'HONEST LORD ALTHORP" 



stormy times, of the House of Commons, he 

 maintained his interest in farming throughout 

 his career. On succeeding, as Earl Spencer, to a 

 seat in the Upper House, on the death of his 

 father, he retired from political life, and Cincin- 

 natus-like devoted himself mainly to agricultural 

 pursuits, becoming President of the Smithfield 

 Club, and of the Royal Agricultural Society, of 

 which he was one of the chief promoters. A letter 

 of his in my possession is so characteristic in its 

 plain-spoken directness, and so indicative of his 

 practical knowledge and genuine and personal 

 interest in his farm stock, that it seems worth 

 including here. It is addressed to his agent, 

 Thomas Bates, Esq., at Kirklevington, near Yarm, 

 Yorkshire, and is dated and franked, from 

 Leamington, on September 22nd, 1819. 



" MY DEAR SIR, 



" I think this is about as good a time for 

 cattle to travel as any in the course of the year. 

 The mornings and evenings are cool, and the roads 

 are not yet become wet and dirty, in which state 

 they are more likely to grind and wear the hoofs, 

 just as a knife grinder wets his wheel to make it 

 act quicker. For this reason (to say nothing 

 about my own impatience to see the two cows) 

 if Sparkler can be considered safe in calf I should 

 like you to send her and Spot home. If you have 

 about you any man whom you can trust, as I 

 conclude you probably have, and would let him 

 drive the cows it would be the best plan, but if 

 you are not able to do this I could probably find 

 out the man who brought my cows from Barmpton 



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