I mean not, my friend, to complain, And when Bills such as these come again, SIR, "WHO SHALL HAVE THE BRUSH? To the Editor of the Oriental Sporting Magazine. The following is not only a singular occurrence, but one also out of which arises a question, which I shall be glad if you, or any of your sporting correspondents, will answer; indeed, I am anxious to court information on the subject generally. The question is this, "To whom does the Brush of a Fox, when coursed, and killed by Greyhounds, belong?" Not long ago, I was one of a party of three, who went out hunting, and, as we were riding over a country unfrequented by sportsmen, we had four young dogs ready to slip at anything likely to afford us a good run. At the particular time I wish to speak of, we were preserving a good line, and really looking for a fox, for one we had mobbed the evening before was the first ever seen by my two companions, which I had found, laid into, and whose Brush I alone had dismounted to hammer off (by placing it across one stone, and bruising it off with another) undisputed. Not so the following morning, for each was determined to bear home, if possible, the honourable badge. If you have ever been out fox-hunting, Mr. Editor, you will know the height to which anxiety arises, on coming on a likely reach. Palpitation ran high, Palpitation ran high, and expectation was at its full extent, when the welcome "Tally ho!" was heard on the left. I on was in the centre of the line, and not being so well mounted as either of my companions, I had not a second to spare, but was at spur before the view holla was well uttered. The fox was found equidistant from my friend my left and myself, but well ahead, and he afterwards inclined to my direction, and I laid in the dogs; my friend who had found, having to get over some very bushy ground, two of the dogs were well at his heels on entering some low jungle; after a short run across a grain field, there appeared but one entry for horses into this jungle, and to that opening my right hand companion and I pushed, but he entered half a length before me. Observing the dogs make a swift turn to the right, I brought my old hack instantly round, and saw the fox return nearly under my horse's legs, and go out through the opening by which we had entered; I halloed, but the two leading dogs did not appear; this I thought a lucky turn for the two puppies in the rear, and I laid them in close upon the fox; they had scarcely run a hundred yards when the fox actually drove a hare out of her form. Fox and hare continued in the same track for a considerable distance, and on separating, the dogs did so also. I stuck by the fox and single dog, till I observed the former gaining ground on us, and dog and horse, as if sensible of his superiority in speed, mutually gave it up. I watched him till I observed his pace slaken to a sneaking trot and the elevation of his Brush sink to the standard of its natural carriage when on feed. I was returning full of disappointment, but fancied I had much more to talk of than my friends, and having found the dog that pursued the hare, without either fur or blood on his mouth, I proceeded to look for my companions. Observing them dismounted at some distance on a rising ground, I cantered up and found they had killed a fox, and that the gentleman who had been on my right on finding, and had beaten me into the jungle, had claimed the Brush. The fox killed must have been the originally found fox, and that which crossed me afterwards a fresh one. Here, then, one person finds, a second lays in, and a third, being in at the death, claims the Brush. Now, Mr. Editor, as I value a Brush exceedingly, I hope to be informed, through the means of your interesting work, whether I have any claim to that one. I laid in the dogs, and could have kept the lead, had I been well mounted, and I think the Brush was mine, and had I killed the other fox, and the hare, I should have placed her Ladyship's feet with the numerous Brushes that hang in my Stable. If I am nonsuited in my first application, I care not much, it will only prove a spur for me in future, to get in at the death, and as I have improved my stud and strengthened my nerve, I trust I may be able to obtain what for the present I beg to subscribe myself, Your sincere admirer, BRUSH, On a tour of pleasure in the Dooab. 16th August, 1828. MR. EDITOR, USEFUL INFORMATION. very I am desirous of seeing your Magazine made the medium of communicating useful Sporting Intelligence as well as amusing subjects, and I therefore hope some of your correspondents will reply to the question which concludes the very sensible and clever letter by O. K. in your last number, regarding that extraordinary disease the Bursauttee. For my own part, although I have seen it in some hundred instances, still I have never been able to discover either the cause or the cure. I have spoken with many experienced people about it, but they could tell me nothing more than what almost everybody knows, that it almost always shows itself soon after the commencement of the monsoon, chiefly on the legs in the shape of small tumours, which break out into sores and spread rapidly it then appears on the chest, rarely on the barrel, but sometimes very violently attacks the head. I have known corrosive sublimate, verdigris, blue vitriol, and mineral acids applied with various appearances of success, but benefit has always proved temporary, and where the sores have healed in one place, the disease immediately broke out in another. I have seen the hot iron used with some benefit, especially where the