OLD MARSK. 47 



being', like that of so many eminent individuals, both bipedal and quadrupedal, 

 highly eventive, and distinguished by alternate depression and elevation, we may 

 be permitted to dilate a little farther thereon. 



The brown horse MARSK, foaled in 1750, and so named from the place where he 

 was bred, was the property of Jo hn Hutton, Esq. of Marsk, Yorkshire, who after- 

 wards disposed of him to His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cumberland, was got by 

 Squirt, son of Bartlet's Childers, out of , the Ruby mare, which was from a 

 daughter of Bay Bolton and Hutton s Black Legs Fox Cub Coneyskins 

 Hutton s Grey Barb -'A daughter of Hutton s Royal Colta, daughter of the 

 Byerley Turk, from a Bustler mare. This is one of our highest bred pedigrees, 

 going back to the reign of Charles I. In the year 1750, the Duke made an 

 exchange of a chesnut Arabian with Mr. Hutton, for the colt, which his Royal 

 Highness afterwards named Marsk. 



Marsk must be deemed a capital racer, since he beat Brilliant, but he was an 

 uncertain horse. He started but five times, and no where we believe, but at 

 Newmarket. Being in low estimation as a Stallion, in the Duke's Stud, he was 

 sold at His Royal Highness's sale at Tattersall's, to a farmer for a trifling sum, 

 and in 1766, as has been before observed, covered country mares and foresters, at 

 half a guinea; when Mr. Wildman, finding his intelligence respecting the 

 Eclipse colt, correct, thought it adviseable to get into his possession the sire of such 

 a colt, and purchased Marsk of the farmer, for twenty pounds, who professed 

 himself happy to be so well rid of a bad bargain. Of Marsk's subsequent ad- 

 vance in fame and price, as a Stallion, we have spoken before. He has been styled 

 the " Prince of Horses," and his fame will be handed down to as late a posterity 

 as the fame of his princely owner. It is sufficient to say that, beside so many 

 other racers of high reputation, he was the sire of ECLIPSE, SHARK, PRETENDER, 

 HONEST KITT, MASQUERADE, LEVIATHAN, SALOPIAN, PONTAC. Shark won 

 sixteen thousand and Jifty-seven guineas, in matches, sweepstakes, and plates; 

 beating the best horses of his day, at their own play, whether speed or stoutness. 



Marsk seems to have had the caprices of fortune imparted to him, as an 

 inheritance from his sire. SQUIRT after running with great repute, became a 

 stallion in Sir Harry Harpier's Stud, who esteeming him of no worth, ordered 

 him to be shot. As the Huntsman was leading him out to the Dog-Kennel, he 

 was begged off by the Stud-groom ; and afterwards got MARSK, SYPHON, Prat's 

 famous Old Mare that bred PUMPKIN, MAIDEN, PURITY with many others. 

 SYPHON got SWEETWILLIAM, SWEETBRIAR, TANDEM, DAISEY, and others. 

 These curious and interesting facts, which might be greatly multiplied, surely 

 cannot fail of having a certain effect upon the minds of those, who breed and 

 train horses for the course. But of such considerations we, in vain, reminded 

 0' Kelly and others, immediately before Shark was taken from this country, for 

 the paltry sum of one hundred and thirty pounds. 



