MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
Ye National Sporte!!! of Steeple Chasynge.
[Monday, April 23, 1849.]
ſ DOWN the Road to a Steeple Chaſe, which I had never ſeen before, and did much long to behold: for of all Things I do love Diverſion and Merriment; and both Mr. Strappes and Sir William Spurkins did tell me there would be rare Sport. Got a Place in the Grand Stand, coſt me half-a-Guinea, which was loth to part with, but thought I mould have brave Entertainment for ſo much Money. Did find myſelf here in fine Company, Dukes, and Earls, and Lords and Ladies too, which did pleaſe me; but among them ſeme Snobs, in Stable-cut Clothes, with ſpotted Neckcloths and Fox-headed Breaſt-pins; though ſome of theſe were Lords too, who ſeemed to have been at Pains to look like Oſtlers. To ſee the Crowd on Horſeback and in Carriages, and thoſe on Foot puſhing and ſcrambling, and trampling each other to get a Sight of the Courſe, as if there had been going to be a Coronation, or a Man hanged! The Courſe, marked out with Flags, and having Hurdles, Ports, Fences, Rails, Hedges, Drains, Ditches, and Brooks in the Way; and this Sportſmnen do call the Country, and ſay ſuch a Country is a Teaſer, and ſo I ſhould think. By-and-by the Jockies in their Saddles, but their word is Pig-ſkins, looking, in their gay Colours, like Tulips on Horſeback, which was a pretty Sight. Then a Bell rung to clear the Courſe, and the Horſes with their Riders drawn
