at one another's houses, and particularly on the Sabbath, were mass books were actually laid before them, and the warmest adoration paid to some pictures or painted images, which, she was told, resembled some Kings and Queens that had been long canonized: and the offerings, that were constantly made at their shrines, would (she said) be found, on a moderate computation, to exceed those that were formerly made at the tomb of Thomas à Becket. She added, that after the catholick custom they always fasted on those nights, or, if they supt at all, it was only on Fish.

The chief speaker on the other side of the question was lady Smart, one of the representatives for Grosvenor-square, who by the way was strongly suspected of being a prejudiced person, her enemies not denying that she had charms, which could almost sanctify error itself. Nobody, she said, could suspect the sex of inclining to popery, who observed the aversion they all discovered to a single life. The uses of the obnoxious garments were allowed to be many; the names at least were innocent; and the cry against them, she was sure, could only be raised by the old and the ugly; since nothing could be so fantastic, as not to become a pretty woman.

Her ladyship was joined by the beauties present; but they being few, their objections were over-ruled, and the motion was carried. The next day the house, on receiving the report, after some debate agreed to the resolutions, and a bill was ordered to be prepared and brought in accordingly. Though at the same time they were of opinion, nem. con. that, if the Figleaf Bill took place, these restrictions would be quite needless.

VOL. XXXI.

N° 63. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1755.

IF

Et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis.

VIRG.

From a long line of Grandams draws his blood,
And counts his great great grandsires from the flood.

you are a true sportsman, and have the honour of the turf at heart, you must have observed with the utmost concern a late account in the news-papers, that "White-nose died at Doncaster of a mortification in his foot." An article of this nature, and at such a time, must strike a damp on all gentleman breeders ; and for my part I cannot help looking on the present races at Newmarket, as funeral games in honour of the memory of White-nose. The death of a stallion of such consequence is a public calamity to all knowing ones in the kingdom; nor does such an accident bring with it the least consolation; especially since it is not the fashion to pit the lives of horses, as well as men, against each other.

Italian grey-hounds, Dutch lap-dogs, monkeys, and maccaws, have been honoured with monuments and epitaphs: but a race-horse as much surpasses these insignificant animals, as White-nose was superior to a pack-horse; and I cannot but think, that an obelisk (with a proper inscription drawn up by Messieurs Heber and Pond) should be erected near Devil's-Ditch or Choak-Jade on Newmarket Heath, in honour to his

memory. With what astonishment might we then read of his powerful deep rate, by which all the horses that run against him were no where! With what rapture should we then recount his rapid victories in the field, (more surprising than those of the duke of Marlborough) by which he won Tewksbury, won Chipping-Norton, won Lincoln, won York, &c! But, above all, we should admire the noble blood which flowed in his veins, and with reverence contemplate the illustrious names of his great, great, great, great, grandsires and grandams. There is not the least flaw in the blood of White-nose's family and his epitaph might conclude, in imitation of that famous one on the duke of Newcastle's monument, "that all the Sons were remarkable stallions, and all the Daughters excellent breeders."

The pedigrees of our race-horses have been always preserved with as much care and exactness, as the Tree of Descent among the family of a Spanish grandee or Polish nobleman: nor does the Welshman derive greater honour from proving himself the fiftieth cousin to Cadwallader or Caractacus through a long line of David Ap Shenkins, Ap Morgans, Ap Powels, Ap Prices, than the horse by being half brother to the Godolphin Barb, or full cousin by the dam's side to the Bloody-Shoulder'd Arabian. The Romans were no less curious in the breed of their horses, and paid the greatest honours to those that beat the whole Circus hollow. They even erected monuments to their memory, of which Lipsius gives us the following remarkable instance. Clarissimè lapis vetus, quem Romæ olim vidi et exscripsi. In medio vir est, qui dextrâ baculum sinistra pabulum tenet: extrinsecus duo sunt assilientes equi cum geminá inscriptione ;—Aquilo, Nepos Aquilonis vicit cxxx. secundas tulit lxxxviii. tertias tulit xxxvi—Altera,-Hirpinus, Nepos Aquilonis vicit cxiv. secundas tulit lvi. tertias tulit xxxvi. Habes

itaque ipsum hic Hirpinum, atque adeò ejus Avum Aquilonem. I could wish, that the same honours were paid to our horses: I would at least propose, that the names, pedigrees, and a list of the plates won by victorious horses, should be inscribed on the posts of all courses, where they have made themselves famous. These memorials might serve to perpetuate the renown of our racers, and would furnish posterity with a more complete history of the turf than the Sportsman's Calendar.

You will undoubtedly observe, Mr. Town, that in the extract concerning horses, with which I have jusť presented you from Lipsius, a man is also mentioned; the account of whom would, if modernized, run in the following terms. "In the middle of the monument stood a man, with a whip in his right hand, and a feed of corn in his left." Hence it appears, that the Romans intended to do honour to the charioteer as well as horses; and it is a pity, that we do not also imitate them in this particular, and pay equal respect to our Jockeys. The chariot-race was not more celebrated among the antients, than the horse-race is at present; and the Circus at Rome never drew together so noble an assembly as the modern course. Nor do I see any reason, why Theron should be more applauded for carrying off the prize at Elis or Pisa, than Tom Marshal for winning the plate at York or Newmarket. The charioteers of old were, indeed, composed of the greatest princes and persons of the first rank, who prided themselves on their dexterity in managing the reins, and driving their own chariots. In this they have been imitated by several of our modern gentry, who value themselves on being excellent coachmen : and it is with infinite pleasure, that I have lately observed persons of fashion at all races affect the dress and manner of grooms. And as gentlemen, like the ancient charioteers, begin to enter the race themselves.

and ride their own horses, it is probable, that we shall soon see the best Jockies among the first of our nobility.

That the encomiums of the horse shall so frequently be enlarged on, without entering into the praises of the Jockey, is indeed something wonderful; when we consider how much the beast is under his direction, and that the strength and fleetness of Victorious or Driver would be of no use without the skill and honesty of the rider. Large sums have been lost by a horse running, accidentally without doubt, on the wrong side of the post; and we knowing-ones, Mr. Town, have frequently seen great dexterity and management exerted, in contriving that one of the best horses in the field should be distanced. The Jockey has, indeed, so great a share in the success of the race, that every man, who has ever betted five pounds, is acquainted with his consequence; and does not want to be told, that the victory depends at least as often on the rider as the horse.

I cannot help agreeing with Lady Pentweazle in the farce, that "if there was as much care taken in the breed of the human species, as there is in that of dogs and of horses, we should not have so many puny half-formed animals as we daily see among us: and every thorough sportsman very well knows, that as much art is required in bringing up a Jockey, as the beast he is to ride. In every respect the same care must be had to keep him in wind, and he must be in like manner dieted, put in sweats, and exercised, to bring him down to a proper weight. Much depends upon the size of the man as well as horse: for a rider of the same dimensions with a grenadier would no more be fit to come upon the turf as a Jockey, than an aukward thing taken out of the shafts of a dray could ever appear at the starting-post as a race horse. This is obvious to every one; and I could not help smiling at