OF FAKRIERY 



436 



TUE LATE JOHN MYTTON, ESQ., OF HALSTON. 



The gentleman whom we are now going to 

 give some account of, differs very materially 

 from those noblemen (Fitzwilliara and Derby,) 

 whose turf history we have just given. They 

 may have been considered fathers of the turf, 

 having been engaged on it for a period which 

 almost doubles even the whole life time of J. 

 Mytton, of Ha]<ton. The present suljject of 

 our memoir had an enthusiastic attachment to 

 the turf, and to the sports of the field, which 

 had it been moderated by the example of the 

 above-named noblemen, we might have had 

 the more pleasing task of speaking of his 

 living performances, than the melancholy one 

 which now devolves upon us. It would be 

 useless to deny, that, to use no harsher terms, 

 his thoughtlessness and extravagance mu.st 

 have hastened his dissolution. It would be in- 

 justice to his memory not to suppose that the 

 degradation in being forced to leave his own 

 m.ansion, and by involving the dearest con- 

 nections in his ruin, must not have had an 

 effect upon his health. The life of Mytton is 

 an example, that should teach us that the 

 most unbounded wealth may be exhausted ; 

 and that self-government is as requisite for 

 happiness to men with wealth, as it is to those 

 without it. There is a moral in it, which may 

 teach the poorer to be satisfied, because they 

 may feel that wealth may not always pro- 

 duce comfort, and in too many instances may 

 be the cause of irresistible temptation. It is 

 with melancholy feeling and regret for the 

 deceased that we have made the above ob- 

 servations. 



The following announcement of his death is 



taken from one of the Shrewsbury papers : — 



On Saturday the 29th of March (1834,) 



in the King's Bench, London, aged 38, John 

 Mytton, Esq., of Halston, in this county. This 

 gentleman inherited large estates in Shrop- 

 shire and Merionethshire, had been Hioh 

 Sheriff for both counties, and M.P. for this 

 town. His great munificence and eccentric 

 gaieties obtained him notoriety in the gay and 

 sporting circles both in England and on the 

 continent ; and, wliile a few faithful friends 

 were esteemed to the last, and who remem- 

 bered kindnesses, we fear there are many 

 partakers of his bounty who have treated him 

 with ingratitude.'' 



We are indebted chiefly to correspondents 

 in the Sporting Magazine for these remarks. 



The subject of this memoir was an only son 

 and a posthumous child. Born with splendid 

 prospects, nursed in the lap of luxury and un- 

 bounded indulgence, the idol of a doating 

 mother — is it a marvel that his career should 

 be erratic and extravagant, vvhose infancy 

 was never subjected to restraint ? 



His education was confined to Westminster, 

 as he never graduated. There is a charac' 

 teristic anecdote told of him when he was at 

 that school ; being a ward of Chancery, he 

 wrote to Lord Eldon, telling him that as he 

 was about to be married, he could not live 

 upon his income. His allowance was said to 

 be 400/. a year, and he was only fouiteen 

 years of age when he made this application. 

 The Lord Chancellor's answer was laconic, 

 and to the purpose: " Sir; If you can't live 

 on your allowance, you may starve ; and if 

 you marry, I'll commit you to prison !" 



Soon after leaving Westminster he entered 

 the Seventh Hussars, and was with that regi- 

 ment during the time it formed part of the 

 Army of Occupation in France. He rse^l 

 to speak of those days with raptuie. 



