false light will not be very scrupulous in his adherence to truth if falsehood serve his purpose better.

The most manly, straightforward, and truly English precedent which the public have had to acknowledge for some time is that which has been exhibited by Earl Fitzhardinge in weighting certain horses in the Cheltenham Steeple-chase, and which every honest man must hail with ecstacy. Convinced that there was a substantial foundation for the rumors which prevailed respecting the running of the highlyweighted horses at a previous Meeting in the neighbourhood, the handicapper was guarantied in visiting the sins of the offenders by thus excluding their horses. It will teach them a lesson for their future observance, and convince them in what estimation such transactions are held by the public*.

When men attempt to excuse themselves from the imputation of misconduct in racing matters, by the bare assertion that they never bet, it amounts to nothing in the minds of any individuals in the least degree acquainted with the facilities of betting. There is nothing easier than to employ an agent to do the dirty work, who, not being recognised as one of the party, has every opportunity of laying against horses that are made safe; but when those very men who have made such declarations are recollected as having been the individuals who actually made bets in the public Ring, although perhaps some of them fictitious ones, no other conclusion can be formed than that they are not very scrupulous as to their character for veracity.

CECIL.

JOURNAL OF SPORT IN THE WEST.

APRIL.

Friday, 1st.-Ibimus, ibimus; on, on we go.-Mr. Bulteel's hounds. met at Pengelly, in the county of Cornwall: rain, hail, wind, and blank awaited them. Drew all the coverts in the vicinity of Glyn, and some others; saw two woodcocks, but never a fox.

Saturday, 2d.-A stormy night ushered in a goodish sort of morning, and, as we had a blank day yesterday, our Captain gave us a chance so Mr. Bulteel's hounds were sent into Tregastick wood, about a mile from our place of sojourn (Coldrenick), and found immediately, and killed, after a run of two hours and thirty-five minutes, near Hessinford: the country we went over was a particularly scratch one. The hounds returned to their kennel at Lyneham, and we returned to our different abiding places, merry as crickets, and brim full of Coldrenick hospitality; and brim full of hope that the owner of that mansion may carry a Derby into Cornwall upon his Frederica colt, which colt, by Plenipo out of Frederica by Sultan, now called Coldrenick, I have often and often admired sporting in his paddock.-Success to John Day's stable and the Cornish horse!

We quite agree on the corrective of heavy handicapping, where sport is too often spoiled by the "business-men;" but it is a pity that no other system can be devised than visiting the sins of the owner upon the horse, by laying on two or three stone extra over a country professedly picked out for its severity.-ED.

VOL. XXV.-SECOND SERIES.-No. 146.

Q

Wednesday, 6th.-Mr. Bulteel's hounds: Scoblescomb; therm. 42; East wind, dry.-Found in Orchardton wood; had a very pretty burst up the marshes to the fields above Fleet Park, and to Sequersbridge; then turned back to the crossing place below Fleet, where the Captain said, "Let it finish;" and if he had not said so, I suspect it would have been the same thing.-We saw many wheatears (birds I mean) on the cliffs at Scoblescomb, just imported from foreign parts.

Saturday, 9th.-Met at Harford moor gate: therm. 41, dry; E. S. E. wind.-Unkennelled from Over Brent wood: the find was beautiful; crossed the river Aune to Pearses plantation, then the inclosures to the moor above Diamond Lane, Mr. Trelawny and Captain Harris foremost with them; the remainder of the Field checked by a moor wall. When the hounds got upon the moor, it was "go along, my hearties," to Redbrook; then crossed to Leal moor, crossed the river Aune to Woolholes, and away to Skeriton, where those who were three minutes behind at the wall came up to them; they had run into a pack of herriers, who headed the fox, and checked the foxhounds: however, the hounds hit it away again, and went back over Dockerill, again crossed the Aune river a little below Huntingdon warren, then turned to the right, and then to the left, over very good ground and a fairish pace, to Three Barrows, Sharp tor on the left, into Pyles, down the left bank of the Erme, crossed the river to Hall down leaving Hall plantation on the right, the hounds, going like quicksilver, again crossed the river Erme, through Bullevend, Harford Church Town Place, and up the hill to Harford moor, Hangers Hill rock on the right hand, and then go along (very few of the horsemen could) to Corindon; turned back up the hill to the Eastern beacon to holt. This was the sharpest run we have had for the whole season, and many a particularly good nag cried "enough" long before it was

over.

Tuesday, 12th.-Met at Pursninch-bridge; therm. 39; frost and ice in the morning; cold enough, and a blank made it much more cold. The East wind chilled our bodies, and the blank chilled our souls.

