176 EXPERIENCES OP SPORT. 



the English coachman. Such a pair of top boots 

 and breeches ; a light green coat with brass 

 buttons, and a red-and-white striped groom's 

 waistcoat. I nearly burst out laughing as my 

 eye caught this remarkable figure ; and seated 

 beside him was one equally curious, his groom, 

 dressed a la mode Anglais, a most miserable 

 caricature. 



The whole turn-out was marvellous, even to 

 the whip, an unpeeled holly-stick, the thong a 

 single strip of leather, exactly similar to those 

 used by the diligence drivers. The owner, as 

 we came to the door, was busily engaged tying' 

 on a new " cracker " to the thong, for you must 

 know that the continual cracking of the whip 

 constitutes the great charm of the French four- 

 in-hand driver. As T looked on in wonder and 

 amazement, I could not help humming to my- 

 self a line or two of an old song, of which 

 this whole turn-out was so thoroughly the 

 reverse 



1 With spirits gay we mount the box, the tits up to the 



traces, 



Our elbows square, and all so prime, dash off to Epsom 

 rnr,es : 



