keep their hunters and become inhabitants of the country; but that they prefer, and perhaps wisely prefer, making three thousand a-year of their capital in business, to living on one, as its produce, in the way men unaccustomed to turn capital to its best account would do. Such men are welcomed by the field, and in many such cases the chief regret is, that their occupations prevent their being oftener seen. Such men do not come in swarms; they are not the Jackeens who only began hunting yesterday, and keep as many hunting coats (or perhaps more) than horses, and would not hunt at all if their coat was not a scarlet one; nor am I at all certain, but if we could oblige such to wear a topcoat to hide "the pink," as they universally term it, but that such privation would all but put a stopper on their desire for hunting. "Faugh," as Hamlet says, when he throws down the skull of Yorick. And having said this, let us say no more. That any dislike of a field to such high-breds or low-breds does not arise from their not being of the aristocracy is shewn by the cordial greeting often-nay, usually shewn to any farmer or yeoman who spares his day from his business to go with my lord to-morrow." He sports his blue, green, or brown frock; a nag that can go, and is not unfrequently looked to as a pilot who knows where he is going, and gives a shrewd guess as to where a fox means going to, also. Should the kill take place in the neighbourhood of the worthy yeoman, the highest in the field accepts not the merely proffered, but produced luncheon, with the same feelings of cordiality as evinced by the donor; who in his turn, under similar circumstances, would be as cordially welcomed where foreign produce sparkles in its cut crystal, instead of home production in the foaming jug. And why? He is in his place in the hunting field; is a friend to sport, a preserver of game, and, better still, a preserver of his own respectability. He in his turn would be held an intruder, if, with halfa-dozen boisterous friends, he and they obtruded themselves in a box at the theatre, and astounded the audience by unseemly applause or exclamation in the deepest part of a tragedy, or by laughs that could shake the very seats under them, because that inimitable little unapproachable Mrs. Keeley justly merited the properly elicited plaudits of the house; he would be there a Snob; and the MAN HUNTING from Oxford-street would be, if there, one of the first to shew he knew more of London etiquette, by his condemnation of the countryman's gaucherie. A But in the reverse order of things, we have been giving our attention to Snobs, when, in the proper order of precedence, we should have first paid our devoirs to the Nobs; but in some palliation of such seeming dereliction from due respect, we are not to read for Nobs Noblemen, or always men for whom we can feel much admiration or respect. man who is fond of bulldogs encourages any scamp who, if he met that staunch and disinterested patron of humanity and punisher of cruelty or vice, Mr. Bishop, of Bond-street, might well quote, "Of all men, most I have avoided thee." The encourager of bulldog sport is hailed among the promoters of bull, bear, or badger baiting; he is among them and in the localities they frequent, a Nob. The man who is known to all the fair and frail frequenters of the saloons of the theatres, the saloon in Piccadilly, and elsewhere, and spends his money there, is there a Nob. I have said that we must not for Nob read Nobleman; but verily I have known many, and now know some noblemen, who are quite satisfied by being thought Nobs, and that among those with whom, so long as they mix, Nobs only will they remain. But we are not to imagine that Nobs are only to be found in the cock or rat-pit; they are patent among all non-professionals in any particular pursuit, and unless that pursuit is one of a high order, a great debasement of the character of the gentleman is certain to be the result. The patroniser of theatricals, so long as he merely sought and kept up the acquaintance of such characters as Kemble, Young, Macready, and others of equally estimable conduct and standing, rather elevates than degrades himself, be he who he may, by selecting men of such talent and conduct as his intimates. But he who (if it still is in existence) is an ostensible character among the low employés of a theatre at the O.P. and P.S. Tavern, becomes a Nob there, but a Snob everywhere else. Let us now look more particularly to Nobs of a sporting character, and somewhat low, to speak of them in the most favourable terms, such men are. Be he hunting man, racing, steeple-chasing, match-against-time man, cricketer, pedestrian, or patroniser of the pugilistic ring-though he may in a proper manner patronise or participate in each pursuit, and yet not lose the standing of a gentleman the moment he makes the regular professor of either his companions is the moment from whence may be dated his abandonment of gentlemanly ideas and habits. Each man who will hold the professor of a favourite sport, as one with whom to be on terms of intimacy, lays himself open to the charge I have made against him; there is here no feeling of prejudice. A low man, be he as distinguished as he may in pursuits that do not elevate him, is no companion for a man above the common herd; his particular pursuit makes no difference, among pursuits none in themselves intellectual. Some, no doubt, are