THE GRAND NATIONAL. 



Dreamers as a rule fare so indifferently when putting the 

 results of their visions to the test, that they may well take heart 

 o' grace from the following letter written by Lord Poulett to 

 Mr. Thomas, rather more than three months prior to the race. 

 Needless to say, the missive in question is much prized by its 

 possessor, in whose famous scrap book you may be sure it 

 occupies a prominent place. 



" Army and Navy Club, 



" London, S.W. 

 " Thursday night, 

 " My Dear Tommy, — " Dec. 15th, 1870. 



" Let me know for certain whether you can 

 ride for me at Liverpool on The Lamb. I dreamt twice last 

 night I saw the race run. The first dream he was last and 

 finished amongst the carriages. The second dream, I should think 

 an liour aftenvards, I saw the Liverpool run. He won by four 

 lengths, and you rode him, and I stood close to the winning post 

 at the turn. I saw the cerise and blue sleeves, and you, as plain 

 as I write this. Now let me know as soon as you can, and say 

 nothing to any one. 



" Yours sincerely, 



" Poulett." 



The Lamb was foaled in 1862 and was bred by a farmer named 

 Henchy in the county of Limerick. He was by Zouave out of a 

 mare by Arthur, Zouave being bred by Mr. Courtenay, the owner 

 of Matthew, the first Irish horse to win the Liverpool. 



'fhe Lamb was so christened early in life, the story going that 

 one of Henchy's sons, who was very delicate, took a great liking to 

 the foal, who was so very gentle that they gave him the name ot 

 The Lamb. 



