250 REMINISCENCES OF 



CHAPTER XVI. 



DERBY DAY. 



1862. In May, Mrs. John Johnstone invited us 

 to stay with her in Eaton Place. 



I went to the Derby on Lord Willoughby's 

 coach with Macclesfield, George Fox, Poltimore, 

 Jim H olden, etc. While standing near the coach 

 a gentleman lost his watch. Some of the servants 

 saw the thief, who, seeing that he was observed, 

 threw the watch under the coach and ran away. 

 Just then a rush of pick-pockets came, and we 

 tried to block the way and prevent them passing. 

 I felt something press hard against me, and made 

 a grab with my left hand and caught the chain of 

 my watch, the thief having the watch in his hands. 

 The chain did not break, and he let go of the watch 

 and ran away. Lord Rosslyn was standing by. I 

 said, " Look out, Francis, here is another ". I 

 rammed my watch into his hand and ran after my 

 thief. Luckily there was a narrow place between 

 the carriages which delayed him a little. I caught 

 hold of the collar of his coat and laid him on his 

 back. I then put him between the wheels of the 

 coach with his back to the door and stood in front 

 of him while some one went for a policeman. Jim 



