just within the bank of the river, is an extensive sheet of water of some fifty acres, known to all the lovers of angling as the Dagenham breach water. It was formed more than a century and a-half since by a breach in the Thames bank, which long puzzled the engineers of those days. It was well described by W. Derham, in the "Philosophical Transactions," No. 335, and by the engineer, Captain Perry, in 1721, who at last repaired the breach.

Dagenham breach was caused on the 17th of December, 1707, by an extraordinarily high tide, accompanied with a violent wind; and like the late breach in the river-wall near Lynn, commenced by the giving way of a small sluice made through the river-bank for the drainage of the land. If immediate help had been bestowed, remarks the describers of this great inroad of the waters, it could have been easily stopped; but through neglect, the constant force of the water setting in and out of the Dagenham level soon made a wide gap, and at last a passage was made for the water 100 yards wide, and in some places 20 feet deep. The water soon covered more than 1,000 acres of very valuable marsh land. | And the injury did not end there; for, by the reflux of the tidal waters, so large a portion of soil was brought off the land into the Thames that a sandbank was formed in the bed of the river nearly a mile in length, and reaching in a slanting direction almost half way across the stream. For seven years the owners of the submerged lands were allowed to attempt, at their own expense, the repair of this breach; until at length the Parliament of that day interfered, and passed an act, under the powers of which Captain John Perry, in about five years, and after the breach had existed about fifteen years, and at an expense of more than £45,000, succeeded in repairing the bank.

In reading the account of the Dagenham breach, we can well perceive how closely its origin resembles that of the late flood in the Norfolk fens, which has been very graphically described by a correspondent of the Mark Lane Express, who informs us that "within the past few years a new drain has been completed across the district, extending from St. Germans, near Lynn, to Whittlesea Mere, near Peterboro', with all the minor drains emptying into it, partly for the purpose of draining the Mere, and thus bringing into cultivation a tract of land exceeding 1,000 acres, capable of bearing great crops, and partly to improve the general drainage of the conntry. It discharged its waters through a sluice into the Eau Brink or Ouse river. This sluice, erected in or about the year 1847, is near the village abovenamed. The sluice, it appears, was placed somewhat too near the river; and not having sufficient protection against the scour of the tide, it gradually caused a slight undermining of an abutment. Added to this, the drain has been thrice deepened, even to the foundation of the concrete, and water was known to flow under the foundations. As soon as this was perceived, measures were taken to prevent its further progress. Vast quantities of earth, clay, &c., were thrown in, but to no useful purpose; indeed, it almost appeared to aggravate the evil; for in about forty hours from the first dangerous appearances, the destruction of the sluice was proved to be inevitable, the two eastern arches giving way and sinking

into the bed of the river. This, of course, caused the greatest consternation in the immediate vicinity of the disaster, which soon spread throughout the whole Level, and the alarm was deeply felt and sympathised in by all in the towns and villages throughout the low country. The tide at once rushed in with amazing velocity; timber might be seen floating at the rate of from six to seven miles an hour, and wondering on which side it would force its way the inhabitants on either side trembling with fear, For a time, or rather for a tide or two, the banks into the low-lying country through which it flowed. bore the immense pressure bravely; but at length two breaches were made, and soon the rush became tremendous; and the tidal water poured through the larger breach at the rate of seven or eight miles per hour, having a breadth of about eighty yards, and a depth of from seven to nine feet. This immense body of water soon spread itself far and wide over the low lands, covering some ten thousand acres of exceedingly fertile soil. The first submerged district comprised Marshland Fen, Magdalen Fen, Bardolf Fen, Marshland Smea, Broad Fen, Short Fen, and the low portions of more distant lands." It is, howhas been effectually stopped. ever, satisfactory to be able to add that the breach

soil is likely to be very injurious. In the cases of The effect of the salt or brackish water upon the the Dagenham and St. Germans breaches, the waters are alike brackish. It is so in the Thames occasionally up to Blackwall; and in the Ouse it is so six miles above Lynn at neap tides, and fourteen miles above that town at spring tides. Now the unfortunate breach is only four miles above Lynn. The crops now on the ground will assuredly be either materially injured or destroyed. The effects of a the inundations of the sea in Friesland, in 1825, it sea-water flooding on some plants are curious. After pear, peach, and other trees with deep roots was remarked that the oak, the mulberry, did not suffer; neither did the asparagus, onions, and celery, for they were never finer or more luxuriant; but the vines and gooseberries contracted poplars, beech, and willows could not bear the overa salt taste, and the apricots, apples, cherries, elms, dose of sea-water. They pushed out in the following spring a few leaves, but speedily perished.

