OF FARRIERY. 



425 



THE LATE EARL FITZWILLIAM. 



The honoured, revered, and patriarchal 

 supporter of the turf, Earl FitzwiJIiam, died 

 on February 8, 1833, at Milton Abbey, near 

 Peterborough, Northamptonshire, at the seat 

 of his only son. Viscount Milton. His Lord- 

 ship was in his eighty- fiftii year, having been 

 born on the 30th of May, 1748. 



Perhaps no individual ever spent a life of 

 however short duration more sincerely ho- 

 noured, revered, and beloved than the late Earl, 

 and not by those only who lived within the 

 sphere of his kindness, his liberality, his 

 charity, or his munificence, but by the nation 

 at large. However individuals might dissent 

 from his sentiments or opinions, political or 

 otherwise, all parties, sects, and persons ever 

 universally bowed to the homage which his 

 never-ceasing charity and liberality drew from 

 them. He was indeed a splendid e.xample of 

 true Nobihty, and enshrined his title in that 

 brilliant gem, the love and gratitude of a 

 people's hearts. 



His Lordship's first connexion with the turf 

 commenced between sixty and seventy years 

 ago, during the life of his late uncle, the 

 Marquis of Rockingham, with whom he was 

 CO- proprietor or confederate, who was one of 

 the first supporters of our national pastime in 

 those days ; and although the venerable Earl 

 did not then run Horses in his own name, he 

 ever took a lively interest in their achieve- 

 ments, as well as in the general racing of the 

 time. 



His Lordship succeeded to the title on the 

 death of his father when only eight years of 

 age, and has thus been a Peer for the unpre- 

 cedented term of seventy-seven years ; and 

 though death has now relieved hira from that 



painful state of "second childhood" which 

 length of days had entailed upon him for the 

 last few years of his life, his memory will 

 live in the hearts of thousands long after his 

 mortal remains shall have dissolved and be no 

 more. Possessed of great wealth and ample 

 means, he spent a life of unwearied and in- 

 defatigable usefulness, with a heart overflow- 

 ing with charity and benevolence. The tear 

 of sorrow never met his eye without finding 

 sympathy and relief: the plaints of distress 

 never reached his ear without meeting assist- 

 ance and support : no public calamity ever 

 ravaged our shores but the name of Fitzwilliam 

 was foremost in the ranks to avert the evil 

 and to neutralize its eflFects : indeed so sreai 

 was the estimation and idolized feeling that 

 the poor and destitute of SlieflSeld and its 

 neighbourhood felt towards him, that after one 

 severe season of wretchedness and distress, in 

 which he had afforded them substantial and 

 bountiful relief, they presented him with a 

 Silver Cup, raised by a subscription, to which 

 no person was permitted to give snore than a 

 penny. This instance of the gratitude of the 

 poor and needy made a deep impression on 

 his Lordship ; and ever after, whether at home 

 or abroad, the Cup accompanied him, and 

 was the vessel from which he drank his 

 beverage. Shall worth like his, then, be 

 suffered to depart without a sigh ? No ! Hea- 

 ven forbid ! His name, his memory, his virtues, 

 his worth, will live, so long 



" As dying excellence deserves a tear, 

 And fond remembrance shall be cherished here." 



To enumerate the Horses which this dis- 

 tinguished nobleman has been the proprietor 

 of upon the turf, during so long a period, 

 would occupy too much space. He won fhe 

 Doncaster St. Leger three times only 

 5 p 



