THE GOODWOOD YEARLINGS. 113 



sail's, and made a promise not to attend the sale, 

 but to let them go for what they would fetch. 

 All were sold but one, which, naturally, no one 

 would purchase when offered with its engage- 

 ments. The highest prices realised were 25 and 

 30. Some of them were yearlings, and had 

 been tried. Three of the latter became the prop- 

 erty of Mr Francis Yilliers, who, like his father 

 the Earl of Jersey, had no faith in yearling trials. 

 In the spring Lord George said to me, "You 

 have got me into a pretty mess by your advice 

 to sell those yearlings, as Mr Villiers tells me 

 they can run." I told his Lordship that I was 

 pleased to hear it. "You are pleased when I 

 have sold good horses, are you ? " he rejoined, 

 sharply. I answered that I was glad to hear 

 they could run, for I knew that his Lordship had 

 better in his stables, which I hoped would win 

 some of their engagements. Still he continued 

 to regret having sold them, and in order to try 

 and reassure him, I selected some of our horses 

 which had been tried, and which I thought were 

 better than those sold, although not the best of 

 his lot. I therefore advised his Lordship to make 

 some matches with them against those Mr Vil- 

 liers had bought. Three or four matches were 

 accordingly made. Lord George won the first 

 very easily, and received forfeit for the others. 

 After this he was satisfied, and no longer re- 

 gretted the sale of his yearlings. 



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