BATTERSBY AND THE YORK AND AINSTY 197 



RULES 



To be observed by gentlemen entrusting their horses to Mr Battersby 



1. That all horses must stand at the expense of their owners. 



2. All horses must be in York before ist February. 



3. Each horse to be accompanied by a groom. 



4. Each owner must name the lowest price at which he will 

 sell his horse. If Mr B. can obtain a larger sum he will retain the 

 surplus. 



5. Five per cent, on the price mentioned will be deducted as 

 commission, in case of a sale, and will be charged if the horse is 

 not sold. 



6. All expenses are to be paid before the horses are returned. 



7. Mr Battersby will be responsible for no damage. 



8. Mr Battersby 's hotel and other expenses will be fairly divided 

 among his subscribers. 



9. Mr B. can permit no interference ; the horses must be entirely 

 given up to him ; and no owner will be; under any circumstances, 

 allowed to even mount his horse until Mr B. declares the education 

 complete. 



T. K. WHITELY, Printer, Darlington. 



I wrote the story of what followed on this in the book, 

 Blair Athol, 1 published a few years afterwards, and it 

 there appears that the circulars were dispatched to the 

 York and Ainsty men a day before there was a meet at 

 Thirkleby Park. I myself went there in mufti, on old 

 Cobweb, whom no one would suspect of carrying Joseph 

 Rawlinson Battersby. 



There was a large meet, and among those present was 

 Mr Willoughby himself, who was audaciously referred to 

 in the circular. He had a week or two earlier won a 

 point-to-point steeplechase on his horse, Langar, whom he 

 bought from the Rev. Cecil Legard, and it was for this 

 reason Battersby pointed to that special animal as the 

 one he had schooled, for the name was at the time very 

 familiar to all the hunting men. 



As I moved about, exchanging greetings here and there, 

 with friends, there was but one word that struck on my 

 ears from every group that I passed by that was 

 1 George Routledge & Sons Ltd. 



