DRINKING THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES. 231 



when he won the Two Thousand in 1838. "Let 

 the supply of champagne be ample, so that all may 

 enjoy themselves," were his Lordship's concluding 

 words to me, as he left the course to return to 

 Welbeck. 



The Turf Tavern was the abode during the Don- 

 caster race week of a jovial crew, including Mr 

 Dawson (himself the most hospitable and generous 

 of men), and his employers, Mr William Hope 

 Johnstone, Mr Meiklam, and Mr O'Brien. In 

 addition, I invited John and Bill Scott to dinner, 

 and any friends whom they might like to bring 

 with them from The Salutation, where John Scott's 

 horses always stood. In point of fact, the Turf 

 Tavern that night was open to all who liked to 

 enter its doors, and champagne flowed like water 

 for many hours. At the dinner -table the mirth 

 was fast and furious, as can easily be imagined 

 when such guests as Mr Orde of Nunnykirk, owner 

 of the famous Beeswing, Mr Pedley, Mr Wyndham 

 Smith, better known as " The Assassin," and many 

 other choice spirits, were also present. 



When Lord George drove over next morning 

 from Welbeck to Doncaster there was no Great 

 Northern Eailway in those days his first question 

 to me was, " How did the dinner at .the Turf 

 Tavern go off?" I replied that everybody had 

 enjoyed himself more than I could describe, but 

 that I feared the expense would exceed his Lord- 

 ship's anticipations, as the bill for wine, almost 



