Monday Major Ridge, who was at his brother’s seat, at Vining, near Rogate, Petersfield, on a shooting excursion, went out with his servant to enjoy the sports of the field. After going over a hedge, his servant handed him the gun through the hedge, with the muzzle towards him, when it accidently went off, and the contents passed through the Major’s body. When the account left he was alive, but there was little hope of his recovery. The family were in the greatest distress, and the whole parish lamented the accident, as he was universally respected.