THOMAS BATES AND THE DUCHESSES. 71 



the interest of the farmers of all England in 

 tne breed, a fact which serves to emphasize the 

 far-reaching importance of such events and the 

 necessity of supporting them heartily at all 

 times. 



Bates was a keen observer at the time he 

 began frequenting these market-places. The 

 heterogeneous mixture that had up to this time 

 constituted the old Teeswater breed was rapidly 

 being fused into something like a homogeneous 

 type. The fires about the refining crucible were 

 burning brightly especially at Ketton, where 

 appeal had been made to Bakewell's magic 

 power. Thomas Bates watched the workmen 

 at their task; visited among them, and finally 

 seized upon what fre regarded as the best mate- 

 rial then in the hands of the master-spirits in 

 the business. He became quite intimate with 

 Charles Colling, and usually stayed at Ketton, 

 or with Mason of Chilton, from Saturday night 

 to Monday, on the occasion of his attending 

 Darlington market. It was at the great " fair " 

 held at this place on the first Monday in March 

 in 1799 that "the wonderful Durham Ox" was 

 exhibited; but while the great Colling steer was 

 astounding the gaping crowd the thoughts of 

 the bright young Northumberland farmer were 

 otherwise engaged. Another beast of Ketton 

 breeding was claiming his close attention. He 

 was meditating the selection of foundation 



