ME. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 447 



The minor casualties of those few butchering spasmodic 

 moments may be briefly dismissed, though they were more 

 numerous than most sportsmen see out hunting in a lifetime. 



One horse broke his back, another was drowned, Multum-in- 

 Parvo was cut all to pieces, his rider had two ribs and a thumb 

 broken, while Farmer Slyfield's stack-yard was fired by some of the 

 itinerant tribe, and all its uninsured contents destroyed— so that his 

 landlord was not the only person who suffered by the grand occasion. 



Nor was this all, for Mr. Numboy, the coroner, hearing of 

 Jack's death, held an inquest on the body ; and, having em- 

 panneled a matter-of-fact jury — men who did not see the advan- 

 tage of steeple-chasing, either in a political, commercial, agricul- 

 tural, or national point of view, and who, having surveyed the 

 line, and found nearly every fence dangerous, and the wall and 

 brook doubly so, returned a verdict of manslaughter against Mr. 

 Viney for setting it out, who was forthwith committed to the 

 county gaol of Limbo Castle for trial at the ensuing assizes, from 

 whence let us join the benevolent clerk of arraigns in wishing him 

 a good deliverance. 



Many of the hardy " tips " sounded the loud trump of victory, 

 proclaiming that their innumerable friends had feathered their 

 nests through their agency ; but Peeping Tom, and Infallible Joe, 

 and Enoch Wriggle, the " offending soul," &c, found it con- 

 venient to bolt from their respective establishments, carrying with 

 them their large fire-screens, camp-stools, and boards for posting up 

 their lists, and setting up in new names in other quarters ; while 

 the Hen Angel was shortly afterwards closed, and the presentation - 

 tureen made into " white soup." 



Our noble master's nerves were so dreadfully shattered by the 

 lamentable catastrophe to poor Jack, that he stepped, or rather 

 was pushed, into Jawleyford's carriage almost insensibly, and 

 driven from the course to Jawleyford Court. 



There he remained sufficiently long for Mrs. Jawleyford to 

 persuade him that he would be far better married, and that either 

 of her amiable daughters would make him a most excellent wife. 

 His lordship, after very mature consideration, and many most 

 scrutinising stares at both of them through his formidable 

 spectacles, wondering which would be the least likely to ruin 

 him — at length decided upon taking Miss Emily, the youngest, 

 though for a long time the victory was doubtful, and Amelia 

 practised her " Scamperdale " singing with unabated ardour and 

 confidence up to the last. We believe, if the truth were known, 

 it was a slight touch of rouge, that Amelia thought would clench 

 the matter, that decided his lordship against her. Emily, we are 

 happy to say, makes him an excellent wife, and has not got her 

 head turned by becoming a countess. She has improved his 



