3 1 8 Hark Away. 



beauty, against the damsels of any land in the 

 world, and at long odds too. 



At length '-' the evening shades prevail," and the 

 riders in the Row disperse, and as I wend my way 

 through Eaton Square, I see Lord Macduff tooling 

 his handsome team in a workmanlike style ; and I 

 carefully observe the turn-out, having heard that it 

 was considered by a first-rate judge to be very 

 nearly, if not quite, the best of the season, and I see 

 little reason to disagree with that opinion. But who 

 is this I suddenly come upon ? Surely it is the Rev. 

 John Russell, the best known and most respected 

 man in Devonshire. A fine horseman still, though 

 he has numbered more than fourscore years, and one 

 of the best and most ardent sportsmen that ever 

 lived. Inquiring of me respecting a certain horse he 

 is thinking of purchasing, I said he is a charming 

 little horse, exactly suited in every way to carry 

 you, only it is fair to say that if any one attempts to 

 pass him whilst galloping to hounds, he will lay 

 hold of you and pull pretty hard. " Ah ! " was his 

 reply, "I have a capital remedy for that, which is 

 riding to cover some thirty miles on an average, 

 which steadies them a little." Pretty well for an 

 octogenarian ! This most popular, and, I may say, 

 venerated clergyman has many calls on his time. If 

 any one is ill or in trouble, he is always ready to 

 leave his home at Swimbridge to attend to their 

 wants. 



On this occasion, however, he had travelled to 

 London on a far pleasanter errand, namely, to join in 

 the holy bonds of matrimony a thorough sportsman 

 and light-hearted companion, with whom I have 



