pocket of a purchaser. The fellow's by-play is exquisite-the cambric handkerchief even, which he displays, is rendered eloquent, telling its story of heart-rending bereavement with the most touching effect. As he hurriedly withdraws it from his streaming eyes, seemingly ashamed to be seen shedding the tears which he cannot help coming to his eyes, and the sobs which he is equally unable wholly to restrain, he at once engages the sympathies of the purchaser, and prevents a too particular or protracted inquiry. The latter, of course, would be peculiarly inconvenient to the pathetic impostor. What man could be so hard-hearted as to press with questions such an afflicted, woe-begone being? Who could be so unfeeling and sceptical as to doubt the lightest word of a man, in the presence, as it were, of death and the death-bed? If ever truth is spoken, 'tis spoken there, one thinks.

A common device of the dealer in screws is to christen one of them by the name of a well-known horse, to which in appearance—and in appearance only, of course-the advertised cheat bears some resemblance. An unsuspicious person takes up a morning paper while sipping his coffee. He sees in its advertising columns, with some surprise and great gratification, that Peep-o'-day or Pot-8-o's-a Moonraker or a Harkaway-is to be sold a bargain. Off he flies to see the far-famed horse. A good story, well told, is already prepared: of corroboratory evidence, too, both vivâ voce and documentary, there is no lack. It is cut and dry for all comers. Something, of course, but not much, is asked for so celebrated a horse: less is taken; and the 50 or 80 guineas agreed upon are given ungrudgingly by the begudgeoned buyer. It is true, he did not, perhaps, want a horse; every stall in his stable may have had its occupant, but such a chance so seldom occurs, that not to improve it would be madness. The animal is brought home, and the purchaser is much pleased with it at first; but before long, he discovers that his prize is a blank. Then, of course, come the natural consequences. Then he feels the mortifying conviction (enjoyed by his kind friends) that he has been most egregiously done, copiously bled, and severely screwed.

As an instance of the dexterity of the gentlemen to whose ingenious dealings I am rendering imperfect tribute, it may be regarded as a positive fact that a flat, who was qualifying for a judge of horse-flesh, actually bought again, without knowing it, the self-same nag for a buggy-horse, that he himself had sold (the animal having broken down in a contest for the Coventry Plate) only the season before, believing all the while that his new purchase was the celebrated Champion, Chip-o'the-block, or some such titular collar crack! For the authenticity of the fact I can vouch. A muriatic-made star in the forehead, docking, and clipping, preceded by the straw-yard, and stable stimuli, effected the metamorphosis.

The tongues of these specious speculators are excellent: they would talk the birds from the trees. Nor is their knowledge and nice discrimination of character inferior to their other various accomplishments. Possessed, then, of powers of face unequalled-or, if equalled, equalled by a bashful Irishman alone-having a conscience as quiet as a gambler's, and the "gift of the gab" in as high a degree as the most gifted orator-having all these qualities, I ask, is it matter of wonderment that many persons who go to look at an advertised horse, "the

property of a gentleman," carrying with them even, sometimes, a strong impression that the animal is a screw, find, on an interview, their impressions gradually grow weaker and weaker, until at length their suspicions all vanish? Wonderful or not wonderful, the fact is that men who are no fools are nevertheless, and not seldom either, talked out of their sense and their money too at the same time.

May good sense deliver you, my readers, from similar “felo-de-se,” "temporary insanity," and all evil! Be not tempted, be not "screwed;" but be "wide awake!" I wish you all well "horsed." With this aspiration for you I must couple another for the knights of the screw: I wish a pretty pillory were revived, for their especial benefit; since a more salutary exhibition than that of a set of screw-sellers, standing like scare-crows in the same neck-yoke, it were not easy to imagine.

I am sincerely sorry that want of space precludes the production in this paper of all the varied stores of knowledge relative to screws that might be opened for the public benefit. Much valuable matter must remain unpublished at present; but enough already has been written to save and to serve.

My last words convey a caution. I again beg buyers to be wary ; for, although partnership has been placed next to marriage in peril, as well as in importance, the buying of horses without that knowledge which is seldom obtained in perfection till after the contract is effected and the mischief is done, may perhaps prove an equally important step, if not an infinitely more hazardous experiment than either. This, at any rate, is the opinion of

CHRISTOPHER CLEARFLIGHT.

