■Memoir of the late John Towlertcm Leather. 229 



houses, through galvanized or metal pipes. Two years ago He laid a Four- 

 inch pipe from Swinhoe ponds to the hall, htted with hydraulic power, so 

 that in case of lire, an ample and immediate supply of water could lie 

 thrown on any part of the building, tie had long, too, kept a strong fire 

 engine, which is always ready to be dispatched to any farm place, on an 

 outbreak of fire. All the farms on his estate were thoroughly drained, and 

 latterly entirely, or almost entirely, at his own expense, the tenants only 

 carting the pipes as their contribution to the work. Last spring he sent 

 36 cart loads of timber to two of his tenants, all cut into stakes and rails, 

 for the repair of the fences, which was done at Mr Leather's expense, the 

 only cost falling upon the tenants was the carting of the stakes and rails. 



He was not a practical farmer, and made no profession to knowledge of 

 agriculture ; but whatever his tenants considered necessary to the improve- 

 ment of their farms, and made their wishes known unto him, they never 

 asked in vain. 



He had a great love for all wild animals, with the exception of the rat, 

 against which he waged a continual war. One penny per head was the 

 price paid to all boys or men on his estate, for destroying rats, and a good 

 many pounds were paid annually in this way. 13 ut hawks, owls, weasels, 

 and other " vermin" he would not allow to be destroyed. " Let the hawks 

 alone," he would say to his keeper, "and we shall have both hawks ami 

 game." 



On one occasion, when it was intended to plant trees in a part where 

 hares were known to be numerous, the keeper suggested that the hares 

 had better be thinned off first, or they would destroy the young trees. 

 " You ought to be the last man to suggest that," he said, "if the hares 

 destroy the trees plant more, and we shall soon have plenty of both hares 

 and trees." 



His desire for the preservation of all wild animals is well illustrated in 

 the following incident, which took place nearly twenty years ago. A 

 badger was caught in one of the rabbit traps, by the under-keeper, who 

 carried it alive to the head-keeper, and as it was not much the worse from 

 being in the trap, it was resolved to keep it in confinement, at least tor a 

 while. After the keeper had kept it for several days, he mentioned the 

 fact to Mr Leather, " and what are you going to do with it ? why are you 

 keeping it shut up there ?" enquired Mr Leather somewhat sharply. The 

 keeper explained that some members of Mr Leather's family had expressed 

 a strong wish to see a badger, and as they were expected to be at the hall 

 in a few days, he intended to take it there and let them see it. As soon 

 as the family arrived at the hall, this was done, and early next morning 

 the keeper received a message to attend Mr Leather at his office at once. 

 He hurried off to the office, wondering Avhat so pressing a message could 

 mean. As soon as he entered he was asked by Mr Leather, " Well, have 

 you got the badger yet?" the keeper said he had; "and is it quite re^ 

 covered from being in the trap ?" continued Mr Leather; the keeper 

 replied that it was. " Then you take it to-morrow morning to Detchant 

 wood, on your back, and liberate it into its burrow, and Mr S here 



