THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



morning of his appearance ; neither were they, in any 

 respect, disappointed. His coach was new for the 

 occasion ; his harness patent leather for pads and 

 winches was not then known as clean and as shining as 

 Lord Sal ton's coachman's blacking could make it ; an 

 extra pound of soap had been used that morning on the 

 horses ; and, by way of a finish, the manly and handsome 

 person of the owner, becomingly dressed for the occasion, 

 and with a well-selected bouquet in his breast, produced 

 the coup. By his side sat his friend Hargrave, elected an 

 honorary member of the club ; and his team the picking 

 of his stable, of course, having the black piebald oft' leader 

 was pronounced all-sufficient and business-like, although, 

 as might have been expected, not first-rate ; the premier- 

 ship having been awarded to that of Sir John Inkleton, 

 which time and better judgment had rendered perfect. 

 But having mentioned his blacking, we must not pass 

 over the crack team of those times that of the Earl of 

 Salton, who, although not a member of the club, generally 

 was on the look-out for the procession, and being, by the 

 superiority of his cattle, able to give any of the members 

 the go-by when he pleased, would occasionally amuse 

 himself by so doing. 



It may be gathered, by what has been said of him, 

 that Lord Edmonston although a young nobleman of 

 a highly honourably character, uniting prudence with 

 liberality to a degree not often experienced at his period 

 of life, and, as may also be recollected, not only a kind 

 friend, but an affectionate and serviceable monitor to our 

 hero in the hour of need, although he was at that time 

 little known to his Lordship was neither a practical 

 coachman nor sportsman beyond driving his own curricle, 

 in the one case, and joining the hounds of his neighbour- 

 hood, in the other ; not so much, perhaps, from the love 

 of hunting, which he did not profess to understand, as 

 for the exercise and society which the noble pursuit 

 afforded him. At a dinner, then, given by Sir John 

 Inkleton, a day or two after one of the processions of the 

 Four-in-hand Club had taken place, and at which, by the 

 introduction of Frank Raby, his Lordship was one of the 

 guests, the conversation having turned upon the doings 

 of this very celebrated club, he was thus heard to speak of 

 it: 



" It may be all very well," said his Lordship, " for 



