Our monthly table needs, if possible, less exposition than usual. The great feature of the time has been a row at the Corner over a trottingmatch bet. How are the mighty fallen! The Liverpool Steeple-chase :-15 to 1 against the Curate, 20 to 1 against Sir Arthur, 20 to 1 against Richard the First, 20 to 1 against the Nigger, 20 to 1 against Wolverhampton. The Two Thousand Guinea Stakes:-5 to 1 against Surplice, and 10 to 1 against Rosslyn. THE STEEPLE CHASE-PLATE I.: WHAT ABOUT THE GREY ?"-ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY J. F. HERRING, SEN. A PEEP AT THE PROVINCES; OR, THE CRACK PACKS OF THE POCKET AND THE STUD.-BY HARRY HIEOVER THE BURTON HUNT SPORTING INCIDENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD (FROM THE MS. 89 98 104 109 LIFE OF THE HON. PERCY HAMILTON).—COMMUNICATED DOINGS OF THE BATAVIA RACE CLUB AND SOUTH 111 EXTRACTS FROM A JOURNAL KEPT DURING A CRUISE ON PENCILLINGS IN THE PROVINCES.-BY WHIZ MEMOIR OF J. F. HERRING, ESQ. LITERATURE: THE BRITISH ANGLER'S MANUAL PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS BANFF, AND KINCARDINESHIRE-DONCASTER-BRECON- MOND-REDDITCH —LICHFIELD-LEICESTER BEDFORD h. m. d. h. m. h. m. h. m. 4226 RISES 11 511 37 Morning. 4 4827 5 21 1 T Partridge & pheasant shoot. ends. r 7 5 S Howey (Radnor) Fair. s 4 51 29 6 50 afternoon s 4 55 17 7 2 55 3 15 r 7 32 2 8 24 3 9 42 6 Fifth Sun. after Epiphany. 13 Sirth Sun. after Epiphany. 16 W LYTHAM CHAMPION C. M. 17 T THE BORDER ST.-CHASES. 18 F Morning. 4 55 5 15 540 6 0 6 25 6 45 7 10 7 40 8 15 8 50 s 5 6 7 1 27 s 5 1713 6 29 r 7 4 30 4 50 5 25 26 S Hare hunting ends (?) r 6 5720 27 Seragesima Sunday. 28 M Cambridge Term divides. 29 T WATERLOO (LIVERPOOL) C. M. r 6 49 24 Biggar (Open), 1, 2, 3, 4; Mountainstown. 2, 3; Hornby Park (Catterick), 3, 4; Newmarket, 7; Workington, 7, 8; Nordley (Ellesmere), 9; Everley (Wiltshire), 9, 10, 11; Altcar Club, 10, 11; Atcham (Salop), 11; Leyburne (Open), 15, 16; Border (Roxburgh), 15, &c.; Lytham (Champion), 16, 17, 18; Midlothian, 22, 23; Newell (Bromsgrove), 23; Ardrossan Club, 24; Waterloo (Liverpool), 29. Others for this month not fixed. PROSPECTS OF THE TURF IN 1848. BY CRAVEN. "Est ubi plus tepeant hyemes-ubi gratior aura?"-Horat. Once again spring is with us, after a winter prodigal of violets. Without disparagement to the good old times, sportsmen, at all events, have cause for congratulation at the changes which afforded them a clear stage for their performances. Diana has smiled upon few seasons like that now in discussion in the annals of the chase it shall be marked with a white stone. Shooting is over, as far as relates to winged game, till August. Cedant arma toga-guns are laid by, and the silk jacket is "looked up ;" for Liverpool Spring Meeting occurs on the first day of the next month! The open weather, which has kept the hunting stud going, has, of course, done as much for the training stable. Unless some very improbable alteration in the thermometer should take place, racing teams will be unusually forward in their work-whatever their places for their engagements. Before we speak of these, however, it will not be out of season to say a word about the recent efforts that have been made to improve the moral condition of the racing republic. For half a score years or more I have uplifted my voice against the practice of herding the goats and sheep together on the turf. I have ceased not to urge the convenience of some system of classification, if an entire separation of races should be held impossible. For this I made account to get, and did get, knocks of all kinds, professional cross-buttocks, amateur appeals to the knowledge-box, and miscellaneous manifestations of malice from "the mob of un-gentlemen who write at ease" from unrestraint of grammar and grace. Well, thus it went on; and the legs went off, when it suited them better than standing their ground; and things were fast going to the prince of darkness. During the summer and autumn of '47 default was the rule, and keeping an engagement to pay the exception-with the ring. Some of the big wigs went for the gloves, and subsequently for a tour on the continent; while the small fry betook themselves to philosophy, and repudiated the liquidation of accounts in the spirit of ancient Pistol. The middle men did still more they stood upon principle-paid or let it alone (the latter, of course, nine times out of ten), according to their interest or caprice; and pitched into "the