*58 Memoir of Tom Smitli. 



'^ Wc never do it in this county." 

 Mr. Smith, thanked him for the hint, 

 and tohl him what message Sir Bellingham 

 had given him. Sir Francis never forgot 

 the General, and repeatedly offered to pur- 

 chase him at any price, until Mr. Smith put 

 an end to it by saying that he would take 

 nothing less than an annuity of 100/. for 

 life; and even after that Sir Francis was 

 often heard to express his regret that he had 

 not been able to obtain the horse. 



Mr. Smith had a somewhat similar accident 

 afterwards, whilst hunting his own hounds, 

 the Pytchle3^ They came suddenly to an 

 awkAvard fence, namely, a single rail on a bank 

 between two ditches. Although two or three 

 of the ^' hard riders'' were before him, they 

 very politely allowed him to pass them; and 

 as the rail was but a low one, he thought 

 it practicable, and rode at it. Unfortunately 

 he was not mounted on the General, or it 

 might have been all right. As it was, his 



