JOHN SELWYN. 127 



of the mountains, whilst you, perhaps, were born in the 

 Lincolnshire fens, that his is the speed of the roe, and 

 yours the pace of a frog ; thus, whilst you are in such an 

 exhausted state as to require the kindest and most un- 

 remitting attentions of the humane society, he is perfectly 

 convinced that you are enjoying the highest degree of human 

 felicity, unbroken in wind, and undecayed in strength. 



In this dilemma what is to be done ? I agree with you, 

 that it is a thousand pities so fine a youth should perish 

 prematurely ; still I cannot allow you to speak of your 

 distress ; though that, indeed, you could not conveniently 

 do, for want of breath, and if you could, you would only 

 frighten the deer, without bettering your own condition. 



You are at your last gasp, that is evident : perhaps, then, 

 you had better do as the fat knight did, when the hot and 

 termagant Scot was about to pay him " Scot and lot too," 

 namely, to fall prostrate, and feign to be extinct, leaving 

 Donald to speak a dirge over you in his most harmonious 

 Gaelic. 



" Death has not slain so fat a deer to-day." 



Now, after all this, perhaps you will tell me that I have 

 undervalued your powers. I dare say I have ; there is not, 

 indeed, the least doubt of it. To speak fairly, I think our 

 young sportsmen from the south (I mean the most active of 

 them) are fully as quick, and perhaps more so, than a High- 

 lander, for a short distance ; but when it comes to a trial of 

 wind and endurance, your well-built, sinewy native will 

 generally be found to be the best man. 



In times of yore, however, we Sassenachs have produced 

 huntsmen able and skilful in killing the stag. Not to 

 mention the feats of Robin Hood and Little John, or the 

 other unlicensed deer slayers " of merrie Sherwood," we are 

 told that, " In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, John Selwyn, 

 under-keeper at the park at Oatlands, in Surrey, was 

 extremely famous for his strength, agility, and skill in 

 horsemanship ; specimens of which he exhibited before the 

 Queen at a grand stag hunt at that park ; where, attending, 

 as was the duty of his office, he, in the heat of the chase, 

 suddenly leaped from his horse upon the back of the stag 

 (both running at the same time at their utmost speed), and 



