128 HORSE-RACING IN ENGLAND 



somewhat similar, and yet exceedingly dissimilar, 

 Colonel Mellish had died (after a brilliant career 

 on the turf and everywhere else) ' magnas inter 

 opes inops ' — that is, on a comparatively small farm 

 that was left to him among the great estates 

 which he had converted, like a conjurer, into 

 'ducks and drakes.' 



The reign also saw a good deal of the sports- 

 manlike Mr. Apperley (Mr. Mytton's close friend 

 and very friendly biographer), who was so great 

 as ' Nimrod,' under which name he wrote a series 

 of articles in the Quai'terly on racing matters ; 

 and it witnessed the coming upon the turf of 

 Viscount Kelburne, who was to be much better 

 known afterwards as the sterlino- but extravag^ant 

 and eccentric Karl of Glasgow, the ' Peter ' of his 

 intimates, such as General Peel, who was to give 

 the familiar name to a famous colt that should 

 have won the Derby of 1879, but for the death of 

 the owner and nominator, the General himself. 



As for William IV. and his reign (from June 27, 

 1830, to June 20, 1837), his period of kingship, 

 thouofh he himself cared for no horses but the 

 white horses of Neptune, and is said to have 

 chosen George Nelson for his chief jockey more 



