THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 355 



although he was getting somewhat out of conceit with 

 being a member of the British senate, having been twice 

 obliged to absent himself from a favourite fixture for 

 hounds to obey a call of the House, and once had a visit 

 from the sergeant-at-arms for not obeying it : when all 

 these momentous affairs were accomplished, he hastened to 

 Farndon Hall, to spend the rest of the summer in a way 

 more congenial to his taste. His coaching establishment 

 was now quite complete by some changes he had effected 

 in London. He had drafted the kicking wheeler ; as 

 well as a leader that would not stand still when he pulled 

 up his coach on the road, and he was a bad starter as 

 well. Having witnessed much of the performances of 

 some of the best gentlemen-coachmen of the day, during 

 his stay in London, he was become a first-rate artist 

 himself ; and, after the example of his friend, " His 

 Honour," by opening the door of his servants' hall to 

 such of the coachmen and guards on his road as required 

 a few days' rest, together with having their allowance 

 scored up to him in his village, through which three mails 

 and seven coaches passed daily, his name was known to 

 nearly all the fraternity of the whip as a kind-hearted 

 gentleman, and among the best friends of the road. He 

 was, indeed, universally respected by all ranks of persons 

 in his neighbourhood : neither was he unmindful of the 

 poor ; allowing those of his parish, besides occasional 

 assistance, a bushel of wheat a week throughout the year, 

 as his father had always done to double that amount. 

 Then a pleasing circumstance occurred on the anniversary 

 of his taking up his abode at Farndon Hall. Setting 

 aside the outlay of his carriages and horses, as likewise 

 the furnishing of his house, he found himself so far from 

 being in advance of his annual income, that there was a 

 balance of 1300 in his favour. To this he was indebted 

 partly to his own sense of propriety, partly to the ex- 

 cellent advice of his friend Inkleton, and greatly to his 

 having looked into his affairs at the end of each month, 

 and paid ready money for all minor wants. The little 

 estate in Hertfordshire, also, from its beautiful locality, 

 had been sold for nearly 2000 beyond the calculation 

 of his agents, which tended further to place him "on 

 velvet," that is to say, witli everything in his reach that a 

 man of moderate views could desire. " Noiv," said he to 

 himself, " I am qualified to hunt from Melton." 



