42 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



include the return to London via Kingston. I went 

 in a cab to Nine Elms at twelve o'clock, again in 

 holiday costume, but not so outrageously lotid as in 

 the previous year, when, to my annoyance and 

 disgust, I found a crowd of over a thousand persons, 

 vastly indignant at beholding an announcement 

 posted up that ' No more trains would start that day.' 

 No provision had been made for a break down, and 

 thus the people were left behind. The crowd was 

 momentarily augmented, and, of course, I felt 

 powerless to help myself in so great an assemblage. 

 Suddenly I perceived a young gentleman arrive in 

 a two-wheeled cab (Hansoms were not then in- 

 vented) who was as disappointed and angry as my- 

 self I proposed that if a bargain could be made 

 with his cabman, 1 would join him as far as Kingston, 

 where we were assured coaches would be waiting 

 to convey us on to the course. We agreed to give 

 ' Cabby ' a sovereign to drive us to the town. The 

 day was lovely and we were hopeful, but on arriving 

 at 1.30 we fotcnd no coaches or other conveyances to 

 carry us further. Here was a pretty fix for us 

 to be in ! However, I was young, hearty, and 

 fleet of foot in those days, and, although my friend 

 decided to go no further, I determined to run and 

 walk towards the Downs, trusting to my luck to 

 find some conveyance on the road. After running 

 about a mile, I heard wheels behind me, and saw 

 an old-fashioned yellow post-chaise, with post-boy 

 in blue jacket and white silk top hat, riding with 

 a pair of good trotting horses spanking along. 



