selected of the Sphynx-Hermit having shown that touching Hermit, the oracle was not “Ruby bright” in the Two Thousand—Virago having thrown Meteora into the shade for the One Thousand-Andover having upset the Soothsayer, who said Dervish or Neville must win the Derby, and Mr. Cookson having served the same savant similarly by thrashing Honeysuckle with his daughter of Sweatmeat and Hybla— we will pass on to Ascot Heath Races. Before we enter upon this courtly four days' course, we will allude to the legal incident which occupied the dies non Wednesday, in the Court of Queen's Bench, wherein the Queen proceeded against Alleyne and others, who were represented by her Majesty's Attorney-General, to show cause against the rule to show cause why the writ of error upon the judgment in this prosecution should not be quashed on the ground of the same having been sued out with a view to a compromise, and for the purpose of enabling such compromise to be effected. Ten arguments having passed between this functionary and Lord Campbell, in one of which the learned Judge told the AttorneyGeneral that he was now appearing for the defendants, who were accused of imposing upon the Attorney-General—to which the gentleman rejoined that “he might, perhaps, have contracted some prejudice in favour of the defendants. If the brief had not been delivered to him (from briefs the Lord deliver us), it was possible he might have taken another view of the case. Under these circunstances, he thought he had better retire"-a conclusion in which we emphatically sympathise " and in order to afford the parties an opportunity of retaining another counsel, he hoped the court would allow the case to stand over till to-morrow.” Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., said, “ he would offer no opposition to the application”—the de novo being a pleasant proceeding in banco--so the case was postponed accordingly. Thus Captain Kennedy and the Alleynes are about to promote quite a new performance. Tattersalls, June 12th, 1854.-If the proceedings of this afternoon are to be regarded as any criterion, betting during the summer months is not likely to be very onerous. The effects of the late disastrous Derby settling were apparent both in the thinness of the attendance, and the amount of business transacted. The latter calls for little remark, the Ascot events being very delicately touched upon. It was evident, however, that Kingston and Rataplan were in request for both these engagements; the chief investmerits of the latter, however, were for the Cup, for which Virago and Stockwell] were struck out. Omoo, likewise, was scratched for all his Ascot engagements; and Shunting, it was stated, had been left in the Stakes by mistake. For the St. Leger, 1000 to 400 was taken about King Tom, and 8 to 1 rather freely about Dervish6 to 1 being his closing quotation. The introduction of a new Derby favourite, for 1855, “Græculus Esuriens,” Anglicè “ The Hungry GREEK,” was the only important feature of the afternoon. As "coming events cast their shadows before,” I am instructed to conclude that this courser, with the nominal mauvaise plaisanterie, is not the real “ Simon Pure ” of the party. Nous verrons, on the other side of '54, Opening at 25 to 1, he speedily advanced, after a heavy outlay, to 17 to 1-a point more was afterwards laid, and offered while the room continued open. His stable companion, Bonnie Morn, to get on whom-Mr. Bowes's alter aliter “Aurifer"--everybody was equally eager, during the previous week, was sent to the right-about, which, in process of time, they will discover was not “about being right "-1000 to 25, and 2,500 to 50, having been laid “on the quiet” against him there not being, at this writing, a superfluous sixpence in the Ring. Oulston was backed for £100-sum stupendous--at 20 to l; and the same would have been taken about Flatterer-1000 to 60 the highest offer against the latter. The day following this brilliant tryst at the Corner, Ascot Heath Races made their début on high authority, as follows : A stranger, ignorant that this was the opening day of the Royal Meeting on Ascot Heath, would certainly not have guessed the fact from any extraordinary appearances at the London stations of the two railway companies - the South-Western and Great Western (the cart before the horse), by the aid of which the majority of visitors to Ascot are in the habit of performing the largest portion of their journey to the course. Although special trains, at frequent intervals, were advertised that is to say, were advertised to start at frequent intervals—the arrivals of customers at each station were so few and far between, that very considerable periods—that is to say, full stops-elapsed between their departure early in the morning, and even then many of the carriages were not filled. Those who did go, found Windsor beset by a tremendous hail storm, and as empty as the imperial Muscovite's pockets. There was a select supply of “traps” at the Station, and consequently they charged what they liked-and nobody else did. Their inmates, moreover, to make things pleasant, were imprisoned to keep out the “ pelting of the pitiless storm," and, as the hour of gala arrived, the Heath was a lugubrious spectacle— like the “ blasted” of that ilk in “ Macbeth.” There was, of course, a crowd of hawks; but the pigeons were unprecedentedly scarce. With this exhilarating prologue, the play was put upon the scene appropriately, with The Trial Stakes of £ each. A dozen started—and Captain Lane's Crosslanes, the last in speculation, was first in fact. A Sweepstakes of £50 each-half forfeit--for two-year-olds, course three-quarters of a mile-had half-a-dozen entries, and a moiety of them at the post. The odds were 6 to 4 on Namur—the winner, cleverly by a length and a half, Coræbus. Her Majesty's Gold Vase—which is a silver ornament-came off, in honour of the courteous presentment, a match between Gully's Hermit and Tom Parr's Rataplan ; the latter the first favourite ; the formerthe winner--the leading fancy. The first year of the Sixth Ascot Triennial Stakes, of £10 each, with £100 added, for foals of 1852, to be run at two years old; colts, 8st. 71bs.; fillies, 8st. 4lbs.—the second to receive £50 out of the Stakes, T.Y.C. Fifty-three subscribers—nine ran. Betting-5 to 2 against The Bonnie Morn, who, the previous afternoon, was “sent to the right-about” as aforesaid, at Tattersall's ; 4 to 1 against Constance; 5 to 1 against Joshua-the same against Coræbus, and 7 to 1 against The Hind. The Bonnie Morn came out radiantly abreast the Grand Stand, and won cleverly. Thus it will be seen that my Monday notions took their premier pas in the succeeding twenty-four hours. The Ascot Stakes, of £25 each, with the Conventional Handicap forfeit conditions, had seventy-eight nominations, and sixteen runners. Odds—5 to 2 against Kingston, 9 to 2 against Little Jack, 6 to 1 against Bracken, 10 to 1 against Little Harry, ditto Ilex, ditto Hercules, 100 to 6 against Sweetness, 20 to 1 against Cock Pheasant, and 6 to 1 against the brace-Pancake and Rackapelt. As usual with such encounters, it was “ confusion worse confounded.” In as prepense a piece of plating as ever came off on Moulsey Hurst, Little Harry was hammered in first-the tip of the tail little more than within sight. The Ascot Derby Stakes of £50 each-half forfeit—for threeyearolds ; colts, &st. 7lbs. ; fillies, 8st. 3lbs.—the winner of the Derby 10lb. extra ; the winner of the Oaks 5lbs. extra ;-Swinly course-fifteen subscribers. Betting—2 to 1 against Marley Hill, 5 to 2 against Bobby, 3 to l against Marley Hill (“haud meus hic sermo”), and 4 to 1 against Phaeton. This, the wind up of the list, had nearly been the same of the lives of the jockeys. Marley Hill, the favourite, has only a single “pceper” in his head; so he ran foul of Bobby, and tumbled on his ears and knees. Being a heavy colt, he was soon up and at it again ; but not so poor Tim Templeman, who, by even sticking to his steed with his spurs, could not keep his saddle, and came to his mother earth as if never again of his own accord to rise from it. Phaeton, last in the market, was first in the finish. Wednesday, as if to mark the moral of its tenure, opened with the Coronation Stakes-won by “ Mishap.” The Fernhill Stakes was a walk over by Bessie. I omitted saying that for the Coronation Sortie was the favourite. A £100 Handicap, of £2 each—£100 douceur-John of Burges was backed to win, at one point against him ; which Calamus did at 5 to 1 against him. The Royal Hunt Cup, valued at £200 for intrinsic worth and design -New Mile-sixty-one subscribers at £10 a piece ; twenty-two ran, and four were placed. Betting-2 to 1 against Alembic--a podrida of intermediates, -and 15 to 1 against Brocket. Brocket was first; King of Trumps, second ; colt by the Emperor-dam Begum-third ; and Alembic, last. The second year of the Fifth Ascot Triennial Stakes, of £10 each, with a bonus of £100-New Mile-forty-three subscribers—had a field of seven. Betting—7 to 4 against Champagne, and 2 to 1 against Meteora ; the filly the winner. The third year of the Fourth Ascot Triennial Stakes, of £10 each, and a bonus of £100-Mr. Bowes's West Australian (thus in the Book Calendar), with 5 to 1 on him, won by four lengths. Á £50 Sweepstakes-£10 forfeit-Delia won by a neck. Thursday-by grace of the Royal presence and heavy rain-produced a prodigal crop of umbrellas. After the accustomed “pomp and circumstance,” the performance opened with the St. James's Palace Stakes, for three-year-olds ; Old Mile; eighteen subscribers. It was run a trio -9 to 1 on Prince Arthur, and 3 to 1 against Baalbec. “Baalbec,” says the newspaper report, “ headed Prince Arthur at the Stand, and won, hard held, by a length. Time and place considered, it was a curious coincidence that the Turk should beat the English Prince. The Visitors' Plate Jujube won by a length, and Mulligrubs was fifth. Ecce iterum—“ what's in a name?” Here again is “confusion worse confounded.” To follow in the Book Calendar, appears—"A PIECE OF PLATE, value Five Hundred Sovereigns, the gift of His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias”-a trophy now. “In the deep waters of the "-Danube"buried.” Present edition. A Gold Cup, value Three Hundred Sovereigns, the surplus in specie, with £200 added from the fund-eighteen subscribers — was run for by half a dozen. Betting-6 to 4 on West Australian, 3 to 1 against Rataplan, 7 to 1 against Kingston, 15 to 1 against Orestes, 20 to 1 against Talfourd, ditto Cobnut, ditto Nabob. The finish was a struggle “ for the dear life ”-won by the winner of last year's Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Derby, and St. Leger, &c., &c., by a head-Kingston being beaten by this length, and a weight above the flying West Australian of nine pounds. For the New Stakes--twoyear-olds--there were forty-four named, and a field of a baker's dozen. The odds were 6 to 4 against Border Chief, 3 to 1 against Flatterer, 5 to 1 against Mary, and 8 to 1 against Monge—"boots” in the books. Bad as his place in the ring was, it was first in the race. The Windsor Castle Stakes-Hospodar, with 7 to 4 on him-won, hard held, by eight lengths, beating Balmoral and Woodcote in their places. Of the twenty-four named, three started. A Sweepstakes of £50 each—half forfeit-for three-year-olds, Swinley course, nine subscribers, camc off a match between Boer and Pelham-even betting. It terminated as the runners are here placed. The Windsor Forest Stakes, Meteora walked over for, and the list was ran out. Friday—the climax of Ascot's ill-betiding in its last anniversary ; and to sum up the shocking bad account, “a glass of sherry, with a few spoonfuls of water, was charged at a shilling in the Grand Stand, and, in fact, everything was paid for at the rate of a hundred per cent. more than its value.” A Sweepstakes of £50 each-half forfeit-for three-year-olds, Old Mile, nine subscribers-Epaminondas, with 3 to 1 on him, won from Weathercock and Eccleston. The First Class of the Wokingham Handicap-twenty-six subscribers, last three-quarters of the New Mile—brought out fourteen. Hobby Horse, 5 to 2 against him, the winner. The Great Western Handicap-twenty-four subscribers-eleven runners-5 to 2 against Miss Bolton, 4 to 1 against Phaeton, 5 to 1 against Roebuck, 6 to 1 against Diana, and 7 to 1 against Iero. The two last in the odds made a dead heat of it, and thus divided stakes. Her Majesty's Plate Rataplan, 6 to 4 against him, won, beating Epaminondas and Sharavogue by a neck. The Second Class of the Wokingham Brocket-7 to 4 against him-won, beating nine. The Borough Members’ Plate of £50 Little Tom-6 to 1 against him -won, beating seven. The Sweepstakes of £20 each, for two-year-olds, The Bonnie Morn walked over for --wherewith ended the Meeting. My moral — pour l'avenir “Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of man SHAKSPEARE. 15 FRANK MORRISON. BY GREYBEARD. “ Neat, trimly dressed, HENRY IV. The peace of 1815, now broken after an uninterrupted course of nearly forty years' duration, has, to a certain extent, at least as far as its officers are concerned, altered the constitution and, so to speak, the morale of the British army. This is more particularly the case in the cayalry regiments, which, seldom going abroad, and enjoying a routine of the pleasantest quarters at home, have become the resort of a number of fashionable gentlemen, who can thus combine the excitement of a profession with their favourite pursuit of doing nothing. Far be it from us to affirm that they do not make good soldiers; on the contrary, the greatest authority of the age has been known to declare, that when work was really meant, “his smartest dandies proved to be his best officers ;” and we have ourselves had occasion to remark, that those who are most careful in their dress are often most reckless of their bodies. No man took such pains with his adornment as that prince of hassars, the Marquis of Anglesea; no man exposed himself in the field with such utter disregard of life and limb; and, not to multiply instances, we may say of these petitmaître heroes, as Clarendon says of the dashing race of Villiers, that they have ever proved “ prodigal of their persons.” In time of war, men work their way by hard fighting, or rather, by that immunity from hot lead which some enjoy, whilst their superiors are shot off, and erased from the Army List, up to the highest ranks of the profession, and no man asks whence they come, or what may be their birth, education, and antecedents. Nothing is then more serviceable than the cavalry officer; but in time of peace no fashionable club can be more exclusive than a light-dragoon regiment, and the newlyreceived member of the mess requires to be showy as well as staunch -a dancing dandy as well as a fighting hero. Under these circumstances, a commission in such a corps is at once a passport to the very best society-society which, without this “open sesame," would be as hermetically sealed to the ambitious “ parvenu,” as was ever the care of the Forty Thieves to the enterprising woodman; and consequently amongst the sprigs of nobility, and cadets of ancient race, who officer one of our Hussar or Lancer regiments, a sprinkling is ever to be found of names unknown to Burke or Lodge, those heralds of modern days; and some perhaps not the least agreeable and talented |