THE THAMES SAILING-MATCHES.

England is essentially a nation of mariners. Her wealthiest domain is the sea. Her greatest ambition is to command by her navy the great high-roads to commerce. Yachting ought, therefore, to be encouraged at every port around our coast; for every sailor adds to the security of the nation; and every yachtsman, if not (although he ought to be) a sailor himself, has old sailors about him, and young ones in training. Too much encouragement cannot be given to so noble and so princely a sport; which has now become so popular throughout the land, that it demands a prominent position in the sporting annals of our country. The fame of English yachting has spread from shore to shore: the flags of the pleasure squadron have waved o'er every sea, from Africa's burning sands to the icy regions of Kamtschatka. Our aquatic sports at home are unequalled by those of any other nation-and well they may be, for the sinews and strength of Old England lie in the arms of her sailors.

Three sailing matches have taken place on the Thames during the past month, on three successive days of strong winds and heavy squalls, when yachting is not the mere lazy and indolent pastime some would fain suppose; for on such occasions it requires a considerable amount of courage, nerve, and decision, to navigate with spirit, safety, and success, the dashing little clippers of the watery

race-course.

Two of these matches were spiritedly contested, and demand our especial notice: but that of the Royal London Yacht Club, on the 13th ult., when the Phantom sailed an isolated race, is altogether devoid of interest, and is discreditable to the promoters of yacht racing: the cause of there being nothing entered to sail against the Phantom, may be attributed to the disorganized state of tonnage admeasurement. The first of these matches, which it will be our pleasure to notice, was sailed on the 12th ult., by small yachts belonging to members of the Prince of Wales Yacht Club, for two prizes: one for yachts not exceeding ten tons, the other for yachts not exceeding eight tons; course, from Erith to the Chapman Light, and back. The following were entered, and took up their stations at the starting buoys :

This match was looked forward to with some degree of interest, on account of two new and untried vessels being entered, both of which were said to be unmistakeable clippers. One of these, the Flirt, was built by Harvey and Son, of Halifax Yard, Ipswich; and as far as appearances go, is a promising little boat. The other, the Silver Cloud, was built by Harding, of Barking: this vessel may probably be fast in light winds; she has an immense spread of canvas; is sloop-rigged, and her sails are laced to booms. She is a roughlooking boat, with an upright sternpost. The Violet and Little Mosquito are both well known racing yachts. The former was built from her owner's design, and is a bold sea-going vessel; very fast on a wind, in a good breeze; she is sloop-rigged, and was sailed throughout the day by Mr. Kirby, her owner. The Little Mosquito has been altered since last year; and was manned on the present occasion by Itchen boatmen; it having been said that she always sailed faster under their management than otherwise. The two other vessels, Rifleman and Veritas, are quite unfit for match-sailing; and it seemed almost like presumption on the part of their owners to enter them against such a fleet of clippers as those opposed to them on this occasion. It may, however, be some gratification to them to find, that one of them (the Rifleman) arrived at the winning goal just fifty minutes behind the winning yacht! the other (the Veritas) was more than hour astern!

Soon after starting, the Little Mosquito and Flirt appeared exceedingly jealous of each other's movements, and for some time were hampering themselves by luffing across one another's bows, and

running out of their course, in a manner anything but advantageous to either yacht; and by which means they both lost ground. The Violet and Silver Cloud having passed them during their manœuvres. In running through Long Reach and Northfleet Hope, most of them found they had as much canvas as they knew what to do with; the puffs were heavy and threatening; and we almost trembled for the ticklish ones, as they lay as nearly on their beam-ends as it is possible to imagine, without capsizing. Far greater risks are incurred in these small vessels during a match, than in large yachts, even in a gale of wind. The hulls of some were literally buried at times; but it was all plain sailing; the tug-of-war was destined for the beat back. Almost anything with large sails will run before a strong wind; but it must be a real clipper to turn up skilfully in such a breeze as that on the day of the match.

