Percival Leigh

“ Good Lack! what a Crowd of People collected to see which out of six-and twenty Horses should run the fastest, and what a Medley of Vans, Omnibusses, and Taxed Carts on either Side of the Course with the People in Front of them, and the Grand Stand crowded with Heads, plenty as Blackberries and seeming like a huge Mass of them. ”

“ The Windows and House Fronts crowded, and School-Boys mounted on Walls and Gates, and they and the Urchins in the Street shouting, as though we were going to the Races for their Amusement. But Lack! to see the pretty smart Damsels come out to gaze at us, or peeping behind Blinds and Curtains, all in high Glee, as if glad that we were taking our Pleasure, and good Humour do wonderfully heighten Beauty, as I do tell my Wife. ”

“ Great Sport returning Home, with the shouting for the Winner, and Trumpetting on Horns, and tolling of Snuff-Boxes and Toys to the pretty Lasses at the Windows, and bandying Jokes, but all in mighty good Humour. Seeing all Sorts and Conditions of Persons, great and small, joining in Sport and Frolic, made me compare our own Country with foreign Nations that do prate of their Fraternity, but can none of them show such a Sample of it as the Derby. ”