THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 165 



racing has been represented, and justly, in my opinion, 

 to. be a stimulus acting powerfully on the generous 

 ambition of man, prompting him to personal exertion, 

 and highly exciting to superiority. What, then, is the 

 result ? Why that, as a man now and then violates his 

 best principles for a woman, he now and then violates 

 them for a horse. Such, it appears, had been the 

 impression made on Frank Raby \>y his late intercourse 

 with Lord Dauntley, who had been introduced to him by 

 his friend Goodall, by the well-conducted breeding 

 establishment that he had formed, together with his 

 temporary success for he had just won the Oaks, and had 

 run second for the St. Leger that he had made a vow to 

 himself, that, before he was three years older, he would 

 win a Derby or an Oaks, if money or management could 

 effect it. 



CHAPTER X 



Our sportsman has now entered in earnest upon his life. He refuses 

 a seat in Parliament, and stiidies his cral't with enthusiasm, 

 opening his first regular Iranting campaign with the Warwick- 

 shire, under the celebrated Mr. Corbet, and the Pytchley, 

 under the great John Warde. 



ON his return to the Abbey, after a week's absence 

 on a visit to his friend Lord Dauntley, he found 

 the following letter from his uncle : 



"HARLEY STREET, January 10, 1802. 



" DEAR FRANK, As I do not expect to see you in 

 town till the hunting season closes, I write to inform 

 you, that a friend of mine and your father has intimated 

 to me his intention of retiring from the fatigues of 

 parliamentary life in consequence of ill-health, and made 

 an offer of the borough to me, which, being a close one, 

 he has, of course, the power to do. My taking it is out 

 of the question ; but, as you are aware it was very much 

 my wish that your poor brother should have been in the 

 House, and the voice of a Raby once more listened to 

 with attention within its walls which would certainly 

 have been the case if that wish had been granted me 

 I am particularly desirous that you should accept the prof- 

 fered boon. It will be an excellent introduction into life, 



