THE B. D. C, AND FOUR-HORSE CLUB. 283 



always presided at the dinner table ; and Sir John 

 Rogers, vice. If these members were absent, the late 

 Lord Hawke, and his brother, Mr. Martin Hawke, acted 

 for them. Two guineas a head cleared all expenses, 

 save horses, to the bona-Jide members ; and three guineas 

 were charged to those who were honorary ones. As no 

 strangers were admitted, I can only repeat what I have 

 heard — namely, that the utmost good-fellowship prevailed 

 at those periodical meetings, and from the present 

 number of teams now going in the neighbourhood of 

 London — upwards of thirty — it is a matter of surprise 

 that the Club is not renewed. 



The procession of this Club in Cavendish Square was 

 perhaps objectionable, as making unnecessary parade ; 

 and the B. D. C. managed the matter better ; but the 

 going down the road was good. Luncheon for thirty was 

 always set out at the ' Packhorse ' at Turnham Green, 

 with cider cup, made with hock and burrage ; and the 

 same at the ' Magpies ' on Hounslow Heath, eight miles 

 farther down the road. Here also the horses were 

 watered, but they ran the ground to Salt Hill, and back 

 the next clay, without being taken out of their harness — 

 the distance, twenty-four miles from Cavendish Square. 

 The number of teams generally amounted to about a 

 dozen — each dragsman having an honorary member on 

 his bench. 



During the period of this Club, my Lord Sefton was 

 at work, and better horsed, perhaps, than any other man 

 in England. His Lordship neither belonged to this, nor to 

 the B. D. C, but he was frequently in the habit of going 



