260 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



must hear the concert he presumes to criticise ; in fact, 

 we can do nothing of this sort by proxy. It is not that 

 the subject is poor, but that my language is incompetent. 

 However, let me try what I can do. 



" The fixture was Bosworth on the very ground ou 

 which Richard III. lost both his crown and his life ; and 

 the field was unusually large for this part of the world, 

 consisting of at least 150 horsemen, amongst whom were 

 about a score of the Quornites on their very best nags. 

 They were easily distinguished, first, by the colour of 

 their coat for, until I saw them together, I was not 

 aware of the strong contrast between the orange and the 

 red ; and next by the superior form and condition of 

 their horses over the generality of those of our party. 

 Amongst them, I particularly noticed Sir Henry Peyton's 

 Watchmaker, a superb horse, the same that you see in 

 the ' Sporting Magazine,' where he is represented clearing 

 a stile and brook with Sir Henry, and setting the whole 

 field. Then there was Mr. Lindon on his famous horse 

 The Clipper, and the celebrated Tom Smith on Jack-o'- 

 Lantern, by Meteor, out of a sister to Tickletoby, said to 

 be the two best horses in Leicestershire. And amongst 

 them were Sir Stephen Glynne and Lord Foley, who are 

 domiciled at Mountsorrel, in the same house with Sir 

 Henry Peyton ; and I noticed George Germaine, Parson 

 Bennett, Forester, cum multis aliis unknown to you, but 

 all first-raters. Then there was John Raven, Meynell's 

 old huntsman, but now Lord Sef ton's, who came to witness 

 the events of this day. And this reminds me that Lord 

 Sefton himself was in the field with two of the finest 

 horses I ever saw in my life. He calls one Plato, and 

 the other Rowland, and they cost him no less than 1800 

 guineas. Then their condition was splendid. You are 

 aware that it, was in consequence of my conversation with 

 his groom, that I kept my horses last summer in the house, 

 and have determined upon never again turning them to 



! As you may suppose, we made the best turn-out 

 in our power, on this day, from this side the coun- 

 try, and a most respectable appearance we cut. Sam 

 Lawley had a picked pack for the occasion, and was 

 mounted on his best horse, John -o'- Gaunt, one of the 

 three for which 1000 guineas were offered. We all, 

 indeed, skimmed the cream of our studs, myself upon 



