216 FOOTPAD. 



attraction of the evening, for a more 

 magnificent specimen of either sex never 

 were seen. How short-lived their happi- 

 ness history has told how blighted his 

 fair prospects the severe moralist would 

 record without a tear while the more 

 compassionate would tremble at the frail- 

 ties of our nature. 



It must have been shortly after this 

 that a famous footpad, named Pitt, 

 though better known and dreaded as 

 "the man with the short gun," was 

 executed in this city, for highway rob- 

 bery ; and on iny father's going to see 

 him in jail, at the request of the ma- 

 gistrates, he confessed that he had 

 endeavoured to stop him several times 

 on Horndean Downs, lying in wait for 

 him in one of the clumps of firs planted 

 at intervals near the road ; but my father 

 had always rode too fast for him, and being 

 so often baffled, he at last fired at him, but 

 without effect. My father was generally 



