The Life of Fred Archer 209 
but quietly furnished, and, in common with the other rooms, 
everything is of the very best. The sideboard, surmounted by 
various magnificent pieces of plate and racing cups in gold 
and silver, might well inspire envy in the breast of a prince. 
The walls are papered with dark green, and in the centre 
opposite the mantelpiece is a large portrait in oils of the old 
grey Strathavon, admirably painted by Norton. As a work 
of art, perhaps this carries off the palm of Archer's gallery. 
On the right of this is a portrait of Petronel, with Archer on 
foot in the Duke of Beaufort's colours, and Jewitt about to 
adjust the saddle. On each side of the bay window are paint- 
ings of Atlantic and Silvio, both by the late Harry Hall, and 
without their riders. 
On the right of the chimney-piece is a portrait of our 
hero's father, William Archer, on Thurgarton, a steeple- 
chaser of some renown thirty years ago, and which is con- 
spicuous for the straight fetlocks and tucked-up withers 
that horse painters of that period delighted in. Valour, 
with Archer up, in Captain Machell's colours, by Hopkins, is 
a wonderful likeness of both man and horse, while Dutch 
Oven, by the same artist, Iroquois, by Harry Hall, and Bend 
Or, by Arnull, complete the dining-room collection, with the 
exception of the old favourite grey pony on which Archer 
learnt to ride, and which adorns the summit of the sideboard. 
Lying on each picture are cutting whips of various sorts and 
sizes, presented to the crack horseman on different occasions 
by his numerous patrons ; and another curio worthy of notice 
'is a silver cartridge match-box, mounted on a portion of a 
shell which burst on the Condor, a present to Archer from 
Lord Charles Beresford. 
" Returning to the entrance, the first thing that meets 
the eye is a handsome German clock, about seven feet high, 
made of stained oak and brass, the gift of Count Festetics. 
On the right-hand side of the staircase are paintings of Parole 
and the well-known group of the members of the Jockey Club. 
o 
