38 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



would rear up in his gig at the word of command, 

 until the hinder part of it absolutely touched the 

 ground ; and, although he was much given to dis- 

 play this dangerous accomplishment, no accident 

 was the result. 



I was myself once passing through the town of 

 Oswestry, only two hours too late to have witnessed 

 a most singular performance of a team of coach- 

 horses of his, which he had been exercising in a 

 break. Finding they had the better of him, he con- 

 trived to quit the carriage without injury, and the 

 horses being at liberty, ran at full speed into the 

 town. Unfortunately a gateway was in their course, 

 into which they dashed, and now for the finish. 

 The said gateway led into a parallel street, but, 

 narrowing as it lengthened, there was, towards the 

 further end of it, room for the horses, but not for 

 the carriage to pass. The consequence was, the 

 four horses, breaking all their harness by the shock, 

 tumbled head over heels into the street, and, strange 

 to say, not one of them was killed. 



Perhaps the most extraordinary accident that ever 

 happened to this most extraordinary man was on his 

 return, after dark, from a race-course, in his travel- 

 ling carriage and four. The postboys mistook an 



