over for the colt's plate, had been regularly brought to the post and started by a Steward, but his owner not deeming it necessary to have his jockey dismounted and weighed, the colt was declared distanced, and the plate reverted to the Fund. Now this was being, as some folks called it, devilish unhandsome and d-d hard, for the master lost his money and the horse lost his maiden.

Now, in order to prevent your friend "Novice" getting into such acts of snobbish predicaments, I, as an experienced turfite, intend to offer him my best advice, not only in turf matters, but also in such as concerns the management of his nags in the stable, and their treatment in training, together with a few hints upon riding his

races.

The liberality of "Novice's" disposition is splendidly evinced in the style with which he makes his début as a sportsman, with three known horses, four maidens, and three colts. Why, Sir, to commence a turf career with such a stud would be worthy the sporting zeal of an Indian O'Keefe or a British O'Kelly. But that's the way to do the trick-fill your stables full, and it's devilish hard if you do not find a flicker or two amongst the whole batch: the expense, of course, is a different thing for consideration-I say nothing of that I mean merely to tell "Novice" what to do when he has the horses, not how to buy or to maintain them.*

Well, Sir, I will at once suppose that he has just brought his horses fresh from the stables, from

Some of my hints may seem simple and stupid enough, but they will suit "Novice's" understanding, and if properly taken may be found "all right." hint this lest you may sometimes fancy I am only joking with your simple friend.

Byramjee or Daddy Santook, but Daddy's the man for me-I knew his father well, and an upright honest dealer he was-his son is a real ditto. Well, having got his horses, the first thing in his racing capacity that he must do is to square their tails that makes them clippers at once-a good long square dock, none of your white or grey tails-they are much too little for my taste-I like something Moore-D'ye take, Old Gentleman ? I call you old, because you are, or ought to be, old * -ever since I could imagine what sort of an animal an Editor might be, I have always fancied him an elderly, brown-faced, bald-headed, spider-legged, spectacled,† starch stiff-rumped old fellow with a snuff-begrimed nose, and a mouth like the aperture of a poor's box -but I forget "Novice."

Having squared his horses' tails, he should have at least two extra horsekeepers to each horse, for as one or two will certainly be lazy and good-for-nothing scoundrels, he has a third to rely upon for grooming the nag, and therefore it is three to one in favour of his being taken some care of-to be sure some witty rogues may sneer, and say, too many cooks," &c., but that can't apply to grooming a horse, however applicable to making, or rather marring, a soup.

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Every one knows that the master's eye makes the horse fat; therefore he should frequently go into the stable, especially by night, and more especially while training. A few strokes of the whip smartly applied to their hind-quarters should always be given, to make the nags know him, and give them a lively appearance. The stables

*Not so old neither-" some fifty, or by 'r lady threescore !"-ED.

We deny the legs, the specs, and the baldness.-ED.

should always be kept hot-the doors shut this effectually prevents any accidents from landwind, and besides, they feel the bracing effects of the pure air when taking their exercise more powerfully. Never let them sleep in the day-it accustoms them to irregular hours.

To

In feeding, he should allow his known horses only as much as they like to eat-being old, they know better than to gorge themselves. He should let the maidens have grain and grass in equal quantities, and the colts a little more. the delicate feeding colt I would recommend mashed turnips and no water for a week-no exercise of any kind whatever. If this does not better his cow-like appearance, try it the other way-gallons of water and no turnips-if both fail, as colts are sometimes very obstinate and will not draw up their bellies, then let the brute have his grain again and gallop his guts out. As to soaking the grain in gin, I dare say it may answer now and then with those who know how much gin to administer, at least I knew the gentleman alluded to by "Novice," and he certainly used his mare so. I also knew one who thought seriously of trying "quicksilver" -that ought to have made his horse run, but whether on his legs or at his mouth seems doubtful.

When he begins to train, he should first trot them briskly for a fortnight-then give gallops in plenty morning and eveningkeeping them well at it-and always by lanthorn-light-nobody then could see how they got onthis, with a two-mile trial every other day, will do the business.

If "Novice" is his own jockey, he should just tickle his horse's sides at mounting with his spurs, to put him on his mettle, and show him that he has got spurs

on. Always start him from the starting-post with a smart stroke of the whip, which will accustom him to be on the alert for a brisk start when he races, and may thereby gain many lengths of a horse that comes to the post as quiet as a cow, which some people pretend to prefer to a spirited approach, and which latter they call fretfulness and violence, but "tot homines," &c.

In riding it is quite ridiculous to see the pertinacity with which some jockies keep their legs fixed firm to the saddle. This only adds to the squeeze and pressure of the poor animal's girth, while by moving them briskly about, as the natives do, the motion of the limbs co-operates with the action of the horse, and consequently accelerates his rate of going. "Novice" should always prefer the outer to the inner side of the Course, for by so doing he is always in readiness to take advantage of crossing, and thereby throwing dust and stones in his adversary's horse's face-whereas the inner horse will never think of inconveniencing him by this manœuvre, ride as he may.

Holding both hands on the rein, under pretence of keeping the horse's head steady, is perfectly absurd; for if both hands are thus employed, how can the whip be used ?-No-let "Novice keep the bridle loose, to give freedom of head and action, and hold the whip (a wire one) over his eye, to show him he is ready to flog if he presumes to flag.

If his opponent's horse seems very much distressed at any early part of the race, and his own tolerably fresh, Novice" should not, as some do, instantly press on to secure the heat, but hold in, and keep with him, and make a pretty race of it-it looks better, and is almost as certain to win.

as well as to the distance to which it drives the shot. The greater quickness of ignition cannot be disputed, but some shots uphold that the percussion cannot drive the shot with so much force as when the old lock is used, because, argue they, the fire issuing from the detonation of the cap is so forcible as to drive out a greater portion of the powder in the barrel, before it is fired, than the common lock does, where ignition is slower. But it stands to reason that that very force must decompose the powder quicker, and more effectually, than when the flint lock is used, where the combustion proceeds progressively from grain to grain, and where the acute fire (if you may use such a term) arising from detonating powder is deficient.