326 HABITS OF LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. 



" P.S. — The way Colonel Anson and John Scott 

 saved first Attila and then Cotherstone from being 

 poisoned was by sending the head lad in the one 

 case and the boy in the other, who were to do 

 the job, suddenly away to fetch a horse from 

 Malton, so that no suspicion that the conspiracy 

 had been discovered was excited. The conse- 

 quence was that in both cases the whole gang of 

 conspirators were entirely ruined. In like manner 



we must make excuses for getting out of 



the way when occasion requires it. . Sometimes we 

 can do so by ordering him to ride some weight 

 we know he cannot ride, and then taking him off 

 at the last moment. G. B." 



Liberally as his Lordship paid all his servants, 

 and great as was the trust he reposed in them, it 

 must have been a source of great annoyance to 

 him to find he had been betrayed by one who had 

 in every way been encouraged to do his duty. In 

 addition to his wages the culprit was earning £20 

 to £25 per annum by riding trials, and frequently 

 was in receipt of presents when a horse won with 

 which he had been in any way connected. It was 

 one of his Lordship's best traits that he dealt with 

 and treated everything and everybody strictly 

 upon their merits. The fidelity and loyalty of my 

 confidant in the above matter were above all 

 praise, as the traitor had not the slightest sus- 

 picion that he was mistrusted, but continued to 



