2i6 The Life of Fred Archer 
home than in going about the country to ride. There's no 
fear of my not keeping fit with all the work I do, and I go most 
evenings into my Turkish bath." 
This letter is out of Mrs. Coleman's old scrap-book : 
" Badminton, 
" Octoher i6, 1883. 
'' Archer, 
" Looking through the Criterion to be run on Monday, 
I see nothing you are likely to ride unless you have been specially 
engaged. My horse, Eastern Emperor, has been doing very 
well lately, and we hope and think he is much improved. I 
have some good tackle I can try with, and am going to give 
him a run. 
" If I find he has improved, I shall run him, and should much 
like you to ride him for me. Royal Fern is an ugly customer, 
but we have a shade the best of the weights, and he has a nice 
turn of speed. I can try a bit, so, if he has improved as we 
think, he should run well and might beat the other. Will 
you write me a line to Manton House, Marlborough, and say 
if you can ride him ? I have tried for thirty years and more 
to win the Criterion, and been second two or three times. 
" Yours faithfully, 
" Beaufort." 
In Mrs. Coleman's book are the following : 
" Sutton, Loughborough, 
" October 29, 1883. 
" Dear Sir, 
" According to promise, I send you a cheque for ;^5o. 
I think I shall be at Worcester. I cannot get to Newmarket, 
so shall send two bad selling-platers to Worcester. You will 
not send yours, I suppose ? I have bought Mr. Pennant's half 
