DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0230
200 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE
nomination, could not answer his wishes; but after he had
obtained it, it seems Mr. Van Butchell thought his refusal
would enhance his consequence, more than his acceptance
of it; and accordingly he made it the finale of his advertise-
ments soon after.
Another anecdote is related of him; viz. that meeting
his Majesty in Windsor Great Park, his Majesty knowing
him, rode up, and addressed him thus“ Mr. Butchell,
how do you do—-how do you like the day’s sport ?” To
which his answer was, (e Pretty well, I thank you, Sir.”
—And Van Butchell’s curious bridle and blind, which he
occasionally threw over his horse, did not escape his Ma-
jesty’s attention.
It is not a little surprising, though the public have been
so long used to Mr. Van Butchell, that the lower orders are
not yet perfectly reconciled to the singularity of his appear-
ance. It is only a few weeks since, that so many boys and
others assembled about him while he w as in Hyde Park, and
endeavouring to mount his poney, who started and ran at the
hooting and hallooing of these fellows, that for upwards of
an hour he was not able to effect his purpose; but kept
walking the poney round and round the great tree. Two
gentlemen on horseback, however, at length pitying his situa-
tion, rescued him from this dilemma, and held the poney, till
being enabled to mount him quietly, he rode home between
them to Mount Street, unmolested.
Another time in the course of last summer, just as the
Westminster Cavalry had broke up after a field day, Mr.
Van Butchell being in the park with his poney, it took
fright and threw him; happily he received no harm-
however, having mounted again, the cavalry beginning
to disperse, and two of the corps, not thinking, or pro-
bably not caring for the consequences, rode after Mr. Van
Butchell full speed, while the jolting of their swords and
pouches renewing the fright of his horse, he again set off
with
nomination, could not answer his wishes; but after he had
obtained it, it seems Mr. Van Butchell thought his refusal
would enhance his consequence, more than his acceptance
of it; and accordingly he made it the finale of his advertise-
ments soon after.
Another anecdote is related of him; viz. that meeting
his Majesty in Windsor Great Park, his Majesty knowing
him, rode up, and addressed him thus“ Mr. Butchell,
how do you do—-how do you like the day’s sport ?” To
which his answer was, (e Pretty well, I thank you, Sir.”
—And Van Butchell’s curious bridle and blind, which he
occasionally threw over his horse, did not escape his Ma-
jesty’s attention.
It is not a little surprising, though the public have been
so long used to Mr. Van Butchell, that the lower orders are
not yet perfectly reconciled to the singularity of his appear-
ance. It is only a few weeks since, that so many boys and
others assembled about him while he w as in Hyde Park, and
endeavouring to mount his poney, who started and ran at the
hooting and hallooing of these fellows, that for upwards of
an hour he was not able to effect his purpose; but kept
walking the poney round and round the great tree. Two
gentlemen on horseback, however, at length pitying his situa-
tion, rescued him from this dilemma, and held the poney, till
being enabled to mount him quietly, he rode home between
them to Mount Street, unmolested.
Another time in the course of last summer, just as the
Westminster Cavalry had broke up after a field day, Mr.
Van Butchell being in the park with his poney, it took
fright and threw him; happily he received no harm-
however, having mounted again, the cavalry beginning
to disperse, and two of the corps, not thinking, or pro-
bably not caring for the consequences, rode after Mr. Van
Butchell full speed, while the jolting of their swords and
pouches renewing the fright of his horse, he again set off
with