250 THE DUKE OF CLEVELAND 



without knowing it. But it was a clear case of diamond 

 cut diamond, or ' the biter bit,' and they were all 

 against him. He had to pay, got well laughed at for 

 his pains, and sought refuge in his ulster and somno- 

 lency. 



CHAPTEE XV. 



THE DUKE OF CLEVELAND, 



Eccentricity of manner Chorister's St. Leeer ; a reminiscence of ' the 

 old Duke 'The late Duke Better known as Lord William Powlett 

 Shrewdness in a bargain Bad luck in racing Some of my ' deals ' 

 with him I sell him Cedric A long ha- gain, but a huge relief 

 Points left open, and their settlement Sale to him of Promised 

 Land, and purchase of Dulcibella An intricate negotiation ; satis- 

 factorily brought off Insurance money Sam Rogers on the trans- 

 action Absurd charge of collusion How Sam made a mistake 

 I claim and keep Romulus His chances spoiled A young man's 

 gratitude. 



IT may be remembered that in the account given of 

 ' The Danebury Confederacy ' a description was intro- 

 duced of the scene at the betting-rooms at Doncaster in 

 Margrave's year (1832), for which I was indebted to the 

 graphic pen of ' Sylvanus.' Chief amongst the characters 

 then present was the old Duke of Cleveland, who was 

 credited with partly pulling the wires on the occasion 

 when Eichardson and the Bonds were ' tabled.' We are 

 told that ' his white sardonic countenance ' added much 

 to ' a picture worthy the pencil of Eembrandt.' The old 

 Duke was undoubtedly a power on the racecourse in his 

 day. The authority from which I have quoted says of 

 him : 



' The most astute customer in the Eed Book to deal 

 with of late years on the turf was, out-and-out, the late 



