Rise and Prof/ress of the Leicester Breed of Sheep. 345 
lie is asked any questions, let him say ' I have orders frorn my 
jnaster to answer no (juestions.' " 
Mr. Bakewell's flock went after its founder's death into the 
hands of I\Ir. Smith of Dishh^y, and passed from him to Mr. 
Honeybourne. It was finally dispersed amongst Messrs. Stub- 
bins, Stone, Barford, Paget, Baker of Elemore, and Philip Ski])- 
worth the elder, whose purchase of ewes laid the foundation oi" 
the present Aylesby flock, as that of Mr. Stubbins (whose 
nephews Joseph and Robert succeeded to moieties of his flock 
in 1814) did of the Holmcpierrepont. The Leicester breeders 
outside the charmed circle of the Club, were also a great band, 
with Mr. Prinsepp of Croxall, Mr. Bettison of Plolme, Mr. 
Creswell of Ravenstone, Mr. Burgess of Hugglescott, Mr. Green of 
Normanton, Mr. Moor of Thorpe, Mr. Astley of Odstone, Mr. 
Newton of Hoby, and Mr. Deverill of Clapton, as their chiefs. 
None of the club's men had quainter sayings than Mr. Nicholas 
Buckley. He would vow that cocksfoot was good grass, and 
that if he " met with a sheep without a skin I'd have him ;" but 
no one made a greater point of having his sheep Avell woolled all 
over, firm in their handling, and with rare legs of mutton. The 
late Sir Tatton Sykes was a staunch admirer of the sort ; and for 
fifty-two summers he never once missed riding from Sledmere to 
Normanton to see his rams, with a tenant or his huntsman, Tom 
Carter, at his side. The Baronet was always on a young horse, and it 
was his custom to lead it for the last mile of his day's journey, which 
began soon after sunrise. He was wont for many years to come 
twice — on June 10th, to see the rams bare, and again the first week 
in September ; but the first showing gradually dropped into disuse. 
The ]Messrs. Stone, — John of Qaorn and Thomas of Barrow, 
— had rather a larger sheep than Mr. Buckley, as well as lighter 
in the scrag and not so heavy in the coat. Mr. Farrow, of 
Loughborough, did well with big sheep, and made such an 
especial point of wool that the weight of each fleece was always 
printed on the sale-card. Mr. Stubbins, on the contrary, liked a 
"big park-ranging sheep," and laid more stress on firm mutton 
than wool. " Soft mutton," as he said, " you may feed for ever, 
and be no further forward." Mr. Creswell, senior, and his father, 
hired both from Mr. Stone and Mr, Stubbins, and the former 
hired rams from them thrice over at 300 guineas. Sir Tatton 
never failed to rally him on his love for size, and gave as a reason 
for not hiring from him that such a step would entail an enlarge- 
ment of all the Sledmere doorways. The joke would have been 
capable of extension in later days, as one of the present IMr. 
Creswell's ewes has been in the habit, year after year, of bring- 
ing a 15 lbs. lamb, " be the same more or less," whereas 9 lbs. to 
10 lbs. is a good average. 
Sir Tatton's first purchase of ewes comprised half a score at 
VOL, lY, — S. S. 2 A 