more to be esteemed than others; but none of such as I have particularised are of a character elevated enough to render the proficients in them, from that cause alone, companions for a gentleman. We will suppose a case: We have had a capital run, and killed our fox handsomely. There could be nothing ungentlemanly in sending for the huntsman, giving him half-a-dozen glasses of wine, talking over the day's run, and hearing all we could of the pack we admired, and the men who rode the chase to admiration. I can find hundreds who would agree with me in this. But suppose I proposed doing the same thing by my lord's valet, I should have all of them in open arms against me. And why? Because Furzeblossom, the huntsman, could talk of subjects that they could only appreciate, and Le Maire could not. Now most certainly for the evening I should send for the huntsman, and as certainly should not for Monsieur Le Maire. But suppose I was obliged to be inflicted with the company of one or other of these individuals every night for six months, the case would be widely altered. In a night or two I could get all out of Mr. Furzeblossom that he knew, his knowledge being confined to the kennel and hunting; but Le Maire has, with his lord, been in countries in which I have not been, and seen men and places I have not seen. So, if I am to pass a hundred and eightytwo and a-half evenings with a servant, in mercy give me the most intellectual one, and one from whom I may and probably should get valuable information. Associating with professors of any sort frequently turns out far less satisfactory than might be anticipated; but mixing with the professors of low or common-place pursuits is sure to be expensive, and all but as sure to be degrading. Sporting men, unless men of high standing, are apt to be very improperly stigmatised by persons of opposite habits. Low such characters may be, and are; but not a bit more so than actors, musicians, singers, dancers, lawyers' clerks, medical pupils, or any other set of men, if they are of a low order and low habits. It is not the avocation alone that makes a man low, it is the habits and mind of the man. Mr. Jackson, the teacher and professor of boxing, though he did exhibit in the prizering, was a man that those of unblemished character and high standing often shook hands with. I once dined at table with him and eight other persons, when a duke, and a highly estimated duke, was the host; that noble was not a mere Nob, or ever held as such; nor was Jackson a Snob-in truth, his manners were gentlemanly, and still more, his universal conduct exemplary. Among our professional steeple-chase riders are to be found men of high respectability, good manners, and irreproachable conduct; those who are, I rank higher than Nobs. But suppose I could point out not only a Nob, but a nobleman who gave and received hospitalities to and from one of our steeple-chase riders, and he not one pre-eminent in the estimation of the generality of men. Suppose we will say at cards, language was at times used between such individuals as only befitted their (then) liason, I think it may fairly be said that EVEN Nob was too high a term for the one, but quite appropriate to the other-a distinguishing title we will hope he will eventually grow to estimate at its proper value. My pen not entitling me to the distinguished position of Nob, and not being emulative of such distinction in its general phase, I trust I shall be permitted to shelter myself under its antagonistic epithet. TURF PENCILLINGS. BY THE DRUID. "Low o'er the Ditch-mound peers the setting sun; In direct defiance of our usual custom, we turned our backs on the Cesarewitch this year, and waited patiently for the Houghton Meeting. The Criterion was the only race which met our ken on the Monday, and was as great a surprise to us as it was to the Ring. Para, the winner, is pretty-topped, not very big, and rather a light mare, but with lots of improvement about her. During the early part of the season she was below the mark; and the Stable have always с с considered her inferior to Habena. They seem also to have found out that waiting did not suit her; and hence, trusting to her rare condition, they gave orders to Sam Rogers to bring his horses through from end to end. Cruiser is a mere pony, and still less than his brother Bracken was at his age; but we hear that Sam formed a very high Derby opinion of him after his "neck" defeat. The Squire was sadly taken in about Rifleman (whom Nat had declared to be one of the very best horses he ever crossed), as he was beaten throughout. He, however, made good his York running with Saraband, who is certainly one of the most springy-pasterned and best-looking two-year-olds out. Rifleman is straight behind, and heavy from the point of the shoulder, and does not seem to get his legs well under him in his gallop-bad omens for a Derby favourite. To our minds, he is much more of a St. Leger horse, and will always be very dangerous over the flat. This race was certainly a smasher for the hopes of many, and proves that the Derby was never a more open question. Running one's eye over its nominations, there is not an animal who really occupies a high position in the public mind. Cavalier, the premier yearling of 1853 as far as price is concerned, has to bow his head to St. Hubert, a dark colt by Surplice, out of Ferina, who was purchased by Mr. Padwick, for 385 guineas, from the breeder