as

have turned to no small account. They are, I see, still advertising cheap trips down the Staffordshire lines to the "INTERESTING TOWN OF RUGELEY," where it is now forbidden to touch a twig of the trees which wave over poor Cook's grave, under grievous pains and penalties. The "RUGELEY" is in green and red alternate letters; and the directors who order this mural literature are wise in their generation, as they know that all classes about there still talk of Palmer. Even at an archery meeting at the other day, he was still the topic; and the old lady, who took a friend of ours lately round Lichfield cathedral, threw up in the middle of a flowery description of Chantrey's "Chif-doover,' she called it, and ran riot on " that 'ere William Palmer," snubbing the monument most unprofessionally. Well, so be it. The turfites do not disown Palmer, as meek "Steady the Quaker" did Tawell, when he got into his last trouble, and insisted on being hung in the dress of "a friend." They simply say he was a black sheep, such as will be found in every community under the sun. The City-men, with their diatribes against the turf, had better call to mind their Sadlier, their "Davidson and Gordon," so dear to legal memory, and their Paul and Strachan, not one of whom, bar Sir John, was ever known to have anything to do with sporting, and he merely wrote a few verses, and drew a mare and foal for one of the Sporting Magazines some years ago.

Paisley Meeting, where old Lough Bawn went nearly as well as when he made the running for Teddington and Kingston in the Doncaster Cup five years ago, was as strong as Yarmouth's was weak; and, owing to the wet weather and the small number of horses (only 110), York narrowly escaped failure. The committee are not likely to adopt the experiment of four days, as the Rawcliffe sale on Tuesday is a unique afternoon of itself, and actually lengthens the meeting, as far as racing men and trainers are concerned, to the much-envied Doncaster standard. Their Selling Stakes' surplus reached £400, so that with the £1,280 Stand receipts, there is a good nest-egg for next year. The Dundas Stakes were appropriately won by Zeta, who is very much grown and thickened. The game way in which she took the whip at Doncaster made me predict, not without reason, that she would be found to be one of the two most valuable fillies this season. Manganese fairly shut-up at the end of a mile in the Yorkshire Oaks, and it puzzles me more than ever to think how Osborne could have tried her to win an Ascot Cup! Eglantine is, I believe, at the stud-the first of the Dutchman's daughters who has had that honour. Two jockeys went to scale for Lady Hawthorne, a big fine leggy mare, looking like a five-year-old. All the Windhounds run to leg, and probably we shall find her two-yearold season the best. Alice does not seem to have smiled successfully either on Lanercost, Melbourne, Touchstone, or Birdcatcher: her West Australian was an unthrift love, Windhound is on his trial, and we shall see what comes next year of her 1854 visit to the great Rawcliffe horse. Augury, who is a little thick strong mare, looked like a mite beside a spider, as she struggled home at her ladyship's shoulder. Somehow or other-Lambton, Exact, Brown Brandy, Lord Alfred, Saunterer, Manganese, and Augury, to wit-John Osborne has always a two-year-old rod in pickle for his Northern brethren, season after season. The struggle of Aleppo and Rogerthorpe was very fine, but the little horse could not hear his feet rattle as at Goodwood-a fact, which,

coupled with the 3lbs., quite overthrew the Danebury calculations as to the two. Fandango, as nice a mould for a race-horse as we know, and as fresh as a hawk after his four months' rest, came out once more with "Job" on his back, who handled him with all that tact and patience, which so many of the more flashy younger school of horsemen would do well to copy. At one moment, the Yorkshiremen thought that Pretty Boy was not to be reached, and uproarious was the cheering for horse, owner, and jockey, as the bay made his effort for the championship, and drew ahead of the Goodwood-wonder.

The

Racing-men hugged themselves in the sheets, and thought of "holding ground," as the rain poured pitilessly down at night. Be the ground what it might, it suited Sir Charles Monck's "Gardener," who carried off the first race with his smart racing-like but very moderate filly Vanity. The Ebor Handicap was a mere shadow of its old self, and Warlock did not cross his legs or make a mistake for once. Biennial lot were a bad one, and Augury repeated her second victory that day-Cartwright, who is, we hear, to become a Nottingham Boniface, being third on Red White and Blue. This was his only mount during the meeting, while "Sim" had none. Artillery did all he knew to beat Forbidden Fruit for the St. Leger; and, in fact, nothing but the most careful and admirable riding on Basham's part pulled him through. John Holmes gave it Gortschakoff with the whipcord most lustily, and fairly flogged his victory out of him, as he did General Chasse's in old days. After all, the event of the meeting was the appearance of Ignoramus in the Prince of Wales's Stake. George Abdale knew what he had got, and so did the Richmond men, who made him a "hot-un" over night, and fairly jumped down the Ring's throat to get 6 to 4. He is probably the best two-year-old in the North, and a fine big handsome specimen of the Flying Dutchman blood, more muscular than they usually are, and bred to stay through Muley. Saunterer was a good opponent for him, but the son-in-law beat the father-in-law cleverly, and the green banner of Wentworth, which was so terrible in the days of Mulatto and Orville, was once more victorious on a Yorkshire racecourse. From what Lord Milton said some years ago, as to the present state of racing, when he was offered a Doncaster stewardship, we feared that he would not join the ranks. Strange that he should have such luck with his one horse, and Lord Glasgow try year after year in Yain!

