incorrect catalogue. The bitches, if possible, shewed still higher breeding and condition than the dogs. It has been their fortune, till the present season, to have escaped the kennel curse, which heretofore confined its attacks to the males. A few days, however, before my visit, one of the best began to exhibit the short, and foundered style of going the symptom that always indicates the approach of the disease. Whether, for the future, it is to be common to both sexes, or, having found new victims, it will cease to trouble the old, is a secret that time only will unfold.

This year's entry, consisting of ten couples, will introduce into the Queen's staghounds some of the most perfect animals, if not the best, that have been added to them for years. Three litters-by Governor, Rockwood, and Mr. Foljambe's Rummager-were especially admirable. Individualizing hounds, however, on paper, is, for the most part, an uninteresting affair; more particularly where puppies are the objects of notice. The few who have been engaged in breeding and rearing them, will read with gratification such domestic details; the many only regard hounds for their performances. And this reminds me that my inquiry after Meretrix-probably the choicest model of a hound ever seen in the field, and as a huntress rarely surpassed-was answered with "We have drafted her; she had latterly taken to skirting." They had bred from her, I perceived by the written list of the puppies that Davis had been considerate enough to prepare for me-" Gallant" being by "Galloper" out of "Meretrix :" that they should have parted with her, I confess, astonished me. That skirting is a most pernicious vice in the field, particularly with staghounds, I am sufficiently conscious; but its origin may be the most generous and estimable properties. When a hound that has been used to run at head, from age or accident loses his speed and consequent power to preserve his place by fair means, that he seeks the honourable post in any way he can achieve it, is surely not a spirit with which I could quarrel. I made no allusion to this feeling at the time; no doubt there was good cause for her dismissal: I missed her sorely; and, I believe, grumbled, I scarce knew why, in such fashion of reasoning to myself at the time, and have written it here with probably no better

reason.

There was a matter of great interest and novelty that mingled with this inspection of the royal hounds, which, I thought, could be more conveniently treated when they were removed from the scene, and to it we will now proceed. It will be in the memory of most of those who direct their attention to the general details of the chase, that these hounds closed their last season unexpectedly and abruptly in the middle of March. I had heard the reason, indirectly, at the time; but I did not then allude to it, because I believed there was a desire that the affair should be thoroughly investigated before the public were advertised of it. The facts were, that, on the 11th of March, they were out, and had a brilliant day's sport; and that three days after, when a deer was enlarged before them, not a hound in the pack attempted to acknowledge the scent! Other trials were made, the result of which unequivocally proved that the sense of smell had departed from every hound in the Ascot kennels! Whether that faculty had been restored or not, was still a doubt when I visited them; and I need scarcely say that everything which appeared to relate to the question was canvassed with no little interest and anxiety. The only indication that had ever been given of the olfactory nerves being affected, was a sort of sneezing consequent on any increased action. This I found still existing; but beyond it nothing. The nose was uniformly moist, perfectly free from any discharge, cool and glossy; the whole animal, in short, looking health personified. Thus I saw them, and thus I left them; with a promise that, as soon as the question of restored scent had been solved, the result should be made known to me. It was with the sincerest pleasure that, on the 23rd of October, I received a letter from Mr. Davis; of which the following is an extract :-" I have every reason to be satisfied with their performances since their commencement; and yesterday (Monday, October 21st), to see them pick their own game from many others, was pretty conclusive of the return of the sense of smelling. At all events, they have not lost the use of their legs. Our cub-hunting has commenced most auspiciously; indeed, rather too well: for to begin with violent work early in the season, does much harm both to hounds and horses." Another extract from a hurried note, written on the evening of Wednesday, the 23rd ult., is still more satisfactory :-" I am just returned from a most glorious run of an hour and three quarters. If our deer continue to run as well during the winter, good sport we must have-if our large fields and the railroads don't spoil it."

Thus briefly I have noticed one of the most remarkable phenomena, connected with the chase, that has ever come within my experience. The epidemic lameness that, for years, had attacked the royal hounds, confining itself exclusively to the males, appears to have defied the most skilful canipathologists: another problem is now submitted to them, which there seems little better chance of being satisfactorily solved. A whole pack of hounds becomes simultaneously, instantaneously, and without any external symptoms, deprived of scent; with as little apparent cause that faculty is similarly restored. To the curious in physics there never was such a field for speculation as that afforded in the natural history of the kennels at Ascot The home season on the forest, it will be seen, has commenced with Her Majesty's staghounds; and it pleases me well that they have been, as becomes them, right royally attended. The two Princes, Ernest and Albert, have been going with them con amore, and like workmen; and, if they desired to find the way to my heart, they' certainly took the right route and style of travelling-best pace across country, in pinks and leathers. And here may I offer a word of counsel-call it rather of suggestion-in honest purpose, and with the best design. Our illustrious visitors are, as yet, strangers among us ; novices to the nature of our country, in the hunting acceptation of the term. Let them not, then, form any opinion of it from the specimen they have as yet had. Till the leaves have fallen, and the fences become open, it cannot be properly estimated. Let them perform their noviciate of the English field on horses masters of their work, thorough-made hunters; for it is confidence that shapes the true workman: as one of the most accomplished horsemen in Europe has well said, "The first impression does wonders; it makes the uninitiated

