ROMANCE OF THE DUKES AND DUCHESSES 99 



city of London. This event was unique in the 

 annals of cattle-breeding from the fact that the 

 animals were not before the bidders when sold. 

 They had, of course, been seen privately at Daw- 

 pool before the sale. LORD FEVERSHAM presided, and 

 there was a brilliant assemblage of peers, M. P.'s 

 and notables generally. The females were offered 

 in "blocks of three," and the entire lot was taken 

 by E. L. BETTS of Preston Hall in Kent, at 1,900 

 guineas for the first trio offered, 1,300 guineas for 

 the second, 1,800 guineas for the third and 1,200 

 for the fourth. The bull Imperial Oxford, that was 

 then being used upon them, went with them at an 

 extra price of 450 guineas. The DUKE of DEVON- 

 SHIRE took Grand Duke 10th at 600 guineas. Two 

 years later Mr. BETTS resold the cattle. They had 

 not been prolific; but the thirteen head offered 

 brought the fine average of 432 guineas each, the 

 "plum" of the lot, the celebrated Grand Duchess 

 17th, bringing 800 guineas from Gapt. R. E. OLIVER 

 of Sholebroke Lodge. 



By this time events were shaping themselves 

 for still greater activities in America. In 1866 J.O. 

 SHELDON of White Spring Farm, Geneva, N.Y., bought 

 the entire Thornedale herd of Duchesses, Oxfords, 

 etc., at a reported price of $40,000, thus acquiring 



