AND TIMES OF JOHN OSBORNE 489 



retired as a turf official, in 1885, after a faithful and 

 most honourable service of some forty years. 



In the early part of December of '96, we paid a 

 visit to Mr. Johnson at his residence, St. Mary's, York, 

 with a view of eliciting from the venerable and retired 

 "chief justice" any "Osborniana" of interest. The 

 worthy judge was found in his drawing-room, and as 

 showing the tendency of his mind in his octogenarian 

 years, he had just closed his Bible when we were ushered 

 into his presence. On complimenting him on his hale 

 and hearty appearance, the judge replied : 



" Ah ! I am not so strong as you may think. My 

 eyesight is failing me, and my memory is not so clear." 



" Well, Mr. Johnson, can you give any recollections 

 of John Osborne ? ' 



At once we entered into a conversation, a large 

 portion of which was not germane to the matter, but 

 as there was only one Judge Johnson left of the many 

 worthies who were actors in Turf scenes of as far back 

 as seventy years ago, the reader may be disposed to 

 listen with patience, if not with interest, to the old 

 gentleman's recollections gathered in the course of an 

 hour's interview 



" Well, yes," began the Judge, " I knew old John 

 Osborne very well. Many years ago I remember handi- 

 capping one of ' Old John's ' horses. After seeing the 

 weights he came to me in a passion and ' blowed ' me 

 up for handicapping, as he said, his horse ' out of the 

 race.' He put young John Osborne up to ride the horse, 

 and it won by a head. He had given the boy orders not 

 to win, but young John rode the horse out, and won, 

 as I tell you. After the race ' Old John ' was in a 

 towering rage against his son, and told him, ' If you 

 cannot obey orders, off you go home.' And John had 



