THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 129 



Did not Lateranus, the consul, drive his own chariot by 

 night, and, when the year of his office was out, publicly 

 in the streets of Rome, by day ? 



" But really, uncle, joking apart for I have seen you 

 smile at my panegyric on ancient coachmen I think you 

 must admit that the fashion for gentlemen driving their 

 own coaches, which is now becoming so prevalent, will, in 

 time, do much good. It has caused them to notice and 

 take under their protection, public, or ' road coachmen," as 

 they are called, a most useful body of men, and ' scientific ' 

 in their calling you may smile at the epithet, and yet it 

 is their due who will be much the better for coming more 

 in collision with their superiors, and receiving, whilst 

 imparting, instruction. It is quite evident, and I have 

 heard not only my father, but Dr. Chapman and Mr. 

 Egerton say, the coachmen on our road are wonderfully 

 improved since Sir John and the Hon. Mr. Conolly have 

 been so much at work amongst them with their own 

 teams. The latter, indeed, has put together and published 

 a few general maxims, not only relating to their situation 

 and practice, as coachmen, but to their conduct as men ; 

 and they will, no doubt, be the means of saving the lives 

 of many persons, who travel in the course of the year. 

 Now, if he were not himself a coachman, he could not 

 have done this, at least, with any effect." 



" Certainly not, I admit," replied Mr. Raby, " any more 

 than .Eschylus could have celebrated the triumph.-? of his 

 country on the stage, so perfectly as he has done, had he 

 not fought and bled on the plains of Marathon ; for I 

 suppose I must be classical here as well as yourself. But 

 tell me, Frank, do you mean to be an amateur coachman, 

 as well as a fox-hunter?" 



" I should like it," answered Frank, " if my means 

 allowed me, but not else ; for we should pay too dear for 

 any pleasure, I should think, if it brings us into pecuniary 

 difficulties." 



" Good, my dear Frank," resumed the uncle ; " these 

 are honeyed words of yours to niy ears." 



"Why, you know, uncle, coaching can be enjoyed for 

 six months in the year, in which there is no hunting ; 

 and I should like never to be quite idle, if I could help 

 it. I think lounging away one's time, at a watering- 

 place, in the summer, must be poor fun for a young man ; 

 besides, the having a team of one's own affords oppor- 



