The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-07-13

that any man who professed to ride ought
to know how to fall. and in his tumbles
never but twice broke bone; and of the
two times, once'for having clasp knife in
his breast pocket. He always fell clear of
his horse, and never let 90 the bridle.-
Once when bis horse was pluneing round
HIM as he lny on the ground with the bri-
die clinchcd in his hand nervous friend
called out to him to le, 90 or he would he
kicked. He replied, He shall kick nv
brains out first In making cast, as in
the run, he went without hesitation stra,pbt
ever everything where the scent Law, and to
this his success as a hun,sman was partly
due. On one occasion, at the close of
run, he rode up hill over fence, CARVING
away the top rail, which, when the top rail,
which, when the top rail had been carried
away, no other man in the field would look
at. Finding the gate at the end of one Of
the Two parallel bridges locked, he leaped
clear over both rails to the other bridge.
One day, in hard frost, he persuaded a
master OF hounde with whom he was stay
ing just to put the hounds into covert and
let them find fox, and, the fox being found.
went away with them, and haa a hard run
over the iron ground-a spree, the thought
OF which sets ones teeth on edge. People
were not astonished to see him 90 straigbt
over the most tremendous places. but they
were surprised to see that he did not even
look round at the leap when he was over
Though desperate rider he WAS not a
wild one, but on the contrary. most Judi
clous. and gave bis horse every chance.-
dis hand was unequaled, and horses which
no one else could manage we're tractable
with him. He never lost bis temper with
animals. His horse knew it was useless TO
refuse with him, and one of them leaned
with him into the middle of the pond.
which he had unconsciously ridden up to.
with his head turned away, and which the
orse thought it his duty TO take. His
hounds hailed bis approach, with Joy, afar
of. though he only hunted and never led
them. lie was absolute master of his craft
and all that belonged to it, and what the
Duke of Wellington was to our other Eng
lish Generals, that was Asstcton Smith TO |
other English hun,srnen.
Nor was he master Of the sportsman's
craft alone. HIS strong sense and warm
h""rt made him in other ways useful
man. He did r great deal of good. real
good and in judicious WAY. among the
poor on his estates, especially among quar-.
rymen on bis great quarries in Wales. lie
saw the great fact that property is the roo:
OF social virtue, and gave each of his men
As far as he could, few acres of waste
land. which they Of course, turned into a
garden Ho was a builder Of churches
and OF schools. and the clergymen of Ills
parishes found his hand always free. He
bad great turn for mechanical contrivan.
ces, and was great ship builder. He even
dis; 'uted With Mr.. Scott Russell the merit
Of having originated the "wave line." He T
IS said also to have been the first who sup
g"sted our fleet Of gun-boats. Wha, it sur
Pr'ses US more to hear, is that lie. was not
without literature. Pope and Horace were
his favorites; he knew. .Eloise to Abelard
ny heart. He was also passionate adni-
rer of. Shakespeare, and fond of repeating the
speech Of Polomius especially the lines IRE.
ally applicable to bis own character)-
Tothine own self be true,
And it shall follow as H.. niSbt tn. INV
Thou csnst not then bs,false 70 sny MAN.