200 NIMROD S HUNTING TOUR 



quick, and determined manner of getting across a country, I will 

 quote nothing from my own observation, but will repeat — sufficient 

 for my purpose — what was told me last winter at Melton by several 

 of the leading characters there ; namely, that (almost incredible as 

 it may appear) there was not one single instance of his not being 

 icell witJi his hounds during the two seasons he hunted Leicester- 

 shire — the more remarkable as the country was not only new to 

 him, but, in the first year, more than usually deep, and his weight 

 sixteen stone. In the celebrated run from Glen Gorse to Stanton, 

 he particularly distinguished himself. He took the lead; and 

 though two of the best light-weights in England — Mr. William Coke 

 and Mr. George Anson — started within half a field of him, they could 

 never catch him till all was over. 



As is the case with most hard-riding men, Sir Bellingham Graham 

 has had some severe falls, but on two occasions he very narrowdy 

 escaped destruction. The following rare instance of his xAuclc, 

 however, should not be lost to the sporting world. He was killing 

 his fox at the end of a sharp thing, when an ox-fence presented 

 itself. Three first-rate performers were going in the same line, but 

 they would not have it. Sir Bellingham never turned his horse, and 

 cleared all but the rail on the opposite side, which probably his 

 weight would have broken ; but unfortunately his horse alighted 

 on one of the posts, and was turned over on his rider's chest. 

 Strange as it may appear, Sir Bellingham re-mounted his horse, and 

 rode on : but he had not proceeded many yards when he was 

 observed by Sir Harry Goodricke to be in the act of falling to the 

 ground, but which he was fortunate enough to prevent. From that 

 period — about twelve o'clock at noon till nine o'clock the next night 

 — Sir Bellingham never knew what had happened to him ; and as 

 he lay under the hay-stack — whither his friends removed him at the 

 time of the accident — every moment was expected to be his last. 

 The pith of the story, however, is yet to come. He was bled three 

 times the first day, and confined to his bed five. On the seventh, to 

 the utter surprise, and indeed annoyance, of his friends, he was 

 seen in his carriage at Scraptoff, merely, as he said, " to see his 

 hounds throw off." The carriage not being able to get up to the 

 spinney. Sir Bellingham mounted a quiet old horse (placed there, no 



