LADY ELIZABETH k^Xy HER DETRACTORS. 157 



since. All kinds of sinister reports were circulated. She 

 had been poisoned ; she had been pulled ; she had been 

 trained to death. Nor were these all ; for amongst innumer- 

 able insinuations then in circulation too base for repetition 

 here, it was pretty freely said that every man in the stable, 

 as well as every friend of those in it, had made a muni- 

 ficent fortune by rascality at the expense of the ever- 

 confiding and credulous British public ; which had been 

 unblushingly and grossly victimised, and as usual left to 

 grumble and bear it. 



But when we come to the facts of the case, we find that 

 nothing was ever put forward to show that the mare was 

 either improperly treated or neglected in any way. And I 

 think that we have a right to assume that there was no 

 ground for the complaints ; but rather that credit should be 

 given to those in charge of her for assiduity in everything 

 that skill or experience could suggest for her well-being, and 

 that the whole mystery may be summed up in these few 

 words : no robbery took place, nor was one ever contem- 

 plated ; the mare had simply lost her form — she was not so 

 good as a three- as she was as a two-year-old. 



Nevertheless, although I myself and others whose veracity 

 cannot be doubted, may assert that she lost her form or her 

 temper, I am aware it is not easy to make incredulous people 

 see the matter in the same light. Therefore, for the benefit 

 of these unbelievers, I will add a word or two more. If any 

 one actuated by dishonest motives, or the inordinate love of 

 gain, took advantage of the opportunities to his hand in the 

 Derby, it is yet impossible for the boldest of these declaimcrs 

 of the sins of others to assert that any sordid motives could 

 influence the mare's running in subsequent races ; and in 

 these it was equally bad. This fact should be of itself 



