will be exhibited anon. The wagering was about the Riddlesworth, for the which, 6 to 4 was eagerly laid on Glenorchy; and such as "got on" looked knowing, and put the amount to the credit side of their books. I never bet, and when I do go into the ring, it is as I would enter any other menagerie, to contemplate a collection of predatory animals. As I lounged among the carnivora in the present instance, one of a genus, such as I had never before seen, attracted my notice. The creature was remarkable for an air of extreme cunning, and a frame utterly divested of grace or proportion; the head literally growing out of its shoulders. I cannot do better than beguile our way to the heath with an anecdote of it, that I had from a friend who rode with me thither, on the occasion to which this relates. "It's a rum un' to look at," said my companion, "and by no means a bad un' to go:" e. g. A few years ago it was here, during a meeting, and returning home, somewhat in a case of drink, on retiring to rest found its bed occupied by a large mastiff. The means it employed to get rid of the intruder were as summary as they were efficacious. Opening the sash, it took the unconscious interloper by the nape of the neck, and holding it out of the window, cut its throat with a razor, and let it drop into the street. The name of this strange beast is but they have since dubbed it "The Assassin.""

At two o'clock, preparations began for the opening event of the meeting the Craven Stakes, and I cantered over for a look at my travelled friend, Scroggins, who saddled away from the stables; despite the unusual nature of his winter's work for a racer, his condition was perfect; and his noble owner has every reason to be satisfied with the form in which Boyce brought him to the post. As Connelly was about to mount, I said to him, "How is this to come off?" "I mean to land the old horse first by a head, sir," was his reply; and so he did. A Sweepstakes succeeded, won by a son of Clearwell, and then, after a most indifferent match, the saddling stables were beset by a dense crowd, as the time appointed for the Riddlesworth approached, all struggling for a glimpse of the scion of a race, whose fame has been second to none of modern days. Glenorchy, however, saddled beyond the ditch, and I met him as he came to the post through the gap of the B.C. He had just finished his canter, and the tale was out. His off fore leg was utterly gone; so much so, indeed, that he appeared about to drop when pulled up. I really felt for Robinson, his look was so wo-begone; besides that, his prospect, of riding a horse in such a condition, was anything but pleasant. It may be asked, how could the parties concerned be ignorant of the hopeless state of Glenorchy ? or how were the keen eyes of the Newmarket professionals blinded to the whole truth? for he continued, up to the hour of starting, at odds against the field. The reply is a simple one: he had done the little work required of him on ground as soft as an onion bed; and not till he was tried on the sod did the staff break under him, and under the hopes of his stable. The race in itself was, and will be, insignificant; it was run at no speed; but, still, it seemed to afford a pleasant prospective to Lord Chesterfield. No doubt the winner was not the best of his Lordship's two Oaks fillies; and methought he seemed to say, I'll win with Rowton's dam yet." I forgot to name, that Glenorchy has all the characteristics of his father;

66

had he been as good, and as sound, his fortune would have been better; for 1840 is likely to produce no Plenipo.

The 50 sovs. Sweepstakes followed, which were to introduce to the Southrons, a leading favourite for the Derby-Theon, who had run four times at two years old, winning and losing twice. He won this race easy enough; but a glance at the Turf Register will shew, as well as a page written upon it, the character of the conquest. The pace was very indifferent; and if the odds are to be any criterion of the coming Derby, alas! for the glories of Epsom! There is yet one matter connected with this day to be told-probably not the least interesting to some of my readers. In the evening, Lord George Bentinck scratched the whole of his large entry for the Derby: a savory sop for the bettors round, at all events. With the motives for this step, I have no concern: a proprietor of race horses may do as he likes with his own. If, however, the precedent should be generally adopted, betting, as a profession, of course, would be at an end- -a consummation devoutly to be wished, by whatever means brought about. Tuesday's sport was poor and unimportant; the Riddlesworth, peculiar to that day, being the most wretched exhibition-the most ill-paired match, conceivable. The 300 sovs. Sweepstakes was another and a severe blow to Lord Jersey's stable, Cæsar having broken down, by splitting the pastern-bone of the off fore leg: there was nothing in the racing that deserves more particular allusion.

