Many years ago, a party of officers had come to Land's End on a visit of inspection.  Two of them proposed riding down the slope towards the extreme point, which has perpendicular precipices on both sides.  A third officer--Captain, afterwards General, Arbuthnot--dismounted, and led his horse after his companions, considering that the place was too dangerous to ride down.  After enjoying the view for some time, the party proposed returning, when Captain Arbuthnot, believing that there would be no danger in riding up, mounted to follow his companions. Scarcely, however, was he in his saddle, than his horse, a spirited animal, became restive, and began to kick and plunge, inclining to the precipice on the right side.  In vain its rider tried to show the animal her danger; to his horror, he found that her feet were close to the precipice.  He had just time to throw himself off, and clear his feet from the stirrups, when over she went down the cliff, and was dashed to pieces, leaving him on the slippery sward close to the edge of the precipice.  The spot where the accident occurred is still shown.