This was a mare with seven _feet_, in a small temporary stable in the
passage-way from the road to the foot-pavement, opposite the George Inn,
and adjoining to the next show: the admission to this “sight” was
threepence. The following is a copy of the printed bill:--
“To Sportsmen and Naturalists.--Now exhibiting, one of the greatest
living natural curiosities in the world; namely, a thorough-bred chesnut
MARE, with seven legs! four years of age, perfectly sound, free from
blemish, and shod on six of her feet. She is very fleet in her paces,
being descended from that famous horse Julius Cæsar, out of a
thorough-bred race mare descended from Eclipse, and is remarkably
docile and temperate. She is the property of Mr. T. Checketts, of
Belgrave-hall, Leicestershire, and will be exhibited for a few days as
above.”
This mare was well worth seeing. Each of her hind legs, besides its
natural and well-formed foot, had another growing out from the fetlock
joint: one of these additions was nearly the size of the natural foot;
the third and least grew from the same joint of the fore-leg. Mr.
Andrews, the proprietor, said, that they grew slowly, and that the new
hoofs were, at first, very soft, and exuded during the process of
growth. This individual, besides his notoriety from the possession of
this extraordinary mare, attained further distinction by having
prosecuted to conviction, at the Warwick assizes, in August, 1825, a
person named Andrews, for swindling. He complained bitterly of the
serious expense he had incurred in bringing the depredator to justice;
his own costs, he said, amounted to the sum of one hundred and seventy
pounds.