THE MARQUIS AND THE CABBY.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 49, 26 August 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MARQUIS AND THE CABBY.

From " Final Relics of Father Prout," we derive a good anecdote of masquerade in clericals : — " Your glorious countryman, Jack" said he (to me), " and yours reverndissime" (to Prout) " the Marquis of Waterford was driven home one night very late, or rather very early in the morning, by a stalwart and swellish looking cabman. He occupied at the time the Archbishop of Armagh's house in Charles-street, St. James' Square, during his uncle's temporary absence from town. Jumping from the hansom, he was soon admitted by the hall-porter who had waited up for him, and whom he ordered to give the driver half-a-sovereign and dismiss him. " Cabby, so far from being satisfied, expressed himself abusively to the servant, flinging him back the half sovereign, although it appeared that he had been only engaged by the Marquis something under an hour, and telling him that in offering him

less than a sovereign, his master was anything but a nobleman and a gentleman. Finally he declared in a loud voice outside the hall door, that he would not think of taking less than a sovereign, and that he'd have it, too, so help him so and so, etc. "The insolent bully then waited for a moment or two to see what effect he produced inside the house. " The Marquis, who had just turned in to the morning-room off the hall, heard all that the cabman had said, and being rather partial to polishing off bullies in those days, made up his mind on the spot to give this particular one a prime taste of his quality. Perceiving his uncle's House of Lords costume hanging up in the morning-room, he instantly donned it, thi-ee-deeker wig, gown, lawn-sleeves, and all, and tumsd out to the cabman, who was then swearing more fiercely tkan before. " ' Hallo, sir !' cried the Marquis, coming out from the porch of the great house, and tucking up the lawnsleeves, as well as the tail of the gown, for action, 'is that the sort of language you make use of within the hearing of an archbishop? If you are not off like a shot this moment, you profane scoundrel, I'll give you rights of the church with my clerical knuckles, and plant such a sermon on your osfrontis as will make you keep a civil tongue in your head for the rest of your life.' " The cabman did not want pluck, moreover, he never thought for a moment that he had the Marquis to deal with, and was much tickled at the idea of having a turn-up with an Episcopalian swell. Squaring up to his man he showed fight accordingly. The result was that he was licked after a couple of stand-up rounds, rattled off in Waterford's best style, and much to the expense of the cabman, as regarded his head and face, in all directions — so much so, that, after a third round had been commenced, which promised to be hotter than either of the preceding ones, the fellow, who had been driven back to the Square, turned and ran round the railings as fast as his legs could carry him. When he got back into Charles-street, he mounted his cab, again, and drove off at full gallop, the terrible wag of a Marquis still following him, and crying out, 'Won't you wait for the half sovereign V "