Sam Chifney. 89 



last long ; and the royal stud, after a short sojourn at 

 the sadly small Old Pavilion stables at Brighton, was 

 finally removed, under Smallman's charge, to Perren's 

 stables, at Newmarket. Lord Darlington was at this 

 time one of Perren's principal masters, and a Hap- 

 hazard confederacy was entered into between him and 

 the Prince, which shortly came to an end in conse- 

 quence of some difference about a match between 

 this horse and Dick Andrews, at Lewes. Chifney 

 senior had still the Prince's riding, but Perren was 

 enabled to give young Sam some mounts among his 

 other masters, when an unfortunate outburst of indig- 

 nation on the part of Will, who was now about 

 eighteen, in the High Street of Newmarket, not only 

 brought him for six dreary months within the bolts of 

 theCambridge jail,and brokeoff the connexion between 

 his family and the Prince, but induced the Duke of 

 Grafton and several other leading owners of horses to 

 withdraw their riding retainers from his brother. On 

 the real nature and circumstances of this painful affair 

 there is no need to dwell. The utmost that could be 

 said of Chifney senior was that he showed a want of 

 firmness. His riding fame in this instance was his 

 bane, and it was hardly to be wondered at that 

 owners should do their very utmost to secure the 

 " first call" of him. Four out of the five concerned in 

 it have passed away, and though the indignation of 

 Will was only such as a lad of high principle had a 

 right to feel when he considered that his father had 

 been hardly dealt with, his wrath was unfortunately 

 vented on one who was after all only an involuntary 

 agent in the. matter. Suffice it to say, that time soon 

 applied its healing touch, and that the kind feeling 

 and intercourse between Colonel Leigh and William 

 Chifney were renewed before twelve months had 

 passed away, and continued unbroken till the Colo- 

 nel's death in 1850. Young Sam's friends soon began 

 to flock round him again ; but his father's saddle 



