PETER PIGSKIN 163 



Demerara, Carthagena, the raw article, long and 

 short stapled. And speaking of that, it is an ex- 

 traordinary thing how Pigskin and he ever delude 

 themselves into the idea that they are driving a con- 

 versation, for the talk of one is of nothing but trade, 

 while Pigskin's conversation runs upon horses and 

 hunting. Nevertheless they get through their long 

 evenings together most plainly, and each thinks the 

 other a most agreeable man. It is quite clear, then, 

 that similarity of sentiment and congeniality of mind 

 are not absolutely necessary for people getting on 

 well together in this world. We believe brandy and 

 baccy unite more people in friendship than anything 

 else. 



To see Pigskin in perfection, the reader should 

 visit him at home — see him when he returns after 

 hunting, in all the joyous abandon of a good run, to 

 his snow-white cloth, strong soup, strong ale, and 

 beefsteak pudding. See him in his comfortable 

 woollens and slippers, in his round-backed chair, 

 pipe and spit box. See him in his snug room, with 

 fox-brush bell-pulls at either side of the bright fire, 

 sporting prints on the walls, and " Bell's Lif"e " on the 

 table. 



The Quarterly Review Hunt, by Aiken, after 

 Apperly, that occupy the place of honour about the 

 middle of the wall, have their story and association 

 with the sport. Peter having come to London to 

 see the lions, was riding loosely and leisurely down 

 Regent Street one afternoon, after a heavy shower 

 had rendered his namesake, Peter Laurie's abomina- 

 tion, the wood pavement, more slippery than usual, 

 when his horse suddenly fell, shooting Peter Pigskin 

 with his head heavily against a dust cart wheel. 

 Stunned with the blow, he was carried insensible 

 into Mr. Ackermann's well known Eclipse Sporting 

 Gallery, and extended on the floor amidst all the 

 sporting pictures and representations of scenes that 



