this part of the business, to you who are a warm admirer of the fine old British agriculturist. Well, we killed him in the cover-very pleasant-not that he wished to be killed, on the contrary; being most probably bred at Thrupp or Welton, he made up his mind to break for that point the only objection was our Protectionist friend, servants, labourers, and hangers on, pitchfork in hand, to prevent him. He was killed in cover. This is inconvenient; however, away we went; and having unkennelled a fresh fox at Wade's Hill, we forgot our sorrows, There could be no mistake about scent, for we raced him along the road to Nobottle Wood. Here he had no time to hang. Through the covers he went, closely pressed by Charles, and attended by Mr. Villiers, and that excellent sportsman Mr. West, of Dallington, on the left hand side of the wood; he broke to the right, but crossed the road, leading to Althorp-round the park wall (Lord Spencer's I mean), over the grass fields towards Holmby. Here he descended, and bending to the left again, nothing daunted by the strong fencing and fine scenting ground before us, carried us to Buckby Folly-44 minutes of hunting, and I feel almost inclined to say the best I ever saw in my life. The field at the commencement was the largest, at this check the smallest, comparatively, I remember of late years. Mr. Villiers had an excellent start, and went admirably throughout. I also saw Lord Euston and Mr. Payne, where such men usually are; and I saw a strange mixture of road-riders and beaten horses anxious to describe every field of the run to one another. But the business of the day was not over; for we went away from Buckby Folly in 8 minutes, with (I fear I must admit) a fresh fox, who gave us a very pretty gallop to West Haddon; and when hounds looked like killing, and Pug was evidently just before them, a road, a pigstye, and a false halloo, with some other untoward circumstances balked us of our prey. I have no hesitation in saying that from Nobottle to Buckby Folly is the best 35 minutes which we have had this season, indeed, it could not be better. I am glad of the success of this season, as it will encourage Lord Hopetoun to continue as master of a very fine pack of hounds, an admirable stud of horses, and a country unsurpassed even by Leicestershire. The success he has hitherto met with is not more than he deserves; and, if he had no other qualities to endear him to his neighbours, his love of sport, his anxiety to promote it, his urbanity, his unpretending pluck, and unaffected good nature, ought to ensure him the good wishes and assistance of his equals, and the respect of his inferiors, In one instance he has not met with it,

The fine old British farmer used to be a by-word in every man's mouth as the patron of all sport; without regard to politics, he was himself a fox-hunter, and the fox-hunter's friend. He loved his wheat much, but he loved fox-hunting more, It made no difference to him whether he kept one horse or six-whether he had the gout or notwhether he was 20 stone or 12; he loved sport because it was English, and because he knew that without a close connection between the landlord and the tenant, depending on their mutual pleasures, and not on their mutual obligations, they would cease to be friends. But this happy feeling is surely not wearing away? Are there to be no more cakes and ale because Mr. does'nt like them? We trust the gentleman who cultivates the land round Dodford Holt will consider the mutual obligations of farmer and consumer; will remember the oats

that are bought, the hands that are employed by the very persons against whom he raises a phalanx of pitchforks in the hands of his servants. Let the fox break where he will, the chances are very much against his crossing one particular field of wheat; and if he did, the general object of fox-hunters is not to do damage-their general line is not for heavy plough, but something lighter.

I trust your landlords teach your farmers better manners; I think ours will if it occurs again.

I have had three desperate attempts at a run with the Quorn for your information; until yesterday I was unsuccessful: I then saw a lovely day, a very large field, some by slow work, and then some very fast. In fact, after wasting the morning, we found at Billesden Coplow, and had a quick 30 minutes, killing our fox at Lowesby after a ring. The hounds are very handsome, and very even; the country very good, rather hilly, and perfectly practicable, which is something.

Jan. 14th.

MY LIFE

Yours ever,

SCRIBBLE.

AND ADVENTURES.

BY HARRY HIEOVER.

There are so many sayings corroborative of the fact that, “let what will occur, it must be advantageous to some, and the reverse to others," that such truism is admitted on all hands. Perhaps few things more affect the pleasures or interests of men than does the weather; and over this we have no control. I should say that a thoroughly wet day, giving no sign or promise of amendment, is the one the most against the interest and desires of combined society. Even the ducks are sometimes seen getting too much of it, and are glad to seek shelter from further saturation. Now a sudden, regular drencher, coming down in such torrents as to form a direct cascade, is an honest, jocund, merry fellow. He promises you a soaking, if you only give him three minutes to effect it in; but then we know, his freak over, we shall have warmth and sunshine again. His visit often produces a deal of fun, not unlike the sudden appearance of two or three dashing fellows among a bevy of girls unprepared to receive them. How they do run and squeak and laugh! Are they angry? Not a bit they like the confusion. It would be the prosing fellow, who would sit for hours with them saying nothing, or nothing he should say, and acting like a damper on their spirits, that they would dislike: he is the really wet day.

