WAYS AND MANNERS 229 



days — smoking — a vice much less general then 

 than it is now. However, it would seem that the 

 discretion of age, or physical disabilities, prevented 

 his continued indulgence in the 'weed.' Nor can 

 I trace that his grace indulged in the then more 

 fashionable habit of snufif-taking, now happily almost 

 out of vogue. 



The Duke's racing in 1804 was represented by one 

 horse, a colt by Mobrcock, who belied his origin by 

 persistently laying or earning ' duck's-eggs ' in the 

 five essays made to establish his character as a race- 

 horse. Enough has been recorded to show that his 

 grace was now unable to give that personal attention 

 to the stable which had been his hobby for so many 

 years. Nor did his racing right-hand, Goodison, 

 wield the sceptre with the skill of the master. Indeed, 

 ' Hell-fire Dick ' had become rich under the Duke's 

 auspices, and was now taking a good deal of ease on 

 a farm of some three hundred acres which he owned 

 or leased. No doubt Goodison could afford to rest 

 on the Turf laurels of Queensberry. 



Much has been made of the Duke's charitable 

 disposition during his last years. That he did 

 bestow large sums on various objects, assist some 

 friend in a difiiculty, or aid a candidate ^ in his parlia- 



^ He gave £1000 towards the Westminster election. 



