MARSK
—was a horse whose distinguished celebrity arose more from chance than any peculiar merits of his own. He was bred by the then Duke of Cumberland; was foaled in 1750; got by Squirt, (who was got by Bartlet's Childers;) dam by Blacklegs, grand-dam by Fox Cub. Although his blood and racing ability stood fairly admitted, yet, so far from having acquired any reputation as a STALLION, he was permitted to COVER common mares at the Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, for only half-a-guinea, which was the GROOM'S FEE. Precisely at this period (in the year 1763) Spilletta, the dam of Eclipse, having proved barren for two or three years in succession, a new experiment was made, and she was covered by both Shakespeare and Marsk in the same season; when stinted, and some time after perceptibly in foal, it was uncertain who was to be declared the SIRE, till the produce falling to correspond with the last leap from Marsk, he became (from Eclipse's astonishing powers) loaded with honours, publicly acknowledged the sire with an enhanced reputation, and a constantly increasing seraglio; from which time he continued a stallion of the first eminence, and produced a progeny of winners by much too long for introduction under this head. Spilletta afterwards produced Proserpine by Marsk, foaled in 1766; and that well-known horse Garrick, foaled in 1772; both excellent runners.