The lots at the great sale of 1848 included a testimonial vase presented to Chandos for his opposition to free trade and support of farmers. It was purchased by Buckinghamshire subscribers to be returned to the family at a cost of about £48,000 in today's money.

The Nineteenth Day’s Sale

Thursday 7 September

The personal exertions made by the Duke of Buckingham, when Marquis of Chandos, to stay the current of Free Trade principles, and uphold “Native Industry” as applied to British Agriculture, are matters of history: it is also well known that the exertions of the noble Duke won for him the adulation of a large portion of the agricultural body, and especially of the farmers of Buckinghamshire. The latter, some few years ago marked their sense of his services by the presentation of a very valuable Testimonial of a piece of plate, weighing upwards of 2000 ounces. This has since formed an object of great interest at Stowe; and when the melancholy fate of that place became irrevocably fixed, a strong desire was exhibited, on the part of many influential persons, who had been instrumental in the presentation, to save this piece of plate from the from the common wreck, by re-purchasing it for the family. With that view, a private subscription was got up in the country, and in the course of a very few days, a sum of money exceeding the amount necessary for the purchase was obtained,—none but the parties resident in, or locally connected with Buckinghamshire, having been solicited to subscribe. The Testimonial being the catalogue for this day, a very large number of agriculturalists, and others, who had contributed to the fund for repurchasing it, were present; and before the proceedings commenced, the Library was crowded with company.

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On arriving at this point of the sale, Mr Manson said—“Gentlemen, I am sure it will be quite unnecessary for me to apologise for not bring forward the next lot. When I tell you that we have this morning received instructions to withdraw it, I am sure that only one feeling will pervade the room.

This announcement was greeted with cheers from every part of the library. The weight of the testimonial is 2206 ounces. It was valued by Messrs Christie and Manson at £772 3s 9d, and purchased at that sum by Mr Henry Smith, solicitor, of Buckingham, on behalf of the subscribers.

[Lot] 631. The magnificent testimonial centre-piece: round the vase are six country figures, cattle and horses; three figures above; branches for thirteen lights, and a wheatsheaf: 2206 oz. 5 dwt.