venerable. The right of returning two members to Parliament is found
periodically profitable to the inhabitants, and these two MP's with a little
lace, constitute its only manufactures. The loss of the coaching trade by
the substitution of the railroad, was a great blow to its local prosperity.

Among other changes, the Aylesbury butchers often go to London to buy meat,
which has passed in the shape of oxen through the town to ride to London.

The Berry field, said to be the best field in England, lies in the Vale of
Aylesbury. The saying of "good land bad farmers," is not belied among the
mass of those who meet in the markets of Aylesbury. With a few exceptions
the farming is as bad as it can be, the farmers miserably poor, and the
labourers ignorant to a degree which is a disgrace to the resident clergy and
gentry. We had some experience of the peasantry during the railway surveys
of 1846, 1847, and found them quite innocent of thinking and reading, with a
timid hatred of their employers, and perfect readiness to do anything not
likely to be found out, for a pot of beer. They get low wages, live low, and
work accordingly. It was round Aylesbury, that for many years, the influence
of the insolvent Duke of Buckingham was paramount.

To city sportsmen, Aylesbury has interest as the centre of Baron Rothschild's
(stag) hunt; to politicians, because of great meetings of the country party
held there.

We must not omit to notice the duck trade carried on by the poorer order of
people round the town. They hatch the ducks under hens generally in their
living rooms, often under their beds, and fatten them up early in spring on
garbage, of which horse flesh not unfrequently forms a large part. The ducks
taste none the worse if for the last fortnight they are permitted to have
plenty of clean water and oats, or barleymeal. Most of the Aylesbury ducks