356 THE FIFTH DUKE OF KICHMOND, K.G. 



that grand representative of Erin's Isle passed the 

 winning-post before his gallant owner, with the 

 warmth and generosity of heart for which his 

 compatriots are renowned, approached the Duke 

 of Richmond, and begged his Grace to permit him 

 to lay the valuable trophy which Harkaway had 

 just won as an oblation at the feet of the Duchess. 

 The latter was much gratified at Mr Ferguson's 

 princely offer, but, after consultation with the 

 Duke, came to the wise conclusion that it behoved 

 her to decline it, from fear of establishing a pre- 

 cedent which might be found productive of incon- 

 venient consequences. 



If, however, the Duke of Richmond was, as a 

 thousand acts well known to me proved, the 

 kindliest and most considerate of men, there were 

 occasions when the manliness and independence of 

 his character stood out in bold relief. It will be 

 remembered by many that for a long time Mr 

 Gratwicke who was a Sussex neighbour of the 

 Duke's family had his horses trained by per- 

 mission in the Goodwood stable. Mr Gratwicke 

 was rather apt to be suspicious, and too ready to 

 imagine that his horses were managed in the in- 

 terest of other parties in the stable than which 

 nothing could be further from the truth. His com- 

 plaints, made, not to the Duke of Richmond, but 

 privately to friends of his own, reached his Grace's 

 ears, and drew from him the remark, spoken in the 

 hearing of many independent listeners, " If Mr 



