86 'OLD q' 



cided. By the aid of a small army of workmen, 

 and the rays of the moon, these planks were raised 

 on blocks to make a road for the wheel; by this 

 the nave of the low wheel was raised to the height 

 of the one which the coachbuilder ordinarily used. 

 That so singular an expedient was allowed appears 

 strange ; but a reference to the Jockey Club de- 

 cided that the match should take place — why, it 

 is difficult to say, unless the Earl pointed out that 

 no agreement had been made as to either the 

 path or its height, but only that the man was 

 to run with the wheel of his coach. This he did, 

 and (owing to the altered condition of affairs) won 

 easily. 



Sometimes, however. Lord March was led to 

 backing an opinion in which horses had not en- 

 tered into the calculation of his opponent. One 

 evening, at Ranelagh, his lordship met Mr. R. L. 

 Edgeworth, F.R.S., to whom he expressed regret 

 at being unable to attend Newmarket the next 

 meeting. ' I am obliged/ said he, ' to stay in 

 London. I shall, however, be at the Turf Coffee 

 House, and I shall station fleet horses on the 

 road to bring me the earliest intelligence of the 

 result of a race; and I shall manage my bets ac- 

 cordingly.' Comment on this last assertion would 



