RACES AT AYLESBURY. 91 



round. There is a small grass enclosure in front of the 

 wind-mill, and the whole line, excepting about three 

 acres of allotment and gardens near the town, was then 

 under grass. The fences were left in their natural state > 

 untrimmed, and were not only formidable in aspect, 

 but really difficult to negotiate. The course was most 

 severe, and comprised several doubles and tall bull- 

 finchers, ox fences with post and rails, big singles, 

 one cross road, one deeply-rutted lane, one fairly-sized 

 brook, one thick spinney, and the river Thame, about 

 twenty-eight feet wide ! This line ran parallel with the 

 turnpike road, so that a horseman riding along it was 

 able to keep abreast of the runners, and could see nearly 

 every fence jumped. No flags marked the course, and 

 until the morning of the race the line of country was 

 kept a profound secret, for fear that any of the proposed 

 riders should avail himself of the opportunity of seeing 

 the fences and thus find out any weak place in the 

 obstacles to be encountered. 



On the morning of the race the company thronged 

 the whole line of the turnpike road. The course to be 

 taken was announced for the first time, but no flags 

 whatever were used except the usual two in the winning 

 field. The horses, with their riders mounted, left the 

 White Hart and other inns, after weighing in the yard 

 of the head-quarters. The colours worn by the riders 

 were of unusual brilliance, and my memory enables me 

 to recollect a trivial incident, which I remember telling 

 to the late Lady Brassey, celebrated for her Voyage in 

 the Sunbeam. Whilst weighing, Mr. Allnutt, Lady 

 Brasscy's father, appeared in a very resplendent satin 



