i84 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



Church were hopelessly prevented from attaining 

 their desired position. I wrote at once to the editor 

 of ' Bell's Life ' for an explanation, as I had been 

 very particular in enjoining the most perfect 

 secrecy to Mr. Harrison, who was invariably present 

 at these meetings, who stood high on the editorial 

 staff, and who had hitherto adhered strictly to my 

 directions. I therefore insisted on an apology and a 

 complete exoneration of myself, with a full explana- 

 tion of the circumstances. Mr. Harrison replied, 

 saying he most deeply regretted it ; that he had 

 always been most particular in suppressing the 

 names, but on the morning in question he had been 

 walking over the course, two miles distant, so as to 

 describe it, and had given directions to a deputy to 

 compare the weights on the card with the entries, 

 and when the grooms and helpers had brought the 

 saddles, bridles, &c., to the intending riders whilst 

 weighing, he had asked the names of the jockeys, 

 and had very officiously put those names into the 

 report in full, and he deeply apologised for what he 

 called his representative's unguarded conduct. I 

 sent this letter off to Lord Darnley, and received a 

 very kind reply and a complete exoneration from 

 him, and the unpleasant affair was ended. After 

 this I took care to impress on all reporters the 

 necessity of strict secrecy in the names of everyone 

 concerned in the ' Aylesbury Aristocratic Meeting,' 

 and the same injunctions to trainers, grooms, and 

 helpers in the stables. 



It has often struck me that a list of some of those 



