NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 289 



of us came suddenly, as we turned the corner of a cover on 

 some high spiked rails, placed on very sloping ground. I pulled 

 up, as did two gentlemen who were with me at the moment ; but 

 seeing Harrison take them on his big chestnut horse, without a 

 pause, and perceiving the foot-hold to be good, I followed him, 

 and the gentleman with the cork leg followed me. I do not 

 think I ever rode over a fence of this description before, and 

 should not have ridden at it at all, had not Harrison taken it 

 before me. Secondly, I have to produce a verification of the old 

 adage of " Brag is a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better." Mr. 

 Johnstone, of the Carabineers, on his great Irish mare, and 

 myself, had been boasting in the morning, that, mounted as we 

 were, we " would not be stopped by anything." Alas ! in the 

 second run, we allowed Lord Kelburne to plant us both at a 

 brook ! And what excuses can be offered ? For Mr. Johnstone 

 none, although the banks were queer, and Collier had dropped 

 short with one hind leg. For myself, on perhaps the best 

 fencer in his lordship's stud, only this I was booked by the 

 #/-mail for the next day, and having been well dosed with 

 calomel, I thought it probable, that a souse over head and ears, 

 in this black brook, might have been the means of sending me 

 father road. 



We had, as was generally the case, the addition of two or three 

 gentlemen to our dinner party this evening, and at about an hour 

 after midnight they departed to their several homes. " Now, 

 Nimrod," said his lordship, when we were left by ourselves, in 

 the drawing-room, " we will drink to our next meeting in one 

 bottle of champagne," and the bell was rung before I could 

 have had time to have said " No." But I was not disposed to 

 say " No ;" on the contrary, although if I may be allowed to 

 paraphrase an injunction without intending disrespect to the 

 author of it sufficient for the day had been the wine thereof, I 

 was delighted at this pledge of friendship and good feeling in 

 my noble host, and newly-acquired friend, and answered, em- 

 phatically " With all my heart, my lord." Unluckily, however, 

 the butler informed us there was no more champagne in ice, and 

 a bottle of Burgundy was ordered as its substitute ; this being 

 finished, we retired to our beds, and I know not how I can better 

 describe our parting at the bottom of the stairs, his lordship's 

 road being one way and mine another, than by another para- 



Ehrasc of the following lines in one of Shenstone's pastoral bal- 

 ids, to which, Dr. Johnson says, " if any mind denies its 

 sympathy, it has no acquaintance with love or nature :" 



" He gaz'd, as I slowly withdrew, 

 My path I could hardly discern ; 



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