Blood Mares. 221 



The large field especially is dotted here and there 

 with wide-spreading chestnut-trees, to shade them 

 from the heat ; and our attendant told us how of 

 yore the mares and foals would come dashing wildly 

 en masse down the hill, through the valley, and up 

 the opposite one, like a charge of Cossacks, till Mr. 

 Watt and his grooms fairly looked on trembling, lest 

 some of their brave little bits of Tramp, Blacklock, 

 or Lottery blood should be rolled head over heels 

 down the steep. The short-horns of a neighbouring 

 farmer quietly browse on it now ; but we would fain 

 hope that the thorough-bred traditions which still 

 linger fondly round it, will ere long be potent to 

 drive these intruders from the spot, and people it 

 with blood-stock, not inferior to those on which 

 John Jackson in the harlequin sc often rode back in 

 tiiumph to scale. 



