392 HISTORY OF THE 



streaming blood ! Was there not one single atom 

 of the sweet but furious and vindictive enthusiasm 

 in the hearts of the spectators ? Was there no in- 

 strument of vengeance at hand to ? I 



never view the portrait of that savage sportsman 

 without discovering in the hard Unes of his face, 

 and the knowing leer of his eye, all the treachery, 

 cunning, and inhuman profligacy of the lowest 

 blackguard retainer of the stable. 



*' A labouring smith of Yorkshire assured me last 

 year (but I will not warrant the goodness of his 

 thority) that certain irons, whicii had the appear- 

 ance of being instruments of torture, were found 

 in the house of old Frampton after his de- 

 cease. 



*' But common justice will not suffer me to re- 

 fuse insertion to the following extract from a letter 

 which I have lately received from Mr. Sandern, of 

 Newmarket, a gentleman to whose kindness I also 

 stand obliged for various points of interesting 

 information. 



' ' ' The abominable story which is told of Mr. 

 Fram.pton having castrated Dragon, that he might 

 immediately after run him as a gelding, and of the 

 poor horse having instantly expired after the race, 

 is entirely without foundation ; for I had an uncle 

 who was wxU acquainted with Mr. Framptftn, and 

 who frequently assured me that no such circum- 

 stance ever happened ; and therefore, sir, I think 

 you would do an act of justice to contradict it 



