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two of the sons of Eclipse, yet alive, appear to me strongly to resemble 

 the Shakespeare. 



It is necessary, however, to subjoin the late intelligence on this sul> 

 ject,with which I have been favoured by Mr. Sandiver, of Newmarket, 

 which goes to assert, on the authority of the stud-groom, that Eclipse's 

 dam really never was covered by Shakespeare. i)n this I can only 

 observe, that in the year 1778, I was fi"equently in the habit of visiting 

 Old Eclipse, then at Epsom, on which occasions 1 often discoursed the 

 subject of the disputed pedigree, with Colonel O'Kelly's then groom, 

 who assured me that the mare was covered by Shakespeare, which ac- 

 couat I also had from various other persons, as a well-known fact. And 

 to conceal nothing, it had been reported, that a groom had been bribed 

 to ascribe the get of Eclipse to Marske, there being' a strong interest in 

 the reputation of that stallion. I have no doubt, but j\Ir. Vauxhall 

 Clarke will recollect th.is report. The reader will observe in the annexed 

 plate, the two Horses together, and will judge for himself, as far as re- 

 semblance may be supposed to determine. Both Horses are shewn in 

 a racing condition, but Shakespeare, why, I know not, appears full of 

 flesh, and in such state, was much resembled by Eclipse, whilst that 

 Horse was in his loose stable as a stallion. 



SECTION 



