52 'OLD q' 



ring, so tradition says. This was John Smith, alias 

 ' Buckhorse,' born circa 1736, who from scahng to 

 ride scaled to tight. In his latter days this worthy 

 became one of the eccentricities of the London 

 Streets. He was in fact a real Cockney, being born 

 in the salubrious Lewkner's Lane, now Charles Street, 

 Drury Lane. The means this ex-prizefighter used to 

 obtain a living were singular. One was permitting 

 a person to play a tune on his chin for a penny; 

 another Avay, scarcely so humorous, though it was 

 mimicked by Shuter the comedian on the boards by 

 his cry of ' Here 's pretty switches to beat your wives.' 

 These luxuries he retailed at one halfpenny each. 

 The foregoing constituted his only sources of income, 

 though of the two the real ' chin music ' paid best. 



During October 1756, the probability of the Earl 

 of March and Ruglen's succeeding to the Dukedom 

 of Queensberry was increased by the death of Charles, 

 Earl Drumlanrig, in his thirtieth year. This, to the 

 Duke and Duchess of Queensberry, was another mark 

 of the favour which Fortune so persistently showered 

 on Lord March. What he had done, or ever did do, 

 to deserve the fickle goddess's favours it is difficult to 

 discern. That he did enjoy them for a period beyond 

 the ordinary term of human existence remains an 

 indisputable fact. 



