NIMllOD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 19 



inferred then, that they must act more vigorously than they have as yet 

 (.lone, if they wish the turf to regain its respectability, which is now so 

 rapidly decreasing. In fact, if they refuse to do so, it will soon come to 

 this, that whoever enters upon it largely, must adopt one of two alterna- 

 tives — he must either rob or be robbed. 



But to return for a moment to my conversation with the guard of 

 the Wellington coach. Perhaps as strong a proof as need be pro- 

 duced, of the absolute necessity of a reform in the racing world, 

 and that without such reform noblemen and gentlemen of character 

 will become shy of supporting it, may be found in the remark 

 made to me a few months back by a gentleman who was for many 

 years a leading character on the English turf, but who has retired from 

 it, as he entered upon it — with an unblemished reputation. '' Upon my 

 word," said he to me, in Calais, where I accidentally met him on his re- 

 turn to England ; " if I had horses engaged in great stakes now, I should 

 sometimes be almost as much afraid of winning as of losing them — so 

 much suspicion being attached to racing in these days." I have often 

 thought how many painful moments would have been spared to Mr. Bat- 

 son, if he had taken the hint given in the article on the Turf in the 

 Quarterly Review, of putting Plenipo. into his pocket, rather than sending 

 him " to contend against twenty Yorkshire jockies." But perhaps he 

 considered this " a fool's advice," for what can the Quarterly Review 

 know of racing ? But what says the Fool in the play of King Lear ? 

 Why that '* he is mad who trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's 

 health, or a ***** 's oath." 



At rather an early dinner-hour, the Wellington pulled up at the door 

 of the Black Swan Inn, in the ancient, but dreadfully dull town of York. 



D 2 



