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CHAPTER XL 



LORD George's gains in 1844 and 1845. 



Mr Charles Greville, in his remarks upon the 

 character of Lord George Bentinck and his un- 

 timely death, which extend over nearly thirteen 

 closely printed pages of his ' Diary,' employs the 

 following words : — 



" I have always thought that his [Lord George's] 

 conduct in selling his stud all at one swoop, and at 

 once giving up the Turf, to which he had just 

 before seemed so devoted, was never sufficiently 

 appreciated and praised. It was a great sacrifice 

 both of pleasure and profit, and it was made to 

 what he had persuaded himself was a great public 

 duty. It is true that he had taken up his new 

 vocation with an ardour and a zeal which absorbed 

 his old one ; but still it was a very fine act, and 

 very creditable to him. He never did anything by 

 halves, and having accepted the responsible post 

 of leader of his party, he resolved to devote him- 



P 



