completed by a well regulated system of registration. The regulation lately established to authorize the examination of a horse's mouth has many very powerful objections, and whenever it is acted upon, it is most desirable that it should be done before the race; and even should it happen that a positive conclusion could not be formed, the stewards will still have the power, if they thought fit, to allow the animal to run under protest, and thus persons who had made bets would be able to secure themselves from many losses. The present rules of racing permit the entering of horses in fictitious names; in fact, they encourage such a proceeding, as there is a clause which gives the power of obtaining unpaid stakes in such cases. It appears to be a subject of regret that it is not on all occasions imperative that every horse should run in the name of the owner: it would evidently be a means of preventing numerous frauds. For example, supposing a person becomes a defaulter, he discontinues to subscribe his own name to stakes, sells all those horses for which forfeits are due, and then with a fresh stud, or horses not shackled by liabilities, with a fictitious name, he can go on as fresh as To get at the truth of such deceptions, the only course would be to include the nominator, trainer, jockey, or any other person connected with the establishment, and render them subject to the penalties of exclusion on future occasions, unless they would identify the real Simon Pure.

ever.

In justice to all parties, new rules and regulations never ought to be permitted to take a retrospective view, for in that case no man can be secure; partly to this purpose there is an edict which states-" that no rule or alteration shall take effect till it has been published in the Racing Calendar." In defiance of this, however, some decisions have been made on rules which were established subsequently to the event of disputed cases-a position quite at variance with English laws, and repugnant to the feelings of British subjects. It matters not what the profession, calling, or employment of a delinquent may be; Englishmen cannot bear the idea of their fellow countrymen being unfairly condemned a view which they unquestionably take whenever a man is punished for any act, however guilty he might be, if his offence were to be committed previously to the enactment of a law which would proscribe his guilt. Such a position might be realized by the acts of private bodies when they sit as arbitrators, but never if a man be tried by the laws of his country.

There is a clause in the rules of racing which requires that all claims for allowances of weight in produce stakes shall be specified at the time of naming. Many instances occur in which allowances of weight are awarded for beaten horses, maiden horses, and others; and it would be highly desirable that a time should be defined when such allowances should be claimed, and in default of so doing, that the privilege should be forfeited. It would save much trouble, and afford time to investigate the truth of the grounds upon which the allowances are claimed; whereas under the present arrangement nothing of the kind takes place till the period arrives for going to scale, when there is little or no time to search the calendars or procure information.

The spirit and intentions of selling-stakes are very frequently defeated by an arrangement being made between persons having horses so engaged, valued by their owners at treble the amount of the price prescribed

for selling. By an agreement between themselves to claim for each other, they still secure their own property, to the great injustice of those who possess horses of inferior pretensions and value, for whose interest these reservations are made. Instead of vesting the power to claim in the owner of the second horse, if the stewards were to reserve it to themselves, appropriating any profit that might arise from reselling the horse at a higher figure for the benefit of the race fund, no such collusion could take place.

In the conditions of selling-stakes it should also be specified that the winner is to be sold with his engagements, to entitle the claimant to run him for future stakes in which he may be already entered; otherwise he is placed in this dilemma-the original owner may scratch the horse and not pay the forfeits, in which case the claimant must make them good, otherwise he cannot run him for other races. It is true he possesses the remedy of placing the seller on the list of defaulters, which, to say the least of it, is an unpleasant alternative, and may in some instances lead to considerable loss.

The glorious uncertainty of racing is vastly enhanced by the system of handicapping, and if there be some objections against it, there are certainly many arguments in its favour; it adds greatly to the excitement and enthusiasm of racing, without which the public would be deprived of their principal share of pleasure. The betting world are likewise kept on the qui vive by handicaps; to those who make books they are generally productive of much profit. The idea of selecting a winner of a great race of this kind amounts almost to presumption: take the past Chester cup for example; few, if any, thought of backing Corranna, that is on the day, even at the long and tempting odds that were offered against him. His owner would have gladly laid great odds against him from an opinion gathered by his running at Newmarket, when in a match over the T.Y.C. he was beaten by the Bishop of Romford's Cob; however, the distance might not be sufficient for him, and thus those were deceived, in all probability, who might be supposed to possess the best opportunities of estimating his qualities.

