THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1821.
HIS MAJESTY'S VISIT
(Extract)
His Majesty presented a superb Whip to the Duke of Leinster, at the Curragh Royal Meeting. On handing the Whip to his Grace, his Majesty turned to Captain Browne, the Ranger, and was pleased to express himself in the following gracious manner:
"Mr. Browne I intend this Whip to be presented to the owner of the best Horse, in Ireland, weight for age, and I wish you to fix the weights, and draw up an article according to which it is to be run for, and in addition to this Whip, which is to be run for every year, I give a Stakes of One Hundred Guineas annually. As I wish to encourage the breed of Strong Horses in this Country, you will take care to make the weights very heavy, and that no Horse younger than four years shall be permitted to run for it."
In these few words, the Reader will recognise not only a very handsome compliment to the Gentlemen of the Turf, but an instance of his Majesty's earnest feelings to promote the interest of the country. For there is no doubt that the breed of such a noble animal as the horse, successfully and judiciously attended to, would serve very materially to advance that interest.
The Duke of Montrose, Master of the Horse, expressed his approbation at the manner in which the Course at the Curragh was kept, and observed, that he never witnessed a Course so well kept, nor one where so many Course-keepers were dressed in his Majesty's Livery. The dresses were all new. The Deputy Rangers were also mounted, and dressed in the King's Livery, and many persons conceived from the Stile in which they appeared that they were his Majesty's own Servants.
After his Majesty quitted the Banqueting room, the Stewards ordered the Tables to be again covered, to which almost every respectable Person on the Course was invited, and from the excellent arrangements made by them, the utmost harmony and regularity prevailed. For several weeks previous to the Meeting, all the Trades-people in and about Kildare, were kept in constant work. If his Excellency, Earl Talbot, would occasionally visit these Races, the good that would be done by the expenditure of Money is incalculable.
Retyped by Chris Holzgräwe.