xiv RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



CHAPTER V 



PAGE 



Early recollections of the Derby — Lord Berners and Phosphorus 

 in 1837 — Caravan and Lord Suffield — My first Derby — 

 Bloomsbury's year, 1839 — My costume — Heavy snowstorm 

 on Oak-apple Day, May 29 — Opening of the London and 

 South-Western Railway from Nine Elms — ' No more trains ! ' 

 — Cab to Kingston — A borrowed ride on a post-chaise — 

 ' Whip behind ! ' — A mad rush, but in time to see the finish 

 • — Amato's victory — From Aylesbury to Epsom on horseback 

 in 1 84 1 — Well-named Little Wonder : won with 40 to i 

 against him — The Queen and Prince Albert present — 

 Running Rein — Daniel O'Rourke — My folly .... 38 



CHAPTER VI 



Recollections of the Cup Day at Ascot — My ride from home — 

 The Queen, Prince Consort, and the Emperor of Russia : 

 interesting conversation — The Countess of Albemarle's 

 carriage — The Earl, Masterof the Horse, wins with his son of 

 Defence, beating Attila — Delight of the crowd — The Emperor's 

 promise to present the Ascot Cup in future — Establishment 

 of the Cassarewitch Stakes — The Defence colt called the 

 Emperor — Wins the Vase the following year — Graceful act of 

 the Earl ; presents the Vase to her Majesty the Queen, and 

 the horse to the Czar — My next ' Ascot '—Dead-heat between 

 Buckstone and Tim Whififler 51 



CHAPTER Vn 



Parliamentary elections — Origin of the representation of the 

 people — Alfred the Great and the Witanagemot — Ancient 

 franchises — The Potwaller — Borough of Aylesbury^Addition 

 of ' The Hundreds ' — John Webb, ninety-six years old, the 

 last of the Potwallers — Customs at the nomination — Dinners 

 — Conveyances — Duration of polling period — A candidate's 

 ' little bill ' — The poll — The voters' dinners : daily bill of fare 

 ^General Election of 1784 — Curious incident — The great 

 Aylesbury case, Ashby v. White — Its effect .... 56 



