284 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



down the road on the days of the Four- Horse Club 

 Meetings, and used to amuse himself with giving them 

 the go-by whenever he thought proper. It was vain to 

 contend with him, as he was quite too fast for any of 

 them. I often regret that Lord Sefton has taken off his 

 bars, for we have lost one of our first-rate artists. 



I only recollect the following members of the Four- 

 Horse Club, but perhaps some of your correspondents 

 will favour me by adding to the list : — 



Mr. Buxton. This gentleman is, as I before men- 

 tioned, very scientific, and supposed to be the best 

 hand at breaking in young ones, and putting them well 

 into harness, of anyone going. His experience is great. 

 The bit which takes its name from him, and is called the 

 Buxton bit, has much merit. Exclusive of other advan- 

 tages, it is a preventive of a horse getting the cheek into 

 his mouth, when he becomes nearly unmanageable. The 

 late Lord Hawke was a fair coachman, and had excellent 

 taste in harness and carriages. 1 His head-terret has 

 been generally adopted. 



Sir Felix Agar is a beautiful light coachman, and dis- 

 tinguished by a certainly hitherto-unrivalled exploit on 

 the bench. He drove his coach for a wager, in and 

 out of, and around the ' Fox,' in Messrs. Tattersall's yard, 

 in a trot. The bet was a dinner to a large party, and 

 the bettor on the other side of the question was Mr. 

 Ackers, who of course had the piper to pay. If either 



1 Lord Foley was at work a good deal in these days, and was remark- 

 able for the neatness of his turn-out. I have at this time the receipt of Lord 

 Sefton's coachman for blacking leather — the best I ever met with. Patent 

 leather for pads and winkers was not known at this period. 



