ROYALTY ON THE TURF. 53 



the two great confederates of that day, would approach the ring,' 

 and then a sudden silence ensued to await the opening of their" 

 books. Tliey would come on perhaps smiling, but mysteriously, 

 without making any demonstration. At last Mr. Jerry Cloves' 

 would say, ' Come, JNlr. JNlellish, will you light the candle and set 

 us a-going ? ' Then, if the master of Buckle would say, ' I'll take 

 3 to 1 about Sir Solomon,' the whole pack opened, and the air 

 resounded with every shade of odds and betting. About half-an- 

 hour before the departure for the hill, the Prince himself would 

 make his appearance in the crowd. I think I see him now in a 

 green jacket, a white hat, and light nankeen pantaloons and shoes, 

 distinguished by his high-bred manner and handsome person. He 

 was generally accompanied by the late Duke of Bedford, Lord 

 Jersey, Charles Wyndham, Shelley, Brummell, M. Day, Churchill, 

 and oh ! — extraordinary anomaly ! — the little old Jew, Travis, who, 

 like the dwarf of old, followed in the train of Royalty. The Downs 

 were soon covered with every species of conveyance, and the Prince's 

 German waggon and six bay horses (so were barouches called when 

 first introduced at that time) — the coachman on the box being 

 replaced by Sir John Lade — issued out of the gates of the Pavilion, 

 and gliding up the green ascent was stationed close to the Grand 

 Stand, where it remained the centre of attraction for the day. At 

 dinner-time the Pavilion was resplendent with lights, and a 

 sumptuous banquet was fm'nished to a large party ; while those 

 who were not included in that invitation found a dinner, with every 

 luxmy, at the Club-house on the Steyne, kept by Raggett during 

 the season, for the different members of White's and Brooke's who 

 diose to frequent it, and where the cards and dice from St. James'ti 

 were not forgotten." 



In 1826 George IV. returned to the turf, and faithful to his promise 

 renewed his acquaintance with the Chifneys, whom he retained to 

 ride and train for him. Once fairly on the turf again, the King- 

 entered into it Avith as great interest as ever. Ho cared but little 

 what price he gave for his racers — 1,500 or 3,000 guineas was 

 all the same to him. The Colonel was his most expensive pur- 

 chase ; but 4,000 guineas did not stand in his way when he wa^; 

 determined to win the Ascot Cup and present it to the pride of his 

 Comt. Zinganee was, however, destined to foil him, and Lord 

 Qiesterfield, who had made an offer for the horse after he had won 

 the Oatlands on the Tuesday, not only mentioned the negotiation to 

 the King that evening, but gracefully expressed his readiness to 

 break it off" and not be in any way the instrument of depriving 

 his Majesty of a trophy on which he had evidently set his 

 heart. "My dear Chesterfield," was the frank jovial answer, 

 "buy the Chifney's horse by all means; if you don't beat me 

 with him Gully will ; I don't mind being beaten by you ! '' The 

 purchase was made, and Zinganee bore oft' the Cup from Royalty's 

 representative, the Colonel. Then his Majesty could not rest until he 



