The

and conversed with all who approached him, with a kindness of manner perfectly consistent with his "off-hand" character, without in the slightest degree compromising his kingly dignity. Queen was equally agreeable, and frequently during the day opened and shut the windows with her own hands, in one or two instances, I thought, a little to the discredit of the gallantry of those gentlemen who stood near to her. I may add that there was no Windsor uniform worn. Among those whom I noticed in the saloon, independent of their Majesties and the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, were the Earl of Munster and his brothers, the Rev. Lord Fitzelarence being particularly conspicuous from his spectacles, and the Captain in the Navy for his blunt, tar-like sang-froid. Besides these, were Earl Grey, and his amiable Countess and two daughters, who remained throughout the day in the Royal presence; the Marquess and Marchioness of Ely, Earl and Countess Howe, Admiral Gore, and his two lovely daughters, together with many other individuals of rank, who paid their respects during the day. Earl Grey, with his fine bold forehead, was particularly observable, and repeatedly conversed with his Majesty, who, I was told, said to him in the course of the day, "To-morrow, my lord, we will devote to business, for that must not give way to pleasure;" and his Majesty kept his word.

It was amusing to witness the various expedients to which the itinerants, who seek general countenance on these festivals, had recourse to win with the Royal notice. At one time a weatherbeaten tar, but evidently a practised pensioner on public charity, exclaimed, "My noble Admiralhard up-I hope you'll remember

an old shipmate." At another a Savoyard set his monkey to perform his most active evolutions: and, at a third, a set of glee-singers sang several popular songs, finishing with "God save the King" and "Rule Britaria," both of which were followed by three hearty cheers; and, if I am not much mistaken, from the motions of the ruby lips of some of the fair companions of royalty, they could not restrain themselves from joining in the chorus. This may be fancy; but even were it not so, such an ebullition of feeling might well be excused at such an opportunity. The Royal party seemed all heartily to participate in the amusement of the day, and remained till half-past six, when they departed, again greeted by the populace.

Having thus disposed of the grandees, I shall now turn to other topics; and first I must give due praise to Lord Anson, whose urbanity and good temper, as steward, by virtue of his office, gave general satisfaction. The course, I am bound to say, also, was admirably kept, and the most perfect order preserved-a circumstance mainly attributable to the excellent arrangements of Sir Richard Birnis, who was attended by the élite of the old Bow-street police, including Townsend, Sayers, Bishop, Atkins, Ledbetter, Taunton, Ellis, Ruthven, and several others--all "good men and true," and thoroughly acquainted with their business. To these were added a large body of mounted and dismounted patrols, under the superintendence of Mr. Day, of the Home Office, a sharpsighted vigilant man, fully aware of the utility of his force, and every way qualified to apply it with judgment. I could not but smile at the quaint originality of my old friend, Jack Townsend, who is a perfect character in his

way, and respected by the higher ranks, while he is feared by lower -I mean, of course, those who have reason to dread his vigilance and his power. While, on the one hand, a wink, with a sly shake of his head, was sufficient to send a group of cadgers to the right about; on the other, his obsequious bow and good-humoured "How do you do, my lord? Hope your father or my lady is well "-produced as familiar a recognition on the part of the nobleman to whom he addressed himself. Here I cannot refrain from giving you a speech which I heard him make to a set of "nobbers," as he called them, who were collected in a drinking booth at the back of the course. This was before the King arrived, and when he was marshalling his forces. All these fellows paid him great respect, and one of them, he said, he knew to be a "nobber" for forty years. "Now, gentlemen," said he, "I've a word for your private ear. I shan't stand no nonsense to-day, and you knows I means it.

Remember, for the first offence, seven days; for the second, fourteen ; and for the third, a month, and hard labour, in his Majesty's gaol for the county of Berks! and this without gammon. I give you all fair warning-let us have no tricks -and, above all, keep clear of the course. Now, I have done my duty, and damn me if I spare you should you come into my clutches. You know I'm a man of my word: I've hanged a couple of you, and I shan't be partiklar in hanging a few more, if you deserve it!" With this speech he took off his hat, screwed up his mouth, and made his exit with a knowing twist of his eye. I must have one word more respecting Jack before I leave him, and that is simply to state that he still wears the identical broad-brimmed hat

left him by his late Royal master, which he declares he will wear as long as it will hang together, and then hand it down to his descendants as an heirloom.

