77

in more modern phrase & choicer english
we had a "special commissioner" present
who has, however, such was the [?]
of the Club's progress, only been able to report
one curious circumstance - We sometimes
hear of horses running away & the driver
pulling them up; it was reserved for
the eighth meeting of this Club to [exhibit?]
the strange phenomenon of a horse standing
stock still & the driver running away!!!
The Club proceeded by the [fortyfork?] road
to Portsmouth & so by [Ru?] to the original
starting point.

Having proceeded this far, we
become painfully unprepared with the
fact, that according to inveterate use
and want we should now become [dismally?]
[?] & lugubriously funny for the amusement
of the fair & distinguished audience
we have the honor of addressing; but
such things we never could perpetrate.
Finding our own efforts in that direction
most unsuccessful, we have even called