NOTES ON MEMORABLE MATCHES. 165 



forward and got the lead, which he kept. Mrs. 

 Thornton used every exertion, but finding it 

 impossible to win the race, she drew up in 

 sportsman-like style, when within about two 

 distances. The course was four miles." 



The riding of the lady excited admiration, and 

 it was difficult to say whether her horsemanship, 

 her dress, or her beauty was most admired, the 

 lotit ensemble being considered unique. The sym- 

 pathy extended to Mrs. Thornton because of her 

 defeat was universal, and there seemed to be a 

 feeling on the part of all that Mr. Flint acted most 

 ungallantly in not allowing her to take the honours 

 of the race ; in plainer language, he should have 

 made her a present of the stake — ^1,000! 

 That some bad blood resulted over the affair 

 was soon known. The lady herself, who is re- 

 puted to have been as clever at her desk as she 

 was in the saddle, wrote a letter on the subject 

 complaining of having been ungallantly used in 

 various ways on the course, and concluding by 

 challenging Mr, Flint to ride the same match in 

 all its terms over the same course next year. 



The appetite of Mrs. Colonel Thornton 

 appears to have been whetted by what had taken 

 place for further exploits of a similar kind ; at 

 all events, in the next year, 1805, ^^"^ name 

 crops up in two matches, one for 2,000 gs. 

 and four hogsheads of Cote Roti, as also a bet 

 of 600 gs. p.p. Mr. Bromford, her opponent, 

 however, declined to ride, and Mrs. Thornton, 

 after doing the usual perfunctory walk over, 

 bagged ^1,000 of forfeit, the bet of 600 gs. p.p., 

 and presumably contributed to her stock of wine 

 half of the supply of the Cote Roti. No sooner 



