14 FAMOUS KACING MEN. 



worked his way into the society of men of ton, and spent the 

 countess's guineas with all the air of a gentleman to the manner 

 born. He rapidly acquired the reputation of a reckless and daring 

 gamester ; indeed, his passion for gaming was from the very 

 first extraordinary. He was, however, singularly unfortunate in 

 his early attempts to win fame and fortune with dice and cards. 

 Eeduced to beggary by ill-luck, he had to become first a marker 

 at a billiard table, and then to fill a similar office at a tennis- 

 court, where he acted as the drudge and attendant of the sharpers 

 who had robbed him. In those situations he made the acquaint- 

 ance of noblemen and gentlemen, who permitted or rather obliged 

 him for the sake of their own convenience and amusement, 

 sometimes to take part in their matches. This led him again 

 into expensive habits, and he was at length thrown into the 

 Fleet Prison, where he became attendant at the tap, and lived 

 by carrying out beer to his fellow prisoners. Whilst in the Fleet 

 he made the acquaintance of a beautiful, but too notorious woman, 

 named Charlotte Hayes, and it was probably through her assistance 

 that after a durance of three years he was able to leave the 

 Fleet. How he obtained money enough to start him in society 

 as a gentleman we are unable to say, but about the year 1760 

 he was thought good enough to be allowed to purchase an 

 ensigncy in the Westminster Eegiment of Middlesex Militia, 

 which was just then raised, and in due time he rose by regular 

 gradations to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. From the moment 

 he left the Fleet, there can be no doubt that he went in 

 recklessly for gambling of every description, but he must have 

 had a remarkable run of luck, or else he would never have been in 

 a position to purchase the horse with which his name will be for 

 ever associated, and which unquestionably founded his fortunes. 

 The way in which he became possessed of Eclipse was singular, 

 but before detailing the circumstances it will be as well formally to 

 introduce the great horse to the reader. In the year 1764, during 

 a partial eclipse of the sun, which made the year a notable one, a 

 mare named Spiletta, in the stud of H.R.H. William Duke of 

 Cumberland, of Culloden fame, gave birth to a chestnut foal by 

 Marske, which was called after the phenomenon which had marked 

 its birth. Eclipse. On the death of the Eoyal duke, his stud went 

 to the hammer, and a Mr. William Wildman, a sheep salesman of 

 Smithfield, who kept a string of horses at Middleham, became the 

 purchaser of Eclipse under rather peculiar circumstances. Wildman 

 had received a hint from one of the duke's stud grooms that the 

 colt was something out of the common way, and was resolved to 

 obtain possession of the animal. Accordingly, he went to the 

 auction, but on his arrival found that Eclipse had just been knocked 

 down for 70 guineas. The astute salesman pulled out his watch 

 and discovered that the sale had commenced some minutes before 

 the advertised time. He at once walked up to the auctioneer, 



