LIFE OF MYTTON. 6i 



came to his hand, or as his wild fancy prompted him ; 

 and I have seen liim nearly destroy a new coat at 

 once wearing. His shoes and boots, all London 

 make, and very light, were also destroyed in an 

 equally summary manner, in his long walks over the 

 country, through or over everything that came in his 

 way. It is impossible even to guess at his annual 

 expense in post-horses ; but every post-boy in Eng- 

 land lamented the fall of " Squire Mytton," their 

 very best customer. But he was rather hard on 

 them at times. Returning once from Warwick races 

 after sleeping at Birmingham, the pace, though 

 strong, was still not good enough ; and, after com 

 plaining in vain, Mytton abruptly ordered the post- 

 boys to stop. On their doing so he pulled one lad 

 off his horse, and his friend the other, and, packing 

 them into the chaise, the two travellers mounted in 

 their stead, and so finished the stage. The appearance 

 of the horses and the boys — for they had both been 

 badly used — told its tale, and the golden remedy had, 

 as usual, to be applied. On another occasion, with 

 the same companion, being late in getting to the 

 fixture with hounds, he ordered the post-boys to take 

 a short cut down a lane at Steele, near the Twem- 

 lows. There having, however, been just previously 



