298 Tally ho, 



elastic, whilst within the last forty years the price of 

 hunters has been trebled, £100 will not go far in 

 mounting a whip nowadays, whereas from £30 to £40 

 would, in former days, have sufficed to provide a 

 sound, fresh young animal. I remember in those 

 days being offered a thorough-bred mare, with a 

 character for jumping, for the sum of £30, but, the 

 season being over, I declined taking her at that price, 

 stating, however, that three £5 notes would always 

 be ready when the owner liked to take that sum. 

 This was indignantly refused, and after twenty-eight 

 weeks (during which period the mare stood at livery 

 at 2I5. per week) the owner wrote to me to fetch her 

 away at the price originally offered. For three 

 seasons I rode this nag, and never once did she refuse 

 a fence, however big it might be ; on no occasion did 

 she ever put a foot wrong, nor did she during the 

 three seasons I rode her at any time bring me to grief. 

 I could do with one or two of that sort at the same 

 price, but I do not think it is likely I shall get them, 

 as the veriest cab-horse will fetch double the amount. 



Having to return to Windsor, I rode leisurely 

 through Bulstrode Park, and back by way of Stoke 

 Park, a charming residence, now occupied by Mr. 

 Coleman, and thence through Eton to the Royal 

 borough, where 1 was glad to observe that'proudly and 

 wide the Standard flies, denoting that her Majesty has 

 returned from Osborne. 



Not discouraged, but hopeful, in fact, of better 

 sport when next I try my luck, intending on a future 

 occasion to select a meet as far from the ^' busy haunts 

 of men^^ as may be; the hives of industry being 

 doubtless productive of profit, but decidedly adverse 



