RIDING TO HOUNDS 389 



Uh ! now, Sir, 1 recollect all about it. 1 told you he was a very 

 good hunter; and so he is if yon let him go his own yacc ; but when 

 I wanted him to go mine, he did not exactly suit me." This is a 

 common case. Depend upon it, though time is slow, it is the pace 

 that kills. 



Accounts of no less than three different persons having met with 

 llicir deaths in hunting, all in one day, have recently been presented 

 to the public view : the first with the Oakley, the second with Lord 

 Darlington's, and the third with the Hurworth fox-hounds ;* and, 

 what is as singular as it is lamentable, each was occasioned by a 

 noble effort to get to hounds, regardless of the appalling obstacle of a 

 dangerous and devouring element, in which these gallant sportsmen 

 all found a watery grave. To such a pitch, however, has the 

 system of riding to hounds nov^' arrived, that the chances of life and 

 death are but a feather in the scale when opposed to the determina- 

 tion of a modern fox-hunter " to see the thing," and " to be in a good 

 place." 



* Jolin Edwards, Esq., of 8ilsoe, Bedfordshire, was out with the Oakley 

 hounds, when, in attempting;- to cross a ford at a jilacc called Newton, in 

 Buckinghamshire, nearly opposite to Brayfield House, the seat of Major Farrer, 

 and which had previously been passed by many of the sportsmen in perfect 

 safety, he with several other gentlemen who were not acquainted with the 

 proper course they ought to have followed, took a wrong direction, when all of 

 them flounced headlong into deep water. Mr. E., who was on a very spirited 

 horse, unhappily lost his seat, but still kept fast hold of the bridle ; and it is 

 sny^poscd, in his exertion to save himself, that the animal, while struggling and 

 plunging in the water, struck hiui on the head with his fore feet, whicli stunned 

 him, through which accident he sank, and was drowned. His companions with 

 great difficulty escaped with their lives, and all tlie horses were rescued. — 

 Mr. Walbram, of Baidersby, was crossing the River lire with Lord Darlington'.s 

 hounds, near Stainley, when, unable to stem the force of the current, he was 

 carried out of his depth and drowned. His sou had nearly shared the same 

 fate in endeavouring to save his father.— The Rev. Marmaduke Theakston, in the 

 ardour of the chase with the Hurwurth hounds, was tempted to cross the river 

 Tees at a ford near Worsall. The water was deeper than usual, owing to 

 previous rains, and he unfortunately mistook the ford. His horse, a powerful 

 and spirited animal, swam with him into the middle of the river, when, getting 

 impatient, he reared and threw his rider backwards. Mr. Theakston was then 

 observed to swim (apparently strong and well), and several gentlemen who 

 watched him with extreme anxiety had hopes he would reach the shore ; but all 

 at once, Avlien within live yards of it, he sank and never rose again. 