"What of frost?" some reader may say. If he addressed to me such question, I can only say I do most wickedly hate a frost, with most uncharitable hate. "Why? there's skating." Well, skating is well enough, and elegant in those who skate well. I was particularly firm on my feet, or rather skates, and could go a burster straightforward with as much speed, nearly as much force, and about as much elegance as a bison crossing a prairie; but the only sensation I could imagine

myself creating in spectators was, "I wish that fellow would break his neck, to prevent his breaking that of other persons' by coming in contact with them." I consider the great merit of skates is, they enable one to get off the ice quicker than common boots.

"There is wild-fowl shooting." Granted. And delightful amusement I can conceive it to be, to men who, like poor Mytton, could luxuriate, on a frosty night, in shirt only. The wild duck (when got) I greatly admire; so I do those who take the trouble of getting him. Sleighing." Delightful; but to render it exciting, it should be in Russia, with a dozen wolves in hot pursuit-there, and in such case, I should prefer the sledge to a neat drag and a team; but here, to enable the team to go, I should pray the frost to go, and go quickly." Harry Hieover is quite of my way of thinking," said Mr. Turfman, closing some book out of which he had read the above to Ned, who was holding my head while I was scraped and dressed after a sweat.

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We certainly had had nothing to complain of as regarded frosts. I was glad we had not; for the only time I ever saw Turfman out of humour was after a day or two of hard frost, with appearance of its having set in, when he told Ned he must be getting the straw beds down. However, the frost went, and with it Turfman's temporary chagrin.

The sweat I have mentioned, at which Mr. Turfman was producing written corroborative opinion that frost is foe to all the proceedings of hunting or racing men, was, I found, the last I had to undergo before the trial that was to test the merits of us youngsters. The important morning came. I had been carefully set overnight; so I had been previous to other sweats: but when I was saddled, I could not but fancy I perceived an air of importance about my attendant not usual with him. I perceived he had spurs on, a whip instead of his usual riding plant. I saw a jockey till now a stranger to me mount a three-year-old, who had sometimes led us our gallop, and Ben was on the detested Pantaloon colt; Ned on a horse that had never before gone in our string, evidently an old stager; and, altogether, I saw something unusual was going on. On arriving at a particular part of our exercise-ground, each lad was told to give his colt a canter. We made somewhat of a goodly array, six of us young ones, and the other two, who, I considered, were to pilot us. After our canter, and while being walked back, I saw Turfman gallop away on his hack. On joining the jockey and Ned, the boys were told to get their colts as nearly in line as they could, and to start on the word being given by the jockey. "Oho," thinks I, “by all my hopes, but this is the trial! By the blood of the Meteors, if I die in the struggle, I will not disgrace my breeding!" Whether it was fancy or not, I cannot say; but I could not help thinking I perceived my rider and Ben eyeing each other's movements, while they seemed to pay no attention to the others. There were two colts between us. It was perhaps lucky it was so; for, had it not been, I felt quite inclined to fulfil my threat of savaging one I held as my rival. On being pretty well in line, the jockey on the three-year-old said, "Now mind, boys, I shall turn round at the next post : do you do the same. Be all ready to get your colts on their legs; and when I give you the word, I'll make the pace for you."

come away.

"Off!" and away we went. The first quarter of a mile showed the pace did not suit two of the young lot; the half-mile told out the two

others; and I, the Pantaloon colt, and the three-year-old were nearly head-and-girth, us young ones hard held. On nearing home, I saw the jockey "at his horse's head :" he was outpaced. "Go on, boys," said he, pulling up his horse. Our business was not, however, over; for close to us came Ned on his horse. Whether he could have beat us or not, I cannot say; for apparently he was only taking our measure as to pretension, so kept half-a-length behind us. We were now not a hundred yards from home. I had hitherto pulled hard to get forward. My rider was now down in his saddle, and not only tried all he could to bring me past my opponent, but struck me with his whip; and I now felt his spur. It was no time to resist. I strained every nerve. I was neither tired nor winded, but was at the top of my speed. I saw the seven-leagued-legged one was nearly done: he rolled like a ship at Still, a couple of strokes of the whip, the spurs sharply applied, and his head let loose, enabled him to make an enormous stride or two; and he passed me a clear length, though himself dead beat by the exertion. Oh, how I longed for another quarter of a mile! I could have made mince-meat of him. After we were pulled up, Master Ben could not help indulging in a little shy at my rider.

sea.

