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referred to the fact that direct purchase 
was approved by Baron Nathansius, the 
French Inspector General of Remounts, in 
a letter which that officer had addressed to 
the present writer. 
Lord Ribblesdale paid me the compliment 
of seeking my assistance in his task: and 
in order to obtain the actual views of the 
horse-breeding interest in England, Colonel 
Sir Nigel Kingscote, Sir Jacob Wilson 
and the writer met in February, 1887, and 
drew up a series of questions. 
These questions were printed and sent out 
to between three and four hundred of the 
best known horse-breeders in the Kingdom ; 
to all, in point of fact, whose experience 
would lend weight to their views and whose 
addresses could be secured. The principal 
questions put were as follows :— 
“Q, 1. Assuming that an annual Grant from the 
Government of £5,000 be made for the encouragement 
of the breeding of halfbred horses, to whom in your 
opinion ought such grant to be entrusted for dis- 
tribution? Whether to a specially constituted Board 
of Trustees or to any other body? 
“©Q, 2.—Is it your opinion that the distribution of 
the above Grant should take the form of a subsidy in 
the shape of Premiums for Thoroughbred Stallions 
covering at a moderate fee similar to those offered by 
the Hunters’ Improvement Society at their Annual 
Spring Show, and this year by the Royal Agricultural 
Society at Newcastle ?”’ 
