Coaches in the Park, 1 2 i 



rank as A 1 ; whilst the four handsome brown horses 

 driven by Mr. A. Brassey, and the stylish team of 

 Mr. Murietta^ would do honour to any club.'' 



At this moment his Royal Highness the Prince of 

 Wales, seated on the box of the Duke of Beaufort's 

 drag, coached by Lord Arthur Somerset, appeared on 

 the scene ; and I regretted to hear that his Grace was 

 absent through indisposition, as the meeting always 

 seems to lack one of its principal features of interest 

 when the Duke is absent. Then, moving amongst the 

 assembled teams, I note Captain Whitmore's four 

 greys, a very neat lot ; and I observe that the Duke 

 of Teck occupies the box seat. Colonel Somerset's 

 chestnuts and Sir Henry Meysey-Thompson's browns 

 next attracted my attention ; and amongst those to be 

 classed in the front rank, the admirably-appointed 

 and well-horsed coach of Sir Bache Cunard must not 

 be omitted. By this time Colonel Armytage had 

 marshalled his forces, and, the road having been 

 cleared by Inspector Frazer, the coaches passed in 

 review before the assembled multitude which lined 

 both sides of the road. It is not every one who can 

 handle four horses in a workmanlike form, and nothing 

 more strongly denotes a good coachman than the way 

 in which a start is effected. To my mind it is the 

 most difficult part of the performance, as any moderate 

 " whip " can keep four horses going that are accus- 

 tomed to work together; but to put them in motion 

 and to pull up like a workman are crucial tests. 



Some difference of opinion exists as to the use of 

 bearing-reins, but the ^^ bearers-up " had it, for I 

 noticed that there were only seven drags where the 

 use of them was dispensed with. Then keeping by 



