BRITISH TURF. 563 



lieve I assisted him a little in mending of shoes, 

 but my asthma, till very lately, as well as my 

 youth, had prevented my making much progress. 

 At one time, indeed, I had been persuaded, though 

 much against my will, to become apprentice to a 

 stocking weaver; but this, I forget how, broke off, 

 at which I was very glad ; I did not like stocking- 

 weaving. 



" The question now occurred to me, whether it 

 would be possible for me to procure the place of a 

 stable-boy, at Newmarket. I was at this time, in 

 point of clothing, in a very mean, not to say 

 ragged condition, and in other respects, was not 

 much better off. The stable-boys I saw at Notting- 

 ham, were healthy, clean, well fed, well clothed, and 

 remarkable rather for their impudence, than seem- 

 ing to live under any kind of fear or hardship. Ex- 

 cept their impudence, I liked every thing else 1 saw 

 about them ; and concluded, that if I could obtain 

 so high a situation as this, I should be very for- 

 tunate. 



' ' These reflections preyed so heavily upon my 

 mind, that I was at last induced to mention them to 

 my father ; and he having a predilection for every 

 thing belonging to a horse, and, therefore, a high 

 respect for this, the noblest state of that animal's 

 existence, fell into my views, and only feared that 

 they could not be accomplished. He resolved, 

 however, that trial should be made ; and, after 

 inquiring among the jockeys, thought it advisable 



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