HIS LIFE IN RETIREMENT 147 



and with it some sixty acres of land. After rebuilding 

 and adding to the house, he made paddocks, and amused 

 himself with keeping half a dozen brood-mares, which 

 was not a very profitable speculation. But, as he did 

 not want for money, it amused him, and so they answered 

 a useful end. He was married, but had no family. He 

 died at his residence in his seventy- sixth year, and was 

 buried at Farndon, leaving a comfortable fortune behind 

 him. His estate was put up to auction by his executors, 

 bought in, and ultimately sold to Mr. Hudson, of soap- 

 extract celebrity, for his son. I should mention that 

 before his widow a most ladylike person, well disposed 

 to everyone left Sibbersfield Hall, she was presented 

 with her husband's portrait, and a testimonial, signed 

 by most of the leading people in the neighbourhood, in 

 recognition of her husband's and her own kindness to 

 the poor and afflicted around them. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ME. FAEEANCE. 



Origin and marriage Farrance's Hotel Patronage of Sir Robert Peel 

 Custom of an afternoon Attention to personal appearance His 

 early racing ; my own start Horses well sold Maley at Shrews- 

 bury Steeplechase ; speed and heavy ground Partnership with Mr. 

 Parker ; successes not his own Suspicious conduct and separation 

 Mysterious loss of fortune A wretched end Anecdotes 'The 

 Tally-Ho ' without a coachman How a feather-bed may be lost 

 Mr. Wagstaffs clock Parting with a suit of clothes Alderman 

 Cubitt's watch. 



OEAL tradition says of Mr. Farrance that, as a boy, he 

 was good-looking, and well fitted for the situation which 

 he then filled, of page to the great politician, Sir Eobert 



