GENERAL GROSVENOR. 69 



sure they did, and that if they did not, why did they 

 fight? 



Such were the sports at Stamford and Croxton Park 

 Races in those days. 



I feel sure that a racecourse now contains ten 

 times more blackguards than it did sixty years 

 since. 



Tom Perkins, whom I have named as the General's 

 factotum as regards horse flesh, was, as the General 

 was, very fond of the mare Briseis. Tom had a 

 large family, and thinking that it would be a great 

 thing for him to get some real gentleman to stand 

 godfather to a daughter who had just made her 

 entry into his establishment, he applied to his master 

 to do him the honour to be responsible for the sins 

 and wickedness of the little stranger which had just 

 arrived. 



" Upon my word, Tom," said the good-natured 

 General, " I don't much like having any more god- 

 children, but as you seem to wish it so much, and as 

 you are such a very old servant I don't mind standing 

 godfather, but upon one condition, which is that you 

 call her Briseis." 



In a few days Tom came over to my father and told 

 him what had happened, and that the people told him 



