ASCOT AFFAIRS 217 



On the other hand, individuals of unimpeachable 

 authority whom I consulted gave the plan their careful 

 attention, and wished the alteration might be carried into 

 effect. However, the writing was already on the wall. It 

 would have been manifestly unfair to pledge my successor to 

 a large undertaking and heavy expenditure, in his view of 

 questionable advantage and necessity, and the Friday of Ascot 

 week, 1895, terminated my connection with Ascot affairs 

 and power for good or evil. If the change is ever carried 

 out, it is clearly one of those departures which must be 

 taken by mutual and cordial consent of both the ins and the 

 outs. 



Here let me add that I had no personal prepossessions 

 in the matter. Assuming the terms of the problem to have 

 been correctly stated, I merely advanced my proposals as a 

 practical and feasible solution. A fair composition could 

 have been made — at that time— with the owner of Sunning- 

 dale Park for the acquisition of the additional land required 

 for a new Straight Mile course, and for carrying out the plan 

 in all its details. There were no difficulties in the w^ay as to 

 gradients, nor as to the laying of the course, which, assuming 

 the work to have been begun, say, in October 1895, should, 

 so I was informed by expert opinion, have been in order for 

 the Ascot races this year, or at all events for next year. In 

 the meanwhile, whilst the new course was consolidating and 

 getting a good face of grass, all could have gone on just as at 

 present. Many people took a kind interest in the matter 

 from first to last, and I was especially pleased by the hearty 

 encouragement of Captain Machell, who came down to Ascot 

 with me one day, and w^ent over the ground with the plans 

 most carefully. Even those who did not agree with me 

 hstened courteously, if with a wandering eye, to all I had 

 to say on a subject which my readers will agree is not 



