XXVI 



paces to advantage. The ov^^ner, out of pure malice 

 I believe, invited one or tvi^o youths of the party to 

 follov^^ the groom's example; and thus publicly 

 challenged to exhibit their address, refusal was of 

 course impossible, though compliance was yet more 

 so.* I doubt if Beecher, or Mason, or any of our 

 crack riders, would have been more successful. 

 Each of the youths attained the saddle it is true, 

 but each fell prostrate on the turf, before he was 

 aware that he was seated : no donkey ever managed 

 his heels with more dexterity ! The courteous in- 

 vitation to mount, was liberally extended to every 

 man in the party, each receiving it with much the 

 same feelings as one does the good-natured offer of 

 your drawing-room philosophers to oblige you with 

 a shock from a galvanic battery, for the entertain- 

 ment of the company. All declined the honour, 

 and at last my turn arrived. Had I refused, as 

 others of less equestrian fame could safely do, my 



* Though not much connected with my subject, I cannot help 

 alluding here to the recent death of Mr. Solloway, a distinguished 

 rider, who was killed by a fall from his horse at the Abergavenny 

 steeple-chase. I heartily wish that this melancholy occurrence 

 may give a check to this dangerous and absurd innovation in 

 British field sports, useless as regards the improvement of breed, 

 and only promoted by horse-dealers to gain celebrity for horses 

 otherwise unsaleable. — C. E. 