The Silver Cloud was first round the steamer, at the Chapman Head; then Flirt, Violet, Mosquito, Veritas, and Rifleman; there being just thirteen minutes between the first and last boat. The Mosquito and Veritas were observed to have three reefs down; the others but two. A few minutes after rounding sufficed to show that the Violet had not her equal there in turning to windward; in a few tacks she passed the Flirt, and before arriving at the Hole Haven, the Siver Cloud was forced to succumb to her superior qualities. The Flirt then put on her best efforts, and took the second position. The Mosquito shook out one of her reefs, and set a larger jib, which increased her speed, and she soon after passed the Cloud. There was plenty of sea for the little clippers in Lower Hope. The Violet and Flirt made very good weather of it, notwithstanding; but the Veritas and some of the other tender-ones appeared at times in perilous positions. The Flirt stuck close by the Violet a long time, but never could pass her. Some very spirited sailing also took place between Mosquito and Cloud; which two vessels were well matched. The race terminated as under :

Everybody belonging to the yachts was drenched to the skin, from spray and wash; and to say the least of the match, although recklessly sailed by some, it was as spirited and deserving a race as we have ever witnessed by such small vessels. The first prize was awarded to the deserving owner of the Violet, and the second to Mr. Young, of the Flirt.

We now come to one of the most interesting matches of the season, the Royal Thames Yacht Club Schooner match, for a prize of the value of £100. This match has long been looked forward to with considerable interest, it being the first time that schooner yachts have been handicapped in the Thames club. The new arrangement of allowing a quarter-minute per ton had been loudly applauded, and had given universal satisfaction. The judiciousness of the plan obviously proved itself by a numerous entry of beautiful vessels; nothing was then to be wished for but a good breeze: and if ever a suitable day for a match of

the kind was seen, it was on the fortunate 14th ult. Eolus was, on that occasion, peculiarly favourable to the yachts throughout the day, and filled the sails of the fairy-like clippers with bounteous puffs, squalls, and strong breezes, such as sturdy yachtsmen welcome with delight and satisfaction. At 11 o'clock the following vessels took up their stations in a line across the river, abreast of Rosherville Pier, No. 1 being to the southward :—

The Wildfire was originally a cutter belonging to Sir Percy Shelley, Bart., and under that rig she was an exceedingly pretty-looking yacht; but in schooner's attire she is just the reverse, having more the appearance of a north country lugger, as she lay amongst the others, than a schooner yacht. The Lalla Rookh is a fine powerful-looking vessel; and, as will be seen by her tonnage admeasurement, was nearly double the size of three out of four of her opponents; she was built in 1854, by Wanhill, of Poole: and this was her first appearance in a sailingmatch. The Vestal is a low, rakish-looking craft, with a flat floor and deep keel; she was built by Inman, of Lymington, in 1852 : she won a prize in 1853, beating Novice and Derwent schooners. The Sappho is a sturdy-looking sea-going yacht; but her sails are not large enough or match sailing: she was built by Camper, of Gosport, in 1853. The Aquiline, as far as appearances go, was decidedly the flower of the fleet; she is as pretty a little vessel as the eye could desire to rest upon : she was built by Harvey, of Ipswich, in 1853, and has on several occasions proved very fast in beating to windward; she won a cup at Antwerp in that year, and has sailed remarkably well on two other occasions, viz., at Hull and Lowestoff; her sails are small for match-sailing, and she requires a strong wind to display her most powerful qualities. At half-past twelve the signal was given for starting, when the Vestal took the lead, but was soon passed by Lalla Rookh, Wildfire third, Aquiline fourth, and Sappho last. The wind being nearly due west, the run down produced little variation in the positions of the yachts. Lalla Rookh appeared to have a lead of nearly a mile, Vestal and Wildfire being close together, Aquiline and Sappho running side by side nearly all the way to the Nore, when Sappho appeared to increase her speed, and each having lowered topsails they rounded the Mouse light vessel in the following order :-Lalla Rookh, Wildfire, Vestal, Sappho, Aquiline, there being but nine minutes difference between the first and last; Lalla Rookh was therefore anything but sure of the prize, she having to allow the last vessel 14 minutes and a quarter, and the Wildfire 15. The scene now presented an exceedingly pretty picture, as each vessel careened to the wind, and dashed along, throwing clouds of spray over their decks with sportive vengeance. A heavy squall was soon after observed rapidly approaching, and Vestal and Wildfire took the precaution to reef their sails, not so with either Lalla, Sappho, or Aquiline; they appeared to greet the squall with a kindly welcome, as