BARON WARD, THE JOCKEY PRIME MINISTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1893, 2 March 1888, Page 26

BARON WARD, THE JOCKEY PRIME MINISTER.

(Licensed Victuallerß* Gazette.)

The time-honoured motto, " lie sutor ultra crepidam"'— the cobbler should not go beyond his last— is probably more strictly observed by the gentlemen of the silk than by any other class of the community. Once a jockeyj ockey always a jockey, and his ambition seems never to rise above the pigskin, or, at least, the training stable. The adventures of Baron Ward, though true to the letter, would seem to have a flavour of the Arabian Nights about them, or at least to be drawn from the annals of the East, where the humblest, under favour of absolute, and irresponsible potentates, not unfrequently rise to the position of princes in an incredibly short period, rather than to Western civilisation, where such spectacles are far more rare. And now having, we trust, raised tne reader's curiosity, we will proceed to justify this promising introduction.

Thomas Ward was born at York, in the year 1809, his grandfather was an agricultural labourer, and his father worked in the stables of that noted turfite, the ex-footman Robert Ridsdale, who has already figured in our " Portrait Gallery." Thomas' mother died when he was a very little lad, snd his father marrying again the boy experienced the usual tender mercies of a stepmother's rule, and at seven years of age ran away from home and took shelter with his grandfather at Howden. A simple, kind-hearted old man was grandsire Ward, and he took the poor little fellow undw.his care; his means were small enough, and his home as humble as humble could be, but for all that Thomas Ward became in the future he was indebted to

The Excellent Training he Received at the hands of the old labourer. The boy was sent to a church school, and showed great aptitude with his books, and proud indeed was the old man, who did not know B from a bull's foot, of the young "scholard" who bore his name, and who vras such a favourite with the vicar for his docility, obedience, and straightforward honesty. Thomas had five years' schooling, a,nd then went back to his father and obtained employment in Ridsdale's stables, learned to ride, and promised to be a first-class jockey. Here he remained for about six years ; but somehow he never seemed to get on with his father, and in consequence of some row or disagreement at home he suddenly quitted his situation and resolved to start in quest of pastures new. It was the old story, which, with variations, we have told over and over again — tho young country fellow shouldering his bundle and trudging to the great metropolis. Whether Tom Ward thought the streets were paved with gold, and that legs of mutton hung on every lamp-post for the benefit of all who might care to take them, as so many wanderers from rustic regions seem to imagine even in the present day, or whether it was that he had resolved to strike out a new path and for ever free himself from uncongenial associations, we cannot say. At all events, one warm June evening, footsore and weary, the youth found himself in the great vortex of London lifs. His stock of money was very slender when he left York, and careful as he had been, sometimes lying under a hayrick to save a night's lodging, it was pretty well exhausted by tha time he had arrived at the end of his journey. He lost no time in trying to get a job, but it proved a task far more difficult than he imagined ; there were the ceaseless wanderings up and down the stoney-hearted streets, the rude rebuffs, .the sickness of hope deferred, that will read to many like a twice told tale; now and then he earned a few shillings, just enough to keep body and soul together, but that was all. One fine summer's evening, tired out, he strolled into Hide Park ; it was the height of the season, the drive was crowded with splendid carriages, the Row dotted with male and female equestrians. It was the first time he had witnessed this Wonderful Living Kaleidoscope of Erer-

shifting Colours, this procession of the martyrs of fashion upon their regulation treadmill. Naturally, however, it was the riders in the Row that took his attention, and he cast many a glance upon the smart grooms mounted upon their blood horses, and thought how happy he would be could he only obtain such a berth, little thinking— but, as the novelists say, let us not anticipate. While he was leaning across the rails in this listless, melancholy mood, his attention was attracted by a very distinguished-looking cavalier mounted on a restive, fiery horse, which seemed rather beyond his manege. After many attempts, the brute had nearly succeeded in throwing his rider, when, quick, as thought, Ward leaped over the railings, caught the bridle, and with the skill of one well used to such escapades, not only succeeded in saving the rider from an ugly fall, but in getting the horse under perfect control. The gentleman made the youth a substantial acknowledgment for the service rendered, and struck by the skill he had displayed, gave him his card, and told him to call upon him next day. Great was Ward's astonishment and delight when he discovered that it was a prince— Prince Charles of Lucca— to whom he had been able to render so important a service. His feet were as light as his heart as he quitted the Park, impatient for the morrow. You may be sure he was at the Duke's hotel betimes. He had an interview with a confidential servant, who told him if he would like to take service and go to Italy with his Highness he was empowered to arrange with him there and then. You may be sure there was no hesitation on our hero's part, and a few months afterwards found him comfortably installed as head groom over the magnificent establishment of His Royal Highness the Duke of Lucca.

