xt79cn6xws2p https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt79cn6xws2p/data/mets.xml Dixon, Henry Hall, 1822-1870. 1862 books b98-51-42632454 English F. Warne, : London : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Horsemanship. Sports Great Britain. Scott and Sebright / by the Druid [pseud.], author of 'The post and the paddock,' 'Silk and Scarlet,' etc. text Scott and Sebright / by the Druid [pseud.], author of 'The post and the paddock,' 'Silk and Scarlet,' etc. 1862 2002 true xt79cn6xws2p section xt79cn6xws2p
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S C O T T
AND
S E B R I G H T.
1Bv
THE DRUID,
AUTHOR OF THE POST A.N-D THE PADDOCI;, S"ILK AND SCARLFT, ETC.
RI'EVISED) AND N R&-EI)ITEJ).
WITH STEEL ENGRAVINGS.
LONDON:
FREDERICK WARNE AND CO.
I:FDF)ORD STREET. STRANDP.
LONDON:
R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR,
BREAD STREET HILL, E. C
PRE FACE.
A THIRD work of the same class scarcely calls
A for a preface, except as pure matter of form.
In writing it I have adhered strictly to my original
plan of endeavouring to fill up from oral evidence
some blanks in the sporting history of the last seventy
years; and where I have had the good fortune to
meet with an especially well-known character, I have
got him, Dick Christian fashion, to give the public
the butt end of his mind in the first person. The
three books must be taken as a whole, and hence any
seeming omissions, or very slight notice of a cele-
brated man or horse in the present one, will generally
be accounted for by reference to its predecessors.
The difficulty of the task has been great, as no two
men ever seemed to give precisely the same account
of anything, and on some points I have despaired of
getting more than an approximation to the exact
truth, amid so many conflicting statements.
The name of " Post and Paddock" could cause no
mistake, but "Silk and Scarlet" deluded a few into
the belief that it was a contribution to Church.
Polemics. When I had to think out a third title, I
did hope that by adopting the names of two of their
most accomplished practitioners as the types of The
Turf and The Chase, I ran no risk of being misunder-
stood; but still I found one of my old Rugby school-
fellows under the firm belief that by the heading
"Sebright" I must be taken to contemplate a treatise
on Bantams.
As regards the first three chapters, I have nothing
to remark, except that I have handled the great
winners as nearly as possible in chronological order,
and separated man from horse by a pony chapter,
which, with about twenty pages more, has already
appeared in print. "The Flag" part of the fourth
chapter is a mere fragment, for the sake of illustrating
the career of one of its most celebrated riders, when
steeple-chasing really was a sport; and both "The
Stag" and " The Drag" might have been worked
out much more fully if there had been space at
command.
10, KENSINGTON SQUARE;
_7une io/Ii, xS6Z.
IV
Prejace.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
TURF WORTHIES.
A word at starting-Horse traditions-Old sporting writers-Eccentric
Turf characters-Old Q.-Colonel Thornton-The Swaffham Club
-Cricketing and archery-The dawn of Goodwood-The driving
era-Ascot qualification ticlets-Doncaster Moor to wit-The
Prince Regent at Biboury-Dr. Cyril Jackson on Bibury and H-lunting
-Dean Alilner's interview with Mendoza-Sir Tatton Sykes and his
sheep tastes-His little difficulty with Mr. Baker of Elemore-His
early days in London-Ilk probation in Lincoln's Inn--Humours of
the Yorkshire shrievaltics-A word with Lord Thurlow-Sir Tatton's
race-riding-Visits to Doncaster-His rides to London-The old
race of Turfites-The old Derby course-Early betting-The cer-
tainties of '17-110w they kept the course at Epsom-The year of
Gustavus and Augu ta-The Warren Hill parade-The Nomination
night at York-The Leger eve at the Salutation- Crutch Robinson's
sayings anld doing-Ilichael Brunton-The old school of Yorkshire
trainers: Thoytes-H1is views on tails and training-Mark Plews-
His interview with the Marquis of Queensberry-John Smith-Mrs.
