his exchequer on every occasion he exchanges the pure air for the noxious atmosphere of a theatre. From this question being mooted, how many others it has given rise to! and what arrant nonsense has been uttered on the several topics! Immediately the leading journal commenced to discuss the general inconveniences of a visit to the play, how many, to be sure, rushed into print with their many grievances! It is quite astonishing how the several doleful "complainants could have so long and patiently endured their fate. With the exception of one impracticable suggestion, in the whole correspondence which has been so mercilessly showered upon the world, there has not been anything in the shape of good sound advice or hints whereby wholesome reformation might be introduced. Nothing of the kind. All was fault-finding. "But SO it is, and SO it ever will be, that blame has more tongues than praise." In the heat of all this battle, especial mark has been made of the LYCEUM— on the principle, perhaps, of its being about one of the last theatres that any reasonable objection could be urged against. Much of what Mr. Charles Mathews brings forward tells upon the subject of paying for seats. Whose fault is it-the demands of the box-keepers? The public's. "Is not one man as good as another, Paddy?" "Yes, and a devilish sight better!" Acting on this principle, every one uses his best endeavours to secure the best place; and whether it be in a railway carriage or in the boxes of a theatre, it is the same. To secure this advantage, Mr. Public pays his shilling, and-grumbles. This has been the case, is the case, and will continue to be the case, notwithstanding Mr. Charles Mathews has for the second time abolished the plan. Can he prevent his servants selling the Lyceum bills? There may, it is true, be some propriety in protecting the audience to as great an extent as possible from insult and extortion. It would greatly facilitate this purpose if the boxkeepers were to receive the decoration of not the order-but the badge, in the shape of a number, like a driver or a conductor. Such a plan would be far more facile for the angry and infuriated public; besides, it would be more pleasant to forward to the manager the number of his box-opener, instead of making passing allusions to an upturned nose, or a running rhapsody on the delicate chiselling (appropriate term!) of the classical features, with a descriptive account of the habits in which the offender might be encased. Amongst the numerous annoyances, perplexities, and taxes which are enumerated by the irascible gentlemen who have so graphically detailed their theatrical troubles, there is one which involves the fee of a shilling for securing the seats of several visitors. Now, in the name of all that is fair, upright, and honest, this is not too much for ensuring comfortable places. If no charge were made, the public would soon find the change to be attended with unpleasant results: the altered state of matters would bring about chaos and confusion, as must be naturally supposed when everybody would be anxious to make certain of the best place for nothing. 153 NOTES OF THE PAST MONTH. A reference to the Leicestershire Budget, as well as to the reports from Uncle Scribble, Cecil, and other of our correspondents, will show how the past open month has been spent in some of the best countries. Such a season for sport has seldom been known; and the only fear is that some masters may find it a little too good for the average strength of their establishments. You often meet one just up and anxiously on the look out for a useful nag or two to carry on the war with; the catalogues, however, have contained nothing remarkably tempting of late, if we except only the Brothers Mason's lot of hunters, which were offered at Hyde-park Corner on the 24th. Even these scarcely reached "the style one might expect to find with so fashionable a s table, and the prices generally were by no means extraordinary. The sale was consequent on a dissolution of partnership, one of the firm, James Mason, having entered into partnership of another kind. In the changes contemplated by the close of the season we are sorry to see Captain West gives up the Bath Staghounds. Every one allows that a better sportsman or a more popular master could not have been found; we hope the good city may yet be enabled to keep him with them. There are other rumours afloat hardly ripe enough for authority as