Mr. Wet her ell's Herds. 169 



not have taken 500 guineas, and yet he had to shoot 

 him for fear of manslaughter. 



The sale day was one to be much remembered, 

 and the Moor looked all life as the shorthorn men, 

 who had been entertained^ royally at the King's Head 

 over-night, poured into it, and found their host in his 

 white waistcoat on a pony, acting as field-marshal, 

 while the 48 lots, bar infants, were being marched 

 round in tribes. A blue bullock-van, with "The 

 Cumberland Ox" in six-inch letters on its side, did 

 duty as catalogue and counting-house. The Union 

 Jack floated above the Durham Horticultural tent, 

 and the voice of the revellers was pitched in its 

 highest key, when Mr. Wetherell said a few feeling 

 words to neighbours and " auld acquentance" (as 

 Billy Pierce always phrased it), and poor Jackson, then 

 just midway in his race career " at lusty one-and- 

 thirty," returned thanks for the Turf, coupled with 

 himself and Saunterer. Mr. Sam Wiley and Mr. 

 Charge were both there, and the latter called to mind, 

 as he stood bowed and feeble with years, and leaning 

 on the arm of a friend, how nearly nine-and-forty 

 years before, he had joined to buy " a leg of Comet," 

 and how none of his three partners remained to tell 

 the tale. Mr. Jacques, a great winner and breeder 

 when dementi was in the land, looked on, and so did 

 Mr. Nesham, the owner of old Usurer, who lasted 

 until his fourteenth year. Mr. Richard Booth stood 

 by with a quiet chuckle, and Mr. John Booth was the 

 Branches Commissioner. Her ladyship listened 

 anxiously in her brougham, till the relentless "and 

 ten" upon " ten" stopped at " 300 for Lady Pigot" 

 (loud cheering), and Stanley Rose was proclaimed the 

 prima donna of the day. Mr. Drewry was not to be 

 denied for Cosy and Comfort, nor Mr. Doig for Moss 

 Rose and Ayrshire Rose. 73 gs. average for 48 

 lots was the final return from the waggon, and a roan 

 heifer-calf by King Arthur, from Duchess of North- 