Smith's love for Middlehaam-Old Sykes and his cards inspection-
Billy Pierse- Ars. Pierse's training tact-His test of two-year-old
form-Tact in stopping a quarrel-Ilis studies in Political Economy
-The B orodfino tip in the bedroom-Old Forth- Buckle. Robinson,
and Chihlcy-Grandfather Day and Tom Goodisson-Wheatley and
Clift-Bill Arnull on money matters-William Edwards-Plot ta
make Orville run away-John Jackson-Ben Smith-Mlalaprop
sayings of Ben-Early humours of Bob Johncon-First mount on
General Chass6-IIis perpetual thirds for the St. Lefcr-llis fall at
l)oncaster-Colloquies and correspondence writh Mr. Ord-The
VI
Contlents.
Pilgrim's rest at Gosforth-Sam Darling's wastes-Mr. Horsley's
story of Sam-Winning the St. Leger on Rockingham-John and
Sam Day's first pony race-Sam in the crate-Grandfather Day-
John Day as a jockey-His race on Amphitrite-His waste walk
and Danebury discipline-Sir John Mills at Stockbridge races-
Isaac Day-Uncle Sam in the Epsom paddock-Uncle Sam on the
pipe-His lecture on wasting-His London practice-Early tuition
of John and Bill Scott-Filho da Puta's match-Looking over the
Squeers lot-The sporting bagman-Performances of Filho-Dis.
pute about his name-John's riding-Life on Sherwood Forest-
Forest privileges-Birth of Matilda-Mr. Petre's career-Bill Scott's
jockeyship-His riding of Attila-His amusements-Visit to Harro-
gate-Training of his colt, Sir Tatton Sykes-The Whitewall snug-
gery-Pictures of the cracks-The Whitewall dining-room-The
guests at Whitewall-Baron Alderson's visit-Old Cyprian-Lang-
ton Wold-The schoolmaster at home-" Ben" and the hounds-
John Scott's commentaries-Pavis and Conolly-Isaac Day's descent
with Little Boy Blue-Jemmy Chapple-A word on Nat-Job
Marson-Frank Butler's surprise with The Vest-Colloquy with
Isaac Walker on the Moors-The Old Victory jacket-Last days of
Frank-Mr. Theobald of Stockwell-Camel-Mr. Bransby Cooper's
opinion of him-Stockwell sires-Mr. Theobald's love of being in
the fashion-His dress and dogs-Trap horses-Trips to Doncaster
and Newmarket-The late Mr. Tattersall-Dislike to betting- His
entry on the business-The yard at Tattersall's-Mr. Tattersall's
connexion with the Prince-Difficulties with H.R.H. about a chal-
lenge-His Majesty's care for old chums-Mr. Tattersall as a hunting
man-Understanding with highwaymen-Sir Clement Dormer in
difficulties-The stories of Slender Billy-Boiling the exciseman-
Billy's warning voice, and his execution-Parson Harvey-Mr.
Vernon on long preaching-Coaching, dogs, and fists-Theatre
rows-The late John Warde-Mr. Tattersall's Derby dinner-The
first guests-HLumours of Charles Mathews, sen.-Drawing the
Derby Lottery-Frightenirg the Chelmsford postboy-Mr. Tatter.
sall as a breeder of blood stock-Mr. Tattersall's scrap-book-James
WVard, R.A.-Mr. Fernely-Principal pictures-His habits-Visit
to Mr. Herring at Meopham-Horse and donkey models-The
Arab Imaum-Mr. Herring's first efforts-Other subjects-
Interior of his studio-Recollections of his "Book of Beauty"-
Painting Bay Middleton-Baron Petroffski-His love of sport-His
racehorse breeding-Racing in Ruqsia--Trah ing troubles
PP. 1-94
Con/en/s. vii
CHAPTER II.
EXMOOR TO WIT.
The road to Exmoor-Emmett's Grange-Mr. Robert Smith's cob
breeding-Bobby-The inn at Simon's Bath-Origin of the Exmoor
ponies-The Dongalas--Thoroughbred crosses-The first pony sales
-Mr. Knight's pony stock-Their mode of life-Habits and battles of
the sires-Annual marking of the hoofs-Average of casualties-The
herdsmen-A ride by the Barne-On Exmoor-Bringing up the
ponies-The Sparkham pony-Tihe Doons of Badgery
Pp. 95-1"I
CHAPTER III.
