for a stud for breeding hunters and racers as a man with capital could have; but the worst of all companies is, they will try to fly before they can creep, and cripple themselves so at the outset. It is certain that Sir Tatton has bought Rifleman, who retires with eight defeats and eight victories on his escutcheon. Mrs. Osbaldeston did well to refuse 3,000 gs. for him when a two-year-old, as he has won her nearly £5,300 in stakes. Sir Tatton soon tires of his stallions; and since he parted with Sleight of Hand, about four years since, Womersley, Fernhill, Andover, Daniel O'Rourke, have all had a season. We do not wonder he has Dan still, as he cannot bear big horses.

The Americans are very full, just now, of their challenge to Eng land, to run anything for four miles. They have three or four horses at Newmarket already; but Pryor and Pryoress, the much-vaunted brother and sister, have not arrived yet. We find from the Porter's Spirit, that a regular controversy, "conducted with all that virulence of feeling which distinguished the Scotch covenanters in articles of faith," is raging in America as to Pryor's age. One side of his mouth declares for four, and the other for five; and we conclude that Mr. Field must solve the problem, before any race can come off. Lecomte, who was beaten by Pryor at New Orleans, is, we believe, at Newmarket; but the belief there is strong that, whenever Fandango or Melissa get alongside any of these cracks, we shall hear Mr. Ten-Broeck and the stalwart bit of ebony who came over with him wailing lustily

"O carry me back!-carry me back!

To old Virginny's shore."

At present, they do very little work, but are led about by Sambo, who would make a delicious sketch, at the head of his Glencoe colt. This is the pet of the Englishman's fancy; and we hear that his sire, the great coeval of Touchstone, is in Cincinnati, looking well, though he has been blind for years, and more "swayed in the back" than ever. From Porter's Spirit, we also find that the times of our races are rigidly noted, and great comfort taken therefrom; but we thought the Americans were too wide-awake not to know how fallacious the time-test, in a flat race, must of necessity be. Their best plan would be not to bother us with challenges, but to bring out their three best in the Ascot Cup; and if they cannot beat us over that course, they may leave the four miles alone. This will be their cheapest way of "tasting" us, and it will spare them a bushel of "almighty dollars."

The Jockey Club made such a curious move lately, that we can hardly pass it by without comment. We tell the tale as 'twas told to us; and if Mr. Hibburd has any explanation or correction to offer, we will give it. It seems that the latter has been mightily incensed at the comments which "Argus" has made, for some time past, on his starting, and his perpetual misunderstandings with the jockeys, strong language, &c. The Gitana case, at Doncaster, was brought under review in the Post, and the consequence was that, on the Monday of the First October Meeting, Mr. Hibburd came up to " Argus," on the Newmarket platform, applied some strictly unparliamentary language to him, and added, as a clincher, that, if he ever dared

to mention his name in the papers again, he would break every bone in his skin. He was met with quite as much determination by his opponent; and a warm viva-voce war ensued. Nothing more was heard of the matter until "Argus" reached Newmarket on the Monday of the Second October, when he received a request from Messrs. Weatherby, that he would wait on the Stewards at noon next day. He replied, he would not go as a matter of right; but if they expressed a wish to see him, he would attend as a matter of courtesy. Accordingly, he went, and was ushered before Admiral Rous and Lord William Powlett, who received him very politely, and said they were bound to give their starter all the moral support in their power. Mr. Hibburd then opened his case, in due form, as a newspaper martyr; and " Argus," after disputing their authority to sit in judgment on him, replied, giving the whole platform-colloquy, and admitting that his language on being attacked had been unduly warm. This gave quite a new complexion to the case; and, as the Heath-time drew nigh, the Stewards said they would consider of it, and adjourned the case sine die. Thus Mr. Hibburd was nonsuited. With Mr. Hibburd's merits or demerits as a starter, we do not care to deal. The few times in a year we visit the starting-post, he has got his horses well away, and everything has been "all serene ;" but we are anxious to direct attention to an idea which the Jockey Club seem to be taking up, that they are entitled to put the thumb-screw on the press. We saw an attempt of this kind made at Doncaster, in respect to the handicaps; and here is another attempt to protest against critiques on the starter, as if racing writers had no duty to discharge towards the owners of race-horses who are not Jockey-Club men, and who must perforce express their united feelings through these channels. We think that "Argus" should have stood on his privilege, and declined to go, and let them take their own course; though, perhaps, matters are best as they are. If these inquiries are to be the order of the day, every subscriber to the Cesarewitch this year is entitled to ask how it was that the weights got wind at Warwick and Derby, long before they officially appeared in the Calendar ?

Everything seems most auspicious for the opening of the 1856-57 hunting season; and the cub-hunting has seldom been better. At one wood, within a fifty-mile circle from London, there were no less than twelve cubs when the hounds first drew it, one of which was pulled down. Either the fox-stealers got to know it, or the gamekeeper killed them, as on their next meet only one could be found, and the gamekeeper was accordingly started, bag and baggage, as a warning to his tribe. There can be no excuse for foxstealing, as it would seem from a passage in the "National Sports" of the Illustrated News, that fine foxes can be furnished from Aberdeen at 7s. a-head: huntsmen generally think themselves lucky if they pay a guinea a brace. If, however, foxes can be got and fed, and left fit to shift for themselves in cover at 30s. a-head, it is as much as the bargain. Joe Maiden had a rather strange adventure while out cub-hunting at Walton's Wood, this month. After knocking about for nearly twelve hours, he drew his hounds out of cover, and found that Duster, a fine young dog from the second Quorn sale (the first journey he made after the amputation), Riot, Legacy, and Jezebel were missing. Atkinson went far

