164 HISTORY OF THE 



Mellish died, at his farm at Hodsack Priory, aged 

 37. Had this gentleman confined himself to the 

 turf, there is no doubt but that he would rather 

 have increased than injured his fortune, as he 

 was generally allowed to be a perfect judge of 

 the powers, the qualities and capabilities of race- 

 horses. Instead of this, he followed with avidity, 

 and an utter recklessness of expense, every 

 sporting pursuit, and even among the pugilists 

 he was reckoned the patron of their art, which 

 was then much more in vogue as a public 

 amusement than at the present day. As a na- 

 tural consequence, the late Colonel soon ran 

 through his immense paternal property at Blythe, 

 which was accordingly sold, and he retired to his 

 farm at Hodsack Priory, bearing his change of 

 circumstances with perfect equanimity. During 

 the short period which he served in the Peninsular 

 War, he obtained much credit for his military 

 talents, his activity, and patience of fatigue, and 

 was appointed aid-de-camp to General Sir Row- 

 land Ferguson. 



He made his first appearance on the turf at 

 Durham races, in 1801, when his horse, Welsh- 

 man by Sir Peter, (rode by W. Pierce), won a 

 match of 50 gs., and from that period up to his 

 death, we find him constantly running horses for 

 the principal plates and stakes in the kingdom. 

 In 1804, his famous horse, Sancho, won the St. 

 Leger stakes at Doncaster, and in the year fol- 

 lowing, they were won by his horse, Stareley. 



