DRIVING CLUBS. 51 



its name from Benson or Bensington, in Oxon, on the 

 Worcester road, forty-six miles from London, was an aris- 

 tocratic club for those who cherished a fondness for the 

 road. It was established on February 28, 1807. Nim- 

 rod gives all information respecting it from its foundation, 

 and remarks truly how much the road owes to the exist- 

 ence of such clubs as these. 



To the members of this club belongs the credit of 

 being the chief means of establishing the Benevolent 

 Whip Club for the relief of coachmen in distress. 

 And I am indebted to Colonel Charles Tyrwhitt — a 

 dragsman who will be recognised as ' Charley Tyrwhitt,' 

 who used frequently to drive the 'Age,' and the 'Windsor 

 Taglioni ' — for the following details. ' The old B. D. C. 

 continued to exist for a short time after the death of 

 Sir Henry Pay ton — the grandfather of the late Sir 

 Algernon — I think until about 1853-4. -The ''Black 

 Dog " at Bedfont, which no longer exists, used to be the 

 place where the Club always dined, 1 and where they had 

 their private cellar.' 



The Four Horse Club (called erroneously the Whip 

 Club and the Four-in-Hand Club) started into existence 

 in May 1808. See the history of this club by Nimrod, 

 from which it appears that it ceased to exist before 1826. 



It was broken up in consequence of the death of 

 many of the members, and the advanced age of several 

 others. 



A new driving club was formed under the auspices of 



1 After Benson was given up. 

 E 2 



