NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 17 



But none feel these blessings, in reality, like those who have been for 

 many hours on a coach-box, in a cold, wet night; and they were very 

 eflBciently presented to us at ten o'clock this night at Huntingdon, the 

 stop on our road. But the breakfast at Barnby-moor, the next morning 

 at eight o'clock! that was a still greater treat; for at no nobleman's 

 castle in the county could a better have been provided. When I was 

 last there, the celebrated Mr. Clarke — celebrated for his breed of cattle 

 and his horses, as well as for his larder and cellar, kept it, and I was 

 glad to find the reputation of the house was not about to suffer by the 

 change of landlord, which is saying a good deal in this case. 



On mounting the box again, I could see the country we were passing 

 through, which is hunted by Mr. Foljanibe, and it appeared to me to be a 

 good one to ride over ; but it was nearly as hard at this time as it could 

 have been at any period of the summer; we were now, however, I was 

 told, nearly on the outside of it, and soon arrived in the far-famed town 

 of Doncaster ; and as every thing there savours of sporting, we picked 

 up a sporting guard, who, as I karnt from the coachman, had dropped his 

 blunt on the St. Leger of the last year. " What's his name ?" said I, 

 " Ben Reader," replied he; " and he's a droll chap, I assure you, sir," 

 *' Then," said I, " I'll crawl along the side of the coach and have some 

 chat with him." Nimrod speaks : 



*' Well, Mr. Guard, you made a pretty business of your last Leger." 



Guard. " All over the left shoulder T they drawed me of forty 

 pound, and be damned to them." 



Nimrod. *' What! you stood your blunt upon Plenipo. — did you?" 



D 



