ANSWER MADE

What is to be done with the Crystal Palace.

Regarding the Great Exhibition as a fact accomplished: resigning the surplus fund to the end for which it was designed, when as yet its existence was but a possibility, and restoring its site to the state whence it came, it is proposed to preserve the Crystal Palace elsewhere, by the establishment of a society, to be entitled

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE.

The premises upon which the National Institute is promoted are, that the principle of social reciprocity which civilization has developed for the service of commercial enterprise may be legitimately and profitably applied to an undertaking the object of which is to improve an element of popular intercourse, and to embellish the characteristics of a national taste. The data upon which its self-supporting qualities are founded have been carefully calculated, and will be explained when the plan is in a more advanced condition. The synopsis of the project is as follows:

Within a dozen miles of Hyde Park-or half an hour, to speak by Bradshaw's book-there is a wild range of heath and downs, consisting of several hundred acres. Irrespective of its vicinity to the capital, and the facilities of access which place it within easier reach of many of the metropolitan districts than Rotten Row, for extent and beauty of scenery and perfection of natural accessories, it may challenge comparison with any spot of similar compass in the kingdom. London is said to be suffocating for the want of fresh air, and here are the Highlands in miniature-only a shilling ride from its halldoor! It is proposed that this district shall be purchased, and that thither the Crystal Palace shall be transferred — subject, of course, to such modifications and alterations as change of place and purpose would render_imperative, but still the same in all the attributes of its peerless identity. It would not be convenient here, even were it possible, to enlarge upon the details of the plan. It may be sufficient to state that an outline of the general idea will be submitted to Mr. Paxton, and his inspection of the scene solicited, in the assurance that anything destined to advance the national taste or embellish social life will enlist the service of those talents of which his country already possesses so many eminent memorials.

The interior of the building would comprise all the essentials of a Weather Park-as conservatories, parterres, shrubberies, lawns, walks, fountains, and so forth, occupying a surface of twenty acres. It would also contain an hotel of the first class, both as a residence and a restaurant. Hawking-for which the situation is peculiarly adapted--would be promoted, not to say revived; and there can be little doubt that the metropolitan archery clubs would resort to it for their tournaments, and the capital, generally, for its feles champêtres.

Rides of several miles over turf will be laid out, and also extensive training grounds; and last-but not least-being the especial feature of the project, a Race Course, wholly novel both in plan and principle.

Whatever may be objected against horse-racing, it is to all intents and purposes by many degrees the most popular of our national sports-of all our recreative resources. In its character as a pastime, it is essentially associated with a high development of national civilization. The Olympic Games mark the palmiest period of Grecian history. The Equiria were in their zenith during the Imperial series of the Cæsars. Elis had its HippodromeRome its Circus Maximus. Give England a suitable temple for the sport which has acquired nationality upon her shores. The classic models which have furnished us with the best principles of high art, also suggest the position among popular recreations which should be assigned to the turf. Surely, then, an attempt to organize for its service a better principle-a more

liberal and legitimate promotion, a more gentle fashion of pursuit, and a more refined practice—will, at the least, merit success. The means at present contemplated are, that a meeting, to consist of two days (the actual attractive extent of all the leading races, as Epsom, Ascot, Goodwood, Doncaster, &c.), should take place in every month, from May to October inclusive, and that at each of these meetings a clear sum of ONE THOUSAND POUNDS shall be given to be run for. That the scheme generally shall be submitted to the Jockey Club, as a preliminary to its adjustment and adoption. Progress, elsewhere so active and so prosperous, has stopped short of the policy of the Turf. At the end of two centuries of liberal patronage and popularity, it is utterly without a financial system, and almost without provision. Its ways and means are confined to a contingent of donations and subscriptions, with the exception of a Government annuity of thirty-five Royal Plates of the value of one hundred guineas each. Is this consistent with the character of its resources or the nature of its position?

