It was time to cut the turf—and I was in a mood for burning it too. I was done by Heath, but the impression on my fortune was not in the finished style. I now turned my attention to aquatics, and having been unfortunate at the One Tun, tried my luck in a vessel of twenty. I became a member of a Yacht Club, made matches which I lost—and sailed for a Cup at the Cowes’ Regatta, but carried away nothing but my own bowsprit. Other boats showed more speed, but mine most bottom; for after the match it upset, and I was picked up by a party of fishermen, who spared my life and took all I had, by way of teaching me, that a preserving is not a saving.—Pay again!
THE COWS’ REGATTA.
It was time to dispose of The Lucky Lass. I left her to the mate, with peremptory orders to make a sale of her;—an instruction he fulfilled by making all the sail on her he could, and disposing of her—by contract—to a rock, while he was threading the Needles. In the meantime I betook myself to the chase. Sir W. W. had just cut his pack, and I undertook to deal with the dogs:—but I found dog’s meat a dear item, though my friends killed my hunters for me, and I boil’d my own horses. The subscribers, moreover, were not punctual, and whatever differences fell out, I was obliged to make them up.—Pay again! At last I happened to have a dispute with a brother Nimrod as to the capability of his Brown and mine, and we agreed to decide their respective rates, as church rates, by a Steeple Chase. The wager was heavy. I rode for the wrong steeple—leapt a dozen gates—and succeeded in clearing my own pocket.—Pay again!
A PARTY OF PLEASURE.
It was now necessary to retrench. I gave up hunting the county, lest the county should repay it in kind, for I was now getting into its debt. I laid down my horses and took up a gun, leased a shooting-box, and rented a manor, somewhat too far north for me, for after a few moves, I ascertained that the game had been drawn before I took to it. It was useless therefore to try to beat—the dogs, for want of birds, began to point at butterflies. My friends, however, looked for grouse, so I bought them and paid the carriage.—Pay again!
Other experiments I must abridge. I found Pugilistic Sporting, as usual—good with both hands at receiving:—at Cocking the “in-goes” were far exceeded by the “out-goes:”—and at the gaming table, that it was very difficult to pay my way—particularly in coming back. In short I learned pages of meanings at school without trouble, but the signification of that one word Sporting, in manhood has been a long, and an uncomfortable lesson, and I have still an unconquerable relish of its bitterness, in spite of the considerate attentions of my Friends——
“POINTER AND DISAPPOINTER.”