MR. VICKERMAN BUYS "COGNAC 33 1 



over two or three fences into the Twenty Acres (except the grey, 

 who having nearly got into all his fences, we would not allow 

 to attempt the awkward fence into this field) where I had 

 intended to try the pace of the chestnut against " Carlow," but 

 he pulled so that I preferred galloping him round the field by 

 himself, which he performed in gallant style. 



On entering this field we met William and Stephenson, who 

 had proceeded thither to witness the performance, but who thus 

 lost the brook jumping. The trial had already quite decided 

 me in favour of the horse, my only doiibt being my ability to 

 hold him, and we were quitting the fields with Beckington 

 about to open the gate into the oat field, when calling to him to 

 stand still I rode at the gate. The chestnut cleared it with 

 his fore legs but hit it very heavily with his hind shins, which 

 with the drop on the other side shook horse and rider a little, 

 and had I thought broken the gate ; but on turning round I 

 found the gate entire, he having struck it at the very thickest 

 part. This mistake was not entirely his fault, for he had his 

 eye on the other horse, " Carlow," standing near the gate and 

 to prevent his swerving towards the lower fence on either side, 

 I had to ride him at it so quick as scarcely to give him time 

 to rise. Fortunately he did not hurt himself, and showed his 

 pluck by being quite ready for the next had I been disposed 

 to indulge him. He crossed back over the fence he had come 

 over between the jumps at the brook in a very clever style. 

 On returning home I saw " Rocket " jump the bar for the first 

 time, and was delighted with his clever and pretty perform- 

 ance ; after leading him over it Davis rode him over it, but 

 though a light weight and good seat, he got his hands rather 

 high for a youngster and was not far from being capsized. 

 I then rode him over once or twice, and from the spring and 

 elasticity of his hind quarters, did not feel surprised at his 

 trying the powers of adhesion of a rider. 



William and I then started on the cob and " Chancellor " 

 for Monkhams, the residence of Mr. Colvin, and on two such 

 first rate hacks, and on so fine a day, enjoyed our ride of 

 eighteen or twenty miles through a beautiful country, very 

 greatly ; reached Colvin's at 2 o'clock (later than we had 

 intended), where we found our host and Colonel Jones with a 

 substantial luncheon awaiting our arrival. Discussing our 

 lunch and getting the flies out of our eyes, we first looked over 

 the stables, kennels, &c., which were as extensive and 

 complete as a man need desire; the horses, both hunters and 

 hacks, of the best and his half dozen couple of harriers the 



