226 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1855 



We have received the following- account of Mr. William 

 GruUiver from Colonel Norris, who knew him intimately : 



William Gulliver,* who bred thoroughbred stock at 

 Swalcliffe for many years with great success, as a man 

 devoted to sport of all sorts, a first class horseman, and a 

 good preserver of foxes, deserves more than a passing note. 



He was full of the Jack Mytton style of daring, and 

 loved adventure, particularl}^ when any horse he happened 

 to own at the time was the medium of it ; and what he 

 could do with his single left arm and hand, for early in 

 life he lost his right through a gun accident whilst rabbit 

 shooting, was simply astounding. His naturally quick, 

 fiery temper, led him into many a row, and Gulliver never 

 refused an appeal " ad homiiieiny and seldom had the 

 worst of a set-to, for he let out that left arm so straight, 

 so strong, and so (juick, that he had his man smothered, 

 confused, and settled before he knew where he was. Just 

 the same on a refractory horse. He would take the reins in 

 his teeth, and deliver with his single hand such a shower 

 of sting-ers, all orer — head, ears, fianks, near and off side — 

 that the horse was literally terrified into subjection ; and 

 then he would a-s liberally soothe the animal. His nerve 

 was of steel, and never failed him. I remember arriving 

 at Banbury one dark night from Aldershot unexpectedly, 

 and no conveyance being at the station for me, Gulliver, 

 who had travelled from Heading with me, oft'ered to give 

 me a lift home. Outside the station was his dogcart, with 

 large lamps, the reins were hooTied over the dash-board 

 (Gulliver had a plan of hitching the reins on to this, 

 which was always made very stout and stiff on purpose, 

 so as to relieve his one arm occasionally, when he had a 

 puller in), and two men were at the head of the horse in 

 the shafts. We got in, Gulliver said " let go," and we just 

 flashed through the town of Banbury. I could see by the 

 lamps Gulliver's teeth set ; anyone who knew him will 

 recognise this habit of his. He never spoke a word till 

 we got to the fall in the road which approaches the 



* See also p. 211. 



