LORD WILLIAM AT NEWMARKET. 329 



arities were probably exaggerated in public estima- 

 tion by a nervous habit which he had acquired of 

 twitching his face when in conversation. I have 

 heard, at different times, many amusing stories told 

 of his eccentricities, which probably had as much 

 basis of truth as is generally to be found in similar 

 fabulous accounts of the sayings and doings of those 

 who occupy a conspicuous rank amongst their fellow- 

 mortals. 



It is not, at all events, any part of my design to 

 deal with his lordship's social characteristics, beyond 

 what I may be able to portray in recounting the 

 circumstances of my own intercourse with him, 

 which was naturally of a purely business character. 

 But whilst it would be presumption on my part 

 to attempt to do more, I may say that I had special 

 opportunities of forming an opinion of his lordship's 

 method of dealing in the exchange and purchase of 

 racehorses, as I had important transactions in this 

 way with him. He was reputed to have been lavish 

 in the matter of private expenditure, and doubly 

 keen in all business connected with his stable. My 

 experience did not in any way go to show that in the 

 fifteen years or so during which Lord William had 

 raced before I was privileged to know him, he may 

 not have displayed all that shrewdness with which 

 he was credited in the matter of bargaining, his know- 

 ledge of what he was about putting those who dealt 



