and the greatest attention is paid them. Of Spectre's stock, out of half-bred mares, I have heard high encomiums. Out of any thing like a decent mare, he cannot help getting hunters, with his shape and make. If it is objected that he is not big enough for a country stallion, he has more power and substance than many a horse of sixteen hands. He has quite recovered his accident, and is as fine as a foal on his legs, which rarely happens with a horse who has travelled so much. In conclusion :he possesses two other most valuable qualities-a hardy constitution, thoroughly sound, and very fine temper. His thorough-bred stock speak for themselves, and will no doubt go on yearly improving.

this

The satisfaction my letters on various other stallions have appeared to give the Sporting World, have induced me to give you sketch of Spectre. I have avoided prolixity, I hope; and if I have exceeded my due allowance in your columns, my subject was a good one, and therefore required plenty of room.- Yours always,

THE OLD FORESTER.

Shuttle; Mr. Cole's br. b. Chance beat Mr. Evans's blk. d. Young Piper; Mr. Thurnall's wh. b. Hebe beat Mr. Fryer's bl. d. Flyer; Mr. Gotobed's bl. d. Orville beat Mr. Frisby's blk. d. Flim; Mr. Dobede's red d. Dunkirk beat Mr. King's blk. d. Rufus; Mr. Edwards's blk. and wh. d. Essex beat Mr. Layton's red d. Leopold; Mr. Fyson's br. d. Fearnought agst Mr. Vander Meulen's br. d. Nabob undecided, the toss won by Mr. Fyson; Mr. Vipan's br. d. Victor beat Mr. Fuller's blk. d. Fetch.

Mr.

Audley End Puppy Stakes. King's bl. and wh. b. Rosabella beat Mr. Gotobed's bl. b. Gaiety; Mr. Evans's blk. bell; Mr. Frisby's bl. d. Friend beat Mr. d. Spring beat Mr. Thurnall's wh. b. Hair

Cole's br. and wh. b. Catherine; Mr. Fryer's br. b. Fiddle beat Mr. Layton's bl. b. Laura'; Mr. Dobede's blk. d. Dainty beat Mr. Vander Meulen's f. b. Nimble; Mr. Edwards's blk. d. Ensign beat Mr. Fyson's d. b. Fancy; Mr. Theed's r. and wh. b. Victoria; Mr. Alston's blk. d. Arwh. b. Tulip beat Mr. Vipan's blk. and cher beat Mr. Procter's r. b. Wilna.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1827.
ELMDON FIELD.

FIRST TIES FOR THE CUP.
Chance beat Rodney.

Hebe

Essex

Victor

Orville.

Dunkirk.

Fearnought.

Matches. Mr. Layton's r. d. Leopold beat Mr. Evans's bĺk. d. Young Piper; Mr. Thurnall's wh. p. b. Hairbell beat Mr. Gotobed's r. d. Turk; Mr. Layton's blk. b. Luna beat Mr. Cole's f. b. Clara; Mr. Fyson's r. b. Fly beat Mr. Vander Meulen's br. d. Nabob; Mr. Frisby's blk. d. Flim agst Mr. Dobede's blk. d. Dingy -no course; Mr. Dobede's bl. d. Doubtful beat Mr. Fryer's blk. d. Spring; Mr. Fuller's blk. d. Fetch beat Mr. Fryer's bl. d. Flyer; Mr. Gotobed's bl. d. Gallant beat Mr. Layton's blk. d. Lictor; Mr. Frisby's r. d. Figaro beat Mr. Evans's

blk. d. Smoker.

SECOND TIE FOR THE AUDLEY END

Matches. Mr. Cole's br. and wh. b. Catherine beat Mr. Gotobed's bl. b. Gaiety; Mr. Vipan's blk. b. Viola beat Mr. Thurnall's wh. b. Helen; Mr. Theed's blk. and wh. b. Tabby beat Mr. Gotobed's blk. and wh. b. Fly; Mr. Gotobed's blk. d. Spring agst Mr. Fuller's blk. b. Fly-no course; Mr. Thurnall's red d. Herod beat Mr. Dobede's blk. d. Dingy.

