90 LIFE OF MYTTON. 



Another instance of his excessive philanthropy and 

 over-generous, all-forgiving temper, occurs to me at 

 this moment, which I may here introduce, though 

 perhaps not without somewhat retrograding in my 

 arrangement. 



As I was passing through Shrewsbury, some years 

 back, on my road to Halston, I saw a servant of his 

 in the town, and asked him if he had accompanied 

 his master. " I have left Mr. Mytton's service, sir," 

 said the man. " How so ? " observed I, with sur- 

 prise, knowing him to have been a favourite ser- 

 vant. His answer was, that in an evil hour he had 

 been induced to alter a figure in a bill of Mr. Lucas, 

 the veterinary surgeon at Atherstone, who had 

 attended one of his master's horses, and it having 

 been discovered by the agent, he had been discharged. 

 The morning after I arrived at Halston, I was told 

 there was a person wanted to speak with me in 

 the stable-yard, and there stood yohn, with a very 

 sorrowful countenance. His object was to induce me 

 to intercede for him with his master, and just as I 

 was in the act of discussing the point, Mr. Mytton 

 made his appearance. John protested it was the 

 only instance of his dishonesty (and, indeed, the man 

 bore an excellent character, having lived nine years 



