WARWICKSHIRE 45 



stone — -that such a man, for so many years of his life, should have 

 performed such wonders in the field, we almost feel inclined to 

 believe that he must have had the assistance of some supernatural 

 power. The power, however, which he has availed himself of was 

 derived from the rare faculties he possesses — faculties seldom united 

 in one man : — viz. a quick eye, a clear head, a line hand, extreme 

 coolness, and undaunted resolution. That a man of his height and 

 weight should have, what is called, a neat seat on his horse is not to 

 be expected ; but Mr. Canning looks to advantage when mounted. 

 The evenness of his hand is much in his favor : himself and his 

 horses always appear upon the best terms with each other ; although 

 it must be admitted he has sometimes demanded more than ordinary 

 sacrifices from them. 



No man that ever yet was born could have beaten Mr. Canning 

 over Warwickshire, for a whole season, during the time he may be 

 said to have been in his prime. All surmountable obstacles he 

 was more than a match for ; and from his geographical knowledge 

 of the country, he always knew how to avoid those which were not 

 so. He frequently made his appearance in Leicestershire, where he 

 was always seen in the front rank. 



To pi'ove how his fame as a rider had extended to distant parts, I 

 must relate the following anecdote: — An honorable and reverend 

 gentleman — a very old Meltonian, and a very good judge — came one 

 year into Warwickshire, as he was heard to declare, for two distinct 

 purposes : one to see Mr. Corbet's hounds, and the other to see Mr. 

 Robert Canning ride. When he got back into Leicestershire, he 

 expressed himself as follows: "The morning," said he, "was 

 unfavorable, and the scent so bad that we could not get on with 

 our fox, and I saw nothing remarkable in Mr. Canning. At two 

 o'clock, we found a fresh one : the day altered, and the scent was 

 good. The hounds went at their very best pace ; wlieji Mr. Canning 

 came out of the croiod, like a bee out of her hive, and heat every man 

 that tuas out." Longinus himself could not have improved upon 

 this ! ! 



When I assert, that there was no man in Warwickshire who 

 could beat Mr. Canning in the field, I do not mean to say that there 

 may not have been some light-weights who could get as near to 