yet, one of which threatens the withdrawal of Sir Richard Sutton from the Quorn. Again we hope to hear of a new lease being entered on. Mr. Greaves appears more determined to relinquish the South Wold after the short taste he has had of it; and Mr. Drax's Hounds we hear are as certainly in the market. The steeple-chase now just coming into play, although with no great flourish of trumpets, loses the support of Mr. Vevers, one of the most successful practitioners of this hazardous pastime. His horses have been sold in a lot to a Lancashire gentleman, who, however, sends them into Berkshire for their preparation. The world at last appears willing to acknowledge the merits of the Ilsley Downs as a training-ground— perhaps the very finest we have. The pony-match from Oxford to London and back has ended in the interference of Mr. Thomas, and the infliction of a fine. There was, of course, some strongish cross-firing in the evidence; but the pony, though a good deal beat at the time, doesn't seem to have been really much the worse for his performance. It is an ill wind, and ill rain, too, that will not do somebody good; and the Brechin Advertiser holds out the following in trust to the king fisher—of the mighty salmon, that is. May the oldest inhabitant referred to prove as correct as usual :— "Owing to the continued high state of the river, a greater number of salmon, some of which are very large, have ascended it than in any season in the remembrance of the oldest angler on its banks. We have been informed by one who is employed in protecting them during the spawning season, and who, since "his arm had seven years' pith," has waged an incessant warfare against the finny tribe, that he has seen two larger than any fish of the salmon kind which ever came under his observation. From the above, our brethren of the rod may anticipate brilliant sport in the beginning of the season, which commences on Tuesday the 1st of February.” "The Eleven of England" have lately been engaged in a very pretty quarrel amongst themselves, Clarke, the secretary and slow-bowler, being thought to take the game a little too much into his own hands. As usual, this tu quoque kind of thing cannot do much good, although it may work some desirable reform. We are glad, however, to see that our friend Nunquam Dormio " is about to close his columns on it. 66 STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. SALE OF BLOOD STOCK. At York, on the 1st of January, by Mr. Robert Johnson, in the Windmill-yard : Ann Eliza, by Iago out of Miss Eliza, 3 yrs. (Mr. Ewbank) GS. 700 140 ........ 100 Chesnut Mare (dam of The Maid of Lincoln), by Bran out of Mamsel The Maid of Lincoln, chesnut filly, by Orlando, 4 yrs.; in foal to Nancy Martinson, bay filly, by Sleight of Hand out of Mrs. Hudson Miss Eliza (the dam of Ann Eliza), by Humphrey Clinker (Mr. ཎྜ ༅ ིམའ ཋ 60 52 35 .... The Squire, by The Saddler, dam by Minos (Mr. H. S. Thompson).. Cleopatra, by Sir Hercules out of Happy go Lucky. Grey Roan Filly, 2 yrs., by The Squire, dam by St. Nicholas, grand. At Birmingham, by Messrs. Brotherton and Harrison, a two-year-old filly by Cotherstone out of Pulka, for 12 gs. Lord Durham has sold Equation, the dam of Exact, in foal to Irish Birdcatcher, in to the Royal Stud at Hampton Court; Lord Burghley, Gualior for a stallion to Mr. J. Pollock, of Mountainstown, Ireland, who, by the way, has also purchased the well-known greyhound Wiltshire Marquis, of Doctor Scott. Vatican, purchased for the stud by Mr. Stebbing, will stand at Harewood; and the Bishop of Romford's Cob, purchased by Mr. Watson, at Dursley, Devon. Mr. Death has sold Blood Royal to Count Lowenberg for 280 gs.; Mr. Wilkins his two-year-old Nelly (sister to Nancy) into Stebbings' stable. Mr. J. Dawson's horses are about to be removed from Middleham to Ilsley, where they will be trained for the future. We have to record the death of Mr. Fowler, of Eardington, Birmingham, in his fiftieth year. Mr. Fowler was a steady supporter of the turf, and had in his time some very fair horses, including Heron and others. This stud, in which are some promising two-year-olds, with Forester, Calot, &c., will be shortly brought to the hammer. Alderman Copeland's two-year-old filly, Becky Sharp, died a short time since; Mr. J. Barnard's chesnut yearling filly by Sirikol out of Corybantes' dam, of inflammation; and on the 21st Mr. J. Barnard's two-year-old chesnut filly by Harkaway out of