History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and CoalportRandall, John
History
History of Madeley: including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and Coalport
Randall, John
Madeley (Shropshire, England) -- History
“I do not know whether I gave thee my reasons, as I did to thy
sister, for the original selection. She may shew thee my letter to
her, and thou may communicate the above to her, with my dear love to
all, repeated from
“Thy affectionate father,
“RICHARD REYNOLDS.”
It was the custom when Mr. Reynolds had charge of the Coalbrookdale works
to perform long journeys on horseback, and we have heard it said that on
one occasion, being mounted on the back of an old trooper, near Windsor,
where George III. was reviewing some troops, the horse, on hearing
martial music, pricked up his ears, and carried Mr. Reynolds into the
midst of them before he could be reined up. He was a good horseman, and
a grandson of Mr. Reynolds writes:—
“We also enjoyed very much our grandfather’s account of a visit paid
to the Ketley Iron Works by Lord Thurlow, the then Lord Chancellor.
My grandfather, having gone through the works with his lordship, and
given him all requisite information and needful refreshment, proposed
to accompany him part of the way on his return, which offer his
lordship gratefully accepted, and the horses were ordered to the door
accordingly. They were, both of them, good riders, and were, both of
them, well mounted. The Lord Chancellor’s horse, no doubt a little
instigated thereto by his owner, took the lead, and my grandfather’s
horse, nothing loth to follow the example, kept as nearly neck and
neck with his rival as _his_ owner considered respectful. The speed
was alternately increased, until they found themselves getting on at
a very dashing pace indeed! and they became aware that the steeds
were as nearly matched as possible. At last, the Chancellor pulled
up, and complimenting my grandfather upon his ‘very fine horse’
confessed that he had never expected to meet with one who could trot
so fast as his own. My grandfather acknowledged to a similar
impression on his part; and his lordship, heartily shaking hands with
him, and thanking him for his great attention, laughed, and said, ‘I
think, Mr. Reynolds, this is probably the first time that ever a Lord
Chancellor and a Quaker rode a race together.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account