may, from such a brief review, well feel assured that The cultivators, then, of our poorer upland soils of the earth is full of cares and anxieties. Even in their situation is not the only one where the tillage the richest of our soils, so often the envy of the hill farmers, the waters too often render nugatory all let not the attempt to recover land from the sea be the farmer's skill and labours. On the other hand, stayed by these occasional inroads of the water. Such floods ought rather to tend to produce more banks-more watchfulness in keeping sluices in recare in the construction and maintenance of the outer pair, in removing obstructions to the flow of our great arterial drains. It is only by such unceasing labour and watchfulness that the land of our birth is not only preserved, but its boundaries are actually enlarged. And be it ever remembered, that the soil thus recovered from the waters is, from its fertility, very commonly more than double the value of the more elevated of our cultivated districts,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

A LAST DAY AT BABRAHAM.

SALE OF THE REMAINDER OF MR. JONAS WEBB'S SOUTHDOWN FLOCK.

In accordance with the announcement made at the famous sale of last year, "The Babraham yearlings" were brought to the hammer on Wednesday last. The day fixed was admirably timed to catch any of our foreign visitors who might be over for the International Meeting at Battersea; but the weather, as cold and unsettled as it long has been, was against a great gathering, and we have seen more company at an annual letting than appeared at this final dispersion of the flock. There was indeed a marked absence of notabilities, and the distinguished personages were chiefly supplied from France, Spain, and other parts of the continent. Our English gentlemen were rather represented by their agents and stewards, as is often the case on these occasions, and, with the exception of Lord Braybrooke, a near neighbour of Mr. Webb's, there was not a peer in person to be recognized. Mr. Thompson, however, answered for the Duke of Beaufort, Mr. Coleman for the Duke of Bedford, Mr. Clark for the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Moore for Lord Radnor, Mr. Woods for Lord Walsingham, Mr. Fulcher for Lord Sondes, another Mr. Woods for Mr. Foljambe, while Mr. Marris was acting for the Duke of Marlborough, and Mr. Church accompanied Sir Thomas Lennard in his round of inspection. The yet more famous "Southdown men" were headed by Mr. Webb's "successor," Mr. Rigden from Hove; and with him, also from the native downs of Sussex, were Mr. Waters of Eastbourne, Mr. R. Caine, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Gorringe, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Hart, and the Messrs. Turner of Seaford. Suffolk sent Mr. T. Crisp, two or three of the Sextons, and two or three more of the Biddells, Mr. Hedge, Mr. Walton, and Captain Barlow, just to see what "a Babraham day" was like, before it was all over; while Mr. Leeds was from Norfolk, Mr. Fisher Hobbs from Essex, Mr. Purvis from Huntingdon, Mr. Druce and Mr. Bryan from Oxfordshire, Mr. Gamble, Mr. Dobito, and Mr. W. Bennett from Cambridgeshire, Mr. Stenning from Surrey, Mr. Samuel Jonas, Mr. John Clayden, and Mr. Cambridge from "close by," with Mr. Aitchison, N.B., Mr. Collins, Mr. Odams, and the stewards of Lord Winchelsea, Lord Dacre, Lord Chesham, Lord Bristol, and others from different "lord of the "parts." Young Mr. Adeane, as soil," was prominent at the cross table at luncheon time, and in a line with him Sir Edward Baker and who numbered, some foreign gentlemen, amongst others, Dr. Websky from Prussia; Mons. L. de Fonteray of Bellerme, in the Department of the Orne, France; Herr Zoeppritz from Wurtemberg, Herr Helm from Saxony, Baron Nathusius from Prussia, M. Gustave Henzé, Professor in the Imperial School of Agriculture at Grignon, France; M. Porlier from France, M. Hamot from France, Herr Zimmermann from Prussia, M. Mallet from Paris, Mr. J. C. Taylor from the State of New York, North America; Professor Hjalmar Nathorst from Sweden, the Comte de Charnac from France, Mr. Cornell from the State of New York, the Marquis de Perales from Spain, Don Constantius Ardanas, Director of Agriculture in Spain, and who purchased on account of his Government; M. Bathras, who also took stock on commission, with a view to their shipment to Spain; Herr Fischer from Konig l'Amts, in one of the multitudinous German States; M. Moneau from France, Herr Gebbardt,

and M. de la Trehonnais, appropriately enough the Assistant-Steward of Foreign Stock at the ensuing Battersea Show-a kind of "middle man" by this time, with all his English experiences, between the two countries.

