GEORGE IV. 117 



renewed his acquaintance with the Chifneys, by his 

 Dervise retainer to Sam, and followed it up by send- 

 ing special messages to both of them after Wednes- 

 day's races,, to meet him at the Swinley Mile-post, 

 and let him see Lord Darlington's Memnon, who was 

 to take a gentle canter at four o'clock, previous to 

 running for the Cup next day. When all the com- 

 pany had gone, His Majesty drove up to the tryst, 

 with the Marquis of Couyngham in the pony phaeton 

 by his side, and his factotum, Jack Ratford, on an 

 Irish mare behind, Jack reigned supreme in the 

 Royal household to the last, and many got an 

 audience through his agency, who otherwise might 

 have waited in vain. He had been a lad in Dick 

 Goodisson's stables, and was thence promoted to be 

 pad-groom to Old Q," who insisted to the last that 

 he should lead the horses about daily from twelve to 

 three, in front of his house in Piccadilly, that he 

 might still have the pleasure of fancying that he was 

 going to take a ride. He knew all the Duke's ways, 

 and the latter repaid his care by leaving him his 

 coach-horses and several of the things in his London 

 house, besides recommending him to the King, who 

 kept him. a cab, while he was in his service. 



His royal master had well kept his 1791 vow, that 

 he would visit Newmarket Heath no more, and from 

 that time to the day of his death, he only once viewed 

 its white ghost-like posts and venerable rubbing- 

 houses, as he swept along the London road, after 

 sleeping all night at the palace, in Mr. Douglas's 

 time, on his return from a visit at Holkham. It was 

 therefore with great difficulty that Mr. Delme Rad- 

 cliffe now got him to train his horses there, on 

 representing to him that they got bruised at Ascot ; 

 but Jack had seconded the proposition with no little 

 earnestness, as his heart yearned to bear his part in 

 some Newmarket visits. Still, although the King 

 chose to forget his gracious answer to the Jockey 

 Club address at Brighton, in which they begged him 