TURF CRACKS.
County rivalry in Arabs-Indian blood-sire contract-Willesden pad-
docks-,.Voltigeur and Sir Edwin Landseer-The Willesden staff-
The selected sires-On shipboard-Arabs in England-Mr. Wilson
and Omer Pacha-Mr. Elliot on Arab champions-Landing of Arabs
at Bombay-Racing in India-Breeds and peculiarities of Arabs-
Tricks of Native dealers-The early English cracks-Hambletonian
-John Smith at Streatlam-" I see Queen Mab has been withyou"-
The Queen Mab family at Streatlam-Streatlam trainers-Isaac
W'alker at homne-Isaac's interviews with Will Goodall-The Streat-
lam Paddock pets-The Yorkshire greys-Delpini of the woolly
coat-Turf doings at Sledmere-Sam Chimiey in Yorkshire-
Camillus and Stumps-Death of Stumps-An afternoon with Sir
Tatton and Snarry-Diplomatic relations of Snarry and the Sled-
mere sires-The Diall's field-Swale's wold-The Cottage Pasture-
Cherry Wood End-The Craggs Flat-The Castle Field-The
King's Field-Across the road and into the Park-A little arith-
metic-The sire paddocks-Old times at Ashton Hall-" The best
of all good company"-Lancashire turf rivals-St. Leger sons of Sir
Peter-The Waxy blood-Whalebone at Petworth-The Petworth
stud-Blacklock's youth-Racing finish of Blacklock-The sire and
sons of Tramlp-Lottery-Peculiar action of Lottery and Tomboy-
The last of Lottery-The Catton tribe-Dr. Syntax and Reveller-
Death of Dr. Syntax-Ralph-Scottish cracks-Sir John Maxwell
and "11Od lNeon"-Canteen and Sprinkell at Carlisle-Difficulties
Viii Contents.
of the Hoddom Castle butler-Matilda-Purchase of Rowton-Hiis
race for the St. Leger-Velocipede on the Turf-The Colonel-
Charles MNarson at Lord Exeter's-The Sultan stock-Beiram-
Green Mantle and Varna-Galata ripping them up-Darling's best
race-Camarine and Taurus-The Duke of Bedford as a racing man
-The Oakley meet-Envoy, and Magog the giant-The late Earl of
Albemarle-Bad Beaufort luck-Muley and MIuley Moloch-The
grandsire of Touchstone-John Scott's first sight of Touchstone-
His mishaps and medicine--Mostyn-MIile martyrs-Ascot Cup trem-
blings-Touchstone's peculiarities-Ilis descendants-Jereed and
Mundig-MNundig's Derby Day-Hornsea, Scroggins, and Carew-
Gladiator-Early days of Cyprian-Purchase of Epirus-His crain-
ing in the metropolis-The trial of Don John and Cardinal Puff-
The Colonel and "the Admiral"-Ilorse whims-A horse's know-
ledgr of sound-Purchase of Charles XII.-Iletman Platoff-
Industry and Ghuznee-Launcelot-Satirist's St. Leger trial -Attila's
trial-Jacob's bet about Attila-Jacob on a tout hunt-King Cole-
Marlow and old John Day-Sam Darling and Isaac-History of
Isaac-Weighting him for the Audley End-The old Scottish
cracks-The late Lord Eglinton-Sir James Boswell-Myrrha and
Philip-Gullane-Zohrab and Co.-Scottish coaching days-In-
heritor and the Ramsay lot-Lanercost-M\r. James Parkin-Laner-
costiana-Outwitting St. Martin-Labours of Lanercost-Winningg
the Cambridgeshire-His after-career-The love of Lanercost for a
dog-Blue Bonnet-Cotherstone-Cotherstone's trial-Attempt to
hocus him-A visit to Althorp Paddocks-Cotherstone in retire-
ment-His stock-Orlando's maiden race-Young John Day's win
on WViseacre-Death of Franchise-" Running Rein" and St. Law-
rence-The Baron-Iago-The B. Green two-year-olds-Two-year-
old trials-The purchase of Cossack-War Eagle-The Hero-
Chanticleer-Canezou and Springy Jack-'Maid of Masham-Eller.
