THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



and on the next day but one his Lordship appeared on the 

 course, on his hack, with a countenance pale and wan, indica- 

 tive of the loss he had sustained. But mark the pluck of the 

 man ! Plougliater was to walk over for a stake, and his Lord- 

 ship mounted him for the purpose, despite of the remonstrance 

 of his owner. As it happened, no ill consequences were the 

 result. His Lordship rode as usual at the forthcoming meeting 

 at Bibury, and in a style seldom excelled by tlie best profes- 

 sional jockeys of the day, and, with a ducal coronet over his 

 head, is now alive and heart-whole, and as good a specimen of 

 an English Duke as England could wish to see. His brother, 

 the Hon. George German, second only to him in the gentle- 

 man's racing-saddle, has paid the debt of nature. The 

 gentlemen jockeys of that day underwent all the privations 

 and discipline of those who get their living by riding races ; 

 and it has been observed, that the greater part of them have 

 preserved their health and vigour to an extraordinary degree. 

 The preparation for riding races, however, if not carried to too 

 great an extent, is allowed to be most salutary, and there is a 

 passage in Xenophon's Cyropcedia, in corroboration of this fact. 

 Cyrus never suffered his men to go to their meals, not having 

 been sweated. This, it appears, was effected either by taking 

 them out a-hunting, or by inventing'such sports as would cause 

 them to sweat. 



On our hero's arrival in London, he found the following letter 

 from his father : — 



' My dear Frank, — 



' You are aware that it was the earnest desire of your late 

 uncle, and it is likewise mine, that you should occupy a seat 

 in the senate. It will be an admirable introduction into good 

 society, and give you an importance in your own eyes and in 

 those of others, to which, by circumstances, you are entitled. 

 I have reason to believe a very small sum will secure you a 

 seat for the borough of Riply, and I am willing to find the 

 needful. Let me request, then, that you will immediately 

 proceed thither, and my friend Sir Richard Hartley will 

 propose you to the electors, as well as arrange everytliing that 

 may be necessary towards securing your return for the borough. 

 Observe, it is not quite a close borough ; but I understand 

 there will be no opposition to any one put in nomination by Sir 



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