http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/17/14632/Handley-Cross--Or-Mr-Jorrockss-Hunt
"This too's a grand nag!" continued he, taking hold of the ear of a
stiff bay with white hind legs, and a bang tail—"good at every thing—
rides, drives, 'unts, and carries a 'ooman. I call him Xerxes, cause
as how ven I drives two, as I'm a doin' to-day, he goes leader, and
in-course the brown, which I calls Arter-Xerxes, comes arter him! Both
go like the vind—good 'osses! uncommon good! rough and strong as our
four-shillin' tea.—Binjamin, mind the traces,—and now be after puttin'
too, your Missis will be ready by the time we get all square;" and
thereupon Mr. Jorrocks began fussing and busying himself with the
horses and harness, and very soon had Xerxes and Arter-Xerxes in their
proper places, "tandem fashion." The carriage was an old, low, open,
double-bodied one, with red and black wheels, looking as much like a
fire-engine as anything else, especially with the Westphalia hams and
warming-pan swinging from the bottom like buckets. It held four
comfortably, or five on a pinch, and the inmates were Mr. Jorrocks and
his wife, Belinda, and Betsey. It was tremendously stuffed and hung
about with luggage, and at the back was attached a most sporting
package, consisting of two saddles done up in horse-sheeting; and
through the roller which fastened them to the carriage, two stout
hunting-whips and a new brass horn were thrust. All things being
ready, Mr. Jorrocks gave Benjamin a "leg up" on to Xerxes, and
gathering up the reins of his wheeler in a most workmanlike manner,
stepped into the vehicle, and preceded by Captain Doleful on the white
charger, drove up to the station-house door, to the infinite delight
of all the spectators outside the rails, amid the puffings, scrapings,
and tootlings of the musicians, the pointing of children, the
unfurling of flags, and general movement of the meeting.
As for the second question:
Of all daft devils under the sun, a grey'ound's the daftest! (Ibid.)
JR> Two other hunting questions related to the Jorrocks novels:
JR> 1. Were Binjamin and Artaxerxes hounds ?
JR> 2, In which book does Jorrocks advise that
JR> "of all daft devis under the sun
JR> A grey 'ound's the daftest"
JR> Grateful once more for advice.
JR> Good wishes to all, John R
JR> ----- Original Message -----
JR> From: [log in to unmask]
JR> To: John Radcliffe
JR> Sent: Monday, October 04, 2010 1:29 PM
JR> Subject: Re: A definition
JR> Selle: means saddle or seat - a place for sitting like a
JR> chair - it was first used in the 15th century.
JR> Perhaps to get down from his saddle?
JR> ----- Original Message -----
JR> From: "John Radcliffe" <[log in to unmask]>
JR> To: [log in to unmask]
JR> Sent: Monday, October 4, 2010 8:09:31 AM
JR> Subject: A definition
JR> We are currently annotating "An Almanac of Twelve Sports",
JR> verses by Kipling, illustrations by Nicholson.
JR> The first two lines of "Hunting" are:
JR> Certes it is a noble sport
JR> And men have quitted selle and swum for't.
JR> Can anyone suggest a meaning for 'quitted selle'.
JR> All suggestions will be gratefully received.
JR> Good wishes to all, John R
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