62 
railways. Good roads, good horses and im- 
proved coaches in combination rendered it 
possible to cover long distances at a uni- 
formly high speed, from 10 to 10} miles per 
hour being the rate at which the mails ran 
between London and Exeter, London and 
York, and other important centres. 
HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA. 
Acc. JUNE 20, 1837. 
The sale of the Hampton Court Stud is 
the first noteworthy event of Her Majesty's 
reign. The step taken by the Queen’s 
advisers, with Lord Melbourne, the Prime 
Minister, at their head, was deeply regretted 
by all interested in horse breeding, as one 
seeming to imply that the national sport 
would no longer receive the patronage of the 
Throne. A respectful but strong memorial 
against the sale was presented by the Jockey 
Club, but without avail, and on October 25, 
1837, Messrs. Tattersall disposed of the stud 
before a crowded audience, which included 
buyers from France, Germany, Russia, and 
other foreign countries. The catalogue in- 
cluded 43 brood mares, which brought 9,568 
guineas ; 13 colt foals, 1,471 guineas; 18 
filly foals, 1,109 guineas; and 5 stallions, 