dale-Sale of Stockwell and West Australian-The late Lord
Londesboro'-Van Tromp-Iarlow and The Dutchiman-The
Dutchman's Derby race-Vatican-Surplice-Accidents to Surplice
-The roaring humour-Beginning of the Aske stud-Death of
Comfit-Voltigeur-Purchase and trial of Voltigeur-Bobby Hill's
training notions-Voltigeur at Epsom-Bobby's Lightfoot fancy -
Voltigeur's decline-Vedette-Waking up Sabreur-His trial at
Richmond-Nunnykirk-Teddington-His yearling form-His two.
year-old trials with Aphrodite, &c.-His Derby trial-Derby
anxieties-Kingston- Death of Kingston-The Cawston stud-
Pantaloon and Phryne-The Windhound rout-A visit to Cawvston
Cot1 /eCll/s.
1x
-The late Lord John Scott-Old Helen-Hobbie Noble-Cannobie
-Pocahontas-Early history of S tockwell-Birth of Rataplan-Rata-
plan's racing and training habits-King Tom-Longbow-Miss
Bowe-Daniel O'Rourke-Little Ilarry-Joe Miller-Umbriel-
West Australian-Isaac WN'alker's annual appearance at Whitewall-
Frank's first introduction to " The West"-The West's Doncaster
Jubilee--Catherine IHayes-Goorkah's history-Butterfly-Boiardo
-Knight of St. George- Virago-Lord of the Isles-Wild Dayrell's
History-Birth of Wild Dayrell-Ilis change of hands-His train-
ing and trial-Ellington-Warlock-Imperieuse-Horse eccen-
tricities-St. Giles-- Queen Mary's blood-Blink Bonny-Her race
for the Derby-Balrownie, Blooming Heather, and Bonnie Scotland
-Beadsinan-Antonio, Anton, and Actzeon-Trumpeter-Musjid-
His Derby trial-Underhand and the greyhounds-His Newcastle
triumphs-St. Albans-Ashdown Park-Ride to the coursing
ground-Notabilities of the field-Coursers' talk-The two blacks
at work-Beating the plantations-Over the hill to Russley-A peep
at Ru'ssley Park-Thonnanby-Thornianby's early labours-Dundee
-his breakdown-A peep at Benhams-Fisherman and Co.-
Avalanche-Caller Ont-Trials and peculiarities-Her St. Leger
race-The youth of Kcttledrtun-Training Kettledrum- Col. Towne-
ley's paddocks-An hour with the Whitewall brood mares
pp. 112-26i
CHAPTER IV.
STAG, DRAG, AND FLAG.
Old hunting times-The first Master of the Royal Hounds-The Royal
Staghounds-Reverence of the country people-The King out hunt-
ing-The original pack-The Goodwood kennels-George IV.'s
hunting-Mr. Davis's best nuns-Fun in the Vale of Aylesbury-
The Marquis at bay-Visit to the Royal Kennels-Pictures and
testimonials-The Ilound kennel-Old Swinley revelries-The
Deer Paddocks-Deer diet-Paddock exercise-Carting the deer-
Peculiarities of great stags-Harry-The great Leicestershire Stag-
hunt-" The Marquis's" freaks-Baron Rothschild's deer-Sir
Clifford's deer-Harvey Combe-The Baron's pack-Limits of the
Vale-The Rothschild cracks-Grouse, King Pippin, and Hark-
over-Bill Bean, the arch-trespasser of England-The perils of the
drag-Will White and his successor Kit-Bill Bean's horses-Perse-
cution of the farmers-The great indignation meeting-How Bill
Contents.
attended to the notices -His graceful manners with the Tax Com-
missioners-Jem Hills' steeple-chase-The start-The plot thickens
-The last brook-First steeple-chase in Leicestershire-Captain
Becher-The palmy days of St. Albans-First St. Albans steeple-
chase-Tommy Coleman's volunteers-Moonraker-A fierce lawyer
-"The Squire" as steward-Grimaldi v. Moonraker-Grimaldi
and Napoleon-Viviana-Vivian v. Cock Robin-Fun in the Vale
-Latter days and death of Grimaldi-Flacrow and the Leamington
-Lottery's beginnings-Fun in the Midlands-Vivian v. Lottery-
Beginning of the Liverpool Grand National-Leicestershire to wit-
Lottery's zenith and finish-Establishment of the Brocklesby Hunt
steeple-chases-Brocklesby steeple-chases, 1842-49-Mr. Tilbury the
dealer-His class of horses-His coachmanship-The two French-
men and the Three Pigeons-The Elmores-The Elmores as hunter
dealers-John Elmore at home-John Elmore's stories-Staghound
diplomacy-I arking with Lottery. . 262-317
CHAPTER V.
