34^ The Post and the Paddock, 



and mind you bring that bit of print back, I wouldn't 

 lose it for a little.* 



Mr. Meynell was like a regular little apple dump- 

 ling on horseback ; Mr. Assheton Smith and Lord 

 Forester, them were the men for me. Lord Jersey, 

 too — my word ! he was very good ; and Sir Charles 

 Knightley, he was one of Lord Jersey's stamp. 

 He'd be more of a Pytcheley man, though many's the 

 time I've seen him in the Harboro' country, and 

 Lord Lonsdale's : it was precious seldom he'd miss 

 a Tilton or an Owston Wood meet. How he used 

 to go, to be sure ! — he woidd be with hounds, to see 

 'em do their work. Blame me, but I've seen him, at 

 the end of a run, all blood and thorns. Mr. Smith, he 



* To prevent the catastrophe so darkly hinted at by the Professor, 

 we reprint the extract. 



Dangerous Hunting Exploit. — The following extraordinary 

 feat was last week inadvertently performed by that celebrated rider and 

 tough veteran, Dick Christian, of Melton Mowbray. He was mounted 

 on Mr. Coke's chestnut mare Marigold, and out with the Quorn hounds 

 near Holwell mouth, when he charged a thick-cut hedge four feet six 

 inches high, which he cleared in good style, the mare alighting on a 

 bank about a yard wide, with all her four feet together ; immediately 

 below this bank is a steep declivity into an old quarry or stone-pit 

 called Sot's Hole, about twelve yards deep ; the failure of the bank 

 where friend Dick had thus suddenly deposited his whole capital, must 

 have proved fatal : luckily it stood firm, and the generous animal on 

 which he rode bounded boldly forward, reaching the bottom in three 

 springs, the measurement of which we subjoin ; much to the amazement 

 of the old stager and several others who witnessed this unprecedented 

 performance. Dick found himself well fixed on his saddle when the 

 gallant mare reached terra firma, and both steed and rider perfectly 

 unscathed. Mr. Coke himself was by, and wondered for the moment 

 what had become of his mare. Too much praise cannot be given to 

 our hardy veteran of the field for his excellent nerve, his firm and 

 vigorous hand, and cool presence of mind, in this little affair. In the 

 Sporting Magazine for April, 1829, page 373, and Pierce Egan's 

 " Book of Sports," page 221, honourable mention is made of this true 

 " old English fox-hunter," who is now in the 60th year of his age, and 

 still hale and hearty. The following is a correct statement of each leap, 

 the height of the hedge not being included :— Over the hedge ist leap, 

 1 8ft. Sin. measured in a right line ; 2nd leap, loft. 6in. ; 3rd, loft. ; 

 4th, 14ft. 9 in. ; total, 53ft. 3in. 



