Hermit, who died in 18S9, stood for years at 250 guineas 

 a charge now made for other sires. 



This was a time of general poverty, and the few following 

 lines, from the 'Sporting Magazine' of November 1793, will 

 show what the tone as to horse-racing then was : — 



Our predictions upon the declining state of the turf become 

 every way truly verified; whether from the present sterility of 

 adventure, a palpable pecuniary scarcity, or the transpiration of 

 sporting integrity that has involved so many in irretrievable 

 wretchedness, it is not at present the purpose to investigate. 



But, to some of those causes we presume it may be justly attri- 

 buted that we observe that there is now announced for sale at 

 Cannon's, near Edgware, forty-six brood mares, sixteen foals, eight 

 yearlings, and a two year-old. At Impington, near Cambridge, 

 seventeen brood mares, ten foals, and three yearlings. Mr. Croke 

 also, who has removed from Bristol to Egham, from there an- 

 nounces for sale blood horses, mares, colts and fillies of all descrip- 

 tions ; from the aggregate of which information may be fairly 

 inferred a most unpromising prospect of turf achievements — at 



