106 REMOVAL FROM DANEBURY. 



from some distance. 1 said that it was a most ex- 

 pensive undertaking, and could not be carried out 

 for much less than £3500 ; to which he replied, "If 

 it enables me to win one race it will pay all that." 

 With his usual ardour, after obtaining permission 

 from the Duke of Kichmond, he at once commenced 

 the job, employing over one hundred labourers and 

 twenty-eight cart-horses, the superintendence of 

 the work affording him the greatest pleasure. One 

 day, after riding upon the race-course and the Mole- 

 comb Downs, he pulled up on the summit of the 

 new Halnaker gallop then in progress, and coming 

 suddenly upon the splendid and extensive pano- 

 ramic view spread before him on emerging from the 

 wood, he remarked, " There's a beautiful sight ! " 

 Of course I thought he alluded to the landscape so 

 suddenly brought before his eyes. " I did not 

 mean that," he explained, " but the sight of so 

 many men at work, and the means it affords them 

 to provide food for their families during this in- 

 clement season." The potato-disease, which pre- 

 vailed greatly that year, engaged his Lordship's 

 attention. He said the gardener at Welbeck had 



o 



found that a sprinkling of lime over each layer 

 of potatoes, when storing them, was the best 

 preservative he had tried ; and he added that 

 if any of the Goodwood labourers wished to try 

 the experiment, they were to be supplied with 

 lime for the pur^^ose at his expense. During 

 the progress of these works a labourer met 



