1839J MR. BARNAED. 139 



mother a sister of Henry Lord Willoiig'liby de J^roke, he 

 was taught to ride ahiiost before he could walk, and many 

 and far w^re the expeditions he took on his noted donkey 

 about the country. Prebendary J^arnard was in many 

 respects a remarkable man. An active magistrate, a 

 respected country clergyman of the old school, a noted 

 partridge shot and walker, and a keen, bold rider — he 

 represented an ideal which is fast passing away. Many 

 tales are still told in Lighthorne of his prowess in the 

 saddle. Tradition says that he rode his old mare over the 

 high double gates out of the stable-yard at Lighthorne 

 Eectory, and tliough we may well, disbelieve this, we can 

 credit the story whicli says that he jumped every white 

 gate between Lighthorne and Compton Verney on the 

 same animal. No day was too long for him, and no task 

 too hard, till the time when stricken down by an attack of 

 paralysis (which may have originated in the terri1)le fall 

 he had near Ladbroke, when he was thrown against the 

 branch of a tree), he had to spend the rest of his days in 

 a Bath chair. 



Mr. Eobert John Barnard was sent to Eton and 

 Oxford. At Eton his chief resort was " old George Hall's " 

 and many a day's fishing and bird shooting did the two 

 have tog'^ther. The present Lord Willoughby and the 

 writer have often sat in old (xeorge's sanctum near the 

 Brocas, and heard them tell of their father and his love 

 for the wild sport with the gun and rod that the river 

 afforded. He afterwards went to Christ Church, and 

 became acquainted, amongst others, with the present Lord 

 Macclesfield, Mr. George Lane Fox, the Duke of Somerset, 

 the late Mr. Thornhill, the late Mr. Golding, and many 

 other noted sportsmen. There was one bond of union 

 between them all, and that was "the road." 



In those days, when the railroad was only just coming 

 into existence, the road was still the great highway of 

 transit ; the chorus was still lingering, 



Let the steampot liiss till it's hot, 

 Give me the speed of the Tantivy trot. 