granulations shot up above the surface of the skin. I have likewise tried sulphas of copper, aloes, resin, and calomel, all in small doses, to act only as mild purgatives, &c., but still nothing operated a complete cure. At last I allowed (it was this monsoon) the disease to take its own course, only reducing the food, keeping the the horse on dry forage in a very dry place, and applying the powder of burnt alum to the sores several times in the course of the day. Many people recommend regular exercise, and I have no doubt with great benefit, but in the instance I have just mentioned, the animal's legs were too much ulcerated and swollen to allow of his walking about. The sores gradually dried up as the monsoon got milder, and were completely healed when the rains were over. This is all I can say in answer to O. K.'s question, but I hope there are some who, being more capable of replying more satisfactorily to it, will oblige the sporting public by so doing. Any reply through your Magazine to your correspondent who asks if " Boxkeeper" and "Goblin Grey" are likely to meet during this season, must come too late, for they will most probably have tried their powers before your next number issues from the press : at present they are with their last year's owners, and in high condition. I should think the odds would run in favour of the old horse; he is too great a favourite on the Mhow Course to be lowered in the betting books by the loss of a chance heat which the Goblin gained from him in the last Mhow Turf Plate. He has proved himself a real good one, and as honest a horse as ever started. He is a blood-looking, high caste flea-bitten grey, with a splendid quarter, good shoulder, though uncommonly round on the withers, not particularly long or light in the neck, stands about 14h. 1 in., and has a fine straight action both in canter and gallop. He was bought by Captain M- -8 from Daddy Suntook in October, 1823, and was then a fresh sixyear-old; he next belonged to the late Lieut. C-e, then became the property of three partners, from whom he was purchased by his present owner. Boxkeeper won in Feb. 1825. Rs. and was in wretched order, notwithstanding which he ran in fine style, even against the great Boxkeeper, from whom, indeed, he contrived to screw one heat of the Mhow Turf Plate. He won that year the first heat of the Gold Cup, but his low condition and want of training lost him the race; he also won with ease the first heat of the Indore Plate, but a cross having been established against him, he was of course drawn. He carried off the Cockpit Stakes, and then went to Ba870 roda, when he won three of the public races in prime style. He is now in fine order, and ought to run better than he has ever yet done. The Mhow Turf Plate 880 The Handicap 700 In December, 1825. The Guzerat Give and Take* In February, 1826. The Whim Plate Mhow Subscription 500 900 The Give and Take... 650 In December, 1826. 720 610 680 Mhow Turf Plate These are all his winnings.† Goblin Grey is a dark grey; stands 14h. 24in., and is nearly six years old; has a beautifullylaid shoulder and fine wither, with great depth of brisket, is particularly well ribbed up with a drooping quarter that shows good muscle. He has a handsome neck but an ungainly head; in the stable he stands like a cow; in action he moves like a clipper. He was purchased, I believe, from the Bomb proof by Mr. B- -n, for whom he won two Matches in Bombay, in 1827. He next belonged to Captain B-h, from whom he was bought by his present owner. He arrived at Mhow about twelve days before the races of November, 1827, began, * I think one or two more, but I have nomemorandum. + "This letter was written before the Baroda meeting of the present year, where Boxkeeper has added to his former deeds of high emprise."-ED. Firefly was first in the possession of the excellent Father of the Bombay Turf, he then came (I believe) into the hands of Mr. E- e; next to the late Lieut. C- -e; was then bought by Capt. M -s; and is now (I think) the property of Mr. O'K- -e. Of his earlier performance I have no records by me, but I know that he won several races at Poona, and at Mhow, in 1825, he walked over for the Malwa Stakes and won the Give and Take, and Minister's Purse. is a flea-bitten grey, about 14h. lin., and aged; a fine figure and a free galloper; shows great caste, and runs honestly. He Cornet is an extraordinary little horse; nothing to look at, but for his hind quarter, which is muscular, and his shoulder, which is superb. His neck is long and light, and he moves with great ease, and makes powerful use of his hind legs. His colour is a bright bay with black points. He stands about 14h., and is aged. In February, 1826, he carried off Col. Wilson's Gold Cup, the Give and Take, the Malwa Stakes, and in December, 1826, the Silver Cup, Holkar's Cup, Malwa Stakes, and Mhow Subscription. He first belonged to Capt. C- -me, and ran last year at Cawnpoor, where I believe he is not in good health, and only won a plate of 50 gold mohurs. to Of the other horses mentioned by your correspondent, I know nothing, so, wishing success your Magazine, I shall conclude with my signature, EPITAPH ON NEPTUNE, A BEAUTIFUL NEWFOUNDLAND DOG THAT BELONGED TO MRS. Reader beneath this low and turfy heap- 0. S. Y. S. SIR, LETTERS OF JOHN DOCKERY. To the Editor of the Oriental Sporting Magazine. I regret exceedingly that I have mislaid the last letter of my friend, John Dockery, written on leaving the Deccan-it was full of amusing remarks told in his best style. These I now send are the commencement of his correspon- Yours obediently, |