CORONATION. 313 



they knew. In Coronation's year Lord George 

 had a large round book on the Derby, and was at 

 all times prepared to lay £10,000 to £200 against 

 any outsiders, not in John Scott's or John Day's 

 stables, whose name he heard for the first time. 

 One day, at Tattersall's, Isaac Day asked his Lord- 

 ship to lay him £10,000 to £200 against a Sir Her- 

 cules colt, born in 1838, the year of her Majesty's 

 Coronation, from which event he took his name. 

 This colt was trained in a small private stable. 

 Before Lord George could lay the bet he was 

 touched on the elbow by Mr Joseph Bond, whom 

 he often employed to do commissions for him. Mr 

 Bond shook his head, and the bet was not laid. 

 Having thus escaped being caught for the long 

 odds, Lord George never laid against Coronation at 

 all, and won his whole book. The only explana- 

 tion that he subsequently vouchsafed to his friends 

 was, " I followed Mr Bond," to the great gratifi- 

 cation of the latter. 



To me his Lordship was always very unreserved 

 and communicative, as he knew from experience 

 that I should never abuse his confidence. My 

 positive instructions were never to come to London 

 without seeing him, let the hour be what it might. 

 Frequently I arrived at Harcourt House very early 

 in the morning by the mail train, and the hall- 

 porter would immediately call his Lordship's valet 

 to announce my advent. Lord George would sum- 

 mon me without a moment's delay to his bedside, 