Deciding Course for the Audley End Stakes. Mr. King's bl. and wh. b. Rosabella beat Mr. Edwards's blk. d. Ensign, and won the Stakes..

Deciding Course for the Cup.-Owing to a sudden and extraordinary fall of snow, Mr. Thurnall's Hebe and Mr. Vipan's Victor were not put in slips till six o'clock; and it was nearly dark before a hare was found, which was killed by Hebe in so short a course, that the Judges differed in opinion-one considering the course long enough to decide by, the other that it was not satisfactory; the Umpire, unfortu nately (from accident), did not see the course, therefore could not give the casting vote. The Deposit for the Cup was consequently divided.

SPORT WITH THE DUKE OF

BEAUFORT'S HOUNDS.

THE natural character of the

Pry family, you know, Sir, is ardent curiosity-it so glows in my bosom that my individuality is not at all likely to exhaust it. While kind Providence grants me health and activity, fly about I must. My acquaintance with you has given me a fresh stimulus-every opportunity is embraced to continue our intimacy, hoping that my ardour may not interrupt it by creating too many importunities easily to be kept in check, however, by your prudence.

You must be fully aware of my love of hunting-certainly inhe rent with me. I delight in all its never-ending pleasures; I delight even both to hear and read of them. To record its attractions, and I will say glories, never entered into my brain, at any rate for the public

eye, till your columns became familiar. You dissolved the spell by flattering my vanity; and having once entered the lists, I seem now (to myself) a champion in the cause. With these feelings I am tempted to offer you the following detail.

The solicitations of a friend in Oxfordshire, of the honorable or◄ der of Blue and Buff, to take a of Beaufort, were so inviting as to few days' hunting with the Duke baffle all prudent resolves: even the serious warnings of swelled hands and tottering feet were impotent: it was not possible to resist the temptation to enjoy a sight of these celebrated hounds. My friend's stable was capitally filled, and, in spite of old age and my monitors' twitches, I ventured across the fly-away thorough-breds. It was fortunate within a week to get five days' hunting. The sport was not of that brilliant character as toclaim pre-eminence; but still the account may amuse your Oxfordshire readers, and I am disposed to try the effect. Several things were quick, and generally crowned with success-all well done; and every day teemed with pleasing occurrences to a sportsman. In the previous week, however, there had been a very fine run, well worthy of record: and as my friend has been kind enough to give me the particulars, I am determined, in the first instance, to relate that, mostly in his words.

On the 17th of March, they found their fox in Oddington Ashes, in the vale below Stow in the Wold. He took a turn or two in the covert before he went away: leaving Oddington Upper Ashes on the left, he stood along the vale for Gorkham-the severest, but

the finest scenting country the Duke has; over this there was the best of scents; indeed it continued the whole of the run, although part was on the high ground. Passing between Bruern and Gorkham, leaving that to the right, he took the hill to Tangley; up to this wood, where there is a head of earths, the burst had been so sharp that he had not time to try them in fact, the relator saw him only one hundred yards before the hounds. A short turn down the lane dividing the wood, enabled him, however, to clear itand then facing the open country, he ran straight to the village of Taunton close upon Burford, where they killed. It was done in fortytwo minutes: therefore, considering the pace, the distance could not have been less than ten miles. Just as they were running in to him, the fox got into a fold of ewes and lambs, and laid up under the hay-rack. This brought on an unaccountable difficulty; Long made a quick cast of his circle, and in despair was holding back towards the Forest and Tangley, when the shepherd accidentally discovered poor pug; his halloo soon brought the hounds back, and after a sharpentapis of ten minutes, Long reaped his laurels, and so did the field, for this delay brought them all in.

My friend speaks in raptures of some of the hounds: Dahlia, Nimrod, and, he thinks, the black-tanned bitch Ransom, were particularly conspicuous. He is very delicate in what he says of the goers-indeed he should be, as a companion in sport; at the same time he offers a word to the wise. The ground, he tells me, is of the deepest character, and he hints it would be more prudent not to start as if for a King's

Plate. This might insure going well over a fence, instead of having an agreeable scramble, with your horse's head in the ditch and his heels in the air.(How many mouths does wisdom flow from, without being practised!)