The quality of the Colt Saplings may be judged of by the fact that Yorkshireman should have beaten the pair against him so easily. Rohallion no doubt was in difficulties with the ground; and Wells, to judge from the way in which their riding was distributed during the week, seems about to be made a Jonah of, by the Findon Stable. The Rawcliffe Produce was appropriately enough won by Schiedam, who was the 460-guineas premier of their 1855 sale; Derrick, a 50-guinea purchase, second; Tam O'Shanter, a 210-guinea one, fourth. Zeta showed her staying qualities in the Queen's Plate; poor Typee, who has been worked to death, fairly sinking under 9st. 13lbs.; and Blink Bonny, very carefully ridden by Robertson, vice Master l'Anson, who was thought by his father and the public to have been too "jolly" with the mare in the Convivial Stakes, made an example of seven in the Gimcrack Stakes. Skirmisher is progressing: he has been fifth once,

are

fourth twice, third twice; now he makes his own running over a mile, which seems his forte, and rises to the dignity of a second, and the telegraph informs me that he has at last secured a verdict from Mr. Justice Johnson at Stockton-on-Tees, The York penalties wretchedly managed, miserable 2lbs. and 3lbs. extra, and hence, after all her victories, this unhappy son of Voltigeur had to give Blink Bonny 5lbs. Oh! Mr. North! Mr. North!! In the Great Yorkshire Stakes everything but Brother to Bird-on-the-Wing seemed to feel sure of a beating from Fazzoletto, and Rogerthorpe was not backed for a penny by his party. Bonnie Scotland had a fine fat cylinder, as they say of bulls, and Lord Glasgow's colt is nothing particular to look at, and rather wanted time, Even then he can be no good for the St. Leger. Fly-by-Night, who has won £2,343 in five out of his six races, is hardly likely to be out again this year.

This great event will shortly have one of its most interesting celebrations, and although Ellington is backed with the greatest spirit, and is doing his work like a lion, I must confess that I distrust his temper, and do not take in what his friends say about his having more speed than Fazzoletto. My notion is, that he and Rogerthorpe will run second and third to Lord Derby's horse. The latter looks to me a great fine striding St. Leger nag all over, and I confess I expect it to be a case of Van Tromp and Cossack over again. Fazzoletto was certainly one place farther back in the Derby than Van, but still" Fazz" was not backed or looked after by the stable on the Derby-day as winners of the 2,000 gs. generally are, when they are thought to be in form. Lord Derby was not there, to walk by his side out of the paddock, as he did by Dervish's, and John Scott did not look his quiet unmistakeable look of mischief. It is said that Kalipyge is to be brought with a rush, and that she is to be the Nemesis of Danebury, to avenge the Wentworth exposure at Epsom; but I am very sceptical, and doubt whether there is enough of the mare to get through a race of this kind. If ten come to the post, the Corporation may think themselves well off. Baron Rothschild wisely drew the pen through his wretches months ago, and hence Victoria, Bonnie Scotland, Fazzoletto, Ellington, Kalipyge, Roger thorpe, Aleppo, Vandermulin, Lundy foot, and Lord Glasgow's colt rank in my mind among the certain starters; and Merlin, Warlock, Artillery, Alfred, and Diego among those who may go to look on. If there be a dangerous outsider I should name Lundyfoot, whom I liked uncommonly as I looked him over at Ascot. It is an odd fact that both Aerobat and Rifleman won the Great Yorkshire Stakes in 1854-55 in a canter, and then fell at Doncaster before mere outsiders; and the remembrance will doubtless encourage owners to have a run for their money, just for the luck of the thing. We have, I fancy, not seen the best foot foremost of Lundyfoot yet; and Bonnie Scotland has some form about him, if he can take his work regularly. Vandermulin, to my eye, was made sadly too free with at Epsom; and certainly, with more care, he would have run as good a horse as Fazzoletto on that day, though his inability to travel the two-and-a-half miles at Goodwood has put him out of all favour. The sales at Doncaster will be well up to the mark. Miekey Free, Black Doctor, Umbriel, and Ivan will he among the sires who will go neighing about for new purchasers in front of the "Salutation." Mr. Cookson has six yearlings under orders for the same spot; and

eighteen yearlings, including brothers to One Act and Lord of the Isles, and a sister to Virago, will compose Mr. A. Johnstone's paddock cullings, There is every likelihood of a bumper meeting, as the shooting-men must have something to make up for their grouse griefs. Fandango is now so certain to have the top Cesarewitch weight, that he will no doubt turn his attention to the Cup; and if Pretty Boy was fresh, he would have to do all he knew, to beat him at 26lbs., the weight at which they stand under the present scale. Some of the Doncaster Cups have not been much valued; and the one which was won by Virago, in 1854, was offered as the "County Cup" at Lewes, and, from lack of a contest, is still in Mr. Topham's hands.