The sale was set for eleven o'clock, by when both "the Special" down and other cross-country trains appeared to have made all their deliveries. It was a full hour, however, before business commenced, while this proceeded for some time in the most tedious manner. With questionable policy some very inferior rams were placed amongst the first lots, and Mr. Strafford, instead of dismissing these as quickly as he possibly could, hung over them so long, that, as somebody said, it seemed as if "the sale would never begin and never be over." With, too, a storm threatening all the morning, it was really dangerous to trifle in this way with the weather; but Mr. Webb's proverbial good fortune again served him, and black as it looked, there was nothing more than an occasional "scud " Still the sale did not start well, and it was not until No. 20 was brought into the ring that anything like the old spirit and cross-fire began to warm up. And there was certainly some reason for it, as in our own opinion this same No. 20 was about the neatest sheep in the sale.

Compact, square, and active, with a nicely coloured good-shaped head, he had all the true type of the Southdown, although wanting some of the As our detailed return will size of his fellows. was another good-looking show, the foreign market secured him for 91 guineas. 28, again, but rather coarse sheep, with great breadth of frame; whilst 39, Mr. Rigden's pick, was remarkable for a splendid back and body, but finishing meanly behind, and beginning with a very light-coloured counThe very next sheep to him was as much tenance. liked by many, and in fact almost everybody had his peculiar fancy, as was by no means to be wondered at, with so many good ones amongst them, and so many Matters here went much of so much the same style and character succeeding each other in the ring. brisker when Mr. Carter Jonas got hold of the hammer, and set them "going" again in earnest, with his pleasant, decisive style. The ewes, indeed, at thirteen, fourteen, and twenty guineas each, were knocked down in a gradually increasing buzz of admiration, for nothing could look handsomer than the little, wellmatched lots of five. If anything they showed more After a few breeding than the rams, which were pronounced rather bigger and higher on the leg than usual. opening remarks from Mr. Strafford, who, to use his own phrase, talks to the most purpose "in guineas," the sale commenced at 12 o'clock-Mr. Webb manfully sitting out the proceedings, although still evidently suffering much from his old enemy, the gout.

Lot 1, by a descendant of Young Salisbury, dam by York, did not provoke a very active competition, the biddings advancing by units from 5 to 15 guineas, at which price Mr. Aitcheson of North Britain was the purchaser. The second lot, by a descendant of Young Salisbury, dam by Big Son of Queen's Own, was taken, with scarcely any competition, at 5 guineas, by Mr. S. Webb. Lot 3, by the same sire, dam by the first-prize yearling at Salisbury, was put up at 5 gs., and acquired without much difficulty by Herr Zimmermann at 10gs. Lot 4, by the same sire, was called in at 7 gs., and taken at 12 gs, by Mr. Turner, the

