88 LORD GEORGE BENTINCK 



attired. So far, at least, as I am able to describe it, 

 such as I have depicted was the dress and bearing of one 

 of the most powerful and imperious autocrats that ever 

 ruled his compeers, or towered over a prostrate foe in the 

 insolence of conquest. 



I never heard of his being fond of shooting or fishing, 

 though he hunted occasionally, and was a bold if not a 

 judicious rider. Of his courage the following episode 

 will do for a proof. He bought of Mr. Wreford a little 

 black horse, called Wintonian, which was afterwards 

 first favourite for the Derby. His leg slightly giving 

 way after the race, he hunted him that same year. One 

 day when he was riding him, the Tedworth hounds (Mr. 

 T. Assheton Smith's) met at Clatford Oakcuts, which 

 was drawn blank. They trotted off to Bed Eice, Mr. 

 Best's, where a good fox was unkennelled, and made the 

 best of his way to Grately Gorse, skirting the Marquis of 

 Winchester's coverts on the right, scent being breast- 

 high. Still going at a rattling pace under Quarley Hill, 

 the line taken passed Cholderton Lodge (where I last 

 trained) to Wilbury Lodge, where the hounds ran into 

 him in front of the house ; Lord George, being the first 

 up, charged the park palings on his little thoroughbred, 

 and got safely over, and so set the field. 



We have heard, and have reason for believing, that 

 Lord George Bentinck was proud of his birth, position, 

 and talents. Withal he showed curious contrariety. 

 For he associated with Gully and Hill, and even took up 

 the cudgels for Crockford, the itinerant fishmonger, 

 against his own Newmarket jockey in the Eatan affair. 

 He even thought it not below his dignity to parade in 

 front of the Stand on the Lawn at Goodwood, arm-in- 

 arm with Johnny O'Brien, as he was usually called, a 

 foppish adventurer, the son of a washer- woman. It will 



