CREATORS OF PASTORAL WEALTH 153 



Essex, during his lifetime was made a baronet, on 

 request of the Prince of Wales, by a stroke of 

 Queen VICTORIA'S pen, in recognition of distinguished 

 services rendered to British agriculture and horse- 

 breeding. Americans may consider that an even 

 greater honor has come to Sir WALTER dead. A fine 

 copy, by NYHOLM, of Sir W. Q. ORCHARDSON'S pres- 

 entation portrait, adorns our SADDLE AND SIRLOIN 

 walls. At his own sweet will a monarch may make 

 a belted knight. Something more than that is a 

 condition precedent to admission to this our Amer- 

 ican Academy. The original of this fine portrait was 

 paid for by subscriptions from more than 1,200 

 different people a fact that illustrates the subject's 

 wide popularity and the presentation speech was 

 made by the prince, who was afterwards crowned 

 KING EDWARD VII. This event took place in 1891, 

 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in London, the 

 ceremonies being presided over by the DUKE OF 

 PORTLAND, Master of Horse to the Grown. 



Sir WALTER'S father was a stage-coach driver 

 on the run from Essex to White Chapel, and the 

 son rose from poverty to enormous wealth. He was 

 ever fond of a good horse, and a great fortune 

 made in trade was freely used in forwarding the 

 cause of agricultural advancement and in promoting 



