The English Spy, page 579 by Bernard Blackmantle
<< Return to Title Details & Download580
ke, and squire, We now keep up the betting fire; And then the guard of the "Highflyer" We book at Northern races.{3}
3 A song would be no song at all without notes; I must there-fore try a few. I can assure you they are not mere humming ones. Allons--"all is not gold that glitters," neither is it all "prunella" that blows a horn upon the stern of a coach. The "York Highflyer" I really am not to go down gratis "next jour-ney" for puffing it is a good coach, and the guard is a good guard, and he ventured a "good bit" of money on the Léger, and was "floored," for "Cleveland" was a slow one. However, it didn't balk his three days' holiday, nor spoil his new coat, nor blight his nosegay. I saw him after his defeat, looking as rosy as Pistol, and heard him making as much noise as one; "nor malice domestic nor foreign levy" could hurt him.
~274~~
Look in that room,{4} judge for yourself; See what a struggle's made for wealth, What crushings, bawlings for the pelf, 'Twixt high heads and low legs.
That is Lord K----,{5} and that Lord D-----,{5} That's Gully{6}; yon's fishmonger C;{5} A octree-man that; that, Harry Lee,{5} Who stirr'd Mendoza's pegs.
Or walk up stairs; behold yon board, Rich with its thrown-down paper hoard, But oh! abused, beset, adored By wine-warm'd folks o' nights.
The playing cog, the paying peer, Pigeon and Greek alike are here; And some are clear'd, and others clear; Ask Bayner,{6} and such wights.
4 The new subscription room; where down stairs more than the "confusion of tongues" prevails, and above a man's character, if in-sured, would go under the column of "trebly hazardous." It is really a pity that hone-racing should appear so close a neighbour to gambling as it does at Doncastor.
5 My men of letters are not merely alphabet men, but bona fide characters of consideration upon the turf. I confess Lord Kennedy is a bit of a favourite of mine, ever since I