There is no doubt the taste for racing is on the increase; look, for instance, at the immense numbers of persons who attend those to which railways afford a means of conveyance, and it is only at the most remote and insignificant meetings that such a quick and economical mode of travelling is not available. Considering the great profits which arise, it is somewhat remarkable that the companies are not more considerate in the promotion of sport, and desirous to render themselves popular, by giving cups, plates, or prizes of some kind to be run for. The spirit of racing competition has not as yet entered their breasts: could it not be excited by races 66 on the line," between the engines of rival companies? It is evident they could only run matches, but then they might run them off in "ties" as they do greyhounds. A taste for racing once infused in the minds of the directors might lead to some good end; and if so, it matters not what might be the preliminary inducement.

Although there is a vast number of horses in training, there are not many that actually pay their way by the stakes which they win; this may be explained by the legality of running for those of small value. When it was unlawful to run for a prize under fifty pounds, the winner of that sum might calculate upon pocketing something towards the ex

pences of training; but now that there are so many little stakes not worth more than twenty or five-and-twenty pounds, what profit can be expected to be realized by winning one of them? absolutely none; travelling expenses, stake, jockey, and the little et ceteras, cannot be estimated at less than sixteen or eighteen pounds; the consequence of which is that persons of moderate incomes cannot afford to join in the amusement which their forefathers took so much delight in. It is to be regretted, but I do not know where the remedy is to be found, unless by returning to the old custom of rendering it illegal to run for such trifling sums. As this has been brought about by an act of the legislature, it is not very probable that the circumstance will ever again be taken into consideration, more especially as the laws are now altogether repealed which in any way affected racing or gaming transactions. Why racing, a sport of the utmost importance to the country at large, and, indeed, it may almost be looked upon as a business, should not be considered of sufficient consequence to require the protective guardianship of the law, seems somewhat unintelligible. It therefore behoves the Jockey Club, as patrons of racing, to watch every event with the utmost scrutiny. The prosperity of all provincial meetings is mainly dependant upon the exertions of the respective committees; and a stronger proof of this cannot be exemplified than at Bath, where, a few years since, the races had fallen to insignificance: they have not only been recovered, but they now hold a position much above that which they ever attained before. This desideratum has been accomplished by the committee and the indefatigable exertions of the secretary, Mr. Reynolds, whose attentions cannot be too highly eulogized.

ous,

The great interest which the public evince for racing cannot be more clearly established than the fact of the numerous sweeps or lotteries entered into upon every stake of importance; whether they are speculations which ought to be encouraged is a question that demands much mature consideration. In their behalf it may be urged, they most unquestionably promote interest and attention to one of the very first of our national sports, one that is worthy of every benefit that can be directed to its support, providing it be not done to the injury of the community at large; kept within the bounds of moderate speculation, they may not be injuribut if once suffered to exceed those limits, there is no doubt they will produce an evil tendency, and their downfal will be the result. Not only are they got up in London, Liverpool, Manchester, and other large towns, but there is scarcely an inn in a country village that does not boast of a Derby and Leger sweep; they are generally small in amount, and therefore harmless, unless they be the means of diverting the time and attention of the lower orders to the habits of the public house, and thus induce those classes to neglect their daily avocations and their families. But still they are entitled to their rational enjoyments, and I question whether such pursuits are not quite as compatible as any others that may be suggested, infinitely preferable to bull baiting and cock fighting, amusements which in former days were productive of the worst consequences. Some degree of caution should be observed in whose hands the subscriptions are deposited; for since the passing of the Games and Wagers bill, it is very doubtful if a dishonest stakeholder could be legally compelled to give up the amount to the winners.

