a man called Reuben Smith looked after us while York was in london. He was gentle and clever with horses, and an excellent driver. But he had one fault - he sometimes drank too much. For week or months he was all right, but then without warning he would begin to drink heavily and behave badly. But he was a useful man so York had kept quiet about Smith's drinking, saying nothing to Lord Gray. Then one night Smith drove some ladies and gentlemen home from a party and was so drunk that he could not hold the reins. York could not hide this and Lord Gray told Smith to leave.