3^!i) 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



{£ond breed of Horses, it is sufficient for all 

 useful purposes, without straining after that, 

 which without inordinate wealth, might prove 

 an incumbrance. 



We shall now finish our remarks upon the 

 deterioration of our English blood, and shall 

 trust to its renovation from those hands which 

 have already brought it to such perfection ; 

 doubting that it would be in better hands, even 

 if a National Establishment was to be formed. 



As a proof that our coachmen of the pre- 

 sent day have not deteriorated, but improved, 

 we copy the following: 



LEAVES FROM THE JOURNAL OF A MODERN AVHIP. 



Jidi/, 183 . — Got up with a cursed head- 

 ache ; Port too strong — must cut it, and try 

 the Claret in future. By the bye, I rather 

 tliink they cleaned me out last night ! Let 

 me see. Ah ! only half a dozen " bob" left 

 in my purse. Mem, to be more careful in 

 future, and not to play when Bob is of the 

 party. Soon dressed ; looked in the swing 

 glass ; don't think my toggery amiss. Wonder 

 what the Dragsmen of the Old School would 

 have said to such a turn-out ! Buckskin 

 trowsers, buff waistcoat, bird's-eye handker- 

 chief, smart brown coat, Wellington boots, 

 and light white tile ! instead of yellow top- 

 boots, greasy cord breeches, heavy long coat, 

 and dog's hair-hat ! But I've no time to lose. 

 What a bore to have to get up at such a 

 gotliic hour ! A lucky dog is Bob Masters, to 

 be two hours later. I've half a mind to cut 

 the concern altogether if my governor does not 

 cliange the time. But I must be off. So, 

 after snatching a kiss from my pretty Mary's 

 ruby lips, I ran down stairs, and soon found 

 myself at the office in Piccadilly, and just in 

 lime to see my drag pull up. 



" Why, Bill," I said to my horsekeeper (who 

 always brings my coach from the City), 

 " you've put that ' miller,' the Doctor, on tlie 

 near side : never mind, I'll try him to-day. 

 I say, let out the off-hand leader's bearino-- 

 rein a hole or two : aye, that will do." 



Just then an old lady with a fat lap-dog, 

 grey with age, and hardly able to breathe 

 from overfeeding, called me to the coach-door. 

 " Pray, young man, are you the coachman ?" 

 "Yes, Madam; can I be of any service?" 

 "Any service !" cried the dowager; ''yes, to 

 be sure you can ! that person in the corner 

 refuses to let me take this little darling (allud- 

 ing to the ugly brute she held in her arms) 

 into the coach : now I beg. Mister Coachman, 

 that you will insist on his allowing the little 

 beauty to accompany me in the inside." 

 " Why as to insisting. Madam, it is, I assure 

 you, quite out of the question ; and even had 

 I the will and power to do so, perhaps the 

 Gentleman might be disposed to play off the 

 old joke." " What old joke, man, do you 

 mean? I know nothing of jokes :" and from 

 her vinegar look I dare swear she did not. 

 " Why, Madam, a Gentleman in a similar case, 

 on a Lady insisting on making her dog an 

 inside passenger, purchased a little p«^ to ac- 

 company it." — " A pig ! Sir ! a pig .'" " Yes, 

 Madam, he declaring, that as the Lady had a 

 taste for one species of four-legged animals, 

 he had for another. Perhaps, then, as this 

 Gentleman may have such a taste, you will 

 allow the Guard to take charge of the little 

 beauty .''' Whether it was the fear of the pig, 

 or my flattery of the brute, had the effect I 

 cannot tell ; but, much to the annoyance of my 

 fellow-servant, the cur was handed over to his 

 tender mercies ; and as I afterwards heard 

 Jem Blowup cursing the creature most euiT- 



