88 Ifcfngs of tbe 1Rob, IRffle, anfc (Bun 



celebrated Colonel Thornton, of Thornville Royal, in 

 the county of York. * He was not only a great sporting 

 celebrity, but was also conspicuous in the field of 

 literature," with further complimentary remarks on the 

 subject of the obituary notice. 



His old friend George Hawkins wrote a letter of 

 condolence to Mrs. Thornton, and was considerably 

 astonished at receiving the following reply : 



11 PARIS, RUE DE LA PAIX. 



December 2$th t 1821. 



MY HONEST BROTHER SPORTSMAN, 



This is Christmas Day, dedicated by me from 

 my youth to gaiety and reasonable hospitality, en- 

 deavouring to make all happy according to the situation 

 in which Providence has placed me. In health no man 

 can be more hearty ; but not quite stout in my knees 

 and feet ; stomach invincible ; always an appetite ; 

 eat three times a day tea, muffins and grated hung- 

 beef at nine ; at two, roasted game or cock's combs, 

 and about a pint of the finest white Burgundy ; dinner 

 at five, and then a bottle of wine and three or four 

 glasses of spirits, rather weak then to bed ; sleep 

 better than ever I did in my life. Pretty well you will 

 say for a dead man. Rise at eight, breakfast at nine ; 

 and so we go on. Every night the finest dreams. I 

 expect some wild boar ; if it comes, our friend B. may 

 be sure of a part. 



P.S. December 2th. " I find by the papers that I 

 died after a short illness, much lamented, etc., etc., at 

 Paris. However that may be, I gave a dinner yesterday 



