RIDTNC; TO HOUNDS 375 



it, and his horse threw him with great violence on the opposite side. 

 I saw him lying on the ground, apparently as dead as if he had been 

 shot at Waterloo ; and it was upwards of five minutes before he 

 showed any signs of returning animation. On getting back to Sir 

 Bellingham's house — having lieen ])looded at Boswoitli — all 

 necessary measures were taken, and the doctor would feign have 

 persuaded Mr. Stanhope that some ribs were broken. He had a 

 short husky cough, and two or three other directing symptoms which 

 seldom mislead a skilful apothecary ; but he resisted all such 

 insinuations, and assured him he should be well in a few days ; 

 and the Quorn hounds coming within reach on the following 

 Thursday, he went to meet them, still liaving his arm in a 

 sling ! 



In the course of this day's sport, some of tlie party, among whom 

 was Mr. Stanhope, got into a corner of a field, and were 2^ouiidc(l. 

 What is not very usual in this country, one of the hardest riders in 

 England had dismounted, and was trying to pull down the top bar 

 of a flight of rails, which did not otherwise appear practicable. 

 "Let me try," said Mr. Stanhope, "I am on a good one."' The 

 sequel was, he rode at it and got a tremendous fall. On seeing him 

 lying on the ground. Sir Bellingham rode up to him, and said, " Now 

 I'll tell you what. Stanhope, you are a good one, but by G — d vou 

 shall ride no more to-day ! Go to Leicester and put yourself into 

 youi- carriage, and get to town as quick as you can, and get cured ! " 

 He took his friend's advice ; and when he arrived there, Mr. Heavi- 

 side found out that he had two ribs broken, and his bi-east-bonc 

 beaten in ! ! This, we may also say, is not a bad sort of a man to 

 breed from. 



The most difiicult pait of riding to hounds is " facing a brook ;" 

 but before I proceed to say anything on that subject generally, I 

 shall mention one which Mr. Mytton leaped, in cool hlood, on his 

 return from hunting with his own hounds in Shropshire. It 

 measured a little more than seven yards in the clear ; but the space 

 covered in the leap w\as nine yards and a quarter, from one hind 

 footstep to the other. Being at his house at the time, I saw it 

 measured the next morning in the presence of several other sporting 

 men. This exti'aordinary leap, without the presence of hounds, was 



