COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 153 



ally our companions. " Spicey," though a little light 

 man, was a capital coachman. 



Holland and his wife went with me to Naples. 

 We got four beautiful black horses and drove all the 

 way. We went to Amalfi, Paestum and other in- 

 teresting places. 



When we started to go home we got Guiseppe 

 Balducci and four horses, and drove to Marseilles. 

 I then gave the coach to Petrolini and went home up 

 the Rhone and by train. 



The next season " Spicey " again went abroad. 

 He bought the coach from Petrolini, picked up four 

 useful horses and drove all the way to Rome. My 

 mother and sisters were also going there. Within a 

 few miles of Rome their carriage broke down, and 

 they were sitting by the side of the road when up 

 drove " Spicey " with the old coach and took them 

 into Rome. 



In the spring of 1852 a dinner took place in Tam- 

 worth attended by Protectionist farmers. The mob 

 assaulted them and pelted them, and Sir Robert 

 Peel wrote a letter to the Times approving of their 

 conduct. 



At the beginning of the season Mr. Dester warned 

 Sir Robert off his land at Seckington, saying that he 

 would allow no one to come there who encouraged 

 the mob at Tamworth to ill-treat the farmers. Sir 

 Robert replied, "If you were a gentleman I would 

 horsewhip you". Mr. Dester replied, "Two can 

 play at that," and insisted on Sir Robert getting off 

 his land. 



