ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



is equally certain. We shall soon see that life to him 

 was real and earnest, and that the speculative traits 

 which marked his pilgrimage from the beginning of 

 the century to his death were early developed. He 

 quitted Wetherden in the early " twenties " to fulfil a 

 responsible post in the haras, at Fence Houses, Co. 

 Durham, of Mr. Ralph Lambton, who afterwards was 

 created first Earl of Durham. 



Apart from being a mighty hunter and master of 

 hounds, Mr. Ealph Lambton was a breeder of 

 thoroughbreds, and like the second Earl and the third, 

 who is the present holder of the title, rendered good 

 service to the State in those capacities. Chiefly with 

 the second Earl of Durham, who succeeded to the title 

 in 1840, was old John Osborne connected in business 

 affairs, frequently buying yearlings from the Fence 

 Houses stud. The second Earl of Durham at an early 

 age became a learned student of strains of blood, and 

 was well posted in Weatherby. He began with a 

 Cure mare, which he had out of Elphine, that bred 

 him Rickledon, Harriton, The Wizard, The Nymph, 

 Hecate, Michael Scott, Ariel, Giralda, and Alumna, the 

 last named a winner of the Ham Stakes. All of these 

 could win races, but the best of the bunch without 

 doubt was The Wizard, whom his lordship disposed 

 of to Mr. Anthony Nichol, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, as a 

 foal, for 200 guineas. He was a lucky purchase for Mr. 

 Nichol (who also owned Warlock and Newminster), as 

 he won him the Two Thousand Guineas, and was after- 

 wards placed for the Derby and St. Leger. John Scott 

 entertained the highest opinion of The Wizard's speed, 

 and was much disappointed at him not following up 

 the Two Thousand victory with the Derby and St. 

 Leger. That The Wizard could stay he proved at 



