. 



I am almost ashamed to say that I cannot discover any monu- 

 ment, either within the church or in the churchyard, to the 

 memory of one who so faithfully and beneficently served his 

 generation ; but the good man has a monument 