feel assurance, and fancy all horses equally perfect; and, nine times in ten, they are, if the riders think so."

As I returned through Windsor, I went up to the Royal Mews for a passing look at the Arab horse which has lately arrived there, as it has been stated in the papers, for Her Majesty's own use. It is an honour for which I do not think he is destined; at all events, for which he has no pretension. If due care and industry were exercised to procure a courser for the sovereign of this land, and Arabia could not supply a better specimen, then, indeed, the glory of its desert-bred has passed away. The recently imported Arab is a mean-looking little chestnut horse, as well as I could guess (for going up to him was not so easily accomplished), rather under fourteen hands in height. His head is large and coarse; and, taken altogether, his style and "cut" are under the average of a clever English galloway. His action, indeed, may be a redeeming quality and that has been well tested, for Sir George Quentin has been on his back; but, to the eye, he certainly is no charger for "the fair-haired daughter of the Isles," the virgin Queen of England. I may be told-for there are who hold such things as indifferent and of none account-that SHE needs not the adventitious aid of pomp or circumstance, whose throne is the nation's heart. It may be so; yet there are outward signs mingled with the visions of the past, of which I could ill bear to have them divested. Contented with the humble place which fortune has assigned myself, I would see the ancient state and condition of my country abate no jot of its former glory. Let the monarch of old England be ever hedged with the dignity that becomes a sovereign: for myself

"Pauperies immunda domûs procul absit, ego, utrûm
Nave ferar magnâ an parvâ; feror unus et idem."

MONTHLY MEMORABILIA.

CAPTAIN HALKETT's staghounds commenced their season on the 9th ult., at Cranberry Park, near Winchester; and, after a good run of two hours, took the deer close to Avington Park, the seat of the Duke of Buckingham. They will not, however, meet again for three or four weeks, in consequence of the decease of their worthy master's father. By this event, the gallant Captain succeeds to a considerable estate in Scotland, as well as to the baronetcy, being now Sir John Halkett. It is believed, that he will still make Hampshire his residence, and continue to uphold its sports with his excellent pack of staghounds.

For the following curious and interesting extract we are indebted to Mr. Davis, who has given it in his splendid "Hunter's Annual," in the notice appended to the Brocklesby Hunt :

"This justly celebrated pack of foxhounds is, unquestionably, the oldest in England of which any correct record is to be found. A copy of the original article of union is now in our possession, obtained by the kind interest which the noble lord feels for the success of this work; it is dated April 20th, 1713, Memorandum. It is agreed between Sir John Tyrwhit, of Stanfield, Robert Viner, Esq., and Charles Pelham, Esq., that the foxhounds now kept by Sir John Tyrwhit, and the hounds now kept by Charles Pelham, Esq., shall be

joined in one pack; and each of them, the said Sir John Tyrwhit, Robert Viner, and Charles Pelham, to have an equal share and interest in the said hounds, &c. &c.' This agreement was drawn for five years, providing for the management of the hunt by turns, and that each gentleman shall bear his proportion of expense attending the establishment: this deed does not specify the height of the hounds, but we have learnt that the outside measure was twentytwo inches. From this deed, it is evident the foxhounds were kept at Brocklesby prior to this date, because it sets out by saying, 'the hounds now kept by Mr. Pelham.' The present intelligent huntsman, whose grandfather came with the hounds from Sir John Tyrwhit's to Mr. Pelham, remembers to have heard his grandfather say, who was whipper-in when quite a boy, that the hounds were full of riot and disorder, but capital when settled to their fox: thus, the hound was good, but the system indifferent."

Some idea may be gathered of the style in which brother Jonathan has set about the business of the turf, from the fact that, for the Autumn Races, 1843, at Nashville, Tennessee, a Produce Stakes of 5000 dollars each has filled with thirty subscribers! 150,000 dollars for a single race, speaks well of the "go-ahead" system in the " confederacy." The forfeit is 1000 dollars; so that even a walk over would be worth some £7000 sterling. The race is for colts and fillies, then four years old; four-mile heats: the weights are not given.

