THE LUDLOW AFFAIR. 



49 



carry ofl: that prize, his friends were fright iied for his 

 chance at Doncaster. In the month of July a new favourite 

 sprang up, in the person of Mr Ridsdale's Burgomaster, 

 but as the day approached, the unexpected result of the 

 Great Produce Stakes at York, tfFected some important 

 movements in the odds on the St Leger. Nitocris became 

 first favourite, Retainer next ; and Margrave, third upon the 

 list, was backed by fits and starts, no one appearing very 

 zealous about him, nor indeed about any of the " Derby 

 nags," after the performances of Beiram and St Giles at 

 Goodwood, — Ludlow was still upheld by his party. 



At length the day came, the "Ludlow" afi"air having 

 burst the shell a day or two previously, by Mr Beardsworth 

 publicly denying that there was any truth in the statement 

 (generally believed as it was), that he had sold his horse 

 (Ludlow); but, at the same time, expressing his willingness 

 to take five thousand guineas for him. He also made two 

 or three little bets, and sported a bran-new red silk jacket fur 

 his jockey, in order to give a colour to his contradiction. 

 There was next a bit of a breeze between " the Squire" and 

 Mr Gully ; and then Mr Bond declared " that he had given 

 5,000 guineas for Ludlow." This gave rise to row the se- 

 cond, which continued till a late hour. First, Gully roundly 

 charged the Squire with having purchased the horse the 

 day before — an accusation met by the defendant with plenty 

 of noise and bluster. At the other end of the room Lord 

 Uxbridge (one of the Stewards) called upon Mr Bond to 

 declare for the public satisfaction for what purpose he had 

 become the purchaser, or, in plain terms, whether he meant 

 " to run to winr'' and lastly, to put an end to the squab- 

 bling, Lord Cleveland mounted the table, and called the 

 worthy belligerents to order, ejconerating every bjdy, and 

 declaring that if he really thought the case intended fur a 

 throw over, such discreditable tricks would render it quite 



