PHILIP BOOTH, ESQ. ON GOLDFRINGE.

Engraved by W. B. Scort, from a Painting by D. Cunliffe.

In the present number of our Magazine, we submit to our readers a portrait of that accomplished and popular sportsman, Philip Booth, Esq. of Milton-hall, Bedford, (at present residing at Bletsoe,) on his favourite hunter, Goldfringe, a horse whose performances in the field have excited the admiration of neighbouring Nimrods, reflecting the highest credit upon the admirable and scientific management of his owner, and proving his own natural and sterling qualities. To those who, within the last twelve years, have attended the Oakley hounds, any observations respecting this gentleman are unnecessary. No member of the club knows the country better than Mr. Booth, or is found in a better place, nor is any one more esteemed by his brother sportsmen, either in the field or at his own hospitable table.

Milton-hall is situated in the most sporting part of the County of Bedford, and is distinguished for its picturesque beauty. To its owner, its locality is no small recommendation, as it is close to the kennel.

Goldfringe was got by Proselyte out of a well bred hunting mare; Proselyte was bred by the Duke of Grafton, being got by Sorcerer, his dam Pope Joan, by Waxy:-the best blood in England.

SURMISES ON THE APPROACHING DERBY

HORSES.

THE Newmarket meetings are beginning to draw within sight; and the rehearsals of the candidates for the great Derby stakes will shortly (to use a theatrical phrase) "be called." May I therefore be permitted, as an old frequenter of the turf,-and a silent observer hitherto of men-horses-and stables,-to surmise a little as to what may happen, what is happening and what betting readers would desire should happen. I do not want to affect the Vates,—though it requires but a calm and considerate review of the past, and view of the present, to make a very decent prophet on racing matters, as prophets go. I can violate no secrets, for I know none. I can commit no trainer,betray no little stable-boy,-endanger no valet out of livery, who has the run of his master's letters;-for I am in the confidence of none. I cannot hang suspicion on the peg of any head lad's character,—or affect a turf-farrier's repute, or a Newmarket Chief-Justice's probityfor I have had no communication with either influential party. I have looked on,—and pondered and balanced this against that,—until my mind rebels against "solitary confinement," and I think it better to talk a little with my fellow creatures. A word or two-and but a word or two-on what is probably doing, and what may be done.

"For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood; I only speak right on;

I tell you that, which you yourselves may know!"

And first, as to the popular stables.-The lot of John Scott, with William Scott as pilot, is a formidable privateer! and lucky would he be, who could truly foretell the great gun of the craft. Reports are heard on all sides, but which is the great gun?-which, in fact, is the best horse in John Scott's stable ?—I say Zimmerman. He had no right to be beaten, I fancy, at Doncaster; and he is a racing-looking animal, and out of The Carpenter's dam. Public running, when it can be got at, is the best criterion ;-and private trials, whispered into the ear of a turf speculator, (if heeded,) would ruin Messrs. Coutts, Drummond, Hoares, Goslings, Smith, Payne, and Smith, Twinings, Bank of England and Company! There is not one of the seventeen horses, which Scott trains, that will not make a martyr of some gentleman's pocket-but again I say, looking at the whole fleet of seventeen sail of the line,—if I must go to sea,-let me voyage with Anson!

John Day's lot begins to tame down-he has some very suspicious Camel animals, which, but for the camel-legs ought to be first in every one's opinion; public running however, requires a continuation of soundness, and should Wapiti and Westonian stand-they will deservedly be great and dangerous favourites. In this stable, however, from the pencils I have seen at work —and the kind of men who have worked them, I augur that Meunier is destined to be the élite of the cluster.

All agree that Lord Jersey's Brother to Bay Middleton is a fine animal and a good goer ;-he is not however so large a colt as I was led to expect. Nevertheless he is well in, in the Craven meeting, and must be put down as one of the chosen. Ilderim's temper is so bad, that I would not live with him on any terms. The Cain colt looks promising,--but then he has to meet Kremlin the first day of the Craven, and if Kremlin be improved a very little, he will be a troublesome opponent. The Duke of Rutland's Flambeau has just been walking the hospital; but were there no risk of Rat-trap's disease, he carries himself with his head down, in a way, not to please me.

Of the outside ones (health always permitting) I prefer, (and this from what I see too of men,) Tros, Derrynane, Bloomsbury, Ferryman, Valaincourt, (Epsom trained,) and Hamlet to all others.

