46 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



with his back to the fire, talking very loudly, having 

 drunk too much wine. " I'll stop him," said Mytton ; 

 and getting behind him unperceived, put a red-hot 

 coal into his pocket ! 



But I have a better, inasmuch as it was a more 

 harmless, joke, to relate with respect to George 

 Underhill, the dealer. He rode over one day to 

 Halston, to dun Mr. Mytton for his demand upon 

 him, which, I believe, was rather a large one. After 

 having been made comfortable in the steward's 

 room, Mytton addressed him thus : — " Well, George, 

 here (handing him a letter) is an order for all 

 your money. Call on this gentleman, as you pass 

 through Shrewsburj', and he will give it to you in 

 full." Now this gentleman — also a banker — was 

 one of the governors of the Lunatic Asylum, and 

 the order for payment ran thus : — 



HALSTON. 



Sir, 



Admit the bearer, George Underhill, into 

 the Lunatic Asylum. 



Your obedient servant, 



John Mytton. 



The mention of the trick he paid the Jew money- 



