122 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



on some forty or fifty years ago. No alteration had been 

 made in these antique adjusters in the recollection of 

 the oldest inhabitant, and, as they bore the mark of 

 1725 upon them, it is not wonderful they crumbled to 

 pieces. After the first race, Mr. Peart (this would be 

 John Peart, who was a sort of business manager of 

 Mr. Bowes's horses at Whitewall for many years) 

 despatched a messenger to the town for a fresh set ; but 

 they were not to be obtained, and it seemed as if there- 

 was no help for it but postpone the sport. At last the 

 quick eye of old John Osborne, still suffering from his 

 old complaint (he died the following year), discerned a 

 remedy, for in crossing the course he came in contact 

 with an itinerant weigher of persons, who wished tx> 

 ascertain the effect of their Banting process for the small 

 fee of twopence per head. Immediately the discovery 

 was made he communicated with Mr. Peart, and 

 suggested the man's employment. That gentleman, than 

 whom there is none less fettered by red tape or routine, 

 jumped at the proposal and effected an engagement with, 

 him then and there for a sovereign and free admission 

 to the stand; and as the worthy C.C. entered with the 

 new official, he was received with what the newspaper 

 reporters term " a perfect ovation." Business was then 

 resumed, and beyond the fact that in the first race- 

 John Osborne laid twenty pounds to ten on Bed Lion 

 against Brown Bread and beat him with the latter by a 

 head, there was really nothing to note, and as the stake 

 was exactly twenty-five pounds it paid John for his 

 bet. 



It is curious about this time to read of the explosions, 

 between Lord Glasgow and Aldcroft. The jockey was 

 dead out of luck in '64, and the disputes between him- 