HORN AND HOUND.
Visit to Joe Hewitt-Service under Mr. Frank Fawkes-Joe's stag.
hunting in Norfolk-Fox-hunting in Norfolk-A new light on fox-
hunting-Fox-hunting lecture-Fox-hunting, 1790-1810-The late
Earl of Darlington-Squire Draper-The Yorkshire Wolds-The
Wold Hunts-The Sykes hounds-The Badsworth-Engagement
of Will Danby-Waifs and Strays for Holderness-Kennel build-
ing-Life in Holderness-Will Danby's sayings-Dreams of the
chase-Holderness foxes-Mr. Hodgson's Scurry Stakes at Beverley
-Practical jokes in Holderness-The biter bit-Captain Percy
Williams-Mr. John Bower-Mr. Ralph Lambton-His habits of
life-Mr. Lambton on the flags-His hound feeding-Mr. William-
son's mastership-The late Sir Harry Mainwaring-Tom Rance's
history-The late Dick Gurney-Tom in Cheshire-Tom's table-
talk-Head, Maiden, and Markwell-Foxes and their troubles-
Tom's disasters-The Cheshire green collars-Old Zach Goddard-
The snooze in the Park- Celebrities at Bicester-Sir Thomas Mostyn
and the B.D.C.-Stephen Goodall-Stephen in kennel-Tom
Moody-Griff Lloyd-Griff Lloyd's power of bearing fatigue-Jem
Hills-View from the kennel-The Heythrop covers-New kennels
near Chipping Norton-Heythrop foxes-Making up forty brace-
Contents.
Jem and the badgers-Glories of Cribb the terrier-Jem's early
days-Special day for the Duke of Beaufort-Blooding future
Masters of Hounds-Scent symptoms-The South Warwickshire's
triumph-Dislike to water-Cricket reminiscences-Clarke's sanc-
tum-The kennel beauties of Badminton-Recollections of Will
Long-The dawn of Leicestershire-The Quorn country-Mr.
Assheton Smith-Hunting-field habits-The Billesdon Brook leap -
Training little Will Burton-Will's kennel education-Mr. Codring-
ton's talking habit-" The Squire" in Lincolnshire-The Osbaldes-
ton hound blood-"The Squire's" hound tastes-His scorn of
fatigue-Meltoniana-General Grosvenor-Mr. John Moore-Lord
Alvanley-Mr. Maher's "Old Tommy"-Mr. Maher outwitted-
Sir Francis Burdett-Sir Harry Goodricke-Doing Tom Heycock-
Old Snow-Mr. Holyoake-Captain White-Putting up hunters at
the Old Club-Harlequin-Mr. Maxse pounding a couple-Merry
Lad-Captain White at Croxton and [eaton Park-The late Mr.
Greene of Rolleston-Style of riding-The riding of his later years-
His horses-His hunting journal-His great Thorpe Trussells run-
Mr. Greene at home-His latter days-The last meet at Rolleston
-His last hunt-His death-The sale day-Sir Richard Sutton-
Hound fancies- Early days of Will Goodall-Will Goodall at the
Belvoir-Tom Sebright-Tom in Leicestershire-First day in the
Milton country-Scenery about Milton-Tom on the flags-The
kennel after his death-Tom's hunting habits-Style of hunting-
Describing a run-Tom at home-Tom's snuggery-First symptoms
of illness-Tom at Middlesboro' and Yarm-The last party-His
Illness and death-His burial.. pp. 318-418
This page in the original text is blank.
SCOTT AND SEBRIGHT.
CHAPTER I.
TURF WORTHIES.
