TIXWALD DOWNS TO HALLHEATHS. 349 



before the Derby. Still, Balrownie, Johnny Arm- 

 strong, and One Act are something for one horse, 

 and the dams of Stampedo and Haddington are also 

 by hira. It is now four or five years since he left 

 Sheffield Lane, and he has scarcely seen two blood 

 mares a season since. 



The three white legs of his hardy little chum 

 Minuet have done good service in India. He be- 

 longed to Mr. Smollett, M.P. (then of the Madras 

 Civil Service), and so did The Child of the Islaads, 

 who was faster, but rather delicate. When ^' The 

 Child" went wrong. Minuet took his place as second 

 horse, and (as there was no Merry Monarch to drop 

 from the clouds) he won the Calcutta Derby of 7,000 

 rupees for three, four, and five year old maidens, 

 "pegging away in his old cricket-ball style from end 

 to end.'^ Ridden by the lanky John Hall, he carried 

 off the Civilians^ Cup at Madras, and as it was a 

 2\ miles handicap against all comers, it may be 

 said of him, as Lord Westbury did from his 

 marble chair of the proposed rifle match between 

 Lords and Commons, that he "would meet" the 

 Arabs " at any place and with any weapon." He 

 was brought over in ^50 along with the famous Elepoo, 

 who was 15h. Oj inches, or just an inch beyond his own 

 standard. Minuet has carried his owner, who rides 

 over 13 stone, to the finish in a capital run with Sir 

 "Watkin, and as he can screw and creep or have a 

 fence any way, he has been used to hunting mares in 

 the district. The stock have been generally bold 