It is stated that the dispute between Lord George Bentinck and the Stewards of the Brighton Races, concerning the Brighton Stakes, has been amicably adjusted.

In the "Racing Calendar" of the 22nd ult., Harkaway is announced to stand at Flintoff's, at Hedgeford, the ensuing season, by subscription, for twenty mares, at 100 sovs. each: this will save the handicappers a world of trouble.

Lord Henry Seymour has engaged Richard Boyce to train for him in Carter's place, who has resigned: William Boyce is to ride for his Lordship. We advise our friend Billy to keep his weather-eye open on Charley Edwards, who, if he follow the same suit on all his Royal Highness of Orleans' horses, that he began with Beggarman, at Boulogne, will be an awkward hand to play against.

Thomas Assheton Smith, Esq. is declining the turf, having disposed of the greater part of his stud already ;---the brood mares to Lord George Bentinck.

Her Majesty has recently had a present of two Arab mares, a chestnut and a grey, with two foals, from the Imaum of Muscat. They are at the Hampton Court stud: and, if they come of the same quality that adorned the Royal stud at that place, two years ago, they are gifts worthy a sovereign to offer and receive.

We copy from an Irish paper this account of a

"GREAT MATCH FOR £200.-On Monday last nearly the whole of the officers of the garrison, and many other leading characters of Dublin, assembled together in the Phenix Park, to witness one of the most extraordinary feats of pedestrianism upon record, by Lieut. Tuite, of the 19th regiment of foot, who undertook to run ten miles in one hour and twenty minutes: likewise long odds, to a heavy amount, that he would run his last mile in six minutes and a half; which, for an amateur, is considered a great undertaking. Pre

cisely at four o'clock, the gentleman, surrounded by his friends, all well mounted, appeared at the second mile-stone, and commenced the race (umpires and referee being chosen), very steadily, performing the first four miles in twenty-seven minutes, proceeding at the rate of about eight miles an hour: walking part of his ninth mile, to prepare for his last on which there was upwards of £1,000 pending. Here he appeared much fatigued; but, to the astonishment of all present, he made a tremendous push-and performed his last mile in five minutes and thirty-five seconds; accomplishing the whole distance of ten miles in one hour, ten minutes, and thirty-five seconds: thus winning the two events. He was accompanied the whole of the distance by Mr. Cootes, the celebrated pedestrian, who trained him for the match; and to whom, we must say, much credit is due. At various times in the race, Mr. Cootes was obliged to keep him back, as it was feared Mr. Tuite would overrun himself; which might have lost him the race: however, by sometimes urging him, and at others checking him, according to the state of his wind, this extraordinary feat was accomplished. Mr. Tuite is a gentleman of high family in the county Westmeath; highly respected by his brother officers. He is of a very delicate appearance; which caused the heavy odds against him: for, at starting, one gentleman actually bet £10 he would not get through the

distance."

The match was made in Irish measurement; which brought the distance very close upon thirteen miles, as eleven miles Irish are equal to fourteen English. It was, indeed, a great performance.

A very melancholy accident occurred on Wednesday, the 16th ult., at the Red House enclosure, Battersea, during a pigeon-match between some officers of the First Life Guards. The party, including Lord William Beresford, Sir Charles Kent, Mr. Wells, and Mr. F. Lovell, had gathered round the person who was counting the score. The latter gentleman was leaning on his gun; which was supported upon a bench, when, by some accident, the butt slipped, and the hammer, though at half cock, coming forcibly against the edge of the form, the tumbler was broken, and the piece exploded, the contents entering the arm close to the shoulder, and shattering the bone to splinters. The horror of his companions may be imagined; but no time was lost in rendering him every assistance. Dr. Campbell, the surgeon of the First Life Guards, and Mr. Lister, were soon in attendance at the Red House, whither the sufferer had been conveyed; and it was resolved that the only course whereby life could be preserved, was the removal of the arm from the socket. This operation was performed with great skill by Mr. Lister, and borne with extraordinary firmness by the unfortunate gentleman. The danger is now, happily, past; and the only regret that deeply affects the patient, is the reflection that the accident will oblige him to leave the service. Mr. T. Lovell is a very fine young man, and had only joined in August last: he is the youngest son of Peter Harvey Lovell, Esq., of Cole Park, Wilts.

It has been announced that the future Stewardship of the Liverpool Race Meetings will be upon the same principle as that adopted at Newmarket, viz. three stewards, each having occupancy for three years. Lords Sefton, George Bentinck, and Sir R. W. Bulkeley, Bart., have been selected for the office under the new system. The former noble Lord will retire at the close of next season, having already officiated for two years.