of Grosvenor, a Mr. Sadler, of Doncaster. We saw the colt in his stable there last year, immediately after his sale, and thought him a very beautiful animal, but rather defective behind the saddle. Be this as it may (and it is likely to be the patent defect of the Surplices, who are all too big), the on dit is, that he has beaten Scythian at 9lbs., and can do what he likes with Oulston. To judge from the determined style in which Scott's party are supporting Græculus, it would seem that he has fairly cleaned out Bonnie Morn and De Clare. We hear that he is a big Epirus-looking horse, rather narrow, and highish on the leg. De Clare we do not like; and, really, Bonnie Morn has kept such bad company, that, despite his beautiful back, he must improve very much to have a chance at Epsom. Dirk Hatteraick and De Clare are dubious animals--very fine-topped, but with legs not at all in keeping with their build; and we doubt their standing a Derby preparation. Strood is said to be of a very weak, tumble-down-Dick calibre, and sadly below his two brothers. Kingstown is good-looking, but he must be only second-rate; and Lord of the Isles is long and narrow, and has very little Epsom cut about him. Lord Alfred and Flatterer must be pretty near of a form; and Rambling Katie, fine mare as she is, bears the same relation to Dirk Hatteraick. In fact, the escutcheon of Wild Dayrell is the most stainless, as he cut down Para in a canter, by two lengths, when the mare gave him 3lbs. He is a great slashing fellow, of full sixteen hands; but, from certain reasons, rather a difficult animal to train. So much for the Criterion. In the match way, there was really nothing; and even Lord Glasgow's victory failed to effectually excite him, as Lord Derby was not there. In this two-mile gallop Dervish (who was reported lame after the race) showed the white feather as much as ever; and we hear that his own sister has been christened IMPOSTURE. The Cambridgeshire Stakes Day was a very beautiful one, and the air on the Heath never felt clearer and brighter. Between the races we had a look at some of the yearlings, which had just been "backed;" and a bay colt of Mr. Hobson's, by Footstool out of Rhedycina, her first foal we believe, was quite the premier of the lot. We have seldom seen a better-grown colt; but he is a trifle leggy, and his quarters hardly in keeping with a remarkably nice forehand. One of the Chanticleers followed him, and showed much more size than we have observed in any of his stock as yet. Dame Partlett is decidedly lengthened and improved since York August, but she is said to be a rank roarer; and Alderoft gave poor Ruby a tremendous rousing both before and during his half-mile race, but to little purpose. The Three Mile Plate brought little Joe Rogers, the Newmarket Pet, his third victory, and very cleverly he rode at 4 st. 13 lbs., or some 6 lbs. above the weight; while little Edgington on Dr. Cooke was completely tired out. Those who were more within ear-shot declared that Sam shouted right and left to the tired lads on all sides of him to clear the way for himself and Joe, and not swerve on to them. It reminded one of the days when a formal complaint was laid before the Jockey Club that little Sam Rogers had been talked to and helped on in a race by the elder Newmarket jocks, and when Jim Robinson rode beside his brother and directed him. Here, however, Sam did his very utmost on Ilex, but to no purpose, as the Cleveland colours sailed cleverly in first. This little fellow is the facsimile of his father both in face and seat, and very little above thirteen at present. It seemed strange that the last afternoon that poor Rogers senior ever spent on Newmarket Heath should have produced this contest; and very much delighted he was at his grandson's finishing so strong, against his son, in a three-mile race. The number for the Cambridgeshire was quite below the average, and Rattle was far away the best-looking of the lot, and both in form and shape very different to what he seemed on the West Australian Derby-day, as his yokel led him about the paddock. Nancy, albeit Mr. Martinson was there with all his old Hull furore on him, looked the mere shadow of her old self. All her round shape was utterly gone; but Captain put £40 on her, and she was at no very long price before starting. The name of "Shirts "seemed to amuse the Newmarket lads so much that they followed the horse and gave him a regular ovation. A good many foreigners seemed to be about; one of them with an interpreter. What the foreign winnings were, we have not heard, but Newmarket did well. One trainer got £750 out of him, and a celebrated fighting man did not fare badly. Many Newmarketers also won because they could not "get out," as it transpired that the horse was below his form a few days before the race, which (if report be true) so frightened his trainer that, instead of winning £2000, he lost £100 on the race. Some of the above trainers had stationed themselves about three-quarters of a mile from home during the Cesarewitch race, and observed that he went so fast up to that point, that they at once scampered off to the Ring, and got on instantly at 20 to 1. Rattle ran as game as a pebble, but the three-year-old won very cleverly, and it will be long before another makes all his own running, and wins in such style. Like Rattle, The Nabob ran second for both these great handicaps last year. Orinoco, of |