I feel, Mr. Editor, that I am exhausting your patience, and yet a thousand topics crowd upon me; but I must be brief. I will not recount the numberless tables belonging to the heroes of "the thimble-rig" I saw broken; I will not attempt to describe the long faces of the flats who, at the gambling-table or on the turf, dropped their "siller," as a Scotchman would say; nor will I enumerate the thousand other occurrences, serious and comic, which gave variety to the frolics · of the day. But before I conclude, I must allude to an order which was made by his late Majesty, I am am convinced, in a moment of temporary caprice, and, no doubt, under unwise counsel, by which the horses of all persons not belonging to the Jockey Club, or not being members of some of the other aristocratical Clubs of the day, are excluded from being entered for the "Gold Cup," which is run for on the third day. You are aware that this order was made in the year when Mameluke and other celebrated horses were entered a year distinguished for a greater concourse of spectators than ever before graced the Heath. His Majesty supposed, on that occasion, that some personal slight was intended to him by Mr. Gully, who rode hastily up to ask Lord Maryborough a question upon some unfair direction which he had given. That Mr. Gully could have meant such slight no man who knows him will for one 'moment believe; and even his Majesty afterwards conscientiously confessed his error. The fiat, however, had gone forth,

and has not since been withdrawn. The consequence has been obvious -instead of being the best entry of the week, that for the Gold Cup proved to be nearly the worst; and his Majesty's horse, the Colonel, having broken down, its character was still further reduced so that the "grand day," as the third day had previously been called, from the fame of the horses usually entered the Cup, has become no way dis

tinguishable from the others, except in name. That his Majesty will be generously pleased to rescind an order so injurious must be the anxious prayer of all admirers of the Turf, and especially of those who wish to preserve the importance of the sports at Ascot; and when we reflect on the decided encouragement his Majesty has hitherto given to the breed of horses, we are persuaded it is the horse, and not to the breeder, to which he will look-unless, indeed, some stain should attach to the owner, from which no man is more free than John Gully, who, whatever may have been his origin, has secured to himself the unqualified respect and the confidence of the most elevated and the most honourable men in the kingdom.

With this paragraph I must close my letter, which has gone far beyond the limit I intended, but which, were I to gratify the cacoëthes scribendi by which I have been seized, might be extended still further. I shall only add, for the gratification of those whom it may concern, that I arrived safe and sound in London on the same night, highly gratified by my day's amusement, and only hoping that the great majority of my fellow-travellers may have had as little reason to regret it. I must leave the description of the races, and the other

three days, to your more practised pen, and subscribe myself, with great respect, yours,-A HIGHMETTLED SCRIBE.

[In addition to our correspondent's letter, we have to state that on Wednesday the Royal family did not attend the course, and that the general assemblage of company was limited. On Thursday, however, the King and Queen were again present, and were joined in the course of the day by Prince Leopold and Prince George of Cambridge. Neither the Duke of Cumberland nor Duke of Sussex attended, and many of the high Tory families were absent. Still the assemblage of rank and fashion was truly "prodigious!"-including a long list of persons of distinction, too numerous to particularize. The heat of the sun was oppressive, but the weather throughout was favourable. The reception of the King and Queen every day they were present was most cordial. We subjoin an account of the sport.]

EPSOM RACES.

com.

These popular races menced on Tuesday, and con. cluded on Friday. For the first two days the attendance of company, though highly respectable, was not very numerous. The Stewards had been, as usual, on the alert to make the necessary arrangements to preserve order; and the attendance of a large body of the new police secured the public from the attacks of the marauders, who frequent these scenes, while perfect order was preserved on the course.

Thursday, being. "The Derby Day," was, as usual, attractive, and all those who had reserved the exhibition of their finery or restrained their "racing curiosity" during the two preceding days,

set out for the Downs in the full anticipation of a delightful excursion. The morning was extremely propitious, and the sun had scarcely arisen in its full splendour, before the roads towards Epsom displayed the lively bustle of those cautious travellers who deemed it prudent to be early on the course, not only to secure advantageous positions for themselves, but comfortable accommodation for their cattle. As the day advanced the cavalcade increased in numbers as well as in importance, and at last the accumulation of dashing equipages and the display of fashionable company revived the most favourable recollection of similar