"Mr. Perceval and Lord Sidmouth were Premiers, and that is all that
is knowni of them; but if they had been great racing men, there
would have been hundreds of enthusiasts who would treasure up
the minute descriptions in which a Turf writer would have collected
all the traditionary stream of knowledge bearing on their physical
and mental gifts, on their successes and failures, the way they
carried their heads, and the way they turned out their feet."
'LL tel/yozu what it is, -my oldfriends," A Word at
I said a candidate, when he had been Starting.
met at the station, and duly conducted to a dais at
the end of his Committee Room; "I'm not g-oing to
stand uzp hcre for a speech to-ngight, but I'1 jIst come
down and smoke a pizpe wit/h you2." It was six to four
on him at once, and the takers had the worst of it on
the polling day. Such a homely solution of the start-
ing difficulty might make the Jockey Club prick up
its ears, and fill the author-world with the direst envy.
It suits our own humour to a nicety. We want to
settle down cuickly into our stride, and tell from our
note-book, as of yore, the post and paddock recol-
lections of many an old English and Scottish worthy.
Our appetite for moralizing is not sufficiently athletic
to grapple with the morbid anatomy of The Turf, or
B
Scoll and Sebr;ighl.
to trace every dark episode in its annals. We simply
feel proud, that an institution, so fraught with tempta-
tion, and exposed to the ken of so many millions of
ignorant or crusty critics from within and from with-
out, should continue to furnish us with Premiers, and
to show such wonderful fibre and endurance under the
chronic onslaughts of that lop-sided morality, which
almost denies the existence of an honest owner,
trainer, or jockey.
Horse Tra- But second-hand homilies are not in
ditions. vogue, and nearly every tradition for
good or evil has been already moulded into shape.
We may have to take the Venerable Bede on trust,
when he tells us that in 631 the " English first began
to saddle horses ;" but the same genius of stable
gossip which was at hand to note for posterity how
Lord Falkland's son bartered away his father's library
for a horse and a mare, has stayed the two centuries
well. A rich harvest of facts, down to I'Anson's last
Leger orders to Challoner, never to raise his hands
from Caller Ou's withers, has been gathered in by its
agency, but there is still much work for the gleaner.
And if our version of some events differs in a measure
from that which was given of them at the time, it may
be that we have traced them more thoroughly to the
fountain head, when all motive on the part of the
actors for gloss or concealment had long passed away.
Old Sporting "'Tis seventy years ago" is a phrase
Writers. of edge not to be matched now, and we
may well not care to go back further. We can still
reach by the light of living memory (the only book
we have cared much to consult), that great historic
age of "Genius Genuine," the Prince Regent, and
John Bull. Of thousands of good sportsmen, who
rode the hill towards Black Hambleton, on the King's
Plate day, to see the judges place i6 out of 31 for
posterity behind the Belvoir "Bonny Black," or decide
the delicate question between five Marys, we must
2
71lu1f Wont0ic's.
3
fain be content with the simple record that they were
born and died. No newspaper had then made sport-
ing its specialty, and the Old Spor-ting Magazine only
began in I792 to "woo the votaries of Dian and the fre-
quenters of Newmarket," with intelligence and " lyric
compositions of the sylvan, rustic, and Anacreontic
kind." The field of Turf literature had lain compara-
tively fallow, and when the writers did begin to work it
again, they stuck too much to one kind of cropping.
They were careless of the fame of great horses, or
considered them to be sufficiently provided for in the
Racinzg Calendar, which extended its earliest favours
to Jamaica as well as Great Britain; and embalmed
the Royal Rules of Cockfighting as solemnly as the
pedigree of Coughing Peggy, or Skipjack from Old
Mother Neesome. Men who had completed a zealous
novitiate of folly or eccentricity, and risen to the dignity
of a character; the careless cassock, fonder of brew-
ing an October posset than writing a fifteen-minutes
sermon, and yet ready, like his ancestors, to melt his
last tankard for Church and King; and the wealthy
Corinthian who had run the gauntlet of the coffee-
houses before he was three-and-twenty, were the
subjects they delighted to honour.
