TEARAWAY. 411 



to Sir William Gregory shows that his Lordship 

 had made other visits to Ireland previous to that 

 of 1844. The letter is dated " Waterloo Hotel, 

 Liverpool, August 6, 1841," and runs as fol- 

 lows : — 



" In my vain and futile hurry last night to save 

 a packet, whose inert captain had not vigour or 

 energy enough to save the London train, which 

 we lost by five minutes, I had not time to 

 thank you sufficiently for the trouble you took 

 for me, or the kindness you showed me. Nor had 

 I time to give you more than half a report of what 

 I saw and did at Rossmore Lodg-e. I found in 

 Tearaway a fine, lengthy, racing-like animal, about 

 fifteen three high — fine shoulders, fine length of 

 body, good loins, good girth, and as fine hind-legs 

 and hocks as could be put upon a horse ; but also 

 a regular Blacklock head, Roman nose, and a small 

 and soft rather than cowardly eye. His fore-legs 

 are badly put on, with small and somewhat twisted 

 fetlock-joints, and small narrow feet. I should 

 add that he is wanting in bone and power as 

 regards his legs, knees, and arms. Altogether I 

 was disappointed with the horse ; but Ferguson 

 assures me that he can give the year and seven 

 pounds to Johnny, which, if true, makes him a 

 race-horse, in spite of his fore-legs. I went to the 

 Curragh prepared to offer Ferguson a handsome 

 moneyed rent for the horse, in addition to the 