Friday, 15th.-Met at Meavy; therm. 41; cold East wind; where the Warrener of Dits worthy warren promised us a good lot of foxes. Warreners are humbugs-we found none !

Tuesday, 19th.-Met at Harford moor gate; therm. 43; dry and sunny. Found a fox or two in King's wood; but Sol was angry with Diana, and would not allow the hounds to hunt the foxes-Sol was hot, Diana was sulky, and I was thirsty

My coppers are hot,

Give me some ale

In a pewter pot;

New or stale,

It matters not;

Quick, give me some ale.

Thus ended the fox-hunting season with Mr. Bulteel's hounds, who, in spite of narrow-minded Vulpecides-et hoc genus omne malorumwill live to hunt another day. Give me a glass, my dear comrades, of good old port to drink success to them.

Saturday, 30th.-Mr. Bulteel's fox-hounds vot hunts the otter met at Aveton Gifford-bridge; the weather was warm and dry. Killed, after many hours most delightful sport, two otters on the Aune river, the weir-pool above Aveton Gifford.

MAY.

Wednesday, 4th.-Will you go to the Plymouth Spring races?Yes. Well, come along then.

First race. The Lyneham Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 2 ft.; sixty-six subs.; Gentlemen Jocks.

General Gilbert's ch. c. Pulwaun, by Hindostan, 4 yrs, 10st. 5lb. (Owner)... 2 1 1 Mr. Crofton's b. c. Muleteer, 5 yrs (Mr. G. Scobell).. 1 2 dr.

Sir W. Trelawny's Chartist, Mr. Downe's black gelding, Mr. Nattle's Great Western by Tarrare, and Mr. Carlysle's Single-peeper, all ran for the Lyneham, and no doubt ran well, but were in the rear guard.

The Fifty Sovs. was won by Sir Samuel Spry's bl. m. Jewess beating five or six easily enough in both heats.

The Hurdle Race was won by Mr. Vivian's b. m. The Bride beating Captain Weir's Olympic and two others. In the second heat, Mr. John Weir, who was riding his father's horse, got a most ugly spill: I thought it was all dead with him, but I am happy to say it is now pretty well with him.

Thursday, 5th.-Mr. Bulteel's hounds met at Long-bridge, river Plym, to give the racers of yesterday a hunt in the water.-Found an otter in the turn pool above Cork's marshes, and killed after very much diversion. On that day the banks of the river were adorned by many a fair Lady, and the hunt was honored by the presence of Nobility and Gentry, by four Masters of Fox-hounds, and a great variety of sporting characters. Sampson was in the water up to his neck stirring up the otter (not the Philistines) with a huge long pole; Mr. Wildman had a swim for it; even the steady Captain and the still more steady old Otter-hunter were dashing and splashing in the cool liquid, like juvenile ducks, with many other lads who like the fun, merry as maze-finches, who let the water do what it would with them except get into their mouths. The roar of the vast multitude was tremendous, and the air was redolent of tobacco, and many a go-down of whiskey warmed the inner man it was a jolly day's play, and no mistake.

A BRUNECHEval.

CLOSE OF THE SEASON WITH THE PERTHSHIRE.

My last notice of these hounds brought my Journal of Sport up to the 9th of March, and I now forward the doings of the pack to the termination of the season.

March 12th.-Met at Fingask Castle, Sir P. M. Thriepland's, as good and kindhearted a Sportsman as ever pulled trigger. Drew the Rocks and Pitmiddle Hill blank !—Trotted on to Bandurn, and found

immediately. Pug went away at a clipping pace down the wood and over the open and killing country in a line for the strongholds of Hallieburton, but the " merry-toned lads in black and white" were too quick for him, and he was pulled down before he could make his point good.-Found a second fox at Dunsinane, and had thirty-five minutes, chiefly woodland, finishing with blood.

March 15; Auchterarder House, Captain Hunter's.-The Captain must be a "mighty hunter," for not one solitary fox could be found!

March 17; Scone Palace, the Earl of Mansfield's.-Another black letter in the Calendar, and another blank day! Oh that such a word should be found in a Sportsman's vocabulary!

"We drew every covert, and tried every brake,

Without challenge or sound to keep us awake!”

March 23; Duncrub, Lord Rolle's.-We were told by the keeper in front of the house that it was no use drawing the home coverts! We cordially thanked him for his information, and of course we did not tarry to question his veracity-there could be little doubt of the truth coming from such a source, and heartily wished him and all such keepers whence that commodity is said to spring.-Went on to the hills, and drew Keltie and Pitcairn den blank!! Somewhat disheartened, but still in hope, we passed on to the moor, and found in a young plantation a gallant fellow, who took us a clipper for six miles over a light and beautiful turf country to Sillie whinnie, where he went to ground just in time to save his brush. In this scurry, Sir J. A. M. Macgregor and Jack, the first Whip, had the best of it by chalks.-We then drew Colen wood and Rossie gorse without a challenge, and

cut it.

