402 Proposals for abolishing |[Oct. 



I heard the sound of a horse's feet, and as I turned round I saw a 

 huntsman taking a flying leap over the high hedge within a few feet 

 of where I stood. He cleared that, and a wide ditch as well, but the 

 beast stumbled, pitclied his rider violently to the ground ; and then, 

 after going a few paces, suddenly stood still. Without a moment's 

 thought I put my foot upon the stirrup, and with some difficulty 

 mounted the saddle, but, before I could make my seat secure, the 

 animal started off at the top of his speed. It was a terrible cutting-up 

 chase across country, but we cleared every thing in the finest style : five- 

 barred gates we went over with as much ease as a frog would over a 

 mushroom, stone walls of any altitude, and ditches of any width, were 

 passed almost without an effort. The consequence was, we distanced 

 all competitors, and kept close to the hounds ; wherever they went we 

 went, I expecting, at every leap, as many a member of parliament may 

 at this moment, to be deprived of my seat. Every ditch seemed to 

 yawn for me, and every wall seemed to put its head in our way that 

 mine might be sent against it. The fox, as a last resort, swam across 

 the branch of a canal, but he was " dogged" wherever he went, and 

 killed at the other side. AU I remember further is, that I was ulti- 

 mately tumbled backward into the water, and that, Avhen I recovered, 

 my kind master thought it right, as I had been " horsed" during the 

 chase, that a similar ceremony should be performed afterwards. 



In due course of time my father went the way of all fathers, and I 

 was declared heir to the estate. Then my old passion for shooting 

 returned with its full force, as I knew I possessed every opportunity of 

 indulging it. I armed myself with a first-rate double-bai-relled Joe 

 IManton, and purchased some excellent dogs. The first of September 

 arrived, and with my old friend the gamekeeper, who had the reputa- 

 tion of a most capital shot, I started off one fine morning caparisoned in 

 the most appropriate style. We went through the park into a stubble 

 field — the scene of my first attempt. The sight brought to me some 

 painful recollections, but I considered that there was some difference 

 between concussion and jjercussion guns, and felt more at ease. We 

 trudged side by side. Presently the dogs made a point, and up went a 

 covey of young partridges. This rather confused me, and prevented 

 me taking a good aim, but I slapt away with both barrels, and though 

 the flashes made me wink a little, it did not prevent me, to my inex- 

 pressible joy, seeing a brace and a half of birds fall to the ground. I 

 ran to pick them up, and the keeper, while he was reloading, compli- 

 mented me upon my success. After we had bagged the game we 

 proceeded onwards. We found the birds very plentiful and strong 

 upon the wing, but to my surprise and delight I never missed once — 

 bringing them down by two's and three's every time. The result of 

 that day's sport was very pleasing, for we had partridge-pie in the 

 house all the week ; and sent several brace beside to my friends in town. 

 My good friend the keeper proclaimed every where that I was a most 

 astonishing shot, and as he seemed to admire a very handsome powder- 

 flask which I made use of, I presented it to him, in return for his 

 honest opinion. My delight in sport increased wonderfully, and my 

 friendship for the gamekeeper with it, for I found that I never missed 

 when he was by my side ; consequently he was never away when we 

 went out on our sporting excursions. He generally fired either at the 

 same time, or immediately after I did, but he always laid the result to 



