156 MEN OF PAST DAYS. 



in the shape of arms, but of '.the best beast.' It so 

 happened that at the time of Sir Gilbert's death, there 

 was on the premises a racehorse that had shown good 

 form. This was seized by the superior landlord, and 

 afterwards called Heriot. I remember that there was 

 a good deal of talk at the time as to the justice of the 

 action, it being condemned by some and justified by 

 others, according to the different views taken of it. 



Baron J. de Teissier was one of Sir Gilbert's 

 staunchest, as he was perhaps his closest, friend. 

 They lived in the same neighbourhood, and were 

 seldom seen apart. • I do not remember that the Baron 

 ever kept any horses. As a rule he was, with Sir 

 Gilbert, one of the stewards at Epsom, the two being 

 owners of much of the land over which the races were 

 run. Though not an Englishman, he was one of 

 whose association with us in our national sports the 

 English nation was justly proud. 



Lord Jersey, as a successful owner of racehorses, 

 was a little before my time. He used to farm the 

 Riddles worth, and many other good races at New- 

 market. He was generally dressed, as not a few 

 others were at the time, in a black or dark-coloured 

 suit, which was strangely in contrast with the Duke 

 of Portland's buckskin breeches or Lord George's 

 buckskin trousers. He must have been very success- 

 ful with his horses, Bay Middleton, Ccesai', and 

 Achmet out of his favourite mare Cobweb, and many 

 more, before I knew him. Amongst others, Glencoe 



