66 A TROT, AND A DINNER PARTY. 



mile together, driving them myself alone, in two min- 

 utes forty seconds, or five miles in 16 minutes. That 

 off-side horse, duke, which is a thought the fastest, has 

 done a mile in 2. 27 J. in single harness, and the other 

 can do it under 2.30. ' 



" And are such wonders common in America — what 

 are such cattle worth ?" 



" To say truth, they are neither wonders nor com- 

 mon. There are always a good many, say a dozen or 

 two, perhaps more, in the different large cities, kept 

 not for pleasure, but for matches, that can do a good 

 deal under 2.36 from that down to 2.29 ; but still their 

 number is not legion ; nor though a good many pri- 

 vate gentlemen in all parts of the country keep 2.36 

 horses for their own private amusement, still such do 

 not number by hundreds in the whole country. 

 Their price varies according to shape, beauty, endu- 

 rance, soundness, and the like. These stood me in 

 four thousand dollars and a little more — you may 

 call it about 900 pounds. You can scarce get sound 

 and showy horses cheaper." 



" Despardieux ! I should think not. But here comes 

 a Stanmore livery, Cheshire's carriage, with la belle 

 comptesse, whom you have not seen, I believe, but 

 with whom you are to be dazzled at dinner to-day, 

 and Anson, riding by the window like a dutiful sposo 

 and brother ; so I suppose his pretty wife is there too. 

 Suppose you show them what the Yankees can do, 

 colonel. Let them go here a bit, I beseech you. 

 The mile stone is just opposite the club-room yonder ; 

 and you have just room to get them going before you 

 pass it. The next is at the fork of the road straight 

 a-head ; I want to time them ; and there, by Jove, 

 are Vauxhall, and Cecil Forrester, and both the Mac 

 donalds, and Jardinier, and I can't see who besides, all 

 lounging at the door, or in the windows. Let them 

 go, if you love me, colonel, and give them something 



