LORD GEORGE BENTINCK. 



he told him ' he was a man of stable mind,' he was 

 no more laughing at him than when he penned the 

 celebrated line previously quoted, ' He gave a sort of 

 superb groan.' ' It is the blue ribbon of the turf,' he 

 slowly repeated to himself, and sitting down at the 

 table, buried himself in a folio of statistics. 



An unequivocal example that his lordship possessed 

 a spirit not always under control, was given on the 

 occasion when, piqued by defeat on the racecourse 

 on Crozier losing, he offered his entire stud for sale. 

 When the deciding heat was given against him, in a 

 raging temper he offered to sell every horse he had, 

 comprising the whole of his stud — brood-mares, foals, 

 yearlings, and stallions, as well as his horses in train- 

 ing, with their engagements — to Mr. George Payne 

 for £10,000. After three days' reflection, the offer 

 was declined, and the stipulated forfeit of £300 paid. 

 But his lordship continued of the same mind, and 

 subsequently Lord Clifden and Mr. Mostyn were 

 allowed to have them conjointly for the same price. 

 In the lot were Surplice, winner of the Derby and St. 

 Leger, and other good races ; Loadstone, and a host of 

 other winners. The total stud may be put down as 

 having consisted of 208 animals — viz. : 50 horses in 

 training, 70 brood-mares, 40 yearlings, 45 foals, and 

 3 stallions ; and was worth over £100,000 at the 

 time he thus recklessly sold it. 



The following will suffice to give some idea of the 

 magnitude of his lordship's racing establishment. In 



