24 Silk and Scarlet, 



me 1 60 guineas for him, and called him Christian ; 

 he was a brown one, by Vivaldi. I never wore but 

 one spur, and seldom that. I only want my fingers; 

 them's the things for ketching 'em up, and making 

 'em go. 



A ride for Sir Sir James once gave Tom Smart four 

 James. hundred guineas for a horse; he could 

 get through bush fences nicely, but he knee'd the big 

 uns. He had given him a fall or two, and the hounds 

 had to meet at Owston Wood ; so he sends to me, to 

 wait at Burton toll-bar till he comes up. Then he 

 says, " / want you to go across country from here to 

 Owston Woody and I want to see you go all the way. 

 You thread this road to Pickivell ; take which side of 

 the road you like!' ^^ Dal I this is arum un^' thinks 

 I ; so I chose the right side. We went straight be- 

 tween Pickwell and Somerby ; then I takes him over 

 four high rails, and Sir James would see him come 

 back ; he was well satisfied then, and he carried him 

 capital. Lord Lonsdale and all the gentlemen liked 

 the Owston Wood country best of any ; it's quite 

 Leicestershire fencing ; like the Harboro' country, very 

 little plough, good scenting ; quite open country, every 

 kind of fence. Mr. Moore — he was a great man at the 

 Old Club — he still would make me use two spurs when 

 I rode his horses. What an hospitable, charitable man 

 he was ! He seldom missed a day ; and he could ride 

 pretty fairly, but not one of those clinkers I've been 

 telling you of. 

 T A Axru Talk about all these men, there's none 



Lord Wilton. - . . ,. , r t • 



kep up his ridmg better tor thirty years 

 than Lord Wilton's done. He's quite a front man yet ; 

 him, and his son, and Captain Lloyd's always there. 

 He don't ram his horses till hounds settle to their 

 work ; he always rides perfect horses. If he misses a 

 good thing, he's sadly riled. There never was a better 

 groom than that one of his, Goodwin ; pleasant fellow 

 as need to be, and the best groom-rider as ever come 