A fair criterion of the average in which the funds arising from public racing are applied towards its support is furnished by the statistics of the two metropolitan meetings, Epsom and Ascot. The sum taken at Ascot for admissions to the Grand Stand alone this season was £3,000. This was independent of the rent of the minor stands-of the ground rent for booths and tents-of charges for coming on the reserved portion of the Heath-of standing for carriages-and other golden extras. From these combined sources, it is a safe average to set the proceeds of the meeting at £5,000— and certainly Epsom cannot be quoted lower. Out of these gross amounts, the money actually given in Plates and additions to Stakes, after debiting the deductions for expenses, receipts for nominations, et cetera, was at Epsom £188, and at Ascot £777. Thus the income was ten thousand pounds, and that portion of it which went to the credit of the racing interest was £965. Without inquiring what became of the "margin," it is enough to say none of it went into the pockets of the producers. If, then, we suppose the modus at the two principal courses in the kingdom influences, if it does not regulate, the practice at similar places of less account, it follows that the owners of racing stock do not partake to the extent of half-a-crown in the pound of the dividends rising from the capital of the turf. It is not, therefore, premature to assume that occasion is ripe for instituting a more equitable policy.*

This it is sought to bring about by a concentration of the elements most likely to produce good fruit-the means and appliances which shall minister in a spirit befitting the time to the national taste for rural recreative association. The security proposed to those who may incline to take part in the enterprise is a palace such as heretofore has only existed in romance-with five hundred acres of land, adjacent to the metropolis, for scenery and situation unrivalled in Great Britain, and which the working out of the design would in a few years convert into a region of unequalled luxuriance and splendour.

Enough for the present of practical reference. In the matter of the suggestive, it may favourably affect the proposition to direct the notice of those who were at Chiswick, at Goodwood, and at York, on their last anniversaries, to the fact that, come hail, or rain, or snow, or storm, it ensures them fair weather-" flowers, fountains, sculpture,” as proposed by Denarius, and that vital ingredient of an English programme-good cheer.

And when it shall be demanded, Quis deus hæc otia fecit? the reply will be, "The good Genius of the Great Exhibition!" She it was that invoked her trusty spirits, Action and Purpose, and pointing to the golden path of Progress,

"Led the way."

The three first days of this year's meeting at Doncaster produced at the doors of the Grand Stand two thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine pounds-public money actually given, £305.

227

PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON-CHELTENHAM.

"The man who hears the crash of hound and horn unmoved, and hath not hunting in his soul, must have had his head screwed on the wrong way, or his heart in the wrong place "-so said a distinguished authority, and most heartily do I coneur in his remark. But hunting, like everything else in these "go-ahead" times, is going steam pace, and what will be the end of it, or what the progress of a few I will not stop here to determine. Let "carpe diem "quam minime credula postero."

years may effect, be our motto,

Democrats and Levellers may agitate, and endeavour, as they are now doing, to set class against class, the tenant against his landlord, and old England against herself; but heaven avert that I may live to see the day when that good old English pastime shall be banished from our shores!

Railways have caused a mighty revolution, both in men's minds and their movements; and though they have wofully intersected many sporting districts, to the loss of many a good run, yet to numbers who have hitherto been denied the gratification of even a sight of a pack of hounds, they are indeed a great boon, as affording much convenience for the transport of man and horse from place to place; so that, after consulting the "means," the "ways" are comparatively easy; for he has only to consult the pages of Bradshaw-take his ticket-and there he is.

I will not attempt to write a supplement to the above useful vade mecum for the benefit of the fox-hunting world, or a dissertation on the numerous attractive spots, and the various packs of hounds of which merry England can boast. In this, as in all other matters," chacun a son goût;" and happy those who love their own country, and in their fond enthusiasm believe it to excel all others, and their own pack to be the nonpareil. A little alterative medicine, however, is oft times good for both man and beast, and should this chance to meet the eye of a brother sportsman in doubt as to which point of the compass to steer, let me (with all due deference to other favoured or fashionable places of resort) recommend him to try Cheltenham. The situation of the town, its clean and cheerful appearance, the ample accommodation for hunters, the pure and bracing air of the Cotswolds, the beautitul rides and promenades, balls, and other public amusements, and, I must add, the friendly hospitality and social disposition of its residents, of which we have had ample proof, and finally its easy access by railway from all quarters— present inducements and advantages as a winter quarter, not to be surpassed, if equalled, in the confines of merry England.

In the hunting field, first and foremost in the list ranks the name of Lord Fitzhardinge, whose unbounded liberality and zeal for the amusement of those around him are too well known and appreciated to need any encomium from my humble pen-his name and character will be handed down to posterity as one who set the noble example of wishing to ameliorate society by his wealth and influence in the counties whence that

wealth is derived, and, by contributing so largely to uphold the principal national diversion, conferred thereby a national benefit on his countrya truism acknowledged by all European nations who have experienced the prowess of an English fox-hunter in the field of battle. His fixtures are five days a week, and with the exception of Saturday, when he hunts the Broadway country, his meets are within a short distance of the town. The coverts are all well stocked with foxes, and some idea may be formed of his liberality on that score when his earth-stopping expenses alone amount to (I am credibly informed) £700 a year.