6

It

representative of the Marquis of Bristol. Lot 5, half-
brother to Archbishop, dam of Old Uncertain's blood, was
put up at 5 gs., and advanced from that sum to 6 gs.; he
then went up suddenly to 10 gs, but from that point he
went, but not very rapidly, to 13 gs., at which price he was
taken by Mr. Gower. Lot 6, by the same sire, dam by
York, commenced at 10 gs. and finished at 17 gs., Dr.
Websky being the purchaser at that figure. Lot 7, by Park-
ranger, dam by a son of H. Webb's Pet, was put up at
10 gs., and soon advanced to 15 gs.; he then went at one
stride to 20 gs., and finally culminated at 26 gs., the Mar-
quis de Perales being announced as the purchaser.
should be stated, that the Marquis, who was accom-
panied by his son and several other Spanish agents,
got the credit of purchasing all the lots which went
into Spanish hands during the day. As he was publicly
announced as the purchaser, we have no alternative
but to append his name to them; but it must be un-
derstood that they were not all actually taken by him,
on behalf of the
some transactions being concluded
Spanish Government, and others on private commission
account. Lot 8, by Parkranger, dam by second-prize
yearling at Gloucester, passed, without much competition,
into the hands of Mr. Davidson, of Weston, at 14gs., having
been put up at 10gs.; and Lot 9, by the same sire, dam by
2nd Young York, was taken by Mr. S. Webb at 9gs., having
commenced at 5gs. Lot 10 was, for some reason or other,
passed over. Lot 11 was secured by Mr. Parfitt, after only
two bids, at 6 gs.; he was by the third-prize yearling at
Canterbury, dam by Paris. Lot 12, by the same sire, dam
by the first-prize yearling at Salisbury, commenced at 5 gs.
and went up steadily to 12 gs., at which sum he was
knocked down to Mr. M. Biddell. For Lot 13, by Arch-
bishop (who was sold for 250 gs., a few years since, to Mr.
Thorne, of the State of New York), there was rather more
competition; the ram was put up at 10 gs., and went up to
20 gs., for which he was acquired by Mr. Cornell, from the
same State. Lot 14, by the same sire, dam by the first-
prize yearling at Salisbury, experienced about the same re-
ception, running up from 10 gs. to 20 gs., for which sum he
passed into the hands of Herr Zimmermann, of Prussia.
Lot 15, who was descended from 2nd Young York, dam by
Young Uncertain, proved an object of some interest; put
up at 10 gs., he had soon attained 15 gs., from which he
went at once to 20 guineas, afterwards advancing more
slowly to 26 guineas, the purchaser being Herr Fischer.
Lot 16, by the same sire, dam of Little Sheep's blood,
went, without any competition, for 10 gs. to Mr. Fulcher,
agent for Lord Sondes. Lot 17, by a son of Salisbury, dam
and went
gs.
of Garden Wall Sheep's blood, began at 6
slowly on to 15 gs., being purchased at that price by the
Hon. A. Duncombe. Lot 18, by the same sire, dam by
specially commended yearling at Salisbury, provoked an
animated competition; he began at 10 gs., went quickly on
to 13 gs., rose at a bound to 20 gs., then to 25gs., and then
by single guineas to 44 gs., at which sum Mr. Ashby, of
Sussex, became the purchaser. Lot 19, by Bunker's Hill,
dam by Salisbury, went quietly up from 5 gs. to 14 gs.,
being taken on those terms by Mr. Lawrence. For Lot 20
there was a sharp competition-in fact, it was one of the
best features of the day. The ram was by Bunker's Hill,
dam by the 2nd prize yearling at Salisbury, and it was put
up at 5 gs.; it went at one bound to 15 gs., at another to
25gs., and at a third to 30gs.; it then went on more slowly
to 36gs., then at one stride to 40gs.; next, guinea biddings
came again into favour up to 47gs., after which the next
offer was 50gs.; the biddings then rose slowly, but steadily,
to 60, 70,180, and 90gs., until at last 91gs. were attained,
when it became evident that the force of competition could
no further go, and Herr Zoeppritz was declared the pur-
chaser. Lot 21, by a descendant of Young Elegance, dam
by Reserve, was called in at 10gs., and went on by slow
stages to 50gs., then to 60gs., then more quick to 70gs.
and finally stopped at 72gs, on which terms the hammer
fell in favour of Mr. Mildred, of Cirencester: Lot 22, by
the same sire, dam by second-prize aged sheep at Canter-
bury, began at 5 gs. and went on by guinea biddings to
22gs., at which price the Comte de Charnac remained alone
in his glory, Lot 23, by Parkranger, dam by Gloucester,
did not excite much notice, the biddings beginning at 4gs.
and rising to 11gs., offered by Mr. Wells, of Warwickshire.

