ley Hill is no good." Ruby's owner has been sadly yapped at, because he has actually chosen to keep his colt in the stable since Northampton, without asking the public's leave! No horse has won in such style this year as he did at Northampton; but the second and third were sadly moderate, and he moreover got a most extra-capital start, which he took care to use. Still he ran like a race-horse, and looked like one, every inch of him; and till his opponents can "show cause" against him much less vaguely and maliciously than they do at present, we cannot but believe most in him for the Derby. Alembic must surely improve very much, or else Scott's crack cannot fail to have him all safe. King Tom we have never seen, but really at present his chance looks rosy. We hear that he is a stout, useful nag, like everything Pocahontas throws. Wild Huntsman is also a very clever outsider, and wonderfully goodlooking. His County Plate performance at York was really first-rate, as, in spite of disappointment after disappointment, he all but reached The King of Trumps. Still he strikes our eye as being a short-distance horse. Napier's blood does not stay, which prejudices us against Neville, who is quite likely to find himself overmatched by Canute, when they meet again; and Tros is slow, but about as useful a nag as we have seen stripped. We have not seen either Marsyas or Andover, but somehow we cannot fancy that their forms are very high" ones. Among stallions Melbourne and Orlando have especially distinguished themselves, while Irish Birdcatcher has been down on his luck; but if we mistake not, he was among his native fair ones in 1850, which will quite account for it. There seems little doubt that Umbriel may be scored up to Melbourne's credit, as his dam was hurriedly removed from Touchstone during the spring of '49, in consequence of the distemper which broke out in the Eaton paddocks, and Umbriel's birth answered to the third leap she had from Melbourne, some seven weeks after she had smiled on Touchstone. The racing capabilities of the young Orlandoes is something wonderful, and hence it is by no means wonderful that Mr. Grevile intends to confine his services in future to his own and 66 his particular friends' mares. Like Cowl, Sir Tatton Sykes seems to get his stock too big for racing purposes. The young Van Tromps have only made a bad season of it, and they are one and all blessed with very ordinary backs. Next year Van's old opponent, Chanticleer, as well as Surplice, will give us a taste of their quality in this line. One of the most beautiful things we have ever looked over, was a yearling got by the latter horse; and if we are rightly informed, Earl Derby has a twoyear-old at Knowsley by Touchstone, which is a perfect gem to look at, but too small to train. After all, breeding is a sad lottery, as certainly the ugliest animal we have seen of late, in the racing world, was one over whose parentage the utmost thought had been bestowed. Its breeder was unfortunately blind; and yet knowing his mare's defects, he would not send her to a certain celebrated horse till he had satisfied himself, by feeling all his points, that it would be a suitable cross; and this inspection he conducted with such wondrous accuracy and precision, that nothing would convince the horse's groom of the real extent of his visitor's malady. But now we have said our say, and our "pencil" must (D. V.) again repose in its case till the Corporation bellman takes his station in front of Mr. Clarke's gilt horse on the Northampton race-course, and proclaims the races of '54. 360 "HOIK IN, THERE!" ENGRAVED BY J. H. ENGLEHEART, FROM A PAINTING BY H. ALKEN. With many a cut at the cold sirloin, And a pull at the mightiest ale, They hardened their hearts for the good ding-dong Though their doings would hardly pale The shy-fed, soda-watering youth, Who now o'er a country sail. "There never were such times as those," When a fox was gently simmered to death- That's turning him over and doing him brown VENATORIAL AND OLYMPIC ASPECTS. BY CECIL. Character of the month-Epithets-Renewing acquaintances; The wardrobe; The stud--The past summer-Termination of the racing season; results; remarksWest Australian and Sittingbourne; touting and its consequences; advantages of a tan gallop; reckless betting-Match in Alexandria; comments thereon; hedging; imperfect account; causes of defeat; faliacies-Proposed match-Selection of a horse; twenty miles in the hour-Mr. Osbaldeston's match against time-Effect of climate-Cub-hunting; scent; Mr. Wheble's hounds-The Craven hounds; foreign foxes-Hotel charges. The epithets showered forth against the month of November are opprobrious-many are prone to bestow anathemas against it. Wherefore should it be scandalized in such ungenerous tones of speech? The hare-hunter is in the midst of his revelry; it brings new life to foxhunting and stag-hunting. There are still a few partridges left to beguile the leisure hours when the hounds are in their kennel; and if the birds are wild, the excitement is the greater. Pheasant-shooting is in full force, and the delicate woodcock has again returned to its favourite haunts. And yet, forsooth, November is said to be dreary, dark, foggy, tempestuous, rainy, and provoking even to suicide; but to the sportsman it is the most enlivening of all the year. Let the hypochondriacal divert themselves with field sports, and assuredly they will find an antidote for their complaints, and no longer greet Diana's carnival with ungracious terms. New coats and new leathers come home from the purveyors of those garments; whips, caps, boots, spurs, and all the other paraphernalia of the chase, are duly paraded. There is some gratification in renewing acquaintance with old favourites, whether they be animate or inanimate. The hunting-whip, which has enjoyed its repose since the "last day of the season," comes to the hand like an old friend. The cap, which has already seen some service, is still fresh, and vastly more agreeable than a new one; while the highly-polished Latchfords look brighter than ever. Even the old coat is preferable to the new one; and after that has appeared on parade on the first show day, is laid aside in deference to its senior companion. There is something ominous in new hunting toggery. A bran new coat is almost certain to entice the wearer to a fall in some muddy slough, that the gloss may be taken out of the glittering garment. As to a new saddle, it is a most unsportsmanlike abomination; and to guard against such a perpetration as an appearance in one, the precaution must be adopted of using it during the summer, when riding about secluded roads and fields, where the eye of criticism is not wont to penetrate. Old Topthorne, Spring Gun, and the Marchioness, after the excellent summering they have had, are fresher than ever; and what pleasure can exceed that of renewing acquaintance with |