11 The Doncaster Gazette." 143 



of field sports with disgust and aversion. It is 

 probable that if " The Druid" had been sent 

 by his father to study law in London directly 

 after he had taken his degree, he might have 

 escaped many influences to which Doncaster 

 necessarily exposed him. Nothing, how- 

 ever, could have been less judicious than 

 the course taken. The youth who had been 

 sent to read law at a solicitor's office, to copy 

 precedents, and to make out indentures, found 

 metal more attractive in the Editor's room at 

 the Doncaster Gazette, where he was soon 

 supplied with abundant occupation for his 

 pen. He was too sincere and unsophisti- 

 cated a man to conceal his Liberal proclivities, 

 and there is every reason to believe that 

 Messrs. Baxter & Co. were only too glad 

 when he absented himself from their office. 

 From contributing articles on all sorts of 

 subjects to the Doncaster Gazette, he rose 

 to the position of manager of that journal, 

 and was by many regarded as its avowed 

 and acknowledged Editor. Through his 

 friend, " Martingale," he soon made the 

 acquaintance of every sporting- character in 

 the neighbourhood, and his natural appetite 



