THE FOUR-IN-HAND CLUB. 329 



The above is evidently written by a correspondent 

 who forgets that the members do dine together after 

 the meets in the Park. 



On June 17th, 1882, the first meet of the Four-in- 

 Hand Club for that year took place at the Magazine 

 in Hyde Park, and is described as follows in the 

 Sporting Gazette of June 20th : 



The first meet of the Four-in-Hand Club was held at the Magazine 

 on Wednesday at 12.30 p.m., and, favoured by the presence of 

 Royalty and splendid weather, the sight was one of the prettiest that 

 is ever seen during the London season, albeit the muster of coaches, 

 numbering only fourteen, was a sad falling off from last year's parade 

 or of that of the junior club, the Coaching Club, which was held last 

 Saturday. The Duke of Beaufort, the president of the club, although 

 the last to arrive on the scene, soon worked his good-looking coaching 

 team to the front and took the post of honour. Lord Arthur Somer- 

 set was on the box seat, but relinquished in order to pilot the regi- 

 mental coach of the Blues, which had been driven to the meet by 

 Lord Kilmarnock. The time of starting having arrived, the president 

 led the way, followed by Lord Aveland (browns), with the Prince of 

 Wales on the box seat ; and then came Lord Londesborough (browns), 

 Count Munster (chestnuts). Sir H. Meysey-Thompson (browns),, 

 Marquis of Waterford (greys), Mr. Adrian Hope (browns), Mr. 

 Chandos-Pole (chestnuts), Duke of Portland (blacks), Lord Cole's 

 coach, driven by Colonel Chaplin (bays) ; ist Life Guards, driven by 

 Captain Spiar (chestnuts) ; Royal Horse Guards' coach, driven by 

 Lord Arthur Somerset (bays) ; Lord Hothfield (blacks), and General 

 Dickson (browns and bay). They drove round by Hyde Park Corner 

 to Queen's Gate, where the procession broke up, a few coaches going 

 to Hurlingham, the remainder returning to the Park. 



There have been many more recent descriptions^ 

 both in the Field and the Sporting Gazette, of these 

 meets of the Four-in-Hand and Coaching Clubs, but 

 the ones which I have given will serve my purpose. 

 There is no novelty whatever about them : a certain 

 number of gentlemen driving a certain number of 

 coaches meet in Hyde Park to drive to a certain 

 place ; all the fashionables who are in London flock tO' 

 the Park to see them ; very probably Royalty is present, 

 the Prince and Princess of Wales frequently attending 



