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364 Appendix, 



" I continue, however, to ride sixteen or eighteen miles every- 

 day, clothing myself according to the weather. I can still go 

 pretty fast, up or down-hill, and across rough ground; but 

 over a fence as high as my knee, 'l^o.' 



"My black boots, like a hatchment over a window in 

 Grosvenor Square, stand in a row on the top of a mahogany 

 wardrobe in my dressing-room. I sometimes give a very little 

 short sigh when I look at them ; but I had in them a good 

 allowance of green fields, hedges, brooks, ditches, and dainty 

 bits of timber, of all of which I occasionally enjoy a delightful 

 dream. 



"I very often think of the many happy days and jumps 

 I had when at Oxeuden ; and heartily wish you all a long con- 

 tinuance of the sport I so much enjoyed." &c.j &c. 



4. 



« November, 1869. 



" In old times you used to cheer me up with one or two 

 vivid descriptions of a good run ; but when I tell you that in 

 my last visit to Lord Hopetoun and the ' P.H.,' I rolled 

 off, I thought you'd give me up, and I certainly am only 

 deserving of the stereotyped motto of old age : ' Noii sum 

 qitalis eram.^ 



'' I still continue, however, to read in the Times the Hunting 

 Appointments ; and see that the ' Pytchley Meet ' to-morrow is 

 Sywell Wood, which for years has been identified in my mind 

 with the name, and what is more, with the appearance on his 

 cob, of your worthy and excellent father ; to say nothing of 

 his cub !" &c., &c. 



"March 5th, 1872. 



" I was delighted to learn from your note just received, that 

 a horse, sent on trial to you, ran away with you from your very 

 door — jumped a seven-barred gate — fell on his head, and ' only ' 

 sprained your ankle ! I never think again of turtle-soup after 

 it is swallowed ; but I do ruminate with great pleasure, and 

 I hope with becoming gratitude, on the escapes I have had ; 



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