There I have relieved my mind! I have chattered, with some fear at my short-lived audacity;-and now, in the language of Byron, I

"Tremble into silence as before."

P. JACKET.

Notitia Venatica.

No. II.

BY ACTEON.

(Continuation of Introductory Remarks and Hints on Forming a Pack of Fox-Hounds.)

Ir cannot be expected that what are termed the old hounds (that is such as have hunted), can be particularly striking in point of beauty for the first season, it is quite sufficient if they are tolerably steady, and can run together; new introductions invariably cause jealousies, and those which have been perfect Nestors in their former kennel, frequently become, by the example of vicious companions, the most incorrigible rogues themselves. Whatever hounds are to form a new pack, should be undoubtedly collected for some weeks previous to the commencement of cub-hunting, they should be thoroughly drilled, like the young ones, and such as show lameness, or vice amongst deer or sheep (hares may be excused at first), should be put back. If foxes are plentiful, they should be taken out two or three times before the puppies are entered, and such as are noisy or wide, should be put away decidedly for the first offence; old hounds which cannot run up, if steady, and not noisy, may be extremely useful, at any rate for the first season; and, after the young ones have joined them, no others should be received into the pack, even as presents: no one parts with a hound at that season of the year which is worth a farthing, and new acquaintances invariably create wildness and jealousies; the constantly rating and flogging those which are wild and vicious, tend considerably to alarm and disturb those which are already steady, and from shyness and distrust, they become themselves reckless and ungovernable, “ Dimidium facti qui bene cœpit habet," is a motto which cannot be too forcibly impressed upon the mind of any one making his debut as a master of hounds. If you have sufficient walks or quarters, as they are sometimes called, to enable you to breed your own, begin from a good stock at first; there is plenty of choice, and bad blood once introduced, may blight the fruits of your undertakings for many years to come; and, above all, remember the words of the dying huntsman, "Breed'em wi' plenty of bone."* A new pack will seldom allow of the breeding establishment being very extensive for the first season, it is never worth while to breed from very old bitches, the whelps they throw are frequently small and weak, and those which can be really

Almost the last words of old Tom Grant, many years huntsman to his Grace the Duke of Richmond.

depended upon as being of a good family, and sound constitution, will, of course, not be very numerous; never breed from those which are delicate, of either sex, and never prepagate vice in your kennel, by breeding from any one which is notoriously wild and vicious, though he be ever so stout and handsome. After Christmas, such bitches as you may intend to breed from, should, on their coming on heat, be immediately put to the dog, and on no account should they be suffered to go to work again that season; no bitch should be put-to after the first or second week in May, late puppies seldom do much good.

Before the breeding season commences, care should be taken to have every convenience in readiness for the comfort of the bitches. Under the south-side (if possible) of one of the paddocks, should be placed at certain distances, numerous roomy dog-cubs, with small separate enclosures attached to each, made with hurdles, resembling sheets of paling in miniature; the bars being nailed on perpendicularly, renders it more difficult for the puppies to climb over, than when they are placed horizontally. Hither should be brought each dam, a few days after she has produced, and her whelps have acquired a little strength. When the bitches become heavy, they should be shut up at night separately, in dry, warm places, made for the purpose, where they can be kept very quiet; here they may be allowed to whelp, and on no account should their puppies be looked at or handled, until some hours after they have come into the world; it is a bad plan to allow them much straw, as when the litter is too abundant, particularly when long, it is apt to get twisted round the necks of the puppies, and strangle them.

Three are quite sufficient for a mother to suckle, that is a moderate nurse, but a good stout bitch, with abundance of milk, will occasionally bring up as many as seven. Mr. Asheton Smith had a hound some years ago, named Governess, which was as famous for rearing puppies, as she was excellent in the field, and during the spring and summer of 1831, produced and reared two litters, amounting to fourteen, which did well, and went to quarters; the first litter were by that famous hound Watchman, the second by Mr. A. Smith's Barrister; a circumstance worthy to be recorded in the annals of breeding hounds. It is an excellent system which is pursued in some establishments, to keep one or two cows for the exclusive use of the puppies. The huntsman is generally allowed the keep of one for his own family; at Brocklesby (the Earl of Yarborough's), where every thing connected with the kennel department is conducted on a scale of the greatest liberality, the huntsman is permitted to keep two cows, and the whippers-in and boiler have the run of one each in the park.