William (Smoaker) Miles was a great celebrity, being the principal bathing man. One day, when the Prince of Wales was bathing, he ventured out further than Old Smoaker considered prudent. In vain Smoaker called “Mr. Prince, Mr. Prince, come back,” his holloas only causing His Royal Highness to dash out further. As the only means to exact obedience, in rushed the old man, swam up to the Prince, and, seizing him by the ear, lugged him, _nolens volens_, to the shore. When his young aquatic student remonstrated upon receiving such treatment, Old Smoaker rolled out a round oath or two, adding, “I ar’n’t agoen’ to let the king hang me for letten’ the Prince of Wales drown hisself; not I, to please nobody, I can tell’e.” The incident pleased the Prince, who ever afterwards patronised him. To testify, also, His Royal Highness’s respect for the straightforward, honest, but blunt fellow, he established the Smoaker Stakes, which were run for at the Brighton Races, Friday, July 25th, 1806, with the following result: The Smoaker Stakes of 20gs. each, one mile; 8 yr. olds to carry 7st. 4 yr. olds 8st. 3lb. 5 yr. olds 8st. 9lb. 6 yr. olds 9st. 11lb., and aged 9st. 1lb. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’s b. h. Albion, 6 yrs. 1 old Mr. Fermer’s b. c. Hippomenes, 4 yrs. old 2 Lord Egremont’s b. m. Slipper, 5 yrs. old 3 Mr Howorth’s ch. c Patagonian, by Pegasus, 3 yrs. old 4 At starting the odds were 3 to 2 in favour of the field. Albion was the favourite; 2 to 1 against Hippomenes and Slipper; and 3 to 1 against Patagonian. A good heat between the two horses first in. Won by about a neck. Old Smoaker was a bit of a wit in his way. On one occasion, while he was standing near the Ship in Distress Inn, now the Sea House Hotel, two dandies of the day addressed him, stating that they had come down to Brighton for the benefit of their health, and had been recommended to drink asses’ milk, could he inform them how it was to be obtained. Miles, more plain than polite, replied that he did not then exactly know, but he should advise them, for the sake of saving themselves trouble, to suck each other. William Miles was succeeded, as Royal Bather, by his brother John, who, when too old to follow his occupation, was pensioned off by Royalty, as long as he lived. A song of the time, then very popular, ran thus:— There’s plenty of dippers and jokers, And salt-water rigs for your fun; The king of them all is “Old Smoaker,” The queen of ’em, “Old Martha Gunn.” The ladies walk out in the morn, To taste of the salt-water breeze; They ask if the water is warm, Says Martha, “Yes, Ma’am, if you please.” Then away to the machines they run, ’Tis surprising how soon they get stript; I oft wish myself Martha Gunn, Just to see the young ladies get dipt.