The Picadilly ambulator; or, Old Q, memoirs of the private life of that ever-green votary of Venus'.

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Page 18 - Jtarl of March, that it was possible for a carriage to be drawn with a degree of celerity hitherto unexampled, and almost incredible. Being desired to name his maximum, he undertook, provided he was allowed the choice of his ground, and a certain time for training, to draw a machine with four wheels not less than nineteen miles within the space of sixty minutes. As it had been already discovered that a race-horse might be urged to such a degree of speed, as to run over a mile in a minute, this, which...
Page 29 - ... name and title, and the date and year of demise, which was the actual day, as yet scarcely warm ! The Earl at once approached his facetious antagonist, and, in faltering accents, upbraided him for so unseemly a proceeding. To the tremulous expressions of his trembling antagonist the eccentric Irishman replied : ' Why, my dear fellow, you are of course aware that I never miss my man ; and, as I find myself in excellent trim for sport this morning, I have not a shadow of doubt upon my mind but...
Page 13 - ... existence. His first distinction he achieved on the turf, his knowledge of which, both in theory and practice, equalled that of the most accomplished adepts of Newmarket. In all his principal matches he rode himself, and in that branch of equitation rivalled the most professional jockeys. Properly accoutred in his velvet cap, red silken jacket, buckskin breeches, and long spurs, his lordship bore away the prize on many a well contested field. His famous match with the Duke of Hamilton was long...
Page 32 - I treat this despicable little cock-sparrow. As a man he is too much beneath me, or I would treat him as a gentleman.
Page 27 - MY LORD, — I shall be happy to meet you by five o'clock to-morrow morning at , and if your lordship will have the goodness to bring a friend, a surgeon, and a case of pistols with you, I doubt not but our little misunderstanding will be settled in less than five minutes. — I have the honour to be, etc. etc.
Page 19 - March caused an ingenious coach-maker to construct a vehicle for the purpose, in which he exhausted all the resources of his art to diminish the weight and friction as much as possible, and silk is said to have been used for the harness instead of leather.
Page 26 - ... of the landlord, by saying, " Charge the fellow in the bill!"— when we say this was the person whom His Lordship insulted, we need hardly add, that he honourably resented the affront ; or, in other words, sent Lord M - a very polite though laconic •note, couched in the following terms : " MY LORD, , " I shall be happy to meet you by five o'clock tomorrow morning, at...
Page 20 - ... possible, and silk is said to have been recurred to in the construction of the harness, instead of leather". It then became necessary to select four blood-horses of approved speed, and, what was far more difficult to procure, two honest groomboys, (Errat and another) of small weight arid approved skill, to manage them.
Page 21 - ... mounted; the carriage, constructed partly of wood and partly of whalebone, was put in motion, and rushing on with a velocity almost rivaling the progress of sound, darted, within the appointed time, to the goal! We are now to contemplate his Grace in a different capacity. On the demise of George II. it became necessary P3 to to form theestablishment,and regulate the court of his grandson Georgelll.
Page 18 - During a conversation, at a convivial meeting, on the subject of " running against time," it was suggested by Lord March, that it was possible for a carriage to be drawn with a degree of celerity previously unexampled, and believed to be impossible, Being desired to name his maximum, he undertook, provided choice of ground were given him, and a certain period for training, to draw a carriage with four wheels, not less than 19 miles within the space of 60 minutes.

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