a friend, that the bare-footed tramps sometimes to be seen in the country were not to be pitied. Boots, he said, were after all conventions, and declared it an easy matter to walk, say, fifty miles without them. He challenged his friend, and a walk to Brighton was arranged. The friend retired on his blisters in twelve miles; the challenger, however, with the soles of his stock-. ings long since worn away, plodded on until he fainted with pain when only four miles from Brighton.

On April 6th, 1886, J. A. M'Intosh, of the London Athletic Club, walked to Brighton in 9 hrs. 25 mins. 8 secs., improving upon O'Malley's best by 22 mins. 52 secs.

The year 1888 was notable. On January 1st the horse" Ginger," in a match against time, was driven at a trot to Brighton in 4 hrs. 16 mins. 30 secs., and another horse, "The Bird," trotted from Kennington Cross to Brighton in 4 hrs. 30 mins. On July 13th Selby drove the "Old Times" coach from the White Horse Cellar, in Piccadilly, to Brighton and back in ten minutes under eight hours, thus arousing that competition of cyclists which, first directed towards beating his performance, has been continued to the present day.

XVI

SELBY'S drive was very widely chronicled. The elaborate reports and extensive preliminary arrangements compare oddly with the early

sporting events undertaken on the spur of the moment and recorded only in meagre, unilluminating paragraphs. What would we not give for a report of the Prince of Wales's ride in 1784, so elaborated as this ?

The Times report of the record drive is as follows:

"The Old Times' coach was driven from the 'White Horse Cellar' to Brighton and back for a wager of £1,000 to £500 that the matter could not be accomplished in eight hours. The proprietors of the coach accepted the bet, in the interests of Mr. James Selby, at the recent meeting at Ascot, with the resolve that, if they won, the £1,000 should be presented to that well-known driver. The proprietors of the coach accompanied the team, with only a few friends. Mr. James Selby, the whip, has driven the Old Times' for many years, and is well known on the Brighton Road, for the past twenty years having taught more men to drive in England than any man in the kingdom. Mr. Percy Edwards, watchmaker, of Piccadilly, started the team, and the times were taken throughout by Benson's chronograph. The start was effected from Hatchett's Hotel punctually at 10 a.m. The police did all they could to keep the road clear; and, soon after the start, twelve miles an hour was kept up. Streatham (Horse and Groom) was reached at 10.28, and the horses changed in forty-seven seconds, some of the gentlemen getting off and assisting in performing the feat. A bicycle rider named O'Neill joined the coach hereabouts, and followed it as far as Merstham. Everywhere the coach was enthusiastically received and cheered. West Croydon was passed at 10.45. In passing Croydon a uniform pace of thirteen miles an hour was maintained. At

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the Windsor Castle,' at Purley Bottom, another change of teams took place, which occupied one minute five seconds. The roads after leaving Redhill at times became heavy; but nevertheless a good pace was maintained throughout, increased at times, between Earlswood and Horley, to twenty miles an hour.

"Horley was reached at 11.511, and Crawley at 12.11. Here the only hitch took place through the level-crossing gates being closed; but the coach was allowed to go on after a delay of only about two minutes. The coach arrived at the Old Ship at 1 hr. 56 mins. 10 secs., having accomplished the journey just under four hours. The stay at Brighton was only momentary; the halt at the 'Old Ship' was only long enough to satisfy the party that it was still there. The horses were merely turned round and a few telegrams handed up. One to Captain Blyth from the Duke of Beaufort read: "Thank you much; sorry could not go; fine fresh day. Hope six o'clock will find you at the Cellar. Sharp work.-BEAUFORT.'

"The whip proceeded to work, and drove off amid the cheers of a large crowd at Brighton. The party came back by the same route. Every one made way, and at numerous places en route bouquets were thrown on the coach. Stoppages were made at the Kennels, Friar's Oak, Cuckfield, Pease Pottage, Horley, Merstham, Purley Bottom, and Streatham, to change teams, and ultimately Selby brought his party safe to town in splendid style, arriving at Piccadilly at 5.50, or ten minutes