30 'OLD q' 



about this time. Here his perception and judgment 

 came into play. A house at the birthplace and home 

 of racing might have been sufficient for a desultory 

 owner or racegoer, but was not sufficient for Lord 

 March, without other advantages. 



It is therefore no surprise to find that the dwelling 

 obtained or selected by this very 'wideawake ' sporting 

 peer overlooked the racecourse ; thus giving him not 

 only easy access to that arena, but undisturbed means 

 and opportunities for watching and estimating trials. 



I have alluded to his lordship's performances m the 

 pigskin; but this ability to enact the part of his 

 own jockey, as occasion or freak required, did not 

 admit of his placing unbounded, if any, confidence 

 in his professional brethren of the saddle at this 

 period. For, although he was almost as particular in 

 selecting his groom-boys and light-weight riders 

 (whom he attired in scarlet jackets) as in selecting 

 his stud, not one of the set knew who was to be in- 

 trusted with the guidance of a match or race until he 

 was put in the scale to be weighed. This circumstance 

 tends to support my belief that little credit can be put 

 in the contrete'mps which led to the duel just related ; 

 as, in following this rule, I fail to understand how a 

 person of so prudent a nature could have rehearsed 

 so ignoble a part with 'all' his grooms or jockeys 



