304 A MIRROR OF THE TURF. 



mentioned regarding his two horses was correctly 

 stated. The late Mr. Henry Padwick, who was 

 at once, rightly or wrongly, "spotted" by the public 

 as " the spider " of the Admiral's letter, quickly 

 joined in the war of words. " I was desired," he 

 says, " by the Marquis of Hastings — who did not 

 intend to be at Epsom on the Tuesday before 

 the Derby — to scratch The Earl for his Derby 

 engagement. Lord Hastings informed me that 

 he had determined upon that course, as Lady 

 Elizabeth had arrived safely at Epsom, and was 

 to run in the Derby. In consequence, however, 

 of a conversation I had had with the Duke of 

 Beaufort, I did not comply with Lord Hastings' 

 request, but returned to town for the purpose of 

 representing to him the conversation which I had 

 had with the Duke of Beaufort. The conversation 

 was to the effect that his grace wished Lord 

 Hastings to reconsider his intention of scratching 

 The Earl, as his doing so would be unsatisfactory 

 to the public. I faithfully represented this to 

 Lord Hastings, who, notwithstanding, decided 

 upon scratching the horse. This he himself did 

 by writing a letter to Messrs. Weatherby, which 

 was conveyed to them by Mr. Hill. Shortly after 

 the letter had been sent. Lord Westmoreland 

 came into Lord Hastings' room, where there were 

 already Mr. Coventry, Captain Barlow, and some 

 other gentlemen whose names I do not remember. 

 Before leaving the room, I mentioned to Lord 

 Westmoreland that I had reported to Lord 

 Hastings the representation made by the Duke 

 of Beaufort, but without effect ; and I added that 

 Lord Hastings had sent a letter to Messrs. 

 Weatherby desiring them to scratch The Earl. 



