122 JIM MASON. 



pleasant chat we had together. I remember he used to 

 tell me that the greatest trial to his nerves was the 

 approach to the first fence at Aintree, at racing pace. I 

 had a hobby in those days for collecting race cards, and 

 as I have never ceased to collect one thing or another, 

 and destroyed little or nothing of any interest for over 

 fifty years, there is a cheerful prospect in store for my 

 executors, administrators, and assigns. Among them is 

 the following letter from Charley Boyce. 



The Cedars, Wigston, 



April 6th, 1866. 

 W. R. D. Maycock, Esq. — 



Dear Sir, 



Only returned home last night, or would have sent 

 these before. I am ashamed of sending such a shabby lot. 

 Will save them more carefully in future. We'd shocking bad 

 weather at Newmarket : Baron Rothschild's *' Robin Hood " * 

 was beaten by Lord Stamford's " The Peer " through Wells 

 mistaking the Winning Post. I am going to Croydon this 

 afternoon, and am sorry to see the weather does not promise to 

 be very agreeable there. A nice Woodland run with the 

 Pytchley yesterday, and got thoroughly soaked in the after- 

 noon. 



Your obedient Servant, 



Charles F. Boyce. 



I remember very well one day in the early sixties, 

 riding home from hunting with my father, by the side of 

 Stonton Wood. Suddenly we heard the sound of horses 

 galloping behind us, two people flashed by and were over 

 the fence and in front of us in the twinkling of an eye. 

 They were larking home after a blank day, or something 

 approaching it. One was a man in black, the other a woman. 

 The man had a perfect seat, very upright, tall, thin, and as 

 smart as paint. His companion wore a habit that fitted 



* He clearly meant " Robin " not-" Robin Hood. " There were only two runners, and 

 they laid 5—2 on Robin. — W.M. 



