SIR JOSEPH HAWLEY 147 



Shortly afterwards The Sporting Times^ the 

 editor and proprietor of which was Dr. Short- 

 house, pubHshed an article the virulence of which 

 staggered the racing community. Through- 

 out the libellous attack my employer was re- 

 ferred to as ** Sir Joseph Scratchhawley." He 

 was declared to be ** the spoilt darling of the 

 Turfj" who tried all he could " to bespatter his 

 ancient name before, in the course of nature, he 

 is compelled to resign his seat in the Jockey 

 Club and his place in the Stewards' Stand to a 

 better man.'* 



" Matters," wrote the libellers, " prospered well at 

 * Lame 'un Grange,' the breeding establishment of the 

 wealthy baronet. Derby winners begat Derby winners. 

 . . . Who can tell what demon cast his evil eye on 

 the place, and cursed Sir Joseph to become ennuyed with 

 so much success ? Yet so it would appear to be ; and so 

 every one judged to be the case who saw his wretched, 

 discontented, scowling face, as he leaned with his chin 

 on his stick in the Stewards' Stand, and almost cursed 

 his good horse Blackleg (Blue Gown) as he cantered 

 home a Derby winner, because, forsooth, he had made a 

 mistake, and had backed the stable companions, while he 

 had given ' the office ' to lay against the best horse of the 

 present century. ... But for his own ignorance he 

 might have won a fortune on the horse ; and this was the 

 last straw that broke the camel's back — otherwise Sir 

 Joseph's patience. Shall we say that in his conscience 

 he felt such epithets bestowed on him by the Sporting 

 Press as ' fine sportsman,' ' straightforward,' etc., so 



