HILL'S ORIGIN 55 



high in the esteem of his countrymen in the present day, 

 if there be any truth in what I have transcribed. Nor 

 would his doubtful reputation be enhanced by the fact 

 of his close connection with the renowned Harry Hill, of 

 whose personality and doings I may now say something. 



Like Padwick and Gully, Hill kept horses at other 

 places than Danebury ; but how many in number, or 

 what they were, it was difficult to ascertain. Tradition 

 speaks of his origin as being a boots at a public-house, 

 It runs thus : ' Mr. Henry Unwell, a racing star of the 

 first magnitude, notwithstanding he was erewhile an 

 under -boots at an hotel in Manchester, and made his 

 way up to town on foot, carrying his furniture then but 

 a small table and thimble, with a few peas on his 

 person.' 



The same authority goes on to say that Lord George 

 Bentinck would sooner himself keep on his feet in his 

 own apartments for half a day, than let a fellow like 

 Hill sit down in his presence. From this circumstance 

 we may infer that Hill, like Gully, used to bet for his 

 lordship, and I presume for or against his own horses. 

 However, he soon made money, and was allowed to 

 associate with men quite as particular in the selection 

 of their company as was Lord George himself, though it 

 is not unlikely that, in many cases, the association in 

 this way was more from necessity than choice. 



On one occasion Harry Hill was fairly caught and 

 publicly shown up. A Mr. Bayner, of histrionic fame, 

 was, like many men, fond of dabbling in the seductive 

 game of betting, and usually entrusted his commission 

 to Hill, whom he was foolish enough to look upon as ' his 

 friend.' Meeting at the rooms at Newmarket, where 

 bettors most do congregate, Mr. Eayner asked Hill to 

 put him a pony on a certain horse, which the latter 



