"A MORTA' GOOD OLD CHAP." 15 



laid down in grass. His Grace next proceeded to 

 purchase some land which lay contiguous to the 

 above-mentioned " new ground," so as to prevent 

 its ever falling into the hands of some purchaser 

 who might not be favourably disposed towards the 

 Turf. Since that time the land in question has 

 been known as " the Portland farm," and portions 

 of it have been added to the Heath. He also 

 built the Portland Stand, at the end of the Beacon 

 course, where the Criterion and Cambridgeshire 

 courses finished. 



I remember a characteristic story which was 

 told not long after his Grace made the purchase 

 to which I have just alluded. In riding for the 

 first time over the ground, he encountered a 

 shepherd, from whom he inquired " whether he 

 knew where the land lay which the Duke of Port- 

 land had just bought ? " The shepherd pointed to 

 the spot on which they were standing, exclaiming, 

 " This be part of it." As they proceeded over the 

 property the shepherd, little knowing to whom 

 he was speaking, volunteered the remark, " I be 

 moighty glad t' Duke of Portland 'ave bought 

 this 'ere farm, because he be a morta' good old 

 chap." 



" And what makes you consider him ' a morta' 

 good old chap ' ? " inquired the Duke, smiling. 



" Because he's good to 's poor, and finds work 

 for a lot o' we," replied the unconscious guide. 



During the intervals between the various race 