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Well, Sam," said he, "I see you brought your coach in at last." "Yes, I did," said Sam; "and if you can put your colt up behind me, I'll carry him home, or else, poor devil! he'll never get there."

On getting back to our stables, Mo came to learn how the trial had come off. This was explained to him,

"Beat!" cries Mo, half choking with anger and indignation," then a pretty dollop of weight you must have made him give your favourite, I'll answer for it; for as to beating at even weights, the thing's unpossible." And away he flung, no doubt to vent his anathemas against Mr. Turfman at leisure.

However highly I might think of myself and my general capabilities, this trial quite let me into one secret, well known to racing persons, but not so generally known to others-namely, For most races of the present day, however stout or good a horse may be, though he may be able to run over a mile and a half in as little time as it ever has been run over, it does not ensure him a Derby winner. Unless he has the capability of extraordinary exertions of speed for the last few lengths of the finish, he will probably be beaten by one who, take him all in all, is but a jade. I had cut down my hated rival so that he could not have lived another hundred yards; yet, as a final effort, he had a turn of speed left in him that lasted long enough to land him a winner. true that, like the expiring taper, after the last flicker, his light was out; but the momentary brilliant ray was what was wanted at the moment,

A visit from my master to my box, in company with his trainer, gave me a little insight into racing manoeuvres, to which I had hitherto been a stranger, and soothed my wounded vanity in no small degree.

"Well, Turfman," said the master, "I find you was right as to the qualities of the two colts."

"I was, sir," said Turfman," so far as the Pantaloon colt being the best calculated for a Derby winner; but I am happy to say I had not quite rightly measured the other, Of his stoutness I never had a doubt; but I confess I had no conception he could go the pace he can. They are both very superior, each in their way, and must be; for, in

fact, I was very hard on them in their trial, for, in the first place, I made the length half a quarter of a mile longer than is usual for colts of their age; and secondly, I gave our three-year-old a pull in his favour as to weight. Our two yearlings fairly outpaced him; and Ned, on the old horse, says, if he could have taken the win from the young ones, he felt it would have been just a toucher; so we are quite sure we have two race-horses among our young ones. It remains with us to manage them to the best advantage."

"As I have not been long an owner of race-horses, I am quite willing to be guided by your advice," says our master. "Now, what is it? and how do you propose to turn our colts to the best advantage ?"

"Why, sir," replied Turfman, "as ours are private stables, we can carry out our wishes, with a little management, in a way we probably could not do if our colts were in public training-stables; not but that I allow the last have their advantages in some respects. Still, we have this advantage: we may run our colts as two-year-olds, to win if they can, to lose if we like; or we can keep them dark.”

"I do not quite like running to lose, Turfman: I wish to run my horses as a sportsman," said our master, somewhat stiffly.

"You will be pleased to excuse me," most deferentially replied Mr, Turfman. "You do not wish to run your horses as a sportsman, but as a gentleman; and this is what every man on the turf ought to do: but it is what no man must do in the present day, unless he means to fill other people's pockets at the expense of his own, and then get no thanks for doing so. As racing has become, we must fight racing men at their own weapons; and then, unless we keep a sharp edge on our own, we shall get the worst of it. Now, sir, if we were not to run our colts as two years old, we should keep them quite dark as to their qualities. They would, in fact, probably not be in the betting on the Derby; but, having two, we may as well make something before that time, particularly as the way in which we shall run them will get us any odds we like against our Pantaloon colt, for the other must be made our great pot.

"Why, I thought," said our master, "you had no very high opinion of him as a Derby horse, and that he had scarcely any chance of winning it."

"Exactly, sir," said Turfman ;" and I don't want to give the public much chance of winning either, at least not from us. It is known both our colts are in the race. I know our trial was not watched. I shall take care the boys don't talk; and Ned and our jockey know too much to do so. We shall talk pretty large of our Meteor colt: we are quite sure Mo will. I shall make out that I did in the trial give the Pantaloon colt weight in his favour; so, as it was a near thing, if anything is said, it wont matter. We shall run our colts for a good thing or two as two-year-olds. I am pretty sure the Meteor colt can win a handsome stake: if he does not, I am quite certain he will run forward enough to get up pretty high in the Derby betting; so we shall know what to do there and if our Pantaloon runs well enough to get himself in much favour, why, it will be my fault. So, if we win a good stake with the Meteor colt, win some pretty good bets by our pot boiling over for the Derby, and win it with the Pantaloon, you wont have much fault