TURFITES ON THE GRAND SCALE 13 



and Ascot were sometimes appalling. For, unlike his 

 brother of Cumberland, he backed his fancy recklessly, 

 regardless of public form or anything else. 



But the " Butcher of Culloden " was not always wise in 

 his wagering, and the " legs " made a good haul out of 

 him before the breath left his burly carcase. A story is 

 told of him which shows that he was totally reckless in 

 his wagers. At one Newmarket meeting he lost his pocket- 

 book on the Heath. Upon discovering his loss he said he 

 would make no more bets, as he had lost enough for one 

 day. When the races were over his pocket-book was 

 brought to him by a half-pay officer who had picked it up. 

 " Keep it, sir," said his Royal Highness ; " I am only glad it 

 has fallen into such good hands, for if I had not lost it as 

 I did, its contents would by this time have been scattered 

 among the blacklegs of Newmarket." So the astonished 

 finder of the pocket-book found himself suddenly the pos- 

 sessor of some hundreds of pounds. The story illustrates 

 at once the Duke's careless good-nature and his want of 

 faith in his own judgment. 



