210 THE POST AND THE PADDOCK. 



Bay Malton, and Filho da Puta, where all first foals, 

 such, was the late Marquis of Westminster's preju- 

 dice against them that he always gave them away, 

 and was only prevented from so acting in the case 

 of the weakly white-faced firstling of Banter by 

 despair of finding a thankful donee. Had the Mar- 

 quis kept hounds, little Touchstone might have been 

 popped into the kennel-copper, and not been the 

 first of such Lilliputians who has furnished a dainty 

 veal supper to the hungry spotted tribe of the Rum- 

 magers and the Rallywoods. Since Touchstone's 

 escape, Melbourne, Liverpool, Ion, The Baron, King- 

 ston, Elthiron, Inheritress, Wild Dayrell, and Fan- 

 dango, have trampled on this ancient theory. Touch- 

 stone himself has magnificent quarters ; but his stock 

 have too often heavy shoulders, which sadly baffle 

 the trainer's art. His sire CamePs shoulders and 

 withers were high almost to deformity ; and his quar- 

 ters were so cloven and large, and his tail set on so 

 low, that as you looked at him from behind, and 

 missed his fine blood-like head, he seemed as strong 

 and coarse as a cart-horse. Camel was an especial 

 favourite with Mr. Theobald and he refused an offer of 

 10,000 for him, Rockingham, Laurel, and Tarrare, 

 who stood along with CacciaPiatti, Cydnus, and one or 

 two others at his Stockwell stud farm. There has 

 seldom been a greater enthusiast in horse-flesh than 

 the old hosier of Snow Hill, and he perfectly wor- 

 shipped Whalebone. If you called on him at his 

 house of business, you were invariably told that he 

 was so much engaged that he could see no one ; but 

 " Perhaps you could say that I have come about some 

 horses" was the unfailing picklock of an interview. 

 In a few short minutes the hosiery points were settled 

 out of hand, and his massive figure would be seen 

 looming in the distance, in top-boots and buckskins, 

 and a capacious blue gilt-buttoned coat a la Duke of 

 Portland. If he did not carry you off bodily to 