and wide with Joe's horn, but to no purpose. This was on Saturday night, and on Monday morning he started his whips first thing with a horn apiece, and orders that they should, after they had inquired at several farm-houses, get some colliers together, and examine the old coal-shafts. The latter idea had got a firm hold of Joe's mind, and it proved to be the correct one, as after listening at the top of two coal-shafts unsuccessfully, Atkinson, the head whip, at last heard some answering whimpers to his horn down a third, not far from the spot where the scent had become very cold on the Saturday. Two men were accordingly let down by ropes, and up came Riot, Jezebel, and Legacy, looking none the worse for their forty-eight hours' fast, and their thirty feet fall. Some "set-off" in the mine had received them, and they nestled together there, but Duster has never been heard of, and it is concluded that he and the fox fell through the open side of the shaft, and lie "powdered into the dust of death" together. Simpson, who has not been well for some short time past, has resigned his place as huntsman to Lord H. Bentinck after a very short stay; and Jack Jones, has come from the South Warwickshire. When is "Tearaway Jack "-Morgan, as Sir Richard used to delight to call him, and a favourite horse, to have a first horn? Leicestershire is his forte, and we hope some day to see him there. There has been a rumour that Will Smith, late of the Brocklesby, had an offer of the place; but it seemed hardly likely that he would leave his farm, which is better suited to his temperament than the hunting-field, where he and the farmers could never hit it. The changes at this establishment-Butler, Edwards, and Simpson (all since Oxtoby) in two seasons-almost baffle the chronicler as much as those at Lord Southampton's, where Butler, Ben Morgan, Simpson, Smith, and Beers (three times) have all to our knowledge mounted the scarlet during these last twelve years. The longest service in one place is that of Tom Hills, who is just commencing his thirty-ninth season with the Old Surrey, over whose hills Will Staples, Tom Sebright, Joe Maiden, and a host of other cracks first learnt how to go; and Tom Sebright will have been thirty-five years at Milton next March. George Carter has whipped-in to the latter for twelve seasons. Charles Long, who whipped-in to Will Long, for twenty-one seasons, till he met with that severe riding accident in February, 1854, which has prevented him riding ever since, now acts as kennel huntsman; and Will Stansby (who whipped-in with Charles for thirteen years) after seven years with the Worcestershire and one with the Blackmoor Vale, is, as we announced last month, once more back as first whip at his old quarters. James Watts, the feeder, has been fifty-four years in the kennel; so Badminton is not much given to change. Jem Hills has got the first bad tumble of the season; and his nephew, who is first whip, and Jem junior, are managing till he is "up" again.

The man who plaintively advertised his hunters for sale in consequence of there being "no hounds in the Harboro' country," may have reason to repent his rashness, as Mr. Green, of Rolleston, is to be master of a pack there. Its kennels are to be at Oadby, where Sir Richard Sutton used to keep a pack occasionally; but it has lately been occupied each summer by Lord Henry Bentinck's lurchers and Clumber spaniels. It is said that if the pack is well supported,

a kennel will be built for them at Billesdon next year. Tom Day has been busy getting draughts from his different colleagues; but the plan was matured so late in the season, that nearly all the draughts were disposed of, so that we fear they will require a good deal of handling on the part of old Tom and his first whip, to keep them together. We have heard that Markwell, who was huntsman to the Cheshire under Captain White, has applied for the post. He has been in Scotland since then, and we should be glad to hear of his being in commission even as first whip once more. Strange that huntsmen slower even than old T-W- was, should be in places, and he left out! Our last advices are, however, to the effect that it is exceedingly doubtful whether a pack can be got together at all. Mr. Frank Sutton offered Mr. Tailby a nice lot of hounds last May to hunt this country, but he declined them, and they became Tom Day's perquisite, and did not fetch very much at that season of the year, though rather more than £1 1s. a couple, as Lord Waterford's lately did. Would that (thinks Tom) they were back again-and hang the money! On the reasons which have brought about a change in the Chester mastership we do not, of course, intend to dwell. Rumour now shifts the coming honour from Sir Humphrey Trafford to Sir Richard Brooke, who will, it says, take them at all events for one season; and Captain White will be master once more for the short space of the Tarporley week, whose universal festivities have been very properly curtailed. Mr. Assheton Smith is back again at Tidworth, and we trust he will again be able to cheer his hounds as of yore to many a sinking fox. We trust that as the season is commencing, we shall often be favoured with many accounts of runs and other incidents, and any changes which may take place. By way of furnishing hunting men with a directory, we have compiled a list (see page 372) of huntsmen, first and second whips, &c., up to the end of last month. For this purpose we sent out 110 circulars to different huntsmen, viz., 90 for England, 14 for Ireland, and 6 for Scotland, and have received or gathered from the replies and other sources 82 returns. Any more that may arrive in the course of this month will be published in our next.

WARLOCK,

WINNER OF THE ST. LEGER, 1856.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL.

BY CASTOR.

Warlock, bred by Lord Durham in 1853, is by Birdcatcher out of Elphine, by Emilius, her dam Variation, by Bustard-Johanna Southcote by Beningborough.

Irish Birdcateher, bred in Ireland, in 1833, is by Sir Hercules out of Guiceioli, by Bob Booty. His fame as a stallion is too well established,