THE MARQUIS OF WATERFORD. 293 



AIntree, Mr. Abbott got the gallant Arab Chief home 

 In front, landing as game a horse as ever was girthed 

 a winner by a head of a second "Liverpool." Mr. 

 Osborne was most anxious that Mr. Abbott should 

 ride the horse, and in order to get to the weight he 

 had to waste a great deal, but he was by no means 

 fond of adopting the " banting system." Early in 

 the morning of the day the race was run Mr. Abbott 

 was no less than 61b. over weight. An intimate friend 

 of his, an Irish gentleman, who is still "to the fore," 

 begged of him to go to Mr. Osborne and tell him that 

 he could not ride lost. 4lb. ; he naturally believed that 

 it was quite impossible for a man to reduce so much 

 in so short a time, but he would not ; he was deter- 

 mined to ride, so he put on all the "sweaters" he 

 could carry, and walked for hours, keeping them on 

 until he was obliged to don the silk. He was, of 

 course, very weak, and, as is often the case, the long 

 and severe exertion during the race reduced him con- 

 siderably. When he got into the scales, to his great 

 astonishment it was found that he was light — ^just 

 merely so. He was in it for some seconds, and it 

 seemed he would scarcely '* draw it." It may be truly 

 said that thousands were in the balance. An Irishman 

 — I will not give his name, as he is still living at the 

 Curragh — seeing the state of affairs, unperceived by 

 the clerk of the scales, just put his toe on the weighing 

 machine, turning it in favour of Mr. Abbott. In the 

 meantime, Frisby, who, as I have already stated, rode 

 Maria Day, hearing a rumour that his conqueror was 

 light, came rushing up, and met him just as he had 

 got out of the scales. He immediately requested him 

 to get in again. Mr. Abbott, not knowing what his 



