THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



met at Stevens's Hotel, as appointed, and sat down to a dinner 

 of the best of everything, in one of the private rooms. The 

 following, was a part of their talk : — • 



Sir Jolin. — ' Well, Jack, glad to meet you once more ; what 

 news in town ? ' 



Webber. — ' Why, the devil to pay at the " Bull and Mouth." 

 They have got the distemper in the yard, and they have taken 

 Will Brydges of!" the Shrewsbury " Union," the best coach out 

 of London for a coachman, and put him on the Bristol " Blue." 

 Besides, they talk of docking them all of the short shillings the 

 first stage, in and out, which is not fair, because we all know 

 that London coachmen are at heavier expenses for lodging and 

 food than those who work down in the country.', 



Sir Jo/tn. — ' And the " Swan with Two Necks," how go they 

 on there ? ' . 



Webber. — ' Oh, all right, as regards the nags — never better ; 

 but the devil's own work between the " Telegraph " and the 

 " Defiance," on the Manchester road. I saw Bob ^ go out with 

 his coach to-day, and Jack ^ yesterday, both very flash indeed ; 

 in short, dressed more like gentlemen than coachmen.' 



Sir Joltn. — ' And Jack Hale, how is he ? ' 



Webber. — ' Never better ; and his stock looks as well as he 

 does. He has just accepted the office of secretary to the 

 Benevolent Whip Club, to which several of our friends have 

 subscribed handsomely.' 



Sir JoJin. — ' An excellent institution that. No class of 

 persons stand more in need of something of the sort, to enable 

 them to fall back upon, in case of illness or accident, to which 

 they are so much exposed, as coachmen and guards do. I 

 shall see Jack when he comes in, to-morrow, and tell him to 

 put down my name for ten guineas a 3'ear. I have had no less 

 than three coachmen and two guards invalided at my house in 

 the country, during the last two years, who might not have 

 required my assistance had they been members of the " Benevo- 

 lent Club." ' 



Webber. — 'I suppose you have seen Jack Bailey, as his 

 coach came in about two hours ago ? ' 



Sir John. — ' Of course I did, and showed him, //;/ h i,s oiun 

 watch — at least, by the one which once was his — how, to a 



1 Bob Snow, formerly on the Brighton road, and Jack Marchant, wlio died 

 landlord of the '(Treyhound Inn,' at Newmarket. 



Ill 



