332 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



But a word or two of Lord Solville, who was, as has 

 been stated, at the Prince's side at the moment. The 

 Prince had a horse called Ploughater, that was a most diffi- 

 cult horse to ride. He was not only a determined hard 

 puller in his races, but went very much on his shoulders, 

 with his nose nearly sweeping the ground. It is need- 

 less to observe that a horse of this description required 

 a vast deal of riding ; and it was said at the time 

 that no member of the club, but Lord Solville, could 

 ride him as he ought to be ridden, and hitherto he had 

 never lost a race upon him. On the third day of this 

 meeting, however, his Lordship rode him to his cost. So- 

 great was his exertion in pulling him together, in rather 

 a sharply contested race, that no sooner had he dismounted 

 from his back, than a blood-vessel burst within him. 

 Medical aid was resorted to, and on the next day but one 

 his Lordship appeared on the course, on his hack, with a 

 countenance pale and wan, indicative of the loss he had 

 sustained. But mark the pluck of the man ! Ploughater 

 was to walk over for a stake, and his Lordship mounted 

 him for the purpose, despite of the remonstrance of his 

 owner. As it happened, no ill consequences were the 

 result. His Lordship rode as usual at the forthcoming 

 meeting at Bibury, and in a style seldom excelled by the 

 best professional jockeys of the day, and, with a ducal 

 coronet over his head, is now alive and heart-whole, and 

 as good a specimen of an English Duke as England 

 could wish to see. His brother, the Hon. George German, 

 second only to him in the gentleman's racing-saddle, has 

 paid the debt of Nature ; but many of what may be called 

 the bond fide gentlemen jockeys of those days are now alive 

 and well. 1 



On our hero's arrival in London, he found the following 

 letter from his father : 



1 The gentlemen jockeys of that day underwent all the priva- 

 tions and discipline of those who get their living by riding races ; 

 and it has been observed, that the greater part of them have 

 preserved their health and vigour to an extraordinary degree. 

 The preparation for riding races, however, if not carried to too 

 great an extent, is allowed to be most salutary, and there is a 

 passage in Xenophon's Cyrop?edia, in corroboration of this fact. 

 Cyrus never suffered his men to go to their meals, not having been 

 sweated. This, it appears, was effected either by taking them out 

 a-huuting, or by inventing such sports as would surely cause them 

 to sweat. 



