SIR EDWARD BAKER. 231 



must have contributed to his affliction. The last 

 time I saw him, he was at the age of eighty steeped 

 to the lips in poverty, and overwhelmed with grief. 

 Sir Edward B. B. Baker, Bart., was one of the 

 Danebury patricians whose name is familiar in the 

 ears of racing-men ' as household words.' He raced 

 from the year 1828 to 1865, and had never a large 

 string ; nor was he wealthy enough to support many 

 more horses than he kept ; for in all things he was 

 extremely liberal, and spent his income without grudg- 

 ing. He had Dairy Maid, Mr. Watt, Nicodemus, 

 Bran, Spume, Montezuma, and others. Bran was his 

 best horse, but Spume his luckiest. With him he 

 won the Blandford Cup and Stakes, Queen's Plate, Wey- 

 mouth and Dorchester Stakes, and other good races. 

 My brother John rode for him on all occasions. He 

 never betted but a few pounds ; but he dearly loved 

 to see his horses run, and whether they won or were 

 beaten it was the same to him, in so far that he 

 never displayed any ill-temper at his reverses, nor 

 was he immoderately elated by success. ' It's no 

 mean happiness,' therefore, ' to be seated in the mean.' 

 Sir Edward left Danebury to come to train with me 

 at Woodyates. Not, I need scarcely say, from any 

 dissatisfaction, but because Woodyates was much 

 nearer his own seat, Ransom, than his old quarters 

 were. As I hope some day or other to be able to 

 give a fuller account of the doings of those gentlemen 

 who have honoured me with their patronage during 



