104 THE POST AND THE PADDOCK. 



need of such advice ; but with all his exertions, the- 

 weeks before the Craven Meeting of 1837 were so cold, 

 that Robinson could only just ride 8st. 71bs., and 

 Sam gave up his wasting in utter despair, about three 

 pounds beyond it. His dislike of wasting did not, 

 however, interfere with his regular masters ; but un- 

 less he liked the horse, he did not care to trouble 

 himself for any one else, and by this indifference to 

 his profession, he lost hundreds of mounts. He was, 

 in short, not a little perverse on this point ; and when 

 a riding retainer was offered him by Lord Chesterfield, 

 who merely wished him to take the best mounts and 

 leave the rest to Conolly, he declined it, and thus, 

 missed winning some of the finest prizes of the day. 

 He had, however, gallantly earned his spurs many 

 years before he flung this offer to the winds, and 

 while he felt truly that his fame would not suffer from 

 lack of mounts, he felt still less the necessity of laying 

 by funds against an evil day. The term " Old Screw" 

 unfortunately had no origin in his handling of money. 

 Like his brother, Will was also far too easy and open- 

 handed in these matters, and hence he has now to 

 mourn over many thousands, which the short memo- 

 ries of losers and borrowers have deprived him of- 

 " Pipes and Peace" was Sam's creed, and his consti- 

 tutional indolence was so great, that he could often, 

 be hardly got on to the Heath in the morning to ride 

 important trials, even when a favourite master like 

 Lord Darlington was concerned. Once for instance, 

 whem Memnon was matched for 1,000 guineas 

 aside, against Lord Exeter's colt Enamel (whose 

 Two Thousand Guinea victory caused his lordship 

 and Mr. Tattersall to race by proxy into Devon- 

 shire, and knock up her owner at midnight to 

 bid for the dam), he had arranged to meet his 

 brother at the Ditch stables. For two hours 

 did Will wait there with the horses, but no Sam,, 

 and he accordingly mounted the winner of the 