Lot. 24, by Parkranger, dam by the second-prize yearling
at Gloucester, commenced at 5gs., and rose, with no great
amount of animation, to 15gs., at which price the Spanish
interest rather vaguely summed up, as the Marquis de
Perales remained in possession of the field. Lot 25, by
the same sire, dam by Young Uncertain, began at 25gs.,
went up to 30gs. at one stride, then to 36gs. more slowl
after which he bounded to 40gs., and then by single guine as
attained 50gs., at which he was knocked down to Mr. Cole-
man, who was purchasing for the Duke of Bedford. Lot
26, by Archbishop, dam by Paris, began at 10gs., then rose
slowly to 14gs., then at once to 20gs, then to 21gs., then
to 25gs., and then to 30gs.; the competition then became
more sober and steady, but it did not terminate till a
total of 40 guineas had been attained, when Mr. S.
Webb was declared the purchaser. The next lot, which
was also by Archbishop, dam by the Tall Son of the French-
man, was put up at 10gs., rose in two biddings to 2025.,
and ultimately finished at 30gs., Mr. Marris being an-
nounced as the buyer for, as we believe, Lord Yarborough.
Lot 28, by Archbishop, dam by Young Plenipotentiary, was
a notable animal, being called in at as high a sum as 40gs.,
from which he soon worked up to 45 gs., rising then at
once to 50gs., then more slowly to 56gs., then at once to
60gs., and then at two great strides to 70gs. and 75gs;
from this point the biddings proceeded with scarcely, if any,
diminished animation to 80gs., then in two bids to 85gs,
and finally they stopped at 86gs., when Professor Nathorst,
from Sweden, was declared the proprietor of the lot. Lot
29, by a descendant of Young Salisbury, dam unknown, put
up to 5gs., went off quietly at 10gs. to Sir E. Baker. Lot 30,
by the same sire, dam by Gaiety, went from 5gs. to 7gs.,
and was acquired at the latter easy price by Mr. Parfitt.
Lot 31, by the same sire, dam unknown, was knocked
down at 5gs. to Mr. Fordham, of Melbourne, Cambs. ;
and Lot 32, by a descendant of the Frenchman, dam un-
known, passed, at the same price, into the hands of Mr.
M. Biddell. Lot 33, by the same sire, dam by the sire of
Archbishop, began at 10gs. and rose by single biddings to
27gs., at which price he was taken by Mr. Hart, of Lewes.
Lot 34, by 2nd Young Plenipotentiary, dam by Young Un-
certain, was put up at 5gs., and rose in a similar manner to
14gs., when it was intimated that Mr. Towgood, of St.
Neot's, was the purchaser. Lot 35, by the same sire, dam
by the first-prize yearling at Salisbury, began at a guinea
less, but, after a good deal of patient bidding, rose to 2gs.
more, being knocked down at 16gs. to Mr. Wallis, of Bed-
fordshire. Lot 36, by a half-brother to Archbishop, dam
by Gloucester, fell, with little competition, to Mr. J. Webb,
at 10gs.; and Lot 37, by the same sire, dam by Young
Uncertain, was taken by Herr Gebhardt on the same terms.
Lot 38, by a descendant of Young Salisbury, dam by 2nd
Young York, made a guinea more, after having been put
up at 5gs., being taken at 11gs. by Mr. Towgood. For Lot
39, by a descendant of Salisbury, dam by Young Plenipo-
tentiary, there was a much more animated competition;
the ram, whose sire made 70gs. last year, was called in at
20gs., advanced at once to 25gs, and soon afterwards rose
to 30gs., from which point the biddings advanced slowly,
but steadily, to 54gs., Mr. Rigden being the purchaser at
that sum. Lot 40, by the same sire, dam by Young Un-
certain, began at 20gs., then went up to 30gs. at once, then
to 35gs., and more slowly to 40gs., where the biddings
stopped, the hammer falling in favour of the Earl of Win-
chelsea. Lot 41, by the third-prize yearling at Canterbury,
dam by son of Fancy Boy, was called in at 10gs., and rose
by single guineas to 18gs., Mr. R. B. Colvin being the
buyer. The next lot, by the same sire, dam of Little
Sheep's blood, was put up at 4gs., and went at 11gs, to the
Lot 43, by Parkranger, dam by
Marquis de Perales.
Gloucester, rose from 4 guineas to 14 guineas, the sum given
for him by Mr. J. B. Ward; and lot 44, put up at 10 guineas,
was acquired after some quiet bidding by Mr. Dunn Gardiner,
of Fordham, for 18 guineas. Lot 45 by the same sire, dam by
Young York, called in at 10 guineas, rose in two bids to 15
guineas, and then in single guineas to 26 guineas, at which he
was bought for the Duke of Beaufort. Lot 46 by Archbishop,
dam of Little Sheep's blood, elicited some sharp bidding;
called in at 15 guineas, he rose to 20 guineas, 25 guineas, and
30 guineas in three bids, and then went on more slowly to 50
guineas; it soon appeared, however, that he was destined to

