The Beginning of the End. 353 



Hastings, Colonel Burnaby, Captain Anstruther 

 Thompson, Lord J. Douglas, Lord Newport, Lord 

 Kesteven, tlie Hon. Hugli Lowtlier, Lord Norreys, tlie 

 Messrs. Behrens, Captain Smith, Sir Beaumont Dixie, 

 and many others ; whilst Lady Cardigan was to be 

 observed anxiously watching the performance of her 

 horse, " Dandy,^' ridden by the Hon. Hugh Lowther, 

 but which, though well piloted, did not succeed 

 in pulling off the Billesdon Coplow Stakes. One fair 

 lady in a cream-coloured dress, trimmed with swans- 

 down, was an example to all beholders. Had it been 

 a tournament instead of a race meeting, there would 

 have been a large "entry" of knights, I ween. A 

 brilliant scene is the Croxton Meeting on a bright day. 

 On this occasion the weather was tolerably good, 

 though a fall of sleet at the close asserted its right to 

 be present. Again I had the pleasure of listening to 

 the strains of the Duke's band, ably conducted by Mr. 

 H. Nicholson, and to hear once more the charming 

 ^ Sweetheart's Waltz' and a selection of delightful 

 music, and I wished from my heart that the uproar 

 and shouting of the betting men could be banished 

 from racecourses. After the seven events on the card 

 were disposed of, the Waltham Hurdle Race concluded 

 the amusements of the day. " Now, if you want to 

 make some money,'' said a particular friend, "back 

 the Duke ; it's a dead certainty." I did want to make 

 some money, but I did not back Mr. Behrens's nag, 

 although Captain Smith was up ; and the consequence 

 was I saved my money and went home to the George 

 with the determination of being present at the last 

 meet of the Belvoir on the following day. 



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