good sportsmen who know how to appreciate hunting in its most enchanting forms. Those who are acquainted with the breeding and rearing of the young hounds about to be entered, may naturally be supposed to take an interest in their performance: one puppy attracts notice from his being the offspring of a favourite sire or damanother because he was reared at a farm-house in the neighbourhood, and was therefore constantly an object of attention; in fact, no man can be said fairly and truly to enjoy hunting who does not take a zealous interest in every movement of the pack. How few are there out of the numbers who constantly assemble at the covert side who appreciate anything beyond the ride, scarcely giving themselves the trouble to think, much more to notice, what has been doing! They frequently return home almost as ignorant of what has been passing as if they had been at their fire-sides. Sportsmen may be of great service during the season of cub-hunting, especially in large woodlands, where hounds require considerable attention: foxes being numerous, a division of the pack is almost a case of certainty, but very little good can be anticipated unless the body of the hounds can be kept to one scent. I believe this is somewhat opposed to the high authority of Mr. Beckford, but not having his work with me, I can only trust to my own memory, which I think suggests to me something like the following-I do not mean in words, but in sub

stance :

In large coverts, if there be several scents, and you have plenty of hounds, let them run as many of the scents as they may happen to hit upon, with a view by that means of distressing two or three of the foxes.

I must confess, humbly as I am prepared to bow to most of Mr. Beckford's precepts, I can by no means acknowledge this. Nothing is so certain to beat your hounds as to let them divide; it is like a commanding officer dividing his troops. Moreover, with hounds separated, there ought to be a huntsman and at least a whipper-in to each detachment. Supposing, by way of example, after drawing a covert and finding a leash of foxes, that a portion of the hounds settle to each, a brace go away at different points, the other fox remaining in covert-how are the servants, not being gifted with ubiquity, to perform their duty? Such a scrambling way of doing things is certainly not in conformity with the system of the present time.

When hounds require to be stopped in the open, either in consequence of their running riot or heel, a custom which is very improper may frequently be observed-of riding after them, in order to head them; many whippers-in do it, but it is not the less reprehensible. The hounds, hearing the horse following them, are excited to go on, and are therefore induced not to stop nearly so soon as they would do of their own accord, especially when running heel. Following hounds, and rating them, will be found to have very little if any effect; the most business-like and proper method is to strike across and meet them, at some fence if possible, when, having actually headed them, the sound of the whip and a powerful rate will in general produce the desired effect, though I have seen hounds that

would not suffer themselves to be stopped or turned by amateur whippers-in. As it is one of those interferences which never ought to be attempted by a stranger without a request from the master of the hounds or the huntsman-and, as a matter of course, the request is never made unless the whippers-in are absent-it is an operation seldom practised, except by persons well acquainted with the members of the establishment.

The precipitancy which frequently characterizes a huntsman's decision at the close of the cub-hunting season, as to which hounds are to be drafted and which retained, is very commonly productive of great mistakes being made. The principal part of the cub-hunting operations are confined to the woodlands. As the most casual observers cannot fail to have remarked that many hounds which are invaluable in the open fail to distinguish themselves in covert, an opportunity should be allowed for puppies to exhibit their good qualities before they are parted with. It is, however, all in favour of those who come in for the drafts, and a good judge may often avail himself of valuable opportunities of augmenting his pack by hounds picked up at this period. Mr. Dancey, who now hunts the Ludlow country, deserves the compliment of being particularly au fait at selecting hounds. Entering upon it at the eleventh hour of the summer before last, he formed a pack which absolutely did " astonish the natives," experienced as they are in sporting acquirements. With a pack hastily formed, as they were, and with nothing more in the shape of a whipper-in than his groom, before the month of November had expired they were as steady and as handy as hounds could be wishedat least, such are the reports from all the subscribers, and as I may safely declare they are sportsmen to a man, there is no doubt but their assertions are correct. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing them in the field during the ensuing season, when I shall be better able to recount their performances. What I have just related, however, proves the advantages of having an experienced director at the head. How many packs of hounds there are under the surveillance of bunglers, who do not gain a character, unless it be for riot and disorder, for some seasons. Punishment inflicted without discretion, under the impression that it must render hounds steady, is commonly followed by results the reverse of what is anticipated.

