Riders ill the Row. 



17 



of grace in respect to figure, I yet managed to follow 

 my leader safely. 



In such large gatherings as those which are to 

 be seen in Hyde Park, when the day is propitious, 

 there are of course oddities, and people who out- 

 herod fashion itself. I cannot say I admire one of 

 the features of the day, which, when carried to 

 excess, savours of the ridiculous. Very long men, 

 with very long spurs, riding very little ponies, with 

 very short tails ; nor do I like to see a lady and her 

 husband riding long - tailed skewbalds, without 

 shape, action, or manners, having only an eccen- 

 tricity of colouring as a recommendation, for I say 

 to myself — " Ducroiu redivivus,''^ and pass on. Again, 

 I do not like to see two or three young ladies going 

 at a racing pace when the Row is crowded; it 

 disturbs the equanimity of elderly people, and 

 excites their horses to inconvenient action. 



Certainly when the day is fine, and the Park 

 crowded, there is nothing more delightful than to 

 ride in the Row ; an opportunity is then afforded 

 of seeing the notable ones of the world of fashion 

 at the fullest advantage ; enabling the attentive 

 observer to admire the number of beautiful women, 

 and take note of the stalwart men, splendid equi- 

 pages, and grand horses, nowhere to be equalled. 

 Drawn up by the side of the Row, on one occasion, 

 was an admirably, appointed barouche, containing 

 a lady and her daughters. The elder, a girl of 

 eighteen years, " Beauteous as vision seen in dreamy 

 sleep," quietly but elegantly dressed, representing 

 a perfect specimen of our English maidens of 

 high degree, whom I will back for elegance, and 