Louise, suddenly, on pulling up after galloping. Mr. W. R. Scott's Sextus, by Pompey out of Tickton's dam, is also amongst the deaths. Mr. Topham has again succeeded in framing a most satisfactory handicap for the Chester Cup. So far we have scarcely heard a word against it. The number of horses already backed will show how many are ready to believe they are fairly treated. If there is a weak place, however, it is with Lady Evelyn, there being quite a rush to get on directly the weights appeared. Still the handicap begins rather light with Kingston at 8st. 121b., and closing with Tacony at 4st. 7lb. Our prices do not range further back than the publication of it; and, as usual, we defer attempting any table until the declarations are received. They cannot be all in before the time this appears. The acceptance of just half the nominations for the Metropolitanin which, by the way, two or three names much fancied by the public are not to be found-has given very little additional interest to the race. Somehow, it does take as a game of speculation. The Irish horse, Redmond O'Hanlon, with Contentment, Lampedo and Pug Orrock have at present about the best of it; while Richmond and Galvanism are on worse terms than their backers might have calculated for a week or two since. The " now and then mention of most of the others to be found in the table carries its own comment. The Danebury "division" has been the great event of the month in connection with the Derby. A family quarrel that has been for some time brewing has at length ended in open war; and John Day, senior, with the support of Mr. Howard, left house and home. He is already settled in his new quarters, at Michel Grove, with Little Harry, Vaultress, Eulogist, Milesian, Belgrave, Rataplan, &c., to keep him company. The brothers John and Alfred also lose another of their cracks in Hurworth; although he, too, stays in the family, having been brought into William Day's stable at, as it is said, a very long figure. Cineas, now the great hope of the Stockbridge firm, has not created so much sensation since his supremacy there has become more directly acknowledged; in fact the quondam "lot" have not been done much with since the break up, although Rataplan may come "a cracker" before long. Of the other horses not concerned in this unfortunate squabble, West Australian and Pharos have both had backers during the month, the latter more particularly fancied by his friends. Per contra, Orestes, The Reiver, and Cheddar, have enjoyed, by comparison, but languid and occasional support. The most constant, however, in their attentions have been the admirers of Sittingbourne; the feeling began to develop itself in re the Two Thousand, for which, though, some of the "better-informed appear to consider West Australian as the more likely nag. On this event there is but little for choice between them just now. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP. (Run April 7.) Contentment, 3 yrs., 4st. 7lb 5st. 6lb..... THE CHESTER CUP, (Run May 4.)-20 to 1 against Lady Evelyn, aged. 8st.; 25 to 1 Scarecrow, 4 yrs., 6st. 4lb.; 30 to 1 Constantine, 4 yrs., 6st. 4lb.; 33 to 1 Trifle, 4 yrs., 5st. 121b.; 40 to 1 each Mountain Deer, 5 yrs., 8st. 5lb.; Richard Primmer, 4 yrs., 5st. 8lb.; Indian Warrior, 4 yrs., 7st. 6lb.; Contentment, 3 yrs., 4st. 12lb.; 50 to 1 each Montague, aged, 6st. 12lb.; Little Jack, 6 yrs., 6st. 10lb.; Newminster, 5 yrs., 8st. 8lb.; Friday, 3 yrs., 4st, 12lb.; The Hatchet, 3 yrs., 5st. 21b.; The Sally Warfoot Colt, 4 yrs., 6st. 121b.; Black Doctor, 5 yrs., 7st. 3lb.; Valour, 3 yrs., 5st. 8lb.; Fionn-ma-Coul, 3 yrs., 4st. 12lb.; Babette, 4 yrs., 6st.; 2,000 to 35 Merrybird, 4 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; 1,000 to 15 each Tremble, 3 yrs., 4st. 12lb.; Banshee, 4 yrs., 5st. 121b.; Sister to Wanota, 5 yrs., 6st. 4lb.; Truth, 5 yrs., 7st. 10lb.; Bellewstown, 5 yrs., 6st. 81b.; Bit of Blue, 4 yrs., 7st. 121b.; 100 to 1 each Adine, 4 yrs., 7st. 61b.; Agnes Wickfield, 4 yrs., 6st.; The Begum Colt, 3 yrs., 5st. 2lb.; Charity, 3 yrs., 4st. 10lb.; Talfourd, 3 yrs., 4st. 10lb.; Timid Fawn, 5 yrs., 6st. 8lb.; Hungerford, 5 yrs., 7st. 6lb.; Sanita, 4 yrs., 6st. 8lb.; Woolwich, aged, 7st. 12lb.; Shropshire Lass, 3 yrs., 4st. 10lb.; Prevention, 3 yrs., 5st. 4lb. ; Ianthe, 5 yrs., 6 st. 6lb.; Weathergage, 4 yrs., 8st. 8lb.; Bardolph, 4 yrs., 6st. 4lb.; Ammonia, 4 yrs., 6st.; Knight of the Shire, 4 yrs., 7st. 8lb.; Stamford, 3 yrs., |