blackguard press" for not approving of their way of doing business. In a sporting paper there appeared a melancholy narrative of the blowing-up of the editor; and on all hands it was agreed that" quite athwart went all decorum" at Tattersall's. Thus, it must be admitted, matters had come to the worst; and a universal cry arose that they should be amended. A committee was substituted for the single voice by which the entrée to the subscription room was wont to be regulated. The members issued their rules: alas, for poor human ingenuity they were pronounced an improvement in the art of misgoverning. Behold how the correspondent of one of the weekly journals deals with them : “Their first law, requiring the recommendation in writing of two subscribers, is, I think, unnecessary and troublesome to obtain; for people in general do not like to ask their friends to speak to character, nor do men like to speak pointedly respecting the character of others, especially when their opinion is to be scrutinized by those who are in the habit of attending at Messrs. Tattersall's; and is, in reality, no test of the candidate's solvency. If a gentleman wishes to become a member, why not let his name be placed in a conspicuous part of the room for one week, and then admitted, if the committee see no just cause or impediment why he should not be a subscriber? The second rule is so very undefined that it is impossible to say what it is. It is an attempt in a blindfold way to legislate for the future, and a sort of mock bar against the law of libel. The third rule is very stringent indeed against the unfortunates who have been, as well as against those who may become so; but I think it conveys more than Messrs. Tattersall intended for no man whose name figures, or ever did figure, upon the forfeit-list at Burlington-street can be a member; nor can any man who has ever made default in payment become a member, however wealthy and respectable he may be now-and I could point to a dozen names who stand thus affected, but who are now A 1. The fourth rule is all very well; but it might be simplified. Instead of having two referees and an umpire, why not in case of dispute leave it to one referee; and, in the event of his not being able to decide, give him the power to call in an umpire, to be chosen from the committee? The fifth rule is very necessary. The sixth, seventh, and eighth are mere notices." : As a composition this extract is not particularly sublime or distinct; but it goes to show that the new executive is not giving universal satisfaction. Well for us if it don't fail still more emphatically. Some of the junta were so liberal of sentiment last year that they earnestly urged Mr. Tattersall to admit to the privileges of the room a "party" convicted before the Jockey Club of something very closely akin to that which one of his friends had elegantly termed "a lagging job." If this be a specimen of the future policy of the committee, a fine field for young "Fagins" will be opened in "the immediate vicinity of Grosvenorplace and the Parks." It seems to be the instinct of civilized man to set about everything he undertakes in a roundabout way. One would think the simplest recipe for escaping the probabilities of being robbed was to avoid the society of rogues. Not so says the Olympian reform parliament :-" Take the thieves as before," runs its prescription, "with an infusion of circumspection as an alterative.” So a code of laws is constructed, and a vote of grace is passed, restoring to the turf malefactors, without reference to their degrees of crime; for the purpose, let charity suppose, of testing its efficacy. If Punch were to pourtray a sitting of such a house, I should like to lay odds the Speaker would be drawn in a cap and bells When racing society shall be conducted upon the principle that regulates all other social intercourse, then the turf will be found void of offence; but not sooner. When gentlemen at Newmarket shall cease to countenance those they would discharge their servants for associating with in London, the turf shall be without offence against right and reason; but not before. When the engagements of the turf shall be conducted in the spirit of honour, instead of after the letter of custom, every Englishman will regard racing as a sport fitting his country; but not sooner. When horse-racing shall be a national sport and pastime, in lieu of a snare for the foolish and a contrivance for the keen-witted to |