295 ZACHARIAH SIMPSON, ESQ. 



1 Which are they ?' I inquired. 



'Amaranth and Delilah,' was the reply. 



The black mare was put up, and I bought her for the 

 large sum of ten guineas, and then told the auctioneer 

 that it was Delilah. 



' I don't know anything of them,' he replied, after 

 looking at me. ' I took the description myself from 

 Mr. Simpson, and know the catalogue so far is correct.' 



I afterwards mentioned the matter to Mr. Simpson 

 himself. But he only laughed. This I took as a tacit 

 admission of the truth of the charge, for he would no 

 doubt have gladly denied it, had he been able to do so. 



When Sturgeon brought the animals that I had 

 purchased to Alvediston, he at my request made the 

 following declaration : 



' I, J. Sturgeon, stud -groom to Mr. Simpson, of Diss, Norfolk, of 

 the same place, make statement and say that the mare sold at the Diss 

 sale, as ' pedigree unknown,' is Delilah, by Touchstone, out of Plot, by 

 Pantaloon. 



' J. STURGEON x his mark. 

 ' Witness to the mark of J. Sturgeon : 



(Signed) * HENRY CHANDLER 



' (Head-lad to Mr. Wm. Day).' 



This declaration I forwarded to Messrs. Weatherby, 

 and had the mare returned in my name in ' Studbook 

 No. 12,' p. 106. She foaled a colt, by Delight, in 1872, 

 and was put to my own horse Camerino. I confess I am 

 perplexed to say what was Mr. Simpson's design in the 

 matter, or how he proposed to reap any benefit from it ; 

 and it is perhaps better to ascribe the whole business to 

 the perversity of an aimless eccentricity. 



I may say in conclusion that in his own house he was 

 extremely hospitable, always in good spirits and full of 

 humour. I can call to mind some pleasant evenings 

 spent at Diss with him and his family. 



