RACES. 305 



the mansions of the Earls of Cork and de 

 Grey, and of the Marquis of Bute, I took 

 leave of my friend in the pretty little vil- 

 lage of Harpenden. 



I subsequently took a ride to Ports- 

 mouth, and discharged a few obligations of 

 a private nature, stopping principally at the 

 house of my deceased wife's brother's 

 widow. I took my children with me, and 

 spent here our Christmas. My thoughts 

 would sometimes revert to the scene that 

 had so dazzled my understanding in St. 

 James's Square. I had been at races at 

 Epsom in particular, as well as in other 

 sporting circles, where I had witnessed and 

 partook of the excitement, in a small way, 

 that such meetings generally produced, 

 where the qualities of the different animals 

 were exhibited, and their merits decided by 

 what appeared a fair competition. A nu- 

 merous and joyous assemblage gave anima- 

 tion to the scene, and few were those of 



VOL. II. X 



