THE BRIGHTON ROAD. \\7 



in my presence that he was not working for their party 

 instead of being where he now is, and where, I hope and 

 think, he is doing as well as his best friends could wish. 



' As I have mentioned William Snow's name, it may 

 be as well to " lug in " my opinion of him, as old John 

 Lawrence would say, as a dragsman. Having heard a 

 great deal of him as an artist, I took an opportunity 

 of travelling with him a few days ago on the extra 

 " Dart," but I am sorry to say I was much disappointed 

 in his performance, which, considering his reputation as 

 a coachman, I thought extremely mediocre ; and he 

 certainly has no pretensions to the character of a first- 

 rate workman. As to a comparison with his brother Bob 

 (which I had understood he had no occasion to shrink 

 from), there is more coachmanship and knowledge of the 

 art in Robert's little finger than in all William's body put 

 together, and although a very civil and cheerful fellow to 

 travel with, I cannot assign him even an " Exeter class " 

 in the " honours " of dragsmanship, but must rank him 

 only amongst the " vulgar herd," as we used to say at 

 Oxford. 



' Before I dismiss the name of Snow, let me express 

 my very great pleasure at the way in which the whole of 

 Bob's coaches — the " Dart," " Comet," and " Sovereign " 

 — have been loading this season ; and if he takes my 

 advice, he will not kick down any part of what he has 

 earned with them by continuing his horses on that 

 suicidal night opposition, the " Evening Star." Both he 

 and Sam Goodman may rely on it that old Crossweller 

 does not care one button for the harm it can do the 