exhibitions on former occasions. All was gaiety and good humour, and all seemed bent on giving full scope to their pleasurable sensations. For the first six or eight miles, the roads being well watered, rendered the ride delightful; but after this, the rising clouds of dust, unchecked by a single drop of water, proved not only destructive to the costume of the passengers, but mortifying to their vanity-the careful labour of the toilet for many hours being completely eclipsed by a chalky powder, which reduced all colours to that most prevalent among our practical millers. As the throng passed through Epsom town, this appearance was particularly conspicuous; and if any addition were wanting to the coat of dust already obtained, it was here supplied, for, owing to the niggardly disposition of the inhabitants, although there is a large pond in the centre of the town, not the slightest attempt had been made. to abate the nuisance; and the betting men, who commonly assemble to view the company or book their speculations, might be said to be enveloped in a cloud so

dense as almost to prevent their being able to recognize each other. Indeed, a celebrated Hibernian speculator exclaimed, he could scarcely distinguish his father from a bull-dog, or Mr. Crockford from a baked mackerel. It is to be hoped this annoyance may be abated in a future year, or that the patrons of the town may transfer their favours to the equally convenient town of Ewell, where they may receive more respectful treatment. Indeed, we see no reason why the trustees of the roads on these occasions should not water the roads the whole of the way. This might be effected at a trifling expense, which the public would cheerfully pay in the way of a slight additional toll.

On the course, the coup d'œil was brilliant, although we thought there was a lack of those dashing equipages we have been wont to observe on the Hill. Much of the distinguished company, however, who were in the habit of taking their station on this spot directed their steps to the Grand Stand, which was crowded to an overflow; and certainly, when all the visitors were assembled just previous to the start for the Derby, this building, in all its departments, exhibited a most magnificent spectacle, fully equal, if not superior, to anything of the sort on any race-course in the kingdom. The display of beauty and fashion was extremely imposing, and gave a lustre to the meeting peculiarly attractive to the eyes of many groups of foreigners who were drawn to the spot by the celebrity of the festival.

The long lines of carriages, formed in treble and quadruple rows, covered with gaily dressed persons, combined with the my. riads of pedestrian spectators, added to the interest of the

scene, and equalled any former display of a similar character.

Immediately previous to the grand race the public attention was particularly attracted to the Princess Victoria, who sat in a carriage with the Duchess of Kent, close to the Stewards' Stand, and to whom the most affectionate homage was paid. She looked in good health, and evidently enjoyed the liveliness of the scene. From her Royal Highness the eye of curiosity was turned to the Stewards' Stand itself, in which the Duke of Cumberland and his son, Prince George, with Prince Leopold, and several persons of distinction, were stationed; and after the race was over, it may not be unworthy of remark that an ill-judged effort to get up a cheer for the Duke of Cumberland was met by a slight indication of feeling of a different description. It would be impossible to recapitulate all the distinguished persons who were present, independent of the Royal family.

During the race for the Derby the excitement in the immense multitude was extreme, and the result produced the customary expressions of exultation, astonishment, or mortification. We heard of two or three instances in which the enormous odds of £1000 to £5 had been laid against the winner, but whether these were events of fiction or reality we had no means of deciding.

Soon after the race was over most of the beau monde commenced their departure, as if in apprehension of a threatened storm-for the high wind having subsided, black clouds began to collect in the firmanent in a most portentous manner.

These apprehensions were soon justified by the fall of a smart shower. The confusion occasioned by this "un

toward" visitation was excessive; few had had the foresight to come prepared with umbrellas or bad weather habiliments, and the scrambles among those who had not close carriages in search of shelter were truly ludicrous. A cessation of the shower enabled many to get off the ground; but the respite was unfortunately short indeed, and for the rest of the evening there was a succession of heavy showers, by which thousands were sufferers. The effect upon their finery beggars description, and the metamorphosis was as sudden as it was complete, exposing the unfortunate sufferers to all the waggery of those in whose costume little change for the worse could be effected. The cant exclamations of "What a shocking bad bonnet!" and "What a shocking bad hat!" were heard in all directions; but patience was the only consolation, and all submitted to their fate with becoming resignation. The old adage, ""Tis an ill wind that. blows nobody good," was fully verified by this sudden change in the weather, and hundreds of honest tradesmen will no doubt profit largely by the casualties of the day. In the hurry to escape from the scene of these disasters dreadful confusion arose, and the rough collisions in the narrow roads from the Downs towards London produced many serious additions to the mischief, which embraced not only every variety of fracture to which carriages are liable, but in many instances serious personal injury. Every house of entertainment was crowded to suffocation by persons seeking shelter and comfort, and the night had far advanced before comparative regularity was restored. The scene at the conjunction of the roads leading from the Downs and Epsom, at Ewell, was