the hall-door to where a carriage must necessarily set down; and matting on the steps showed that satin shoes were expected to enter the portals. A glimpse at the court-yard showed a London confectioner's cart; and two confectioner's gentlemen bore ample testimony that the contents of the cart were of no plebeian order. A van with a canopy showed that some living beings of an order not to brave the elements had arrived in it; and as it was not a cortége calculated to bring any one on visiting terms, Jack did not at once penetrate,the mystery of the proceeding.

"What is that cart and van?" said Jack, as the servant came to the door, on Jack's driving up to it.

"The cart is Mister Gunter's, sir," said the man; "they came by the rail-road to Rugby; and the van has brought the band from Leamington."

(To be continued.)

RONALD,

THE FAVOURITE CHARGER OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CARDIGAN.

ENGRAVED BY W. BACKSHELL, FROM A PAINTING BY G. H. LAPorte.

Ronald is the horse on which Lord Cardigan led the memorable charge at Balaklava. Whatever may be the real merits of that much debated matter, there is no doubt but that his Lordship was well carried; indeed, he always has been-either as a soldier or a sportsman, having gone quite as brilliantly over Northamptonshire as even in the Crimea as usual, in the front. As Lord Brudenel, he has deservedly a place in Nimrod's "Quarterly Review" run with the Quorn.

Ronald is, we believe, quite thorough-bred, though we have not at this minute his pedigree at our elbow. He, however, looks a good one, with a deal of style in his appearance-two good ends, and something between them; the sort of horse, in a word, that will always turn into money. Perhaps so strict a soldier as his noble owner would hardly like to engage him in another pursuit. Still Ronald is made for carrying a welter over a country; and the favourite charger might figure as prominently as the perfect hunter. He was bred by the late Duke of Hamilton.

LITERATURE.

DRAFTS FOR ACCEPTANCE. By George Raymond, author of "Memoirs of