THE GRAND NATIONAL. 35 



on the other hand, was ridden with the greatest judg- 

 ment and skill. The horse's original name was 

 Mag'num Bonum, and alter running unsuccessfully in 

 some small races, was sold to a Mr. Durham for 

 ^80. who in his turn passed him on at a small profit 

 to Mr. Payne, a horse-dealer of Market Harboro'. 



This worthy sold him to what '' Soapy " Sponge's 

 horse-dealing friend Mr. Benjamin Buckram would 

 have termed a " Leicestersheer swell " for /, 350, who 

 however was so dissatisfied with his baro-ain that he 

 offered Payne ^50 to take him back. Sundry others 

 of the hard-ridinof division at Melton now Qrave the 

 horse a trial, but could make nothing of him, and so 

 long did he hang on his hands that his owner at last 

 began to look upon him in the light of a white 

 elephant. As no one down in his part of the world 

 would have anything to say to Magnum Bonum, 

 Mr. Payne, in sheer desperation, offered him to 

 Mr. Quartermaine, the well-known dealer of 

 Piccadilly, who, when he at last came to a deal, 

 after bidding less and less money for the horse 

 every time he saw him, re-christened him Discount 

 on the spot. A highly appropriate name under 

 the circumstances, as we think most of our readers 

 will agree. 



F 2 



