H/5 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS 87 



the many races I won for him. Nor do I remember 

 having heard that anyone else received munificent gifts 

 from him. No doubt it should be recorded that he gave 

 a few presents to the lads in the stable and to others 

 when Crucifix won the Oaks, and Chateau d'Espagne and 

 Ratsbane won two races at Exeter. Nor should I omit 

 to relate that on the second day of the same meeting, 

 when my brother John entered the last-named horse for 

 the Gold Cup, value 50 guineas, and won it, his lordship 

 was mightily pleased ; and on coming to Danebury, with 

 his customary munificence, made my mother a present 

 of the Cup, which she kept for several years -in fact, 

 until the horses left Danebury, when he demanded it 

 back again, saying that 'he had never given it her, nor 

 had he ever the idea even of doing such a thing ' and 

 the trophy was returned. 



I may now give some details of his personal appearance 

 and characteristics in other respects. 



Lord George was considerably over six feet, and well 

 proportioned. He walked erect with a stately movement, 

 proud and distant, quite in keeping with the ancient 

 pride of his noble ancestry. His dress was peculiar. 

 His tight-fitting buckskin trousers were in admirable 

 contrast to a claret-coloured coat, with brass or gilt 

 buttons. The massive gold chain shone brilliantly on a 

 dark velvet waistcoat. His necktie was always of a 

 spotless white or cream-coloured satin, and very long and 

 full ; and in it a neat pearl pin was always to be seen. 

 A fashionable hat, much the same as is worn in the 

 present day, completed his everyday costume. I have 

 heard him described as ' dressed in buckskin breeches ;' 

 and even seen a sketch of him in top-boots, by Count 

 d'Orsay. But I think it must have been his hunting 

 costume ; for on no other occasion did I ever see him so 



