AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 149 



saying he knew he was fond of getting something out 

 of an outsider for the Derby, asked him what he would 

 bet him against a colt for the Derby. 'Why, he is 

 dead, I tell thee. What is the use of backing him?' 

 was the reply. ' I know better,' said the young 'un, 

 ' and I'll take 1000 to 15 about him.' ' Well, then, 

 you must write down "dead or alive," and I'll bet it 

 you.' The wager was accordingly booked; but before 

 Lord Frederick, who was not a fast caligrapher, had 

 finished writing, he was accosted by Lord St. Vincent, 

 who had walked across the room, and said, ' What have 

 you been doing, my lord? I have been watching you 

 with that young 'un, and I have laid a pony to a fiver you 

 have the best of the transaction.' ' Well, that is the 

 strangest thing I have ever heard of, as I have got the 

 best of the lad, for I have betted him against a really 

 dead horse ; but I have made him put it down " dead 

 or alive," and you have won your fiver.' 



' That we have not exaggerated the indolence of 

 Lord St. Vincent, we will proceed to show by a couple of 

 illustrations, which we think will clearly exemplify it. 

 Of a most equable disposition, he was never seen but 

 twice out of temper once when, at Newmarket, his 

 valet was left behind at Cambridge with his clothes, 

 and he was compelled to dine at the Rooms in his 

 morning dress, old Bob Sly being extemporised into a 

 body servant, and ordered to wash his hands before he 

 helped him to take off his shirt to cool ; and the latter, 

 we have no doubt, can even now recollect the terms in 

 which he expressed himself as to his unfortunate position 

 on the occasion. 



"Another time his irritability positively rose into 

 indignation, when Mr. E. R. Clarke subpoenaed him at 