The Prince Regent was their Mcecenas, Eccentric Turf
and Sir Harry Vane their Suwarrow of Characters.
the turf. Lord Barrymore, who was known as "Crip-
plegate," while another brother became "Newgate,"
and a third owned to a still warmer and more ex-
pressive title, was a most fruitful study with them.
Inspired by the account of the countryman, who
consumed a pound of salt, a cabbage, and a cabbage-
net at a sitting, his lordship made a bet Lord Barry-
that he would produce a man who was more's Bets.
equal to eating a live cat ; and he won by a few yards
at Brighton, when he challenged the Duke of York to
try who could wade farthest into the sea. Well might
his Boswell exclaim, on hearing of his early death,
1' 2
4 Scott and Sebrzgiit.
" Could the emotions of grief restore his vital heat,
my lamentations should fatigue Echo." Earl Orford's
eccentricities, wrote another, " are too firmly indented
upon the tablet of the memory, ever to be obliterated
from the diversified rays of retrospection," and then
feeling refreshed by this prelude, he proceeds, with his
usual kindness to give them in detail. Major Topham
earned a mention both for the drama's and Snowball's
sake. Sir John Lade (who " stood in " with " Leader,
the great coach-builder of Liquor Pond Street,") was
2 fund in himself for them, whether he was driving his
[)haeton and four across the ice of the Thames, or
riding his mule for a thousand pound match over the
Ditch In; and they loved to tell how O'Kelly would
fumble among a quire of banknotes just to set the
caster, when he had got every floating guinea in the
bank.
Old Q. Sonneteers and satirists all laid violent
hands on Old Q, who still stuck to his
Picadilly bow window, his green vis-d-vis with black
horses and long tails, his Richmond beauties, his muff,
and defied them. His body physician had only to
look in the Morning Post occasionally to be reminded
that he had strictly a life-interest in his patient, and
that his prescriptions of a warm milk bath scented
with almond powder, and a veal cutlet at 3 A.M.,
might as well have been posted at Charing Cross.
ColonelThorn- Colonel Thornton's thirst for notoriety
ton. was also slaked to the full. If he sat
down next to Oliver Goldsmith at the Sgavoir Vivace
Club, or jumped a five-foot-seven gate, or ran down a
hare on horseback, or coursed a bustard, or shot a
dotteril, or unhooded Sans Quartier amid the elastic
wold breezes round Falconer's Hall, the feat never
lacked a chronicler. His greyhound Major, his bea-
gle Merryman, and his terrier Pitch were all accepted
types of their order; and Juno, whose fame caused
Lord Grantley to pay half-forfeit in a match of thou-
Tiirf W/ort/hies.
5
sands, was the queen of the twenty brace of setters
and thirty-five pointers, which composed his "partridge
preparations."
Lord Orford's kennel was worsted by The Swaffham
the Snowball blood over the Wharram Club.
Wolds, but the plains of Swaffham had no mightier
champion. It was at his bidding, that the club was
limited to the number of letters in the alphabet, and
each member selected a colour. If The Heath knew
well the orange and black cap of the dashing match-
maker Grosvenor, the green and white stripes of Foley
and Fox, and the mazarine blue of Standish, coursing
men watched with equal zest in Norfolk, whether
brimstone, quaker, or pompadour would be the
steward's cockade for the week.
While the turf and the leash thus held Cricketing and
their alternate six months' sway, the Archery.
Marchioness of Salisbury was tasting the delights of
the chase and the quiver. A golden bugle-horn was
sometimes the Hatfield prize, and it sounded the
recilld for many a county muster of the Woodmen of
Arden, the Bowmen of Cheviot Chase, and the
Hainault Foresters in their green and buff. While
the Essex archers were keeping summer trysts at
Fairlop Oak, the Men of Kent knew well how to
handle the willow. Earls Winchilsea, Darnley, and
two more dashing spirits thought nothing of pitting
county elevens against each other at Lord's for a
thousand guineas; and in 1792, fourteen matches were
played for that sum, and six for half of it. The
cricketing picture of the period is strange to look upon.
The players are attired 'in round hats, knee-breeches,
and pig-tails; the umpires are all frill, and two scorers
sit contentedly with slates on a form.
Goodwood subsequently achieved re- The Dawn of
nown, as the spot where Lillywhite and Goodwood.
