THE B. D. C, AND FOUR-HORSE CLUB. 277 



horse Exeter waggon' It happened one night that his 

 Majesty changed horses at Bedfont, soon after the Club 

 had dined. On beino- informed that his carriage was at 

 the door, they drank his health with three times three. 

 The King shortly afterwards saw one of the party at 

 Court, and acknowledged the compliment paid to him. 

 ' Was not old John Warde among you ?' said his Majesty. 

 On being answered in the affirmative, he replied, that 

 he thought he knew his halloa. 



Of Colonel Sewell I have seen nothing for some 

 years past, having been much abroad — in India, I 

 believe — but he is good on the box ; and Mr. Bunbury 

 has no team now. He had four clever chesnuts. I 

 never saw Mr. Thornhill at work, so can say nothing of 

 him on the bench. 



The next member of the B. D. C. of whom I am 

 enabled to say anything, is that well-known coachman, 

 Mr. Prouse — also one of the Old School, and a very 

 entertaining companion. His scene of action has been 

 chiefly confined to the Great Western Road, on which, 

 at one time, he worked almost as much as any regular 

 man. In the evening he is a good bit of company. 

 After five bottles of hock, which he could put under his 

 waistcoat at a sitting without the smallest inconvenience, 

 he has often been seen to fill a bumper, and place the 

 glass on his head during the time he would sing a song, 

 in which not only every coachman's, but every horse- 

 keeper's name between London and Plymouth was in- 

 troduced. At the same time also, he would pfo through 

 the manoeuvres of hitting wheeler and leader, without 