My first day was Boulters' Barn; second, Bradwell Grove; third, Ditchley; fourth, StockA bridge; fifth, Bladen Gate. burst from Sargrave down to Pudlicott Wood, and then on to the Forest, where they killed, was spoken of by the few that saw it as very good. The field in general were loitering, and only two or three got away with the hounds. An eminent Blue (ever ready with an accomplished hunter for a friend), and a certain clergyman, who, if he can preach as well as he can ride, must be an admirable teacher, with one or two more, were first to Pudlicott: here the fox threaded the covert, and gave time for the body to catch. After running about the woods at Bradwell, and killing, they found again at Westall Spinney: this fox was remarkable, as an old friend in a grey coat, who had given some excellent runs the year before: an absolute course of a few miles now finished his career. Four or five couple of hounds slipped away, and ran in to their fox,without the remainder ever catching them: This was owing to the field not being under any controul-a small wood, entirely surrounded, gave the fox no chance of flying, and at length caused the hounds to divide. Long does not appear to have command over the gentry. While the task of mutilation was performing, I observed Todd throw his whip across the throat of the puppy Juggler: this hound is always so eager for his fox that

he has more than once seized Long by the shoulder-they are obliged therefore to restrain him in this manner. Bradwell was interesting to me as the spot where Jones entered into life, and where Mr. Coke began his hunting days. The extensive coverts at Ditchley kept us in constant running for hours-various scents preventing any one fox being pressed. In the afternoon we drew Wootton Wood, and found a real good one. He at first tried the drains in Blenheim Park, and then turned off towards the beautiful Barton country. We had good hope of a fine run; but a certain gentleman having got a nick, and headed the hounds, he was too much elated at the singularity of his situation, and although they were carrying a good head, he began to scream and halloo -they threw up, and the check never recovered-one more proof how often riders and skirters bring on mischief.

was

Longboro' Lays Gorse, near Stockbridge, is worth going any distance for: it excites all your ecstacies at once. There was a leash of foxes, but we got away well and quickly with one, and went very prettily to Woolford Wood. Some hunting afterwards with a moderate scent, and losing a second fox at Payne's Gorse, finished the day. Bladen proved blank, except a fox chopped in the morning: a vast number of phea sants and plenty of keepers eluci date this. These few days were not of a description to require an elaborate account: they were all attractive to me, however.

The just fame of this establishment is too well known and appreciated to gain any additional bays from my adventurous pen; but still I cannot forbear a few lines of

eulogium. The true sportsmanlike deportment of his Grace seems to pervade the whole of his circle. His huntsman, Will Long, is as near perfection as may be; at least I never saw his superior (not even my favorite Jones). He possesses all the necessary qualities-quickness,quietness, acute observation,no self-sufficiency,alive to discretionary suggestions, great activity, and fine temper: these combinations give him his skill. Togain his objects, horsemanship is important; and in this he is unrivalled. I invite all lovers of a chase to see him ride one: the finest seat, with such hands as are rarely in use; he rides without jealousy, and takes the country as it comes. His person is particularly engaging, and his manners equally so. He is most ably seconded by Todd: they act in unison, and really it is the acme of fox-hunting. A minute character of the pack cannot be expected of me; it has been drawn by abler hands: the equality, the symmetry, the steadiness, the speed, and with this the power of hunting, are just characteristics however. I saw them in variety of countries, and in the same day: they were as conspicuous with a bad scent upon the hills, as with a good one in the valleys. If I could take portraits-to gratify my taste, and as a memento of mypleasure-I would have Long putting his horse at a stone wall, with the hound Pillager by his side-perfect specimens.

It would be invidious and somewhat audacious to particularize the riders in this Hunt: the good, bad, and indifferent are well known among themselves. I am indebted to many of them for polite attention; it would ill become me, therefore, to excite any feelings of jealousy by drawing comparisons.