The Duke was fond of sport, and his English jockey ran many successful races for him over the Lucca course. Ward's Yorkshire ideas of economy and honesty were

sadly shocked by the waste and wholesale robbery he found going on in the Royal stables ; under his regime a new order of things was inaugurated, and before a twelvemonth had elapsed he had succeeded, by his tact and energy, in reducing the expenditure by one-half, and doubling the efficiency of the stud. If the Duke had found a good servant, the servant had found a good master— one who could appreciate his fidelity and gauge the value of the treasure he possessed. After a while Ward was promoted to be his Highness' body servant and confidential attendant, and the Duke soon discovered that his ability was not confined to the stable, and that his shrewd common sense and penetration were as applicable to State affairs as to the management of horses and grooms; gradually he came to consult him, and even to defer to his opinions upon the most vital affairs cf the dukedom, until when anyone came to him on business, his invariable reply was " Go and ask Ward," so that while the ex- jockey still wore the livery coat, he was actually the chief adviser of the State, and the man who pulled the strings to which the puppets danced. In the meantime Thomas Ward each year paid a visit to England to buy horses, and never failed to pass a couple of days with the old grandfather at Howden to talk over old times, and tell him of the wonders of the "f urriners and the f urrin land." In 1843 Thomas Ward gave A New Proof of his Wonderful Abilities. Lucca was in a terrible state from the incapacity of the Marquis of Manosi, the Prime Minister, whose recklessness threatened national bankruptcy. Utterly paralysed by the approaching disaster, the Duke was in despair ; it was then that the Duchess called the faithful English valet to a secret council. Ward advised that the assistance of one of the Austrian archdukes, then Governor of Galicia, should be solicited to put the State in order; and, upon being pressed to do so, himself undertook the mission. It was to be profoundly secret, and for fear of accident it was not considered safe that he should have any papers about him. No sooner, however, had he entered the Austrian dominions than he composed a brief yet perfectly lucid account of the affairs of Lucca, placing their perilous position in such a vivid light that he had no difficulty in persuading the Duke to undertake the charge. Perfectly successful, he lost no time in returning ; the Marquis was dismissed, and, thanks to the counsel and clever action of the ex- jockey, the State was saved. After this Duke Charles was anxious to confer upon his faithful servant some high Ministerial office; but no man was ever less ambitious than Thomas Ward. Plain, straightforward, he was still The Very Model of a Yorkshire Yeoman, and he answered bluntly that he considered it would be ridiculous to allow himself, a rough, uneducated groom, to accept such an offer ; that his only desire was to be regarded as his Highness' servant, and to serve him faithfully in that capacity. But after awhile, as his influence became more and more absolute and widely known, he became sensible to the fact that it would have been far more ridiculous for him to shun the acknowledgment of the position he held, which was known to everyone about the Court, and reluctantly consented to receive the portfolio of the Minister of Finance, and in 1844 the title of Baron Ward. It now became necessary that he should choose a coat-of-arms, and the Duke proposed the cross of Savoy, blended with the lily of Parma ; but Ward was not forgetful of Ms native country, which he still dearly loved, and stipulated that the shield should be supported by two " John Bulls." When, years previously, Napoleon had overrun Italy, Duke Charles had been a fugitive from his possessions, which, at that time, included the great Duchy of Parma ; but when the career of the Corsican Alexander was at length brought to a close on the field of Waterloo, Lucca ! was restored to him ; Parma was awarded by the Powers, during her natural life, to Marie Louise, the ex-Empress of the French, but at her death was to revert to the lawful ruler. That event took place in 1848, and Duke Charles had now to transfer Lucca to his suzerain, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, previous to taking possession of the throne of Parma. Ward was the person he selected to execute this delicate mission. The Duke, who was very fond of horse racing, had no difficulty in recognising the man whom he had often seen in the silk upon the Lucca course, and was so indignant at such a plenipotentiary being sent that he refused to treat with him until the Baron showed his full credentials and patent of nobility ; but before he left Florence the haughty potentate complimented him highly upon the admirable manner in which he had conducted the negotiations. ! Trouble, however, was in store both for Baron Ward and his master. Before the latter had mounted the ducal throne, under the title of Charles 11, certain other transfers of territory had to take place, which caused considerable discontent among the inhabitants. The Duke was one of the ancien regime who believed in the absolute potency of sovereign princes; the populace being rebellious, he called in the assistance of the Austrians ; but it was just at the time of the great upheavals of 1848, when revolution became an epidemic throughout Europe. The conflagration spread to Parma, and he had to take to flight ; accompanied by his devoted Minister, he made his way, disguised and through many dangers, to Dresden, near which he had an estate. Thanks, however, to the indefatigable Thomas, who went about craving assistance and the good will of different foreign courts, and diplomatising with the rebels on the terms of a more liberal constitution, the Duke within a very few months succeeded in regaining a large portion of his patrimony and returning to Parma in triumph. Duke Charles, however, wearied of the cares of State and mortified by his vicissitudes, resolved to abdicate in favour of his son; but not before he had transferred the services of his trusty Minister to the new sovereign, who loved and valued him as much as did his father.