James Broadbridge first took the hint for their round
bowvling from Lambert. In i8oi its racing was of a
Scott and Sebrig/i.
very lowly kind. One writer, in tact, seems to have
carried away nothing more than an indefinite idea of
"five or six roving tents, and plenty of ice and pick-
pockets." Ascot basked earlier in the smiles of
royalty; its sports were regularly opened by beat of
drum, and its cords bounded South by E 0 tables,
some fifty strong, and North by four-in-hands. Never
were the pigeons more heavily and more openly
winged, and one E Oite, plaintively referring to his
rich dividends of the previous year, seemed almost to
consider that in a bad summer he was entitled to com-
pensation from the Crown on its native heather, for
" the poverty of one, the death of a second, and the
compulsive abdication of a third."
The Driving The new driving era was just beginning
Era- to dawn in '93, and the procession of a
score of freshly-painted mail-coaches up St. Tames
Street from the Bull-and-Mouth and The-Swan-with-
Two-Necks, &c., after the birthday drawing-room, on
June 4th, with their drivers and guards in new scarlets,
and the horses in parti-coloured streamers, was be-
coming one of the most popular sights of the season.
The Driving and the Whip Clubs were not then in
being. The landlord of the Black Dog, at Bedfont,
had no visions for himself or his successors, of eleven
teams of bays at his door, with Mr. Vill :bois, Mr.
John Warde, and Sir Thomas Mostyn on the box.
The Buxton bit, and the Hawke head territ still slum-
bered in the brains of their inventors, and the wildest
dreams of the future " Baron Stultz,"-who gained
Beau Brummell's love by putting a iool.-note into each
of his dress-coat pockets, and destroyed 'Schweizer's
and Dawson's monopoly by the two hussar-jackets
which he begged to make as a favour for "The
Seventh," in Lord Anglesey's time,-did not as yet
compass that double-breasted drab driving coat, with
three tiers of pockets, and Spanish five-dollar pieces
for buttons, in which Sir Godfrey Webster found no
6
Tulrf Wo)/Xities.
followers. Sir Henry Peyton had not brought four
greys, or Sqtuire Annesley four strawberry roans with
" Harlequin" as off-leader, into fashion; and a really
crack team seldom showed at Ascot, except each
horse was of a different colour.
Nothing pleased " Farmer George" so Ascot Qualifi-
much as to find that there was a good cation Tickets.
entry for his four-mile Hunter Plate. His Majesty
on his white horse, which did duty long before Hob
was foaled, never missed the Windsor Forest Meet, on
Holyrood Day (September 26th): and until the melan-
choly twilight of his powers stole on, he cared quite as
much to calculate how many of the horses were about
to try for their ten qualification tickets, as to look at
his hounds and men. Owners or grooms might ride
them, but it was a sine quat non that the Royal Hunts-
man should see them, both at the uncarting and the
take of the deer. It made no matter how forward
they might be during the run, if both those cardinal
rules were not complied with. If three horses suc-
ceeded in winning their tickets at the end of a severe
chase, it was thought to be a good day's work; but in
an ordinary run, very few failed, and Mr. Davis has
granted one, as an especial honour, to a lad on a pony.
The early history of the Ascot of the Doncaster Moor
North has been told so often, that there to wit.
is no need for us to go back to the 51. 5s., which was
voted by its corporate body in i68 i, for five years, to
encourage the sport on their Town Moor. The return
list began in 1728; and the meetings were held in
July, and after shifting all over the summer months,
they finally settled down into September, about 1750.
Eight-and-twenty years after, the uncle of " Hand-
some Jack St. Leger" gave his name to the race, and
so the ball has been kept rolling to the present day.
In I794 the light skirmishes between the mayor and
the gamblers began, but His Worship won, and like
another Lord Elgin, at Pekin, burnt the E 0 tables in
7
Scoll acd Sebrigkht.
front of the Mansion House. Less martial mayors
succeeded, and in 1825 another civic sally had to be
made, or the very mace and meat-jack would have
been in danger. The skulking which that defeat en-
tailed upon the E Oites exasperated them to such an
extent, that they joined forces with the thimble-
riggers