SINGLE HARNESS. 141 



pheasant, which was lying on its back dusting itself in the 

 middle of the road, suddenly flew up, in a cloud of dust 

 almost in the horse's face. The animal took fright, upset the 

 gig, and Shirley, who was a very tall, heavy man, was much 

 injured; he lived for some time, but never quite recovered, 

 the circumstance that he was no longer young doubtless operat- 

 ing against him. Young Dutch Sam, the prizefighter, used to 

 lodge at Shirley's, and train there ; but he was so mischievous, 

 and played such tricks, that he had notice to quit When it 

 grew dark, and the mails and night coaches stopped there, 

 either to refresh or to change horses, Sam would slip out, and, 

 if possible, uncouple some of the horses, or unbuckle the reins 

 and fasten them on to some other part of the harness; of 

 course these pranks, if not detected, might have led to most 

 serious accidents. Sam, it may be added since the name of a 

 once famous representative of an extinct phase of sport has 

 been mentioned died young, having broken several blood- 

 vessels. He was a model of manly strength and agility and 

 fitness when engaged in his calling, but his habits^were not 

 conducive to longevity when he left off fighting ; for he kept the 

 ' Coach and Horses,' a public-house in Castle Street, Leicester 

 Square. His pretty young widow lived and flourished for some 

 years after his death. 



I once put into single harness a very violent horse who had 

 given much trouble out hunting, as he was a most uncertain 

 horse at his fences. On some days it was quite a pleasure to 

 ride him ; the next time you got on his back he would sloven 

 all his fences, or try to swerve at the last moment. He was a 

 very powerful horse, well up to fourteen stone, with a pecu- 

 liar mouth. However, I put him into a strong dogcart and 

 drove him with a ring-snaffle in the country for a year, without 

 any accident ; but the horse hated restraint of any sort. One 

 night I drove him seven miles out, to dinner, and on leaving, 

 there was a string of carriages before him. When we reached 

 the lodge gate I was obliged to pull up and wait, and all at 

 once he went down on his knees. My groom was about to jump 



