HAMPSHIRE 121 



by Lord Middleton ; Wanton, Woodbine, and Jordan ; with two 

 very fine young bitches, Margaret and Mischief, by Mr. Ward's 

 Maniac ; will not fail to produce all that is wanting in the field ; but 

 when we try to be perfect, we should carry perfection in our eye, 

 and Jordan is as near the mark as possible for Hampshire hounds. 

 She is by the Duke of Eutland's Eummager out of his Joyous. 



The Hambledon Hunt are not quite unmindful of the ladies ; as 

 there are races in April, on Soberton Down, and a ball and supper 

 at Hambledon in the evening. A cup is given for the farmers' 

 horses, and a sweepstakes for those belonging to gentlemen who 

 hunt in Hampshire or Sussex, carrying twelve stone each, two-mile 

 heats. 



Every one south of London who moves in the sporting world has 

 heard of Captain Bridges, who has long been conspicuous for daring 

 feats of horsemanship and coachmanship. The Captain is the son 

 of the late General Bridges, and resides at the Hermitage, situated 

 in a beautiful part of the county of Hants. 



The following anecdote of the Captain is truly characteristic of an 

 Englishman. Being out one day with the fox-hounds, he saw two 

 gentlemen parleying with a farmer in a gateway, who refused to let 

 them pass through it. The Captain rode up to them, and asked 

 what was the matter. "Why," said one of the gentlemen, "this 

 farmer says he will murder the first man who attempts to go into his 

 field." — "Does he?" said the Captain; "then here goes, life for 

 life ; " and immediately charged him. The fellow aimed a desperate 

 blow at his head with a very heavy stick, w^hich, in spite of the 

 velvet cap, would have felled him to the ground, if he had not had 

 the good fortune to have avoided it ; when, taking to his heels, the 

 coward fled, with the Captain after him, and absolutely crept into 

 a large covered drain to avoid him. " Who-whoop ! " said the 

 Captain; "I've run him to ground, by G — d!" — Among his other 

 accomplishments, he has the credit of riding a race so well, that, 

 when I once went to ride against him, I found he was more the 

 favorite than his horse. " The Captain wins for a pound," said a 

 farmer in my hearing, as I first entered the course. Knowing there 

 was a large field against him, I naturally asked the farmer if he 

 knew anything of the horse the Captain was going to ride ? " N ot 



