568 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



time the newspapers were filled with Smolensko, and 

 he was by them represented as the speediest horse 

 which had appeared since Eclipse, and ' unlike Eclipse 

 only in his coolness and want of driving.' All the 

 world went to Epsom to witness the performance ot 

 this new Eclipse. On his return to London, he was 

 ordered from Tattersall's for the inspection of his 

 royal highness the Regent. Many persons were de- 

 sirous of purchasing this horse, and there seems no 

 doubt that four or five thousand pounds might have 

 been obtained, had the proprietor been desirous to part 

 with him. On the approach of the Egham meeting, 

 the public papers were again full of Smolensko, and a 

 turnpike-man upon the road declared, that in twenty 

 years, he had not seen such crowds pass his gate of 

 carriage company, horse, and foot, the latter of all 

 descriptions, and all for the purpose of getting a sight 

 of the famous black horse. Many had come eighteen 

 or twenty miles on foot, returning through the gate till 

 two o'clock in the morning. Crowds gathered round 

 him on the course, and he was then exhibited to her ma- 

 jesty the queen and the princesses on the royal stand. 

 A man actually offered Sir Charles Bunbury two hun- 

 dred pounds for the use of his horse to make a show 

 of ; and there is no doubt but that Sir Charles, could 

 he have done such a thing, might have made five 

 hundred pounds by exhibiting him in London ! Among 

 the curious tattle at Egham, on the subject of this 

 wonderful horse, it went about that the day before the 

 race he had been stinted of his meat and water, accord- 

 ing to the old system ; most probably a hoax of the 

 ^room, by way of answer to some sage inquiry : it 

 Aowever reached the ears of Sir Charles, who remarked 

 to his informant, that should a servant of his make so 

 gross a breach of his orders, ' he would never eat any 