go higher, and he gradually worked on by single guineas to 67
guineas, Herr Fischer, the purchaser, showing to his English
opponents that he was determined to have the lot. Lot 47 by
the same sire, dam of Little Sheep's blood, commenced well,
being called in at 20 guiness, but he did not work up higher
than 34 guineas, Mr. Turner, the representative of the Marquis
of Bristol, being declared the purchaser. The next lot by a
descendant of Young Salisbury, dam unknown, worked up
from 4 guineas to 11 guineas, when the Marquis de Perales
remained the highest bidder; lot 49 by the same sire, dam of
Drewitt ewe's blood, passed into the hands of Mr. Gower at
9 guineas; lot 50 by the 3rd prize yearling at Canterbury,
dam by Young Uncertain, did a little better, being taken by
Mr. Ashby at 13 guineas, after beginning at 5 guineas. Lot
51 by the same sire, dam by Paris, brought a larger price, the
biddings rising in alow succession from 6 guineas to 18 guineas,
at which price Mr. M. Biddell was the purchaser. The dark
and threatening clouds which had long given a rather gloomy
air to the scene, began at this point to discharge some heavy
raia drops, and every one mentally observed that he was "in
for it;" in a few minutes, however, the alarm was dissipated,
and the multitude of umbrellas under which the crowd had
taken refuge, gradually disappeared. Lot 52 was put up in
the midst of the shower, and was soon walked out at 6 guineas
only; the ram which was purchased by Mr. M. Slater, was by
the 3rd prize yearling at Warwick (whose sire was the Tall
Son of the Frenchman), dam by 2nd Young York, Lot 53,
which was descended from the 2nd prize yearling at Salisbury,
was taken at 9 guineas by Mr. Davidson; lot 54 by Young
Penipotentiary, dam of Perfection blood, began at 5 guineas,
and went on rather languidly to 14 guineas, when Mr. Cooper
became the purchaser; lot 55 by Parkranger, dam by a son of
Henry Webb's Pet, was taken at 10 guineas by Mr. W. Ben-
nett; lot 56 by the same sire, dam of Dictator blood, at 8
guineas, by Mr. Cornell, from the State of New York; and
lot 57 by the same sire, dam by the Frenchman, at 9 guineas,
by Sir E. Baker. Lot 58 by the 3rd prize yearling at Can-
terbury, dam by Northampton, whose sire made 70 guineas
last year, was called in at 5 guineas, and rose after a long auc-
cession of biddings to 20 guineas, at which price Lord Ches-
ham was the purchaser. Lot 59 by the same sire, dam of
Little Sheep's blood, was obtained without much difficulty by
Mr. Goodenough at 13 guineas. Not so with lot 60 by 2nd
Young Plenipotentiary, dam by Son of Gloucester, who began
at 10 guineas, went at one bid to 15 guineas, soon attained 20
guineas, and then worked up by single bids to 35 guineas, at
which price Mr. Walton was the purchaser. Lot 61 descended
from Young Elegance, dam by a son of Paris, was called in at
5 guineas, rose in two bids to 15 guineas, and then went only
easy stages to 35 guineas, on which terms he was transferred
to M. Moneau, whose name bespeaks his country. Lot 62 by
the same sire, dam by sire of Archbishop, was a crack sheep,
and soon worked up to a high price. Called in at 5 guineas,
the next bid was 20 guineas, the next 30 guineas, and the
next 35 guineas. Two more bids brought matters up to 40
guineas; from this point there was a transition by easy stages
to 66 guiness, and then the pace was accelerated in bids of
generally two guineas each time, till 94 guineas was reached,
when the ram became the property of Mr. Foljambe of Osber-
ton, Notts. This was the last of the rams disposed of before
the luncheon, of which Mr. Carter Jonas, who had succeeded
Mr. Strafford in the rostrum, had been for some little time
throwing out suggestive hints.

Twenty lots of yearling ewes, comprising five each, were, however, called into the sale ring before an adjournment was made to the luncheon table, for which the breezy air of the Cambridgeshire plains had thoroughly prepared the company. The biddings were made per head, and half-guinea bids were received. The competition for these 20 lots lay chiefly among the foreign buyers, who displayed considerable eagerness to secure them, and only one pen passed into English hands. Lot 1 began at 7 guineas per head, and soon worked up in half-guines bids to 15 guineas, at which Herr Fischer was the purchaser. The same gentleman acquired lot 2 at half-aguinea per head less, although the five were called in at 10 guiness each. The next lot were secured by the Swedish Professor (Nathorst), who had to give 13 guineas per head for them, the biddings having commenced at 8 guineas per head. These first three lots were all by Archbishop. The next two lots, by Parkranger, were taken-the first by the Comte de