Having the prospect of the hunting season so near at hand, in the joyous expectation of all the delights which it can produce, in the hope of meeting many old friends and of cultivating the acquaintance of many new ones, and sincerely trusting that the ardour for fox-hunting is on the ascendancy in the hearts of all true Englishmen, I shall lay down my pen for the present month, regretting only that letters will not convey the exhilirating effect of a view-holla to welcome in the noble science.

October 25th, 1843.

That the racing season-on which the curtain has lately dropped amidst such unanimous applause-taken on the whole, was one of the best we have had for some years, is an opinion which I think will be pretty generally agreed to; in fact, it would puzzle the most inveterate caviller of modern times to name its superior. The passion for this truly national pastime "has increased and is increasing" in no very measured style, while the sport of the past year, in quality, quantity, and arrangement, has been in every way worthy of the attention bestowed upon it by all ranks and classes, from the highest to the lowest, with only a solitary but grand exception; and to this one feels doubly loth to allude, though in common justice it cannot here be passed over. The heads of foreign countries, it is well known, have long admired, envied, nay, encouraged the production of our unequalled thorough-bred stock; but on this season-the first, and may it be the last-our own royalty has not condescended to bestow the accustomed patronage, always so gratefully and so zealously acknowledged-an encouragement which, even in a political point of view, it has hitherto been considered proper to give. To enter farther into this matter would be neither expedient or serviceable. That her Majesty, however, will not in this case continue to deviate from the line of her predecessors is the wish of all true and loyal sportsmen ; and that his Royal Highness, though he find no pleasure in pursuing it himself, will not altogether turn his back on the most popular amusement of his adopted country. In addition to the grand desideratum-good sport and plenty of it, we have another point, of equal if not of greater importance, to speak favourably of a subject which of late years has been lamentably neglected, though requiring more investigation and amendment than any other, and through want of which racing, despite the manifest improvement in nearly every other branch, was rapidly sinking into bad repute.

Had another season or two been suffered to pass without the growing evils being checked or noticed, it would most probably have been found next to impossible to "reform them altogether," a consummation at present happily approaching to perfection. That the steps which have been taken should, in principio, have proceeded from "head quarters" I have already given as my opinion; still, it must be a source of general satisfaction to know and feel what has been framed and enforced, has all been in the most equitable and praiseworthy

manner, regardless of purse or person, and tending speedily and effectually to place turf law in a palmy state, which it was scarcely ever known to enjoy. On these favourable grounds, then, with much to praise and little to grumble at, do I proceed to review the past racing

season.

Coventry and Warwick, as usual, headed the list of "races past," and according to custom led one to form something like an idea of the strength of the south country stables. That they were weak almost beyond precedent was quickly seen as clear as day; and this, with the defeat of the second favourite at Epsom Spring, forced us to look almost to Newmarket alone for the material to meet the formidable bodies, both in deed and promise, from Malton and Middleham-a forlorn hope, latterly unworthy of much reliance, though said to be far stronger than customary, a report certainly pretty generally credited. With just a word for the folly of the Northamptonites cutting one fair day's sport into two superlatively bad, and another for the goodly exhibition of men, horses, and sport at Croxton Park-supposed by some parties to be declining, though on what grounds" I am free to confess I cannot imagine" -we open what aristocrats term the legitimate racing season with Newmarket Craven, a fair average meeting, though convincing us from beginning to end that the chance of the Derby staying south never looked worse. In fact, the Newmarket horses, without exception, came out in bad, many below their true form. While, on the other hand the north produced a nag so much improved as to even astonish his most intimate friends; and on the strength of a couple of easy victories with him, the Scotts were again allowed to have the great gun. Though I question very much had Cotherstone-with his imposing appearance, good action, what he did in the Craven, and all considered-been in any but their too powerful hands, whether he would at once have sprung to four to one. That it was his true price some of us know now too well, though with the consciousness that the Yeoman and one or two more had still to be disposed of-at the time anything but an inviting figure.

