46 JOHN BAYNTON STARKEY, ESQ. 



might have been seen blazoned in a defiant, bold 

 hand, on all the carts, waggons, etc., on the estate ; 

 and every head of cattle, horses, sheep, or swine, had 

 been transferred into the same gentleman's name. 

 Curiously he, Mr. Starkey, seemed rather proud of 

 this. I know when I was visiting him for some 

 shooting, he pointed the name out to me with an air 

 of great satisfaction, saying : 



' There, they will be safe now.' 



1 Yes,' thought I, ' safe surely enough ; but safe 

 for some one else, not you.' 



This brief history of his career will justify what I 

 have said concerning the greater injury done to the 

 repute of the turf by men of his weak type, than by 

 even the most designing scoundrels. Mr. Starkey 

 kept few servants, neither hunters nor carriage- 

 horses, and saw no company, and yet contrived to get 

 rid of a princely fortune. I am satisfied myself that 

 he would as readily have got rid of it over half-a-dozen 

 cows, or some sheep and pigs, or even a dog, as over 

 horses and racing, if he had only the coveted assist- 

 ance of his money-lending friends. No ; he did more 

 harm to the turf by his ill example than racing ever 

 did to him. The moralist tells us that ' Every man, 

 in whatever station, has, or endeavours to have, his 

 followers, admirers, and imitators, and has therefore 

 the influence of his example to watch with care.' 

 But what example did Mr. Starkey set % or who shall 

 say how many were led astray by following in the 



