1831.J Elliston-Ecccntricities. 133 



rassing. Already the coach, having driven rapidly, had considerably 

 widened the space from his duty. The pi'oposal might be of importance. 

 Perhaps some country management. " Proceed," said the author ; " I 

 must make what excuse I can on my return." Elliston immediately 

 began some rambling desultory harangue, which, before any thing could 

 be made out of it, was cut short by the coach stopping in Lombard- 

 street close to a north country mail just then in the act of starting. " Just 

 in time, Sir," said the guard, "couldn't wait the ghost of a minute." — 

 " Good God !" said the author, " you will not be able to tell me after 

 all." — " Yes, yes, I shall," said Elliston, getting into the mail; "jump 

 in ; we can put you down at the Angel, and you can take a coach — I'll 



pay for it " " But the Coburg." — " I tell you, I'll make a man of 



you — curse the Coburg!" — " Now, Sir," said the guard. The visions 

 of management danced before the author's eyes. " Curse the Coburg !" 

 he echoed mechanically, and jumped in beside the manager. Every 

 body knows in what an incredibly short space of time the mail travels 

 from Lombard-street to the Angel at Islington. Before the author had 

 well recovered his surprise, he found himself already there, and heard 

 Elliston calling loudly for brandy and water. It was confoundedly hot, 

 and before they could drink it, the mail was ready to travel. — " Well," 

 said the author, " you have brought me into a pretty mess, and told me 

 nothing after all — what on earth shall I do ? " — " Nonsense," said the 

 other ; " I was just coming to the point when we arrived ; but there is a 

 coach-stand a little higher up, and by the time we arrive there you shall 

 know all." In an unlucky hour did the poor author again commit him- 

 self to the road. "My dear friend," said Elliston, "give me but a 

 minute or two to reflect ; and throwing himself into a corner of the mail 

 seemed to be wrapped in thought. There was no other passenger in the 

 mail, and night was closing in unusually dark — what could this impor- 

 tant proposal be ? anxiously thought the author. He knew Elliston to 

 be a great speculator — perhaps he had taken the Dublin Theatre, and 

 had chosen him to superintend its management, — or the Liverpool, 

 perhaps — travelling in a north country mail favoured the supposition ; yet 

 why all this deep reflection — Elliston gave a loud snore ! " Good 

 God I" cried the astounded author, " have I been fooled all this time ?" — 

 " Excuse me, my dear fellow," said Elliston, half awaking by the 

 violence of his own exertion ; " but the fact is — brandy and water — 

 night — without sleep ;" and relapsing into somnolency, he snored again. 

 In despair, the author thurst his head out of the window to look for the 

 coach-stand, but found himself rattling along the north road, and just 

 then going through Highgate archway ; — with a groan the unhappy 

 man of letters threw himself back on the seat. " Make a man of you," 

 muttered Elliston ; " fortune favours — the brave. — Curse the Coburg." 

 — snores. A drowsy sympathy came over the author ; the brandy and 

 water had its effect, and when he awoke it was to a supper at the Bull at 

 Redburn, it being then about half-past eleven at night, and consequently 

 too late to think of taking a coach for the Coburg. Not to render my 

 story too long, their destination proved to be the Three Kings, or three 

 somethings at Leicester ; and now the important secret was to be 

 divulged. Tlie author was shewn into a bed-room to adjust his toilet ; 

 having nothing, however, but the clothes he stood in, but little time was 

 re(|uircd for lliul. On descending he found Ellist<m seated at a wcll- 

 fiUcd breakfast table, prepared to explain all to liis satisfaction. " Honesty, 



