ing to Bell's Life,' included Mr Cooper, General Peel, Lord Strafford, Mr Payne, Mr Greville, Lord Chesterfield, Lord Wilton, Lord Ailesbury, and Lord Stradbroke. In addition, he was frequently employed by Lord Zetland, General Anson, Lord Derby, Sir Charles Monck, Sir Joseph Hawley, Mr Bowes, Mr A. Nicol, and John Scott.

Nat's chief characteristics were that, more than any other jockey of my acquaintance, he rode scrupulously to orders; and, secondly, that it was at all times difficult to induce him to stand £5 or £10 on his mount, or on a "good thing" from any of the stables for which he rode. One instance I remember of a race which he lost from not understanding the sluggishness of the horse upon which he was mounted. In 1847 he rode Mr Mostyn's Crozier, by Lanercost out of Crucifix, in a Produce Stake at Ascot, over the Old Mile, against Mr Harvey Combe's Trouncer. The betting was 5 to 4 on Crozier, and Flatman's orders were to make strong running, as Crozier was an extremely lazy horse and a good stayer. To my great surprise and disappointment, Trouncer waited upon Crozier, and beat him easily by a couple of lengths. Two days later Crozier and Trouncer were in another sweepstakes at the same weights, and among others they were opposed by a smartish horse called Epirote, who belonged to Colonel Anson. Mr Cynric Lloyd, who acted for Mr Mostyn, thought it quite useless to start Crozier again;

K

but I persuaded him to do so, as I was not satisfied about the former race, and was prepared to give W. Abdale the mount upon Crozier, and to let Nat ride Epirote for Colonel Anson. When Nat saw that Crozier was being led about the course, he came up to me exclaiming, "Surely you are not going to run Crozier again, are you?" I replied that such was my intention, but that I would not interfere with his mount on Epirote, as Abdale would ride Crozier, "and," I added laughing, "would win upon him." The little man was obviously stung by my remark, and said to me in a low voice, and with a very serious manner, "Do you mean to imply that I did not try my best to win upon Crozier the day before yesterday?" "I imply nothing of the kind," I replied; "but I think the horse deceived you, and that you did not make as strong running as you might have done." "Then I insist upon riding him again," he rejoined. "Certainly," I answerd, "and I will tell you how I want him ridden. When the flag is down take him by the head, touch him with the spurs, and make the pace as strong as you possibly can every inch of the way." Nat looked very serious, but obeyed his instructions to the letter. The betting was 5 to 4 against Trouncer, 6 to 4 against Epirote, 5 to 1 against Buckston ; Crozier not mentioned. The latter was never headed, and won cleverly by half a length-Epirote second, Trouncer third, the rest beaten off.

After the race I said to Flatman, "Well, what do you think of Crozier now?"

"I think him

the hardest horse to ride that I ever sat on. In fact, he requires two men to get him out, and make him show his true form. Henceforward I will ride more strictly than ever to your orders, as I am now quite conscious that I lost the race on Tuesday." I have often heard him say that there was no stable for which he rode with greater pleasure and confidence than the Goodwood stable, as he always found our horses to be just what they were represented to him before the race. One further trait I must mention, which was, in my opinion, greatly to his credit. No jockey ever rode in more trials than Flatman did, but not a word as to the results ever escaped his lips. He would stop, for instance, at Bretby, on his way back from Malton, where he had been riding trials for Colonel Anson and John Scott. Although Colonel Anson and Lord Chesterfield were brothersin-law, Nat would never consent to say one syllable to Lord Chesterfield, of whom he was very fond, and for whom he had ridden for years, as to the trials in which he had taken part. It is greatly to be regretted that the fidelity, silence, obedience to orders, and general integrity of Flatman are not more closely copied by his modern successors, some of whom amass in ten years ten times as large a fortune as by steady industry and conscientious honesty he acquired in thirty.

If ever it were deemed desirable to erect a monument to a jockey, Nat deserves to have a tablet set up in All Saints' Church, Newmarket (under the tower of which he now sleeps), and dedicated to his memory, as he was beyond all doubt one of the most respectable and honourable "knights of the pig-skin" that ever performed upon an English

race-course.

CHAPTER VII.

THE GOODWOOD STABLE IN 1844.

WITH the year 1844 we enter upon a period when Lord George Bentinck became more than ever engrossed in his stud, which now began to realise his expectations, and to compensate him for his previous heavy expenditure. It was most satisfactory to witness his Lordship's delight and the enjoyment that racing, upon which his whole thoughts were centred, afforded him. Much of his time was spent at Goodwood. He stayed with the family when there; and when the Duke and Duchess of Richmond were absent he slept at the Swan Hotel in Chichester, breakfasting and lunching at my father's house. When the Duke was at Goodwood, nothing gave Lord George more pleasure than to take the house party over the stables, and to show them the horses. He was ever ready to encourage and induce others to take interest in the sport he enjoyed so much; and it afforded him no slight amusement to elicit from the ladies who accom