44 MY LIFE 



sometimes gained admittance, and heard a trial of some poor 

 sheep-stealers, who in those days were liable to transportation 

 for life, in order to protect the landed interest, which then 

 ruled the country. 



The elections for members of Parliament were at that time 

 scenes of considerable show and excitement, and the members 

 elected had to undergo the ceremony of being chaired, which 

 consisted in being carried around the town on their supporters' 

 shoulders seated in a chair highly decorated with rosettes 

 and coloured ribbons. I well remember the election which 

 took place after the Reform Bill of 1832 was passed, when 

 Thomas Slingsby Duncombe was the Radical member, and 

 was returned at the head of the poll. I saw him being chaired, 

 and when he had been brought back to the door of his hotel, 

 the chair was overturned, as was then the custom, and he had 

 to jump out into his friends' arms to avoid an awkward fall. 

 There was then a scramble for the ribbons and chair-coverings, 

 which were carried away as trophies. 



To celebrate the great national event — the passing of the 

 Reform Bill — a banquet was given in the main street to all 

 who chose to attend. It was summer time, and fine weather, 

 and we went to see the feast, which was enjoyed by almost all 

 the poorer people of the town on rows of tables which filled 

 the street for a long distance. 



In connection with the game of cricket, I may mention 

 that in those days the players, whether professional or ama- 

 teur, had none of the paraphernalia of padded leggings and 

 gauntlets now worn ; while a suit of white duck, with an 

 ordinary white or black top-hat, was the orthodox costume. 

 This was the time when the practice of overhand bowling was 

 just beginning, and there was much controversy as to -whether 

 or not it should be allowed. I once saw tried a curious bowl- 

 ing machine which it was thought might advantageously take 

 the place of the human bowler. It was called a catapult, 

 and was on the principle of the old instrument used for throw- 

 ing stones into besieged cities. It consisted of a strong 

 wooden frame about three feet high. On a cross-bar at 

 top was a place for the ball, and this was struck by a knob 



