82 FAMOUS EACING MEN. 



consideration, than John Gullj. No man could be more above pretence 

 or less shy at any allusions to his early and not very polished 

 career than himself. When I dined with him at Newmarket, as 

 well as upon subsequent occasions, I was most gratified by his manly 

 openness and lack of all sensitive false shame on any occasional 

 appeal being made to the byegone. He, on the contrary, entered 

 freely into many entertaining portions of his history, answered all my 

 questions con amore, and with perfect good nature, as to the mode 

 of training, hitting so as not to injure the hand, wrestling, and other 

 rninutice of the ring ; passing the claret and slicing the pine all the 

 while, as if foaled at Knowsley or Bretby. He had a quiet sly way of 

 joking on any turf affair, on which, bear in mind, he was as au fait as 

 Zamiel making a book on the Derby. The turbot came from 

 Billingsgate by express, and the haunch from his own park. Moet 

 purveyed the champagne, Marjoribanks the port, and, as I have before 

 said, Grifiiths the Lafitte. We had no skulking host, be assured, but 

 the most entertaining and liberal one alive.'" There is a genial tone 

 about this sketch that speaks at once for its truth and it would be 

 difficult to give any a man a better character. Gully's position at 

 every turn and phase of fortune was still a trying one, but no man 

 more fairly earned the respect he gained. There is a very moral of 

 good manners in such a man's history. 



It only remains to add that John Gully died on the 9th of 

 March, 1863, at his seat, Corkin Hall, near Durham, where he had 

 extensive collieries, having attained the ripe age of 80. It was his 

 wish to be buried at Ackworth, a village close to Pontefract, where 

 he had resided for many years until he sold it and went to Mar- 

 well, not far from Winchester, in order to be near Danebury, 

 where his horses were in training. When he broke up his stud he 

 purchased Corkin Hall, where he breathed his last. His wishes 

 with regard to his interment were carried out, and he was buried 

 at Ackworth, on the 14th of March, 1863, the Mayor and Cor- 

 poration of Pontefract and an immense concom-se of gentry and 

 tradesmen following him to the grave. Mr. Gully was, as we 

 have said, twice married, and had a family of five sons and five 

 daughters. We believe, however, that most, if not all, his children 

 predeceased him, one son being killed in the Indian Mutiny, but 

 there are grand-children living who bear his name and venerate 

 his memory. 



SIE TATTON SYKES. 



THERE is no name held in higher respect or deeper venera- 

 tion by the sportsmen of the north than that of the famous 

 old Yorkshire baronet. Sir Tatton Sykes, of Sledmere, whose face 

 was as familiar a sight at the great northern race-meetings half a cen- 

 tury ago or more as the dome of St. Paul's is to Londoners. Sir 



