BRITISH TURF. 315 



The mansion and park of Woodcote were pur- 

 chased by the late Lewis Tessier, Esq. His son, 

 the Baron de Tessier, to whom they now belong, 

 is a perpetual steward of Epsom races — an office 

 he fills to the entire satisfaction of the sporting 

 world, and the public in general. 



The disputes about the manor of Epsom, which 

 not long since occasioned much anxiety with the 

 public, as threatening to put a stop to these favou- 

 rite races, are, at length, happily terminated. 

 While this alarm was at its height, it happened 

 that a general election took place. As if to show 

 how dear the national amusement of racing is to 

 our rural population, a gentleman of high cha- 

 racter and great wealth, but who was suspected 

 on account of his well-known antipathy to field 

 sports (arising from overstrained religious feelings) , 

 of designing to put down Epsom races, is generally 

 supposed to have lost his election for the county 

 on this account only. 



Horton Park, which was also the property of 

 Lord Baltimore, is now the residence of James 

 Trotter, Esq. 



Durdans is said by Aubrey to have been built by 

 the Earl of Berkeley with the materials of Nonsuch 

 Palace, when it was demolished by the Duchess of 

 Cleveland. This fine structure, which was once 

 inhabited by the father of George III, being des- 

 troyed by fire, a new mansion was erected by Mr. 



