" GIVE ME A CUP OF SACK." 409 



bill there was about tlie usual fair charges for ale and 

 an occasional glass of grog ; but one evening there 

 were three glasses of brandy-punch at Is. 6c/. per 

 glass, and share of three bottles of mulled spiced port 

 at 6s. per bottle. I thought this a leetle too strong — 

 not the punch or wine, the geiitlemen who partook of 

 it could only judge of that — but I thought the assur- 

 ance of the thing very strong indeed. The expression 

 of my disapprobation was very strong also. It was 

 certainly very humbly represented to me, that he "had 

 spent the evening with Lord So-and-So's servants, and 

 two or three Baronets' and first-rate men's servants, 

 and he thought I should not like him to be shabbier 

 than they." I added, "it was a bad example to my 

 other man, who was much younger." I was told, 

 however, with every appearance of most indignant 

 feelings, that " Tom was a very good stableman, cer- 

 tainly," but as to the " example," he " hoped I did not 

 think he had so far forgot himself as to introduce Tom 

 to his company ! " I burst into a hearty laugh at this : 

 the laugh made me allow the charge, but I informed 

 my gentleman he must drop these growing aristocratic 

 notions, and in future, if he mixed for himself such 

 expensive ingredients, he must also pay for himself. 



Nickem likes mulled spiced port ; so do his friends 

 the dealers : they also like their customers to pa}' for 

 it, and in most cases they make them do so ; and to 

 do this they must work into each other's hands. They 

 of course never oppose Nickem whenever he wishes 

 to buy, and he affords them every facility when they 

 wish to do so. Should they both wish for the same 

 horse, it is managed very easily. Whichever it is de- 

 cided shall be the purchaser takes the lot, the other 

 " stands in." Now^ standing-in (begging the gentle- 



