16 EARLY YEARS. 



meetings the Duke almost always remained at 

 Newmarket, and busied himself in effecting altera- 

 tions and improvements upon the Heath. For 

 this purpose he employed many hands, and rode 

 about among them inspecting the work, and en- 

 couraging them here and there by a few words of 

 praise. A groom led the Duke's black cob about 

 the Heath as he walked among the labourers, and 

 in this way many hours of each day were spent. 

 His Grace was always an excellent pedestrian, and 

 I have known him walk home two or three miles 

 in heavy rain, followed by his groom leading the 

 well-known black cob. 



During the races the Duke had a waggon fitted 

 up as a movable stand, and supplied with every 

 convenience. After he had seen the competing 

 horses saddled at the Ditch stables, he would get 

 into his waggon, which was drawn up near the 

 Bushes, and would watch through a powerful 

 telescope the running of the horses in the race. 

 As they drew near to his " coign of vantage," he 

 would announce in a loud voice what their relative 

 positions were, and their respective chances of 

 winning. Although his Grace never betted a 

 shilling, and indeed held the practice in utter 

 detestation, I have never known any one who took 

 such keen interest in racing as he did. He had 

 an eye, and an exceedingly discriminating one too, 

 for the riding of each jockey, as I have often had 

 an opportunity of remarking when he permitted 



