MR. SHIRLEY.— 1823. 155 



Mr. CocKBiLL, jun. on a capital little brown mare 

 by Knowesley, out of a thorough-bred mare, 15 hands high, 

 cleared Bodicote brook, a distance of nine yards, when it 

 was brimful, and impossible to see where to take up. Lord 

 G. Forester, on a good bit of blood, also cleared it, but 

 the bank gave way, and his horse slipped backwards into 

 the water. His Lordship, however, was on the alert, and 

 throwing himself over his liorse's head, seized the bridle, 

 and with a little assi.stance extricated his nag ; exclaiming, 

 — ' That's better than going to the bottom, a good deal,' — 

 and off he went at his usual slapping rate. Mr, J. Lucy was 

 not so fortunate ; by some mishap, his horse fell headlong 

 into the brook, and threw his rider upon the land on the 

 opposite side, but very unkindly swam out at the wrong 

 bank, and the rider was obliged to wade across to secure 

 his nag. An Irish gentleman, a stranger, charged the brook, 

 but failing in his attempt to clear it, was soused into the 

 water ; he disappeared for a short time, and then got out on 

 the opposite shore, in no enviable trim, as the day was cold. 



The last meet, this season, was April 5th, 1823, at Hook 

 Norton. 



The first meet, this season, wus on November 3rd, at 

 Alveston Pastures. On the 1st of March, 1824, the hounds 

 were sent to Kenilworth. 



BY HARKFORWARD. 



MEET FARNBOROUGH HOUSE, DECEMBER 16th, 1823. 



This morning produced a capital Field of Sportsmen. 

 We drew the Farnborough covers, blank ; then went off to 

 Edge Hills, where we quickly started a game old fox that 

 led the pack away at a famous rate. He left Farnborough 

 to the right, and on being pressed made straight for Whinney 