Without presuming to express a positive opinion for or against lotteries

or sweeps as they are now termed, it may be well to remark that the low species of gambling which prevailed at race meetings during a long series of years has been totally exterminated. Those speculations, although the attendants of the race course, were in no way connected with the events of the races; thus any inordinate desire for gambling may be checked in the same manner; although it is evident there is a disposition for gaming, for challenging the smiles or the frowns of Fortune, inherent in the breast of man, and he who possesses a love for it will avail himself of some means by which he can indulge his propensity. Even if horse racing were to be totally abolished, betting upon some other event or events would unquestionably be substituted. There is at the present period, and has been for ages, speculations of a similar nature on the amount of the duties paid on hops, which becomes a species of insurance to those who are growers or holders of the fragrant tonic; and thus the profit or loss of each cultivator or merchant may be regulated, providing he finds it necessary so to secure himself, acting upon his own observation and the information which he can acquire. This is precisely the same thing as an owner of horses backing his stable, or hedging to his stakes, enabling him to meet the enormous expences of breeding and training, without which moderate incomes would be insufficient. On this account betting appears to be of importance to the welfare of the racing community. No justifiable arguments can be pronounced against a racing man availing himself of such means, any more than that a hopmerchant should be at liberty to secure himself upon a similar footing. Guarded by such rules as may have a tendency to restrict betting on horse races to a reasonable amount, it is no doubt the best means which a man can resort to for the enjoyment of his speculative propensities. A cautious betting man, without descending to any measures which are dishonourable or unfair, may generally so lay his bets as to produce a profit, that is upon those events on which large sums are dependant; and he is equally justified in availing himself of information fairly attained on the relative merits of a horse, as a hop merchant is in varying his bets upon the duty in consequence of information which he receives concerning the ravages of the fly, one of the most busy operatives and influential genii ruling over the fates of such speculations.

On the evils of betting there are many persons that descant most eloquently and voluminously. That there are not some objections, none can deny; but what calling, profession, or employment which man has adopted is there which can be pronounced to be perfectly immaculate, or that does not contain something that may be objected to? The land spontaneously produces docks and thistles; and if the cultivators of the soil permit them to assume an ascendancy, they will, no doubt, prove highly injurious to the legitimate crop so it is with regard to betting transactions, that are tarnished by the unfair practices of unjust men, which if permitted to germinate and grow to the perfection of their intentions, are doubtless very injurious; but it rests with those who have the authority and power of exterminating such weeds to preserve the healthy condition of the sporting hemisphere; and the land upon which docks and thistles abound might as reasonably be condemned as unfit for cultivation, as racing and betting stigmatized because, if unguarded, pernicious negotiations might feed upon it.

(To be continued.)

A NIGHT IN THE NORTH, AND A DAY WITH THE

DRINKWATER OTTER-HOUNDS.

BY GELERT.

About the middle of last July, an announcement appeared in a country paper that the Drinkwater hounds would meet at Revel Bridge to draw for an otter; and as the country was quite new to me, I made up my mind to be present at the fixture. With the character of the hounds, as otter-killers, I was already acquainted, and being somewhat conversant with the west-country system of pursuing the animal, I felt anxious to make a comparison, and if possible gain a few wrinkles from my more northerly brother sportsmen. The hour of meeting being an early one, I was compelled to quarter at a very rural hotel the night before, in order to reach the scene of action betimes. At first sight of this "only inn within five miles," I was disposed to pass on and endeavour to reach the next town; but my nag was weary, and seemed instinctively to understand that good entertainment for man and horse might be found within, spite of appearances. I was received at the door by Boniface in person, who promised to provide every thing the best for my nag and self, and to accompany me next morning to Revel Bridge. The blunt honesty of his address, and the ready welcome which it implied, quickly dispelled all visions of discomfort which had just possessed me; so, throwing him the reins, I resigned myself and steed at once into his hands. "Fronti nulla fides;" if the exterior of "The Pelican" was dingy, like a Stilton cheese, the interior made ample amends for its uninviting appearance.

"Imagination vainly stoops to trace

The parlour splendours of that festive place."

And as for the kitchen, the oak settle was as bright as polished marble, the pots and pans glittered on the walls like so many mirrors, and a general cleanliness prevailed, which assured me my kennel for the night was happily chosen.

"Your horse's head is well in the manger, Sir," said Boniface as he entered." And what would your honour like to take? We've mutton chops and ham-and-eggs in the house."

As I "eat to live, and do not live to eat," the bill of fare fully satisfied me; so I requested a commons of the latter. During my short meal the host stood by and served. His remarks, which I encouraged, were rather amusing; he seemed to have combined (and in that class of life it is a very rare combination) a knowledge of field