6 Silk and Scarlet, 



I've made them hop over it. When I was with Mat 

 His Mat Milton Milton, IVe actually been here of a 

 engagement, morning before I could see the fences. 

 Mat gave me five guineas a week, board and lodging. 

 I just lived as he did, meat and drink ; best as was. 

 He lent me King Richard, by Dick Andrews, He 

 was Crockford's horse, and a great favourite for the 

 Derby, but the lad lamed his leg the night before the 

 race ; he was, no doubt, hired to it. I used to make 

 all Mat's hunters. Many a thousand times I've been 

 three hours over these fields before we went out 

 hunting ; two or three tumbles reg'lar before break- 

 fast. We had sometimes nine horses out ; we rode 

 three half-way to cover, then three were posted for the 

 other half, and three vv^hen we got there ; we jumped 

 'em all the way ; for all that, we couldn't get them 

 ready quick enough. He sold ninety-six horses to 

 the Melton gentlemen one season I was with him. 

 It's as true as I'm sitting in this gig alive. 

 Education of Poor little Matty ! I killed him. He 

 little Matty, ^sed to cry sadly. Old Matty would 

 make him follow me. I well nigh drownded him two 

 or three times. My reg'lar orders were to ''go and 

 ketch 'em',' and the little chap was never to leave me. 

 Mat always said that he would lick him, if he stopped ; 

 but he never did, that I heard of; he was a kind- 

 hearted man, only such a blackguard, and always 

 bankrupt ; never out of that mess. Blam^e me, he 

 would get him home after hunting, and nurse him like 

 a woman. How he did take on if he was ill ! he was 

 such a nice little boy, only fourteen, and never an 

 ounce above five stone. I was ten stone then ; I never 

 got heavier till I had the small-pox second time, when 

 I was fifty years of age, just about ; wasn't it curious I 

 I brought him up just as I wur brought up myself. 

 That was what Matty wanted. I mind when old 

 George the Third died, he put us both in mourning 

 alike ; he was a loyal sort of fellow, with all his coarse 



