MR. HARRY BIGGS. 207 



do to its best interests, and by the skilfulness with 

 which they escape the legitimate penalty of their 

 deeds, which should be their peremptory dismissal 

 from the scene. But though ' to say well is a kind 

 of good deed,' I am painfully aware that to lecture on 

 the subject is useless, unless the magnates of the 

 turf take the matter in their own hands, and by their 

 own actions produce the desired good results. Never- 

 theless, it is a pleasure to me to have now to record 

 the deeds and doings of not a few patricians who, in 

 the olden time, largely helped to serve the best 

 interests of the turf, and, I may add, were consistent 

 supporters of the Danebury stable. 



In saying what I have to say about them, I shall 

 not attempt to deal with these noble patrons of the 

 racecourse in chronological order, or aim to give 

 them the correct precedence one over the other ; but 

 take them just as they come to memory. 



Mr. Harry Biggs, then, I take as my first example 

 of the thorough sportsman. He commenced racing 

 in 1807, raced like a gentleman for some forty 

 years, and left a name unsullied in turf history. His 

 country seat was at Stockton, in Wiltshire. In his 

 youth he was noted for his ready wit and facetious- 

 ness, and for his attention to the fair sex. He was 

 fond of sport in whatever shape. He coursed ; was a 

 great admirer of boxing, and somewhat proficient 

 in the use of his hands ; and he revelled in cocking, 

 a gentlemanly recreation in those days. But his chief 



