een miles. To have despatched them in
post-chaises, could they have found a sufficient number in Gloucester,
was neither in accordance with economy, nor with the wishes of the
parties themselves, who were very anxious to have a grand procession,
and enjoy themselves as they went along in smoking, singing, drinking,
and proclaiming their triumph to their neighbours and friends. Mine
hostess of the Ram, with every female in her establishment, had been,
from the moment the verdict was given to the departure of the group,
busily engaged in making large blue favours, of the colonel's colour,
to decorate the hats of the visitors, until Mr. Boots arrived with the
dismaying intelligence, that not another yard of riband, of the colour
required, could be obtained in all the city of Gloucester. With equal
industry and perseverance the host himself had put in requisition every
species of conveyance that he could muster, which was calculated to
suit the views of the parties, and form a grand cavalcade; without much
attention to the peculiar elegance of the vehicles, to be sure, but with
every arrangement for social comfort. It had been decided that my friend
Transit and myself should accompany Richard Gradus, Esq. the solicitor
to the fortunate defendants, in a post coach in front, preceded by
four of mine host's best horses, with postillions decorated with blue
favours, and streamers flying from the four corners of the carriage; and
now came the marshalling of the procession to follow.

[Illustration: page289]

One of the colonel's hay vans had been supplied with seats, lengthwise,
in which the first division of farmers placed themselves, not, however,
forgetting to take in a good supply of ale and pipes with them; next in
order was one of the old-fashioned double-bodied stages, which had not
been cleaned, or out of the coach-yard, for twenty years before, and
both in the ~290~~inside and on the roof of which the more humble
rustics and farmers' labourers were accommodated: this vehicle was drawn
by four cart horses, of the roughest description; the rear of the whole
being brought up by a long black funeral hearse, with three horses,
unicorn fashion, on the roof of which the men sate sidewise, while the
interior was, by Gradus's orders, well filled with casks of the best
Gloucester ale. About a dozen of the farmers, on horseback, rode by the
side of the vehicles; and in this order, with the accompaniment of a
bugle in the hay van,