Charnac at 11 guineas per head, the lot having been called in
at 10 guineas each; and the second by the Marquis
de Perales, after some animated bidding, ranging from
7 guineas to 12 guineas per head. Lot 6 by the
one short, one
3rd prize yearling at Canterbury was
ewe having died, but as the biddings were made at per
head, this was of no importance; the biddings commenced
at 7 gs. each, and went rapidly up to 15 gs. each, at which
Herr Fischer was the purchaser. Lot 7, which had the
same pedigree, commenced at the same price, but did not
go beyond 10 gs. each, at which the five were adjudged to
the Marquis de Perales. The Marquis also purchased the
next lot, which began at 7 gs. each, and went steadily on to
14 gs. each. The five comprised in lot 9, descended from
Salisbury, were sharply competed for; the biddings com-
menced at 10 gs. per head, and were soon up to 15 gs.; it
was thought here that the maximum had been reached, but
the event proved otherwise, for the biddings worked on with
almost undiminished activity to 20 gs., and finally to 20 gs.
each, at which heavy price Herr Fischer was at last allowed
to take them off. The next five, also descended from Salis-
bury, were knocked down more quietly at 10 gs. (having
begun at 8 gs.) each to Mr. Cornell, from America. Lot 11,
by the sire of Archbishop, began at the same price, and went
at 11 gs. each to Herr Fischer. Lot 12, which had the
same pedigree, were obtained on more easy terms (8 gs.
each) by Baron Nathusias. Lot 13, descended from 2nd
Young York, did not go off so quietly, the Marquis de Perales
securing them, after some tolerably active bidding, at 11
gs. For the next lot, which had the same pedigree, there
was a still more active competition; they commenced at
10 gs. each, and soon went up to 16 gs. each, on which
terms they were purchased by Herr Fischer. The next five,
composing lot 15, by 4th Young Liverpool, were the only
pen which were not purchased for exportation; they began
at 8 gs. each, and were knocked down at 14 gs, each to
Lord Braybrooke. Lot 16, by the same sire, went for 8
gs. each to Baron Nathusias. The next pen, by Bunker's
Hill, went up from 7 gs, to 11 gs. each, at which they were
taken by the Marquis de Perales. Lot 18, which had the
same pedigree, began at a higher figure, and realized 14
gs. each, Herr Fischer being the purchaser. The next lots,
which were by 2nd Young Plenipotentiary, were acquired
by the Marquis de Perales, the first without much difficulty
at 8 gs. each, and the second, after some sharp bidding, at
14 gs. each.

Luncheon, which had been frequently mentioned as a
stimulus to quicken bidding, now took place in the usual
large marquée. Tickets were issued at 5s. each, but a large
number were placed on the free-list. The refreshment
"The
provided was of a solid and substantial character. No set
speaking was attempted; but Mr. Strafford gave
Queen,' "The landlord of the soil" (Mr. Adeane, M.P.),
and "The health of Mr. Webb," for whom Mr. Strafford
observed that he had also to return thanks.

The rams were first attacked, 87 remaining to be cleared off. Lot 63 (the numbers were resumed at the point at which the ram lots left off before luncheon), was de

scended on the sire's side from young Elegance, and on the

dam's side from The Frenchman. It was soon evident that
there was some sharp work cut out with regard to him.
He began at 10 gs., went at once to 20 gs., then to 25 gs.,
He had soon
then 30 gs., and then at one bound to 50 gs.
worked on, although more slowly, to 60 gs., and then to 70
and 76 gs.; he next went at once to 80 gs., and then by 2
gs. at a time to 94 gs.: then he sprung up at once to 100
gs. The biddings were now 5 gs. each, and 140 gs. were
reached without much difficulty, when the hammer fell
amid a good deal of excitement in favour of Sir Thomas
Barrett Lennard, of Bellhus, Essex, who had thus the
honour, agreeable in every aspect except from a cheque.
book point of view, of carrying off the highest price lot.
Lot 64, by Bunker's Hill, dam by Young Uncertain, also
reached a good price; he began at 10 gs. and soon worked
up by 5 gs. at a time to 30 gs., from which he went more
quietly to 40 gs., at which Mr. S. Jonas was the buyer. Lot
65, by the same sire, dam by 3rd Young Liverpool, went
with less animation to Mr. Dunn Gardiner, at 12
so, however, with lot 66, who was by a son of The French-
he
gs.,
man, dam descended from The Duke. Put up at 10
soon went to 30 gs., then in three bids to 35 gs., then at

gs.

Not