CHAPTEE XVI 



The Duke of Hamilton — He puts me a thousand on Valiant 

 — A " good thing " — The Duke misses a chance — ^\Vhat I said 

 to him — His laughing agreement — I buy John Davis of him 

 — The Brighton Stakes running — " Tubljy " ]VIorris and Billy 

 Nichol think they " smell a rat " — A drive to Telscombe — 

 John Davis's extraordinary trials— He beats Provider loO 

 yards — Fordham -wishes to ride at 14 lb. overweight — I lose 

 Butler and put up Sammy Mordan — His eccentric disobedi- 

 ence — A Cesarewitch thrown away — I sell John Davis for 

 19 gs. — The Stewards' Cup — The Duke of Hamilton's Mid- 

 lothian and LoUypop — His Grace's declaration — His orders to 

 Custance — My orders — I try to Ijuy Sutler. 



Whoever knew the late Duke of Hamilton with 

 any degree of intimacy found in him a staunch 

 friend and a charming companion. There was 

 nothing namby-pamby about His Grace, a man of 

 rare physique, and able, when occasion arose, to use 

 his fists with admirable dexterity. The very soul of 

 kindness, he would do anybody he liked a good turn, 

 and many lost a real friend when he was " gathered 

 to his fathers." His Grace and myself always hit 

 matters excellently, and the number of business 

 transactions we had together is beyond my memory 

 to recall. It must be understood that the members 



o\ a 



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