Of Harry Ayris as a huntsman I cannot speak too highly, from all that came under my observation. In the field he is "brilliant "-quick where quickness is wanted, and patient when that virtue is required; if his temper is occasionally somewhat ruffled, he has ample excuse, seeing the difficulties he has often to contend with, from the large fields which generally muster at the favourite meets, when, as a well-known sporting character once said, first was "Mr. then came the fox, and then-my hounds!" But Harry, methinks, will forgive the man who can ride over him or his merry pack when once away. To those who cannot see his performance across country, it is a treat to a real lover of the noble science to see him even draw a covert.

In addition to these hounds there are the Heythrop (Lord Redesdale's), and the V. W. H. (Mr. Villebois'), within easy distance; and the Duke of Beaufort's and the Worcestershire fox-hounds within reach occasionally.

On my return through Cheltenham, a short time ago, I was delighted to find that the staghounds lately hunted by Mr. Theobald have been revived, by the combined exertions of certain influential residents, aided by the generous assistance of Lord Fitzhardinge, who with his usual liberality and spirit has kindly offered to supply red deer for the purpose, and the management placed in the hands of Arthur Way, Esq., who, not without considerable personal inconvenience to himself, has liberally come forward to promote the amusement of the town and neighbourhood. A better selection could not have been made, as his good tact and experience in the field, having formerly hunted the deer in his native wilds in the forests of Touraine, added to his well-known character as a sportsman and a gentleman, eminently qualify him for this somewhat arduous post- I say arduous because we well know how difficult a matter it is for a master of hounds to give satisfaction to all parties. The kennels, deer-yard, &c., which have been recently built, are close to the town, and in most efficient order, the worthy master having spared neither time, trouble, nor expense, in putting all en règle for the coming season, which commences about the 15th October; and as their meets are in the immediate neighbourhood, they will afford a great addidition to the programme of amusements for Cheltenham visitors.

Altogether the prospect for the coming season is a very promising one, and most heartily do we wish all true lovers of the noble science every success-so here's to our next merry meeting.

Yours,

Κυνηγος.

229

SPORTING PROPENSITIES.

BY HARRY HIEOVER.

I think it will be admitted that whatever may be the nature of a man's amusement, however enthusiastically he may carry it on, or in whatever manner he may choose to do this, he in no way lays himself open to censure, in the broad meaning of the word, provided his amusement is harmless in its nature, and his mode of prosecuting it injures neither himself nor others: and again, supposing, on the other hand, he has no taste for any one or more particular amusements or pursuits, he in no shape lays himself open to sneer or ridicule from those who have.

I am quite willing to allow that if a man is insensible to that which is meritorious in act, or beautiful in appearance, he is to be pitied, as losing much that is to others a source of high gratification; and this holds good whether the pursuit be useful as well as amusing, or amusing only. If it is the first, his obtuseness of sensibility is to be the more deplored, as inducing him to abstain from that, the prosecution of or participation in which is nationally or individually beneficial to others if it be the latter, he only suffers loss of gratification in this individual particular.

There are very few men, who are themselves arduous in any pursuit, who do not feel a something very closely bordering on contempt for others having no such predilection. Such feeling, if expressed, would only lay them open to a charge of want of liberality, and want of sense, or, to put it in the mildest term, want of consideration.

These ideas have suggested themselves, resulting from a conversation with a gentleman to whom I have been lately introduced. He had occasion to mention fox hunting. He is a man of considerable talent, of enlarged mind, and liberal way of thinking on all subjects; so he did not attempt to ridicule a pursuit in which he knew I have ever been enthusiastic; but he jokingly made an observation, or rather, ventured an opinion that I have heard attributed nearly verbatim to more than one of our continental neighbours :—

"I can easily," said he, “understand a man's riding a day's hunting for exercise, and I daresay there is some fun in it!"

Oh! ye spirits of Meynell, Lambton, Ward, and others, even of Old Dick Knight, what would ye say on hearing the glories of "the noble science" scandalized as a petty pastime, and "damned by faint praise" as having some fun in it!

"I can," continued the gentleman, "enter into the pleasures of fishing, shooting, and other sports, where a man by his own act shows his dexterity; but to follow a pack of dogs three or four days a week, over hedges and ditches, pursuing a stinking animal of no use when caught, is a matter I cannot understand."