2 4 



GENERAL GRANT'S ARABIAN STALLIONS, 



Commons, on August 29, passed a vote of thanks to Colonel Jones on 

 the occasion of his recent victory over the forces of the Duke of Ormond 

 in Ireland, coupled with a pension of one thousand pounds a year to 

 him 'and his heyres for ever in Ireland;' and 'six of the best horses in 

 Titbury race to be selected and sent to him, as a gratuity from the 

 House.' This draft was duly selected and sent to Ireland, and it is a 

 singular fact that some years afterward?, five of these half-dozen royal 

 stud barbs were acquired by the Earl of Thomond, by whom the strain 

 was carefully preserved, which doubtless accounts for the many victories 

 won by the race-horses owned and bred by the O'Briens in England 

 and Ireland after the Restoration, and on to the beginning of the pres- 

 ent century. Throughout the autumn of 1649 and the spring of 1650, 

 much solicitude was evinced by the Council of State in the welfare of 

 the Tutbury establishment, upon the choice treasures contained wherein 

 Oliver Cromwell was casting covetous eyes. Many other lords and 

 commoners followed the Protector's lead in that respect; so much so, 

 that the Council were induced to appoint a committee to consider how 

 the stud ' may be so disposed that the breed be not lost.' This committee 

 consisted of the Earl of Salisbury, Lords Howard, Lisle, and Grey, Sir 

 Arthur Haselrigge, Sir William Constable, Sir William Armyne, Sir H. 

 Mildmay, Colonel Morley, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Scott. They appear to 

 have done nothing except to dismiss Gregory Julian, and in his stead to 

 appoint Major Edward Downes, to whom the whole business of the 

 stud was committed. But the final dispersal now approached apace, as 

 on the 2d of July Cromwell obtained six of the best horses, and on the 

 following day, a draft from the colts were 'chosen' for him. It is un- 

 necessary here to follow all the incidents of the dispersal, as it will be 

 sufficient to mention that on December 9, Downes, the custodian, re- 

 ceived final instructions to dispose of the remaining animals at the best 

 prices obtainable; but he was to allow Lord Grey 'to be furnished' 

 with whatever lots he desired without prejudice to the sale. By Janu- 

 ary 5, 1 651, all the animals were sold and distributed; the money de- 

 rived by the sale was handed over to the Council of State. Downes 

 was paid off and dismissed, when the royal stud at Tutbury, founded 

 by James I., and so well sustained by his successor, ceased to exist. It 

 is a remarkable circumstance that in many instances those who obtained 

 drafts from the Tutbury stud, and bred from the strain, were conspicu- 

 ous in offering to contribute, in kind, towards the resuscitation of the 

 royal stud, nine years later on, when the king 'enjoyed his own again.' 

 At this time the Tutbury strain was distributed over many parts of 



