200 DUKE OF SOMERSET 



occasion to mention, and as the place, though not the 

 time, comes within my early reminiscences, it will not be 

 travelling far out of the record, as the laAvyers say, to 

 give it a place here. 



The lordly owner of this splendid domain, and master 

 of one of the finest racing; studs in the kingdom, sent for 

 Seymour, the celebrated animal painter of that day (some 

 of whose best productions I have been till recently 

 possessed of, they having been given me by my father), 

 to take portraits of his most celebrated horses, with which 

 to adorn his gallery. The Duke entertained the artist 

 with condescending hospitality, and one day after dinner, 

 filling his glass and turning to his guest, said, in a half- 

 familiar, half-sneering manner, — 



" Cousin Seymour, your health." 



" I thank your Grace," said the painter, " but I have 

 more claims to that appellation than you are aware of." 



The proud peer immediately rose from his seat and left 

 the room. In a few minutes the steward entered, with 

 a demand from the Duke to know from the artist the 

 amount of his charge, which, upon stating, the steward 

 immediately discharged, saying at the same time there 

 was no further necessity for his remaining at Petworth. 

 The Duke then employed another artist of almost equal 

 celebrity to finish what Seymour had begun, Avho, soon 

 feeling the inferiority of his own talent, candidly told the 

 Duke that no one could do this but the original artist. 

 Upon this the Duke wrote to Seymour, inviting him to 

 resume his professional occujDation at Petworth. He 

 replied, in a short note, "To prove I am one of your 

 Grace's blood — I shall not come." 



