1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 157 



" The following anecdote of Captain Bridges 

 should not be lost to posterity, being so truly 

 characteristic of an Englishman. Being one 

 day with the fox-hounds, he saw two gentle- 

 men parleying with a farmer in a gateway, 

 who refused to let them pass through it. The 

 captain rode up to them, and asked them 

 what was the matter ? ' Why,' said one of 

 the gentlemen, ' this farmer says he will 

 murder the first man who attempts to go into 

 the field.' 'Does he?' said the Captain; 

 c then here goes ; life for life ; and immediately 

 charged him. The fellow aimed a desperate 

 blow at his head, which, in spite of the velvet- 

 cap, would have felled him to the ground, if 

 he had not had the good fortune to have 

 avoided it; when, taking to his heels, the 

 coward fled, with the Captain after him, and 

 absolutely crept into a large covered drain to 

 avoid him. 'Whoo-hoop!' said the Captain, 

 ' I've run him to ground, by Jove !' 



"I have already said that Captain Bridges 

 is one of the best tandem drivers in England. 

 In the exercise of his art he offers the follow- 

 ing bet : that he ivill throw any man out of the 

 carriage without himself being thrown out. 

 Strange to say, this bet has been accepted, for 

 the life as well as the money of the loser 

 might be the forfeit. 



