THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



must be aware, depended upon various circumstances, quite 

 beyond his control, although within the range of speculation. 



On the th-st morning of the meeting— a beautiful one in 

 June— and at the hour of ten o'clock, Sir John's team was at 

 the door of Stevens's Hotel, and nothing could be more correct 

 in its appointments. Tlie coach was a bright yellow, neatly 

 picked out with black, and a plain crest on the upper door- 

 pannel. The mountings Avere, of course, of brass, to suit the 

 furniture of the harness; there were roof-irons to the front 

 roof, which held three persons, and a comfortable dickey 

 behind, to carry the two servants. The box was likewise on 

 the true coaching principle, made to sail forwards towards the 

 wheel-horses, with a good roomy footboard, and well-cushioned 

 seat, allowing plenty of elbow-room for two. The horses were 

 dappled greys, which did credit to all parties; first, to their 

 owner, for the selection of them; next, to the men who had 

 the care of them ; for the white hairs on their bodies were as 

 white as the driven snow, and their harness equally w^ell 

 polished. But Sir John's order for soap was unlimited, one 

 severe tax on the use of grey coach-horses ; and it is said he 

 never grumbled if the year's bill for that purifying article did 

 not exceed £100 ! 



The party assembled on this occasion, and the arrangement 

 of them about the coach, were as follows: — Frank Raby, 

 according to promise, on the box (the word 'bench' was not 

 in use in those days), by the side of his friend ; on the roof. 

 Lord Edmonston, Captain Askliam, and Hargrave, whom our 

 hero had introduced to his friend, who kindly offered hini a 

 seat: inside were two friends of the Baronet's, non-coaching 

 men, and an old and warm relation, who promised to pay for 

 the champagne, both on the course and at dinner, for the four 

 days of the meeting, on condition that he was not upset, either 

 in going or returning. 



Now, of the majority of this party it is not necessary to 

 say much. Lord Edmonston, Hargrave, our hero, and his 

 friend, have already been before the public; and the insides, 

 on this occasion, were good and worthy gentlemen in then- 

 line, but of no pretensions in ours. There was, however, one 

 conspicuous character on the way-bill, which must not be 

 passed over, inasnmch as his career in life, up to a certain 

 period of it, is, we may presume, without a parallel in the 



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