The only other feature of interest was Gaper continuing in a character as truly his as that which Cotherstone claimed for himself. Uncertainty as to his running for the Derby was officially or officiously proclaimed on his making his debut last year; and the most glorious uncertainty in his running followed, bothering again and again the calculations of his friends and his foes. "He'll never stand sound till Epsom, it is impossible," said some as they went right and left against him; and lo! "here, there, and everywhere," we find this same Gaper losing and winning, in and out, from spring to autumn.

Good sport with short fields, as of late years, was the plan at Catterick Bridge, chiefly remarkable for the favourable appearance of the Cure, a performance which he has as yet acted up to. Thence we proceed to the great eye-sore of the season, the clash between Chester and Bath and Bristol. That the former was the offending party all through the affair, everything which has been said of it, both in public and private, goes far to prove: too confident in their own strength, they attempted to increase the attractions of what might

have been a really good meeting at the expense of another, fighting its way up amidst all sorts of difficulties. That they failed signally in playing the bully I have almost pleasure in saying. A worse week in every respect it is long since was spent on the Rhodee; the acceptance for the cup was bad, the race for it worse, and many things connected with it disgraceful; the remainder of the sport indifferent, and the management such as no other meeting of the year has witnessed. With regard to the running, it was plain enough that Millipede, with his 7st. something, could have won the cup almost under any circumstances. Lord Westminster, with a remnant of his good luck, again produced a first class filly. The pick of the Chester three-year-olds again appeared among the most formidable of the Derby out-siders, and Prizefighter won a race in the same unobtrusive manner in which Satirist did two years previously-fated to become prominent after an equally quiet summer at the same place where Satirist gathered his laurels. The opening at Bath and Bristol under the new committee, but for the unfortunate contretemps, would have been all the most sanguine of its supporters could have desired; as it was, everything that could possibly come under their direction went off with the most distinguished success. That it will continue to prosper I have but little doubt, as there is plenty of room in that quarter for a good meeting to rise, and plenty of stables in the south and west ready and willing to support it. For the future they have little to fear from any rival; and I hope the gentlemen of Northampton-who I hear are about to follow their example of having one good week's sport instead of two very middling-will follow it to the letter with equal ability, judgment, and liberality.

The still easier style in which Cotherstone disposed of his third and, as was supposed, most formidable field in the first spring, convinced the majority that the Scotts would follow up their last year's victory at Epsom. That the Goodwood party fancied they had something to extend him was rather evident; that they failed in doing it still more so. Though this week's sport left Newmarket with only Fakeaway as a champion for the Derby, there was no lack of fillies, but all, as it appeared, very much of a sample, and fortune for a time right against Mr. Ford, both his mares being beaten in races which it is thought just possible they might have won. Certainly Sam Chiffney had no small share of the honour of the 1,000 gs. triumph.

One more race, and only one, shall I refer to, and that remarkable for Lord Exeter at length being favoured with a slice of pure good luck. May the tide, as it does show signs of, once more turn on as thorough and honourable sportsman as ever graced Newmarket

heath.

Affairs at Eglinton Park appear to be as flourishing as usual, and good sport with good fellowship the order of the day. Far different from this is the case at Shrewsbury, where the races, despite alterations and attempted improvements, are still evidently retrograding, from what cause I cannot take upon myself to say. The fault, however, it strikes me, lies with the gentlemen of the county, who in this respect do not pull well together-a state of things much to be regretted in so wealthy and hitherto renowned county for sport. The town