CHAPTER VI 



tattersall's highflyer 



The most celebrated horse, excepting only Flying Childers 

 and Eclipse, in the last half of the eighteenth century was 

 Highflyer, got by King Herod, and was half-brother to 

 Mark Antony. He was the winner of many valuable prizes, 

 the chief of which was a sweepstakes of 2600 guineas, in 

 the Second Spring Meeting at Newmarket, 1778, for four- 

 year-olds. Only twice was he defeated. At the time of 

 his death, October 1793, he was earning his owner — Mr 

 Tattersall, founder of the well-known firm of auctioneers — 

 1200 guineas a year at the stud. 



The family of Tattersall acknowledge, and proudly, that 

 to Highflyer they owe the foundation of their fortunes. 

 His death was greatly lamented, and the following epitaph 

 was written when it occurred, — 



' Here lieth the perfect and beautiful symmetry of the 

 much lamented Highflyer, by whom, and his wonderful 

 offspring, the celebrated Tattersall acquired a noble fortune, 

 but was not ashamed to acknowledge it ! ' 



Mr Tattersall had erected a handsome mansion, and in 

 gratitude to this famous stallion called it ' Highflyer Hall.' 

 His heart was bound up in the celebrated sire, and he did 

 not long survive him, leaving his descendants ' an honest 

 name, a good business. Highflyer Hall, and an estate near 



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