SOME EARLY VICTORIAN OWNERS. 487 



York, or Doncaster ; and what the trains did for locomotion the telegraph has 

 done for the scarcely less important essential of speedy information. By degrees 

 the small stakes fashionable not only in the North but all over England, increased 

 in value, and large sums were offered for competition in the "Metropolitan District," 

 against which the North could only offer the attractions of the St. Leger, the 

 Northumberland Plate, the Ebor Handicap, and a few valuable events for youngsters. 

 Much the same process, in fact, went on, as has been noticed in the gradual 

 migration of the rural populations into urban centres. The North remained "in 

 the country." The owners who were prepared to pay any price for a yearling 

 they fancied all began to race in the South, where the meetings which offered ample 

 and speedy return for their outlay were within easy reach. But in spite of every- 

 thing, for true love of a horse and affectionate knowledge of his history, you cannot 

 beat a crowd at Doncaster on a Leger day ; and of the true sporting spirit, which 

 reckoned nothing in money and everything in honour, Lord Glasgow, with all his 

 eccentricities, was a fine old-fashioned example. The tales of him are innumerable. 

 The very soul of integrity, he carried the diamond of his honest nature in the 

 roughest husk ; and the flavour of the sea which stuck to Admiral Rous was in his 

 old Norse blood as well until he died. Two friends of his, Lord Kennedy and 

 Captain Horatio Ross, once walked from Black Hall in Kincardineshire, where they 

 were staying with Mr. Farquharson, to Inverness, for a bet of ,2,500 a side with 

 Sir Andrew Leith Hay, starting after dinner in their evening dress and walking 

 all night, next day, and the next night, straight over the Grampians. It was Lord 

 Kennedy who bet Lord Kelburne (as the Earl of Glasgow was then) ^500 that he 

 would drive a team from Hawkhead to Ardrossan before him, again after dinner in 

 the dark. Lord Kelburne lost through taking the wrong turning, along which he 

 nearly drove his horses over the cliff into the sea. With a love of wagering like 

 this, a reckless spirit, a practically unlimited fortune, and a strong will, Lord Glasgow 

 made a notable figure on the English Turf. He hated to name his horses, and was 

 generally unlucky with them ; but among the best were General Peel, Musket, 

 Rapid Rhone, and Tom Bowline. His best win was with Actceon in the York 

 Subscription Purse. 



He often changed his trainers, but that was chiefly owing to momentary irrita- 

 bility, though he was a good hater when once he had made up his mind. Yet, 

 though his hand was always nervously rubbing the back of his neck, his face never 

 betrayed whether he had won or lost the ,50,000 that often depended on the 