March 26; Innernittie.-Another black letter day!-Nice encouragement this for keeping a pack of hounds in the county!

March 30; Kincardine, Mr. Johnston's.-In Abercairney's time this Gentleman was an ardent follower of the "noble science," but, we regret to say, is now seldom seen at the covert-side.-Drew all that fine country without a whimper, and on as far as Sillie whinnie, where we found one gentleman "at home," and he took us at a pretty fair bat to Invermay House, where, scent having failed, we lost.

April 2; Kinfauns, Lord Gray's, an ugly shop for horse or hound. -Got on the drag of a moving fox, but could make nothing of him.— Went on to Bandurn, and found, but could not get him out of the woodlands. Smith, determined on having blood if possible, persevered for upwards of an hour, when "who-whoop" gladdened our hearts, if only for the sake of the pack, and Smith was not a little elate at having broken the "spell."

April 5; Delvine House, Sir John M. Mackenzie's, one of the genu-ine sort, and a strict preserver of the "noble lord o' the woodlands wild."-Found at Rosemount, and had a brilliant thirty-five minutes with as good a fox as ever padded before hound or hunter. As soon as he broke covert, he took to the open moor, and on to the hills, where, being headed by a shepherd-boy, he turned short to the left, with not a moment to tarry, and on over the beautiful line of country to Blair-gowrie: here he was again headed, when he gallantly pointed a second time over the open for the hills, and in taking the river

was pulled down by his stanch pursuers-a beautiful run from find to finish, and very fast. We had a good Field out, the Earl of Mansfield, Lord Glenlyon, and Sir J. M. Mackenzie being "first in the throng." Every face beamed with joy at the happy termination of one good day after so many disappointments.

April 8; Lintrose.-Drew Hallieburton East wood, a "shocking bad" place for hounds, but a bountiful supply of the varmint. Here we were knocking about among the woods and rocky grounds for two hours and a half, changing every five or ten minutes, with three brace of foxes at least on foot, but could not get one to break from his stronghold, and we were obliged to turn our backs in dudgeon. Would it not be advisable in the early part of the season to give these coverts a good rattling, and compel the varmint to seek other quarters, and thus give a chance of sport in places where there is a lamentable deficiency?

April 12; Abercairney.-Found in the Muckle Burn, supposed a vixen, and went to ground.-Drew the Low Moor plantation blank.Got on the drag of a travelling fox at Foulis plantation, but could make nothing of him-a very hot day, and the whole country as dry as a blacksmith's shop.-Drew the Guthrie and Keilour coverts blank : then on to Balgowan, Lord Lynedoch's, where we were not more fortunate. We now crossed the Pow, and on to Gask-west-moor, where we found, and had a sharp scurry for thirty minutes, when Mr. Reynard was viewed taking over some fallows in anything but an enviable state: still, he beat us, the hounds being unable to speak to him on such dry terms, and we were obliged to give up.

April 16; Tulliebardine moor, Lord Strathallan's; the country terribly hard, and both fox-hunter and farmer "whistling" in vain for a drop to moisten their parched thirst.-Drew the moor blank. Smith had an ugly spill, from a rotten bank giving way, his chesnut falling heavily upon him; but no great mischief done, and he was soon in the pig-skin again ready for business. We now made for the Orchill woods, and found a brace of the varmint. The hounds divided, and half an hour was lost, some galloping one way and some another. Mr. Grant got a portion of the pack on the drag of a gone fox, and we went away over the open, but at a slow pace, and little or no scent. We marked him, however, into Corrieour, but got on a fresh fox, Joe, the second Whip, viewing him close before the hounds; but they could do little more than speak to him, for there was at least a leash of foxes on foot. At length, one got out at the west end of the covert, and the hounds marked his line over the moor, and on to a larch plantation on the Drummond Castle property: he now crossed the old Crieff and Stirling road, and retraced his steps to the Orchill woods, where we left him. Poor sport, and at 5 P. M. full five-and-twenty miles from the stable.

April 19.-The "Meet" was advertised for the Half-way House on the Crieff and Perth road in case rain should have fallen; but as it did not, it was "no go."

April 23; Dron, the last day of the season, and though there was not a drop of dew (we don't mean the so-called mountain) to give a chance of a gallop, the muster was better than could have been expected.-Drew Pottie Hill and Glenfarg blank. Found in Glenearn,