The Four -m- Hand Chtb. 25 



Then, for a while, a change came o'er the sphit of 

 the times; coaching fell to a discount, and steam 

 rose considerably above par. So matters remained 

 for a number of years, and a well-appointed coach 

 was a rarity, a few only of the old school remaining 

 faithful to their colours, conspicuous amongst whom 

 was Sir Henry Peyton, who never failed to appear 

 in Hyde Park as regularly as the season came round ; 

 but even his well-appointed coach and workmanlike 

 team of greys failed to attract much attention. 

 Four-in-hands were considered as belonging to the 

 things of the past, and coaching found no favour 

 with the young '-Rapids" of the period. But the 

 good time came again. Drags were no longer rari- 

 ties, and the fashion of diiving a well-appointed 

 team revived; until we find it to-day enjoying a 

 greater amount of favour and exciting far more in- 

 terest than ever it did during any time in my re- 

 collection. 



At no period in the history of coaching, 

 which dates back as nearly as possible 100 years, 

 could an exhibition of such splendidly appointed 

 turn-outs have been seen as that which assembles 

 on the banks of the Serpentine at the present time. 

 With the most popular nobleman in England, the 

 Duke of Beaufort, at the head of the movement, it 

 has now reached a point that dims and outshadows 

 the glories of the past. Associated with this first- 

 class whip, most genial of gentlemen, and thorough 

 sportsman, are the Duke of Sutherland, the Marquis 

 of Londonderry, the Earl of Sefton, the Earl of 

 Macclesfield, Lord Londesborough, Lord Wenlock, 

 and Lord Aveland, forming the committee of the 