The past month has been a great one among horse exporters; and I hear that Andover, Burgundy, two coaching sires, one cart sire, and thirty half-bred mares left Hull for Russia on the twelfth. The York. shiremen ought to have known better than let such a model hunting sire as Burgundy pass out of Mr. Daykins' hands, simply because he was so indifferently supported. I did hear that Newminster was also sold, but that the Rawcliffe shareholders tried to keep it quiet till the sale was over. They have now advertised him at fifteen guineas, which looks as if the bargain had gone off. Twelve hundred is said to have been his price to Mr. Lumley, and a £200 rent for the season. It seems hard to believe, that when the Company have only been paying £1,000 a year for The Dutchman, whose two-yearolds have been doing nothing this year till Ignoramus came out, £1,500 should be his rent for next year. If they could guarantee themselves thirty mares at 50 guineas-no such easy thing with Stockwell, Rataplan, Newminster, Teddington, Bay Middleton, Touchstone, Kingston, and West Australian in the field, to say nothing of Orlando's private list and Rifleman's chance of an early retirement-it would, no doubt, answer them well to get their mares covered for nothing; but still they are hardly likely, when they are the only bidders, to give a sum so outrageously beyond the market price of the horse. There must be a heavy discount which the world wot not of, say 20 per cent. at least. Chanticleer is quite white, as if in a sheet for the failure of his stock, whose average sunk from 41 gs. last to 28 gs. at the sale this year. The Dutchman's, on the contrary, rose from 165 gs. to 179 gs., which was swelled by the handsome bidding for brother to Schiedam. Their halfbred yearlings were not sold; and judging from the wretched prices they made last time, the Company will, no doubt, keep them till they have some more age on them. The Libel, Pitsford, and Scythian are also among the "swimmers" this month. The former, high bred as he is, was never a great hand at staying; and no one but the Messrs. Halls (who, it is said, will pay four shillings in the pound on a £75,000 failure) would have bred from such a loinless brute as Pitsford. Seya thian is a great loss, as, with the exception of Teddington, we have no good son of Orlando at the stud; while there are upwards of thirty Touchstones, and others ready to join them, Old Jericho, whose name will always be memorable, from the style in which he beat Canezou for the Ascot Cup in their places three years after he had been put to the stud, is dead, and Saucebox is in the market.

The show of horses at Market Rasen was remarkably good; and Theon-of whom we think Herring, sen., used to say he was the most

perfect horse he ever looked over-was once more in the ascendant. For the last three seasons he has covered all Baron Rothschild's hunting mares. Mr. Bartholomew's Wild Hero, who was great over country under any weight to the last, was in the show-yard, along with Mr. Wellfitt's Hampden, as well as Tarquin, Unoc, Camel-Leopard, &c. Fernhill did not show; but Recovery, who was "nowhere" at Chelmsford, has been taking a local prize since. Oddly enough, the Royal Irish Society gives no prizes for hunting sires, although the Irishmen have lately been buying up some of our best. Among their agricultural horse prizes, we find that no second prize was awarded to three-year-old cart fillies; two-year-old fillies ditto; and "best foreign ass, ten sovs., no exhibitor."

Barring the private 1,100 gs. for the Knight of Kars; Greenfinch, 910 gs., and Saline, 720 gs., are the head biddings of this year; and both of them are at Findon, purchased for the "confederacy." Many will have it that "retirement," in turf phraseology, is now only synony mous with coalition. It is the fashion of the present day to race less and less in your own name; and the bewildered reporters may well say that they can no longer distinguish bona fide betting from "kid." This has been a perilous season for turf interests so far; and the handicappers for the great Newmarket handicaps will have to thread their way with the sagacity of wizards through the lists of horses which have not been "meant," and are light-weight candidates for the rich spoils of the autumn. Still the infusion of new blood in Lord Milton and Sir Lydston Newman bids one hope that the Turf will hold its ground, in spite of all its traducers and black sheep, gentle and simple; and one of the best symptoms of renewed health is contained in Mr. Merry's announcement, that 9st. will be his raising point in future. heavy-weight jockeys are beginning to get justice at last.

Crack

"IN THE MORNING EARLY."

ENGRAVED BY J, H. ENGLeheart, froM A PAINTING BY A. COOPer, R.å.

"If the spaniel," says Stonehenge, "is fond of his master, and accustomed to work for him, he is as much occupied in watching his motions as in seeking for game. These dogs have a very strong love of approbation; and very fortunately this is so, because they are so much more beyond the master's control than the pointer or setter." We may back the title of our plate by the same authority: "The early morning is as good a time as any for pheasant-shooting; and most ardent sportsmen of the old school select that time, especially if they mean to beat the hedge-rows, which they can do as the birds are returning from their feed, after which they should follow them into covert, and, with a wave of the hand, order in the spaniels, with