616 HISTORY OF THE 



our modern Croesus in a few years, and proprietor of 

 several of the finest houses in England ! Behold the 

 champion of the boxing ring, the champion of the 

 turf, the proprietor of a noble domain, an honour- 

 able member of the reformed parliament, all in the 

 person of a Bristol butcher ! Turn to a great pro- 

 prietor of coal-mines — the owner of the best stud in 

 England — one who gives 3000 guineas for a horse- 

 in the comely form of a Yorkshire footman ! We 

 have a quondam Oxford Livery-stable-keeper, with 

 a dozen or more race-horses in his stalls, and 

 those of the very best stamp, and such as few coun- 

 try gentlemen, or, indeed, many others, have a 

 chance to contend tvith. By their father's account 

 of them, (see Genius Genuine, by the Jate Sam. 

 Chifney) the two Messrs. Chifney were stable-boys 

 to Earl Grosvenor at eight guineas a year, and a 

 stable suit. They are now owners of nearly the 

 best horses, and — save Mr. Crockford's — quite 

 the best houses, in their native town. There is the 

 son of the ostler of the Black Swan, at York, bet- 

 ting his thousands on the heath, his neckerchief 

 secured by a diamond pin. Then to crown all, 

 there is Squire Beardsworth of Birmingham, with 

 his seventeen race-horses, and his crimson liveries, 

 in the same loyal, but dirty town in which he once 

 drove a hackney-coach." 



Some changes have occurred among them since 

 this was written (1833), for more than one of these 

 persons have experienced the instability of fortune. 

 Ridsdale we find a bankrupt in 1836, Samuel 

 Chifney taking the benefit of the Insolvent Act, in 

 1838 — and, it is well known that Beardsworth died 

 almost insolvent. We have no doubt that, should 

 the rest only remain in "the ring" long enough, and 

 brave the encounter of younger and sharper wits, 

 they will meet with similar reverses. 