Everything combined to render Wednesday replete with interest: the weather was perfect; the attendance very good; and the town alive with excitement, the esprit de corps enlisting all the natives, down to the babes and sucklings, on the side of "the grey." The business on the heath commenced with the victory of Dreadnought (one of Lord G. Bentinck's Derby lot) for the High Ash Stakes; and then came the important Column, booked safe to Lord Orford, his colt being backed at odds against the field. Before he was stripped I fancied him not; the removal of his clothes by no means removed my prejudice. He is a leggy colt, his timbers being none of the stoutest; and he carried, to the eye, flesh enough for a Park hackney. In appearance, he is what comes under the denomination of a "peacock horse," having a lengthy, upstanding, showy forehand, and tail to correspond. Fifty reasons were assigned for his being beaten; the true one, in my mind, being, that the winner was too good for him. He certainly ran an honest race, coming again, though evidently choaked off by the pace at the beginning, when called upon for the finish. Still, it should be remembered who rode him; and that, barring a horse were actually in the boiler, Robinson will make something like a manifestation with him at the run home. Assassin has certainly many racing points about him; but the pace was bad, decidedly bad, and, ni fallor, the Derby field is a good investment still. Every one was delighted at Lord Albemarle's turn of luck; his popularity is well merited.

Of course the event aforesaid had an effect upon the Epsom betting, the grey's friends looking particularly shy on the evening of his defeat. He "came again" on Thursday, however; but, as our affair is with the sport of that day, we pass on to the details of it, brief as they Flambeau began by beating Mendizabel, in a fine struggle, and

are.

Euclid closed by serving the Corsair after the same fashion, the pair having run a slashing race for the Claret. As the practice is here, a strong bill of fare was reserved for the last day; and not only, in this instance, was the feast ample, but of a most superior character. For the 200 sovereigns Sweepstakes, Nicholas, a Derby nag, beat the Duke of Portland's Beiram colt, in a very honest fashion, and under rather trying circumstances. Next came a Fifty Pound Plate; and then the Berkeley-square Stakes, which brought out but a short field; the question lay between Black Bess and Grey Milton, the former carrying it by a considerable majority. Some other races followed; in two of which it will be seen my Lord Albemarle was again victorious; and thus ended the Craven Meeting. With a few observations, here, too, shall close my notice of it. The first feature that attracted my attention, was the obvious falling off in public betting. Offers to lay were plenty as blackberries, but takers evidently shy to bite. This was well; and, with the growth of such caution, will increase the character and prosperity of the turf. Another prominent point of notice was the scarcity of jockeys; at least, of men of that profession; or the promise of a succession likely to represent their predecessors fittingly. A few good youngsters are working their way upward ; and Lord Exeter's stable is bringing forward a boy of the name of Nunn, who, if he mind what Turner says to him, will probably turn out well. Still the supply by no means equals the demand; and some, that offered well, are sadly breaking the promise to the hope. One, from whom I once expected better things, appears desirous to be written down an ass. Does he suppose that adopting the costume of a buffoon will lead to patronage? Let him-let all of his professionadopt this as a golden rule: Integrity of purpose, and modesty of demeanour; earnestness of design, and courtesy in pursuit of an object these, and these alone, will lead to ultimate success, whatever Fortune may have marked out as a man's course in life.

Beyond the light which our account of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket will throw upon the present prospects of the Derby and Oaks, we have nothing to add to the foregoing quotations upon these events. A strong field is in the betting upon the first of them, but a very weak one is likely to shew at the post. As far as we have advanced, the three-year-olds of the season have come out very moderately; something may be behind of first-rate pretensions; at present, the north country division is unquestionably first and first in public performers.

CHAMOIS SHOOTING ON THE JUNGFRAU.

THE design with which this clever sketch was made, and that which caused its being selected as one of the embellishments for this work, were the same; namely, to convey a general idea of one of the most characteristic sports of the region in which it is pursued. Upon the same principle we have chosen for its companion the

"HOG HUNTERS,"

to illustrate a pastime followed in a far different clime, if not with similar enthusiasm, certainly with unquestionable ardour.