278 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



spilling a drop of his wine ; and after he had drunk it off, 

 he would run the empty glass up and down the large silver 

 buttons on his coat, with very singular effect. 



Mr. Prouse has seldom been without a team of his 

 own, and, though I have often seen him at work, I can- 

 not say much in honour of his turn-out. His steeds did 

 not look as if they were ' begotten of the wind ' ; but he 

 always preferred heavy work — perhaps because he is a 

 heavy man. He is now become the possessor of a fine 

 estate in Gloucestershire, lately the property of an old 

 friend of mine, now deceased, but I fear he is getting 

 slack on the coach-box. 



Mr. Prouse is a warm admirer of the road, and, in 

 the spring of the year, is generally to be seen leaning his 

 back against the window of the carpet-bhop in Piccadilly, 

 whence he can see all the coaches that are leaving town 

 by way of Hyde Park Corner. Numerous anecdotes are 

 related of him, amongst which is the following — pretty 

 strong of ' the ruling passion' : He was dining one day 

 in a party, when the French Revolution became the sub- 

 ject of conversation. Listening to all that was said with- 

 out making any remark, Mr. Prouse at length took a 

 letter from his pocket, and addressed his company thus : 

 ' Don't talk to me about your French Revolution. 

 Here's Bill Simmons, the first man that ever drove the 

 Bristol mail out of Bristol, d — n me, if they haven't 

 turned him over to the heavy coach. Now that's what I 

 call a revolution ! ' 



Mr. Spicer always has a team. He is allowed to be 

 a very good hand and excellent judge ; but Mr. Maxse 





