44 MY LIFE [Chap. 



sometimes gained admittance, and heard a trial of some poor 

 sheep-stealers, who in those days were liable to transportation 

 for life, in order to protect the landed interest, which then 

 ruled the country. 



The elections for members of Parliament were at that 

 time scenes of considerable show and excitement, and the 

 members elected had to undergo the ceremony of being 

 chaired, which consisted in being carried round the town on 

 their supporters' shoulders seated in a chair highly decorated 

 with rosettes and coloured ribbons. I well remember the 

 election which took place after the Reform Bill of 1832 was 

 passed, when Thomas Slingsby Duncombe was the Radical 

 member, and was returned at the head of the poll. I saw 

 him being chaired, and when he had been brought back to 

 the door of his hotel, the chair was overturned, as was then 

 the custom, and he had to jump out into his friends' arms to 

 avoid an awkward fall. There was then a scramble for the 

 ribbons and chair-coverings, which were carried away as 

 trophies. 



To celebrate the great national event — the passing of the 

 Reform Bill — a banquet was given in the main street to all 

 who chose to attend. It was summer time, and fine weather, 

 and we went to see the feast, which was enjoyed by almost all 

 the poorer people of the town on rows of tables which filled 

 the street for a long distance. 



In connection with the game of cricket, I may mention 

 that in those days the players, whether professional or amateur, 

 had none of the paraphernalia of padded leggings and gaunt- 

 lets now worn ; while a suit of white duck, with an ordinary 

 white or black top-hat, was the orthodox costume. This was 

 the time when the practice of overhand bowling was just 

 beginning, and there was much controversy as to whether or 

 no it should be allowed. I once saw tried a curious bowling 

 machine which it was thought might advantageously take the 

 place of the human bowler. It was called a catapult, and was 

 on the principle of the old instrument used for throwing stones 

 into besieged cities. It consisted of a strong wooden frame 

 about three feet high. On a cross-bar at top was a place for 



