SOME MEMORIES OF A FAMOUS SPORTSMAN, SOLDIER AND WIT “FIGHTING BILL” Reproduced by permission from “Vanity Fair” BY MRS. STUART MENZIES WITH APPRECIATIONS BY THE EARL OF CROMER & ADMIRAL LORD BERESFORD 38 ILLUSTRATIONS, ALSO REPRODUCTIONS OF THE SIGNATURES OF THOSE PRESENT AT THE FAMOUS FAREWELL DINNER AT CALCUTTA HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED ARUNDEL PLACE HAYMARKET LONDON S.W. MCMXVII PRINTED BY WM. BRENDON AND SON, LTD., PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND...

There are days when we are under the spell of the past, when lovely times, lovely things, and delightful people that have lapsed into “have beens” are again with us, in a mist of memories and dreams, but memories and dreams that have been true and real—to be treasured always. In my memory there are silhouetted against the horizon of the past a few figures (amongst the many kind friends who have journeyed with me) who stand alone, whose greatness of character singled them from their fellows, othe

Early Childhood—Eton Days—Mischief and Whackings—Companions at Work and Play—Sporting Contemporaries of Note—The So-styled “Mad Marquis”—His Bride—Carriage Accident—Ride in Grand National—House of Commons Acknowledgment of Lady Waterford’s Goodness to the Irish during the Famine—Joins the 9th Lancers in Dublin—A Few Sporting Mishaps—Why he Spent his Life in India The subject of these memories was the third son of the fourth Marquis of Waterford, who married the third daughter of Mr. Charles Powe

Coach driving Exploit—The Badger Bet and How It was Won—The Raleigh Club and the Garçon Glacé Episode—Some Merry Frequenters of the Club—Regimental Racing—The Tenth Hussars’ Steeplechases, Exciting Race Between H.R.H.’s Horse and Lord Valentia’s—Aldershot Coaching Accident—Polo at Woolwich—Sale of 10th Hussars’ ponies—Friendly Altercations at York—The Three Brothers’ Race—Au Revoir to Merry England In addition to being a consummate horseman, Lord William was an accomplished whip. When in Cork so

What he Might Have Been—A Happy Exile—Lumtiddy Hall—Unsuccessful Journey to Pay Calls—Appointed to Staff of Retiring Viceroy—First Summer at Simla—Appointed A.D.C. to Lord Lytton—Annandale Racecourse—Birth of The Asian —Dinner to Its Sporting Owner—Winner of Viceroy’s Cup—Delhi Durbar, 1887—Mighty Preparations—A Terrible Accident It is easy to imagine with what mingled feelings Lord William left England: relief at being freed from the money difficulties that oppress a young man in a swagger regi

Hero of Khartoum’s Fame and Tragedy, as Private Secretary—Indian Famine—Lord William and the Jowakis—A Month’s Holiday in Afghanistan—Back in Calcutta—Barrackpore Monument to Lady Canning—Lady Waterford as Artiste—Cawnpore Memorial—Racing—Trouble in South Africa—A Favour Granted—Off to the War—A Friend Left in Charge of Affairs—Some Fights for Queen and Country—Some Fights for Private Reasons—Exciting Moments—Irish Bravery of Man and Beast—Two V.C.’s at Dinner—Receives Reward at Hands of the Que

Change of Government and What it Meant—Why it Took Place at Simla—The Ceremony—An Anxious Moment—A General Stampede—Retirement of Lord Lytton—Work of Which Viceroy?—Lord William’s Services Valued—A Bet Between Him and the Author—Lord William’s 10 to 1 In the spring of 1880 there was the change of Government at home already alluded to, brought about mostly by the dissatisfaction of the country over Lord Lytton’s Afghan policy and the war in South Africa with its disasters and awkward situations,

Dignity and Humour—Some Tests of Both—Affection of the Natives for Lord William—How They Tried to Please him—What Happened on a Slippery Floor—Some Tableaux—A Supper and a Race—What the Jockey Club Would Have Said—Lord Ripon’s Message to the Amir of Afghanistan—The Amir’s Reply—The Work of the Military Secretary—Swelled Heads and Outgrown Shoes—How Lord William Dealt with Them—Pay of Military Secretary—Compensation for Diminishing Rupee—No Fish to Fry Those who knew Lord William will think I hav

First Racing Partnership—Some Successful Horses—The “White Mutiny”—Military Secretaries Come and Go—Fleur-de-lys’ Affection—Racing—Paperchasing—An Exciting Drive—Ponto’s Admiration for the Fair Sex—Inverarm—How a Sick Soldier Fared—Love of Children—A Children’s Party and How it Ended—The Home for Lost Dogs—Simla Gymkhanas—A Sore Head—A Change of Mounts—Sipi Fair and Marriage Market—What Some of Lord William’s Friends Said—Why he was like King Solomon Early in 1880 Lord William and his friend, Mr

Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors—Lord de Grey’s Shooting—A Good-looking Staff—A Fancy Ball—The Baby cries—Lord William Feeds the Infant—Singing Quadrilles—Pig-sticking—The Tent Club and Its Members—A Case of Mistaken Identity—The Reputation Match—Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing—Lord Ripon’s Farewell During Lord Ripon’s time in India a number of people came out from home to stay with him, some wishing to combine a visit to their friends with shooting, pig-sticking and globe-trotting

Lord Dufferin Succeeds Lord Ripon as Viceroy—Durbar at Rawal Pindi to Meet the Amir of Afghanistan—A Few Annoyances—How it All Ended—Some Presents—Outline of a Viceroy’s Tour—A Nasty Fall—Sale of Confederacy Horses—“Father Time”—Parlour Fireworks—A Ride to the Pyramids—Unostentatious Charity—Some Impositions The Earl of Dufferin succeeded the Marquis of Ripon in 1884. India hoped great things of him, as he was a man thoroughly experienced in dealing with delicate situations, having been Governor

The Man Who Thought He Was King—A Dance After Dinner—How It Ended—Corney Grain in Disgrace on the Door-mat—Racing—Trouble in Burmah—Lord Dufferin and Lord William Go There—Collecting the Offertory in Church—Some Schemes of Interest Those few months of leave in 1885 picked Lord William up wonderfully, and he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the time after his nine years of India, a big slice out of the prime of a man’s life, but he had the satisfaction of feeling he had faced the music, so to s

Lord William’s Driving—One of Two Experiences—A Sermon in the Smoking-room—Useful Shirt Cuffs—Convenient Handwriting—New Year’s Parade—A Waiting Race—A Spoilt Meeting—Purchase of Myall King—Dufferins Leave India—Rules Issued by Lord William for Their Departure The Autumn Race Meeting at Meerut saw Prospero win the Merchants’ Purse, value 1,000 rupees, for Lord William, Ryder up; also the St. Leger, value 1,500 rupees, with Tim Whiffler. The same month (October) FitzWilliam won the Steward’s Purs

On Leave—At the Derby Once More—Lord Lansdowne Takes Office—Conjurer’s Discomfort—A Gentle Reproach—Irishmen in India—Another Racing Partnership—A Turf Club Inquiry—Paperchasers—A Telegram from Lucknow—Lord William’s Health—Jockey in Trouble Again Three months is not a long leave to spend at home, it seems to be all coming and going; it really was not long enough to pick Lord William up properly—he was badly in need of English air and fare. A good part of this brief holiday was spent racing and

Why the Maharajah of Durbangah Gave up Racing—The Maharajah of Patiala Joins the Stable—The Indian Lotteries—Some Successful Racing—Lord Bill Pays Up—Simla Feeling Sad—Death of Myall King—Some of His Chief Races—Farewell Dinner—List of Guests—Speeches Early in 1891 the Maharajah of Durbangah told his partner he meant to give up racing. Mr. Abbott, who was in the know of all things racing, attributes this decision to worry and anxiety caused by certain Government schemes afloat which he feared wo

First Visit to the Deepdene—Finds a Relation in His Bedroom—Engagement to be Married Announced—School Treats—One New Year’s Morning—King Edward VII Visits the Deepdene When Prince of Wales—A Narrow Escape—“Tommy, Where Are You?”—Why Lord William wore a Turban—Fast Trotters and Their Doings—Mishap on the Way to the Derby—Racing in England—Racing Geography—Another Racing Partnership—Accident While Hunting—Mr. Palmer to the Rescue—Lord William Tells a Story Against Himself—A Son Born. We now enter

Engagement of Tod Sloan as Jockey—Beresford Family Affection—Caiman Wins Classic Race—Democrat and His Races—A Tip for the “Blues”—Accident to Sloan—His Downfall—Five Years’ Racing and Winnings in Stakes Alone—Volodyovski Bought—At Liverpool When Ambush II Won the Grand National We are now dealing with 1897, when Tod Sloan was introduced to the British public by Lord William, who had been keeping an eye on the lad’s performances in America, observing that in 1895 he had 442 mounts, and won 132 r

“1900 ... and Feels It”—Affection for the 9th Lancers—Help for a Brother Mason—Those Who Loved Him—Friends, not Sight-Seers—A Treasured Gift—Sale of Horses at Newmarket—Purchasers and Prices—Fate of Democrat—Volodyovski Wins the Derby—Too Late—Fierce Ownership Dispute—The Law Settles It—Broken Head of a small Beresford During most of 1900 Lord William suffered at intervals from his old complaint contracted in India, namely dysentery, and it was taking all his strength away; that he was feeling v