SIR GILBERT HEATHCOTE 119 



Sir Gilbert was one esteemed by all, acquaintances or 

 friends. He lived at ' The Durdans,' near Epsom, which 

 Lord Eosebery has recently bought, and where he now 

 resides. I should, perhaps, say that, besides his freehold 

 estates, the late baronet held some leasehold property on 

 rather curious terms. On the death of either of the 

 tenants, not only was a stipulated payment to be made, 

 but also a heriot in the good old form that is, a tribute, 

 not in the shape of arms, but of ' the best beast.' It 

 so happened that at the time of Sir Gilbert's death there 

 was on the premises a racehorse that had shown good 

 form. This was seized by the superior landlord, and 

 afterwards called Heriot. I remember that there was 

 a good deal of talk at the time as to the justice of the 

 action, it being condemned by some and justified by 

 others, according to the different views taken of it. 



Baron de Tessier was one of Sir Gilbert's stanchest, 

 as he was perhaps his closest, friend. They lived in the 

 same neighbourhood, and were seldom seen apart. I do 

 not remember that the Baron ever kept any horses. As 

 a rule he was, with Sir Gilbert, one of the stewards at 

 Epsom, the two being owners of much of the land over 

 which the races were run. Though not an Englishman, 

 he was one of whose association with us in our national 

 sports the English nation was justly proud. 



Lord Jersey, as a successful owner of racehorses, was 

 a little before my time. He used to farm the Kiddles- 

 worth, and many other good races at Newmarket. He 

 was generally dressed, as not a few others were at the 

 time, in a black or dark - coloured suit, which was 

 strangely in contrast with the Duke of Portland's buck- 

 skin breeches, or Lord George's buckskin trousers. He 

 must have been very successful with his horses, Bay 

 Middleton, Ccesar, and Achmct, out of his favourite mare 



