THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 269 



and endeavoured to get what is called " the penny's- 

 worth for his penny." It would be well if all persons, 

 situated as he was situated with the means of procuring 

 all reasonable pleasures would observe the like rule. 



But to return to the coach-stables (as those in which 

 coach-horses are kept are called, to distinguish them from 

 those used by hunters, the establishments being invariably 

 kept apart in all well-conducted arrangements) : I can do 

 nothing in illustration of them, if I may be allowed so 

 to express myself, without the assistance of some friends. 

 We will, therefore, announce to our readers the arrival of 

 the following conspicuous characters, on a week's visit 

 to our hero, who had made the most ample preparation 

 for their reception ; viz., Lord Edmonston ; Sir John 

 Inkleton ; Mr. Somerby ; Mr. Goodall ; Mr. Houghton ; 

 friend Hargrave ; and Jack Webber ; and no sooner had 

 they all assembled, and partaken of some refreshment after 

 their journey, than they walked into the stable-yard, 

 where the following conversation ensued : 



Sir John. " Ah ! there is your drag, and it appears to 

 be quite the thing, or ' all-right,' as we say on the road. I 

 told you Wright and Powell would turn you out a good 

 one. What do you think of it, Jack, eh ? " 



Now, before we give the answer, we must have a word 

 or two about " Jack." In consequence of his father having 

 grumbled rather more than he thought was necessary, 

 at having three times paid his debts amounting, in 

 all, to upwards of 72,000 the said Mr. John Webber 

 quitted the paternal roof, and went regularly to work on 

 the Brighton road for upwards of two years. A better 

 coachman, perhaps, seldom mounted a coach-box ; a more 

 popular character, with all descriptions of persons, never ; 

 but he quitted it at the earnest request of his family, and 

 was restored to society with no further blemish on his 

 character than having performed the office of a menial 

 to those vastly below him in the world. But Jack had 

 always this answer in his mouth, to anyone who reminded 

 him of this : 



"Honour and shame from no condition rise; 

 Act well your part there all tlie honour lies : " 



concluding, in the more humble language of prose, with 

 declaring that he believed he could say what no other road 

 coachman in England could say ; namely, that he not only 