It was during the brief years that Charles 111 wielded the ducal scepter that Ward rose to

The Highest Pinnacle of his Glory.

Honours were showered upon him with a prodigal hand, and the once poor stableboy could now write after his name, Baron of the Duchy of Lucca, and of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Knight of the first class of the Order of St. Louis of Lucca, Knight of the Grand Order of St. Joseph of Tuscany, Knight Senator Grand Cross of the Order of St. George, Constantine of Parma, and noble, with the title of Baron in Tuscany, Honorary Councillor of State to his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke of Tuscany, &c. He was now sent as plenipotentiary to the great powers ; fearless of the wiles and machinations of the great diplomats of Europe, at a time when diplomacy was conducted upon the most Machiavellian principles, he always went straight to the point ; he was said to be the only man who could match the Mephistophelian Schwartzenburg, the Austrian minister; the great Metternich pronounced him to be a born diplomatist, and our own Lord Palmerston called him a heaven-born Minister. Amidst these mighty sovereigns and mighty Ministers the undersized, ill-made figure of Thomas Ward, with its plain, fair face, might hare passed unnoticed by a stranger, yet there was a mixture of shrewdness and simplicity in bis features, and a quick penetrating glance in his grey eyes, that would have attracted attention if a second regard had been bestowed upon him. He was now an excellent linguist — reading, writing, and speaking French, German, and Italian with fluency ; yet, strange to say, whenever he spoke his native tongue it was with a Yorkshire accent as broad as though he had never quitted the country. In 1849 he accompanied Duke Charles in a visit to England as his first Minister of State, and, with pardonable pride, brought with him all his splendid orders to take down to Howden and show the old grandfather, who was still living, and whom he had now comfortably settled, and to dazzle the eyes of the folks who had known him as a poor little stable boy. But never when at the topmost pinnacle of his ambition did he affect to conceal his humble origin — in the grandest saloon of his splendid palace at Parma hung two portraits, one of his father, another of his mother, and the wife he chose was a Viennese girl of humble birth, whom on this occasion he brought with him to England. In London he was received in the first society, and when rolling up and down The Drive in Hyde Park in his gilded carriage, how often must he have recalled the day when his good angel directed thither his weary, wandering footsteps, and pointed out the very spot where, hungry and despairing, he leaned over the railings watching the anaree show in which he was now a leading actor. But for that fortuitous circumstance he might have been a jockey all his life— a great one certainly — instead of a Minister of State. Upon such mere accidents do our lives depend.

Although personally an amiable man, Duke Charles inherited the despotic tendencies of his father, and upon succeeding him revoked the constitution, which, under strong pressure, the latter had given to his subjects, and at the same time severely punished the ringleaders of the revolution. These severities, however, only rekindled the spirit of revolt, and in 1834 he was secretly assassinated. In obedience to popular clamour, and in order to secure the safety of herself and child, the Duchess now consented to dismiss and banish her husband's great Minister, who shared the unpopularity of his master. Glad enough was Thomas Ward to be relieved of Ministerial cares, and, like another Cincinnatus, retired for ever from the turmoil of court life and settled down upon an estate he had purchased in the neighbourhood of Vienna. There He Devoted Himself Entirely to Agriculture, and in the bosom of his family passed the last years of his extraordinary career, which terminated in 1858, in the peaceful pursuits of a gentleman farmer. Few men of 49 summers, it may be safely averred, had ever experienced such marvellous changes in fortune, which had carried him, step by step, from the stable to the foot of the throne, as had Thomas Ward, the Jockey Prime Minister. It need scarcely be added that he left his widow and children in affluent circumstances, his sons holding high positions in foreign diplomatic corps, while his daughters have intermarried with some of the best German families.