bitch, Magna; a more powerful or finer greyhound is scarcely to be met with. I predicted future honours for her, from her admirable running at Ashdown Park, a few days prior to this meeting, where she distinguished herself greatly by the style in which she won the first class Craven Stakes; and, if she hold her present form, she will be a dangerous opponent, another season, in any country. These laurels following so closely on those gained at Ashdown Park, cause his lordship's kennel to stand in the highest position. Magna is by Mr. Guerney's London, out of Lord Stradbroke's Maiden; and Mr. E. G. Hornby's Hong, that ran the last tie with her, is by Hyson, out of Handkerchief. The hares were not very stout on the first day, but better on the last; and every deciding course was good, which adds greatly to the satisfaction in contending for stakes of such value. The returns will be found in the Coursing Register.

W. MISSING.

MR. DRAX'S HUNT.

MR. DRAX commenced his career as a master of foxhounds in the year 1833, and has since continued in that capacity, although under the disadvantage of a very circumscribed country. The differences between this gentleman and Mr. Farquharson on the question of territory, are too well known to need repetition;-unfortunately, they are as far from arrangement as ever. Mr. Drax, subsequent to the establishment of his pack of foxhounds, purchased two estates; viz., Folke and Holnest, both in the district known as Mr. Farquharson's country. The latter of these, in the Vale of Blackmore, Mr. Drax hunted last spring, but withdrew for the purpose of some adjustment being made. All attempts of the sort, however, failed, and Mr. Drax returned to the Vale this spring, with the intention of continuing to draw his covers there in future. It is earnestly to be hoped that these disputed claims may speedily be amicably settled, and all unpleasant feelings between two gentlemen, each anxious to promote sport and good fellowship, for ever set at rest. The limited field of action to which Mr. Drax is confined, of course obliges him to meet upon a scale suited to his country. Hence he confines himself to three days a week. His huntsman is John Last; first whip, Henry Hooney; second ditto, James Forfeit. His kennel, in the Charborough country, is at Charborough Park; that for the Blackmore Vale at Holnest House.

The Meets of Mr. Drax's Hounds, with their distances from the kennels at Charborough Park.

THE SPORTING LIFE OF ENGLAND.

THE CREAM OF THE ROYAL HUNT.

BY J. W. CARLETON, ESQ.

"The Sporting Life of England!
The Charter of the Esle !
Perish the traitor, heart and hand,
That would, with dastard wile,
Sow discord, jealousy, or strife,
Among the gallant band

Who share and shield our Sporting Life,
The Charter of the land.

"

OLD SONG.

THE phrase "la crême," has received the stamp of good taste from its general adoption by the best writers of the modern French school. I fear in an English garb it is less elegant; but it is so pat to my purpose, that the offence of the common-place is more than counterbalanced by the point of the expression. In the following pages I do but skim over the action and the actors to which they refer: what term, then, could convey the character of their contents so clearly? However men may be at issue as to the merits of some of the late masters of the Royal Hounds, there can be but one opinion as to the nobleman now at their head, and his immediate predecessor. Lord Kinnaird was as devoted to the materiel of the chase as Lord Rosslyn is to its application. The degree in which the latter taste is evinced can hardly be better proved than by the fact, that the present is the first master of the Royal Staghounds that ever announced three public hunting days during every week in the season. "Industry must prosper," says the proverb, and here is the test: at it, the royal establishment have been, hoof and nail, since the first tint of brown upon old Windsor's oaks proclaimed "a hunting morning ;" and such a succession of sport as they have had, has not yet been recorded in their annals. With one exception, their most brilliant affairs were those which the Vale of Aylesbury afforded. But as I have promised to confine my notices to the past month, I will begin with the beginning, or, at least, its first hunting day-Wednesday.

Before I proceed to the journal of sport, however, there is one circumstance which, from its extraordinary character, I think worthy of special record. On the 22nd ult. I received a note from Mr. Charles Davis, her Majesty's huntsman, in which, among other matters, was the following passage:-"I wish you could contrive to be with us tomorrow, as I anticipate something out of the common way, and that our run will finish at the terminus of the Birmingham Railway." On the evening of that day, he thus addressed me :

"Ascot Heath, Wednesday, March 22, 7 P. M.

"Three hours since, her Majesty's hounds and myself were in the Regent's Park. As I predicted in my letter of yesterday, we did take our deer in London this day."

Of the nature of the run I shall have occasion to speak in its regular order.

JOURNAL OF THE MONTH'S SPORT.

Wednesday, March 2.-The meet was at Bedfont, the wind blowing great guns, and the rain pouring in torrents from nine A. M. until the shades of night closed in. Notwithstanding these untoward auspices, a field of upwards of fifty attended, including his Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge, Captains Vyse and Seymour, Colonel Knox, Messrs. Beacham Proctor, Harcourt, Colonel Rolleston, and many others of the right sort. Had the day been fine, no doubt four times as many would have mustered in front of the old yew trees, so much and so justly celebrated, "In spite of wind and weather," a remarkably fine run was snatched out of the fire. As may be imagined, the scent was not of the kind to please steeple-chasers, but was such as delighted national men.

The young deer, "Beauty," was uncarted at Stanwell, and made off by the Magpies; crossed the rail and canal at Dawley Wall, and thence to Hayes, into the grass lands, which, as well as the ploughed, were knee-deep. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the hunting, at a steady holding pace, across that cream of countries to Harrow, over the hill and away, crossing the Birmingham Railway, to Willesden; thence, bearing to the left, we took at Elmore's Farm, in Kenton Lane; time— two hours; distance from the kennel (which the hounds left that morning) twenty-eight miles; it was 7 P. M. when they reached their home, still under a drenching torrent.

It certainly was an English exhibition, that of a prince of the blood and a whole host of the " purple and fine linen" school, in search of pleasure, plunging, neck deep, into mud and mire, and in pursuit of a truly national pastime, unflinchingly

Saturday, 5th.-Iver Heath. A good field, including H.R.H. Prince George of Cambridge, and Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. sporting run of an hour and a half satisfied us all; and our finish was at Chorley Wood Common.

Monday, 7th. Our good fortune still in the ascendant. This day afforded one of the finest runs of the year. Uncarted at Farnham Common, our deer taking the country straight away for Beaconsfield, and thence nearly to Penn, leaning to the left for Risborough, and finally being taken below West Wycombe, in an hour and three quarters.

Wednesday, 9th.--What may the people who harangue about calfhunting think of running a couple of loins of veal from Ewell to West Wycombe ? Had they been with us on the day named in these presents, they would have learned what it is to speak of "staggers," naso adunco. Met at Ewell, as aforesaid; uncarted the venison in presence of about 300 horsemen, and away at best pace for Worsted, Malden, Cheam, Croydon, Streatham Common, Mitcham Common, Clapham Common, and finally took at Battersea Rise. Towards the conclusion of the run (I write it with disgust) the deer and many of the hounds were spiked and lacerated with hooks.

Friday, 11th. Ascot Race-course. Uncarted a young, untried