off, and the stock shivered. I had long wished to know the sensation of a gun bursting, and here I was gratified to my heart's content. And now a word about the best and safest method of holding your left hand. Till very lately, I used to hold it with the fingers turned back round the locks and guard. Something luckily induced me to change it, and my hand then lay along the wood below the barrel; had it been as formerly, nothing could have saved it from being shattered to pieces, and I should now have the satisfaction of being on my road home, minus a hand, and with the consoling reflection of having to exist for the future (I will not say live) on a lieutenant's half-pay-just enough to keep a moderate man in toothpicks. Take my advice, all ye very juvenile sportsmen (for I have not the audacity to dictate to any others) and lay your left hand along a gun. I do not go by my own instance alone; but as guns are now made, the barrels rarely fly to pieces, but the locks and the wood around them will occasionally go. Then remember the much greater command you have over a gun, particularly a heavy one, this way. Well, I returned to camp, got my other gun, and enjoyed a splendid afternoon's sport. Loads of deer every march, and, though it was fearful hot work, being the beginning of March, I could not resist being often after them. They were totally unfit for the table, being skinny and nearly tasteless. I reached Rurnaul the first week in March, and here I expected to remain, for having been in tents nearly four months, and marched close upon 1,000 miles, I began to wish to see a little civilized society. But I was ordered off directly for Ferozepore. However, I heard the shooting was excellent, though disturbed daily by the troops marching up on their way to Cabul; so I did not much mind. In this I have been disappointed. Though often out for the greater part of the day, I have as yet been rewarded only with a few quail, and a sun of 120° is not to be braved for such sport. So I have cut it; and here I am writing this in a hot tent about as wretched as a solitary marching sub usually is, with the prospect of a Cabul campaign before me, greatly improved by the reflection that the hot weather has undoubtedly set in, which, with a good roof above you, is scarcely bearable; and with a thin tent! -but I will draw a veil over the rest.

I shall never forget one large tank at a place called Lehiberamow, between Cawnpore and Allyghur. No kind of wild-fowl but swarmed there; and as for geese-talk about our fens, why I think Col. Hawker, with his long pocket pistol and punt, would have bagged about 1,000 at a shot. And the brutes are so tame, you can get within eighty yards of them. It was a noble sight, and much I wished for one of our old fenmen. He'd have made his fortune for the season in about two shots. But I cannot relish wild-fowl-shooting in this infernal hot climate ;-it don't seem natural. It was a long while before I could be persuaded to reduce the size of my shot, though all old sportsmen told me it was too large. I am now fully convinced that No. 7 is the best size all the year round, out here. The game is seldom wild, and this number ought to kill anything at thirty or forty yards. Perhaps India is the best school for a young shot to go to. You must be prepared for anything (out of the same field of grain I have had a deer and a quail rise close to my feet):-cool as a cucumber, and collected as a flock of sheep, that's your only chance here. W.

Horæ Asmodeanæ.

DAN BEELZEBUB, finding the regions below
Uncommonly straiten'd for mirth,

Cried "Rather than die of ennui, I must go
And see what they're doing on earth."

So he seated himself in an early up train,
And bade them to set him down
In Britain's metropolis :-Satan was fain
To peep at a season in town.

The trip was soon over, a jarvey procured,
And order'd to L-mm-r's hotel,

A house whose arrangements, for years, had secured
A high reputation in h―ll.

'Twas the hour when the morn is at issue with night,
Ere Aurora has harnessed her car,

Or the first rosy bounds of the coursers of light
Have conquered the Eastern star.

Arrived at the door of the hostel, the Fiend

Pass'd inwards, and sought the saloon-
Where a circle, in conclave profound, was convened
Of minions who worship the moon.

The d-1 he waggles his tail with delight,

As courteously smiling he bends,

And vows "he is d-nably pleased at the sight

Of such a collection of friends."

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed M-d-ne, "right welcome, Old Jet,

To thine indefeasible roof!

All hail to thee! tutelar saint of our set,

Come, give us a wag of the hoof."

"Strike me lucky!" cried S-rs, "he comes like a brick,

My cigar has this moment gone out—

And here is a genuine Lucifer ;-Nick,

And spake a strange younker, whom mortals call S-th,
"Old boy, how's your stomach for prog?

Shall I order a phosphorus curry forthwith?
Or a tumbler of vitriol grog?"

"Your offer, my son," replied "Bunck," with a bow,
"Is very well done at the price;

But I come from a rather warm climate, just now,
And feel more disposed for an ice.”

Then rose, like the voice of the thunder, a shout
For hollands, rum, whisky, cogniac,

Port bishop, hock negus, and Guinness's stout,
As each cried aloud for his "whack."

Forthwith in full tide did the regal stream flow,
A flood goodly, copious, and quick,
Whose waves to their end thus instinctively go,-
The bishops, of course, to Old Nick;

The "rum" F-w-r C-n selects in a trice,
Jack W-11-n is sought by the stout,
Gin twist fixes C-tt-n straightway in its vice,
And "ruin" soon finds S-ff-ld out.

Paddy S―rs has taken to parliament* stuff,
To Farintosh, gay Jemmy Mac-;

While Ginger, Jack V―ll—rs, and meek Billy D—ff,
Are sticking like trumps to cogniac.

So the pleasure the devil enjoyed in this way
Was the reason it so should befall,

That he visits us yearly, and holds, every May,
His levees in Exeter Hall.

J. W. C.

* The name, in Ireland, for whisky on which the duty has been paid.

TATTERSALL'S LIST.

BETTINGS FOR MAY.

ALTHOUGH the events to which the subjoined speculations refer, have been already disposed of, a record of them is desirable, both as matter of reference, and because it will serve as a guide to the estimation in which many of the nominations for the great races yet to come, were held previous to the decision of the Derby and Oaks. The former is importantly connected with the St. Leger, and the latter not without some links which join it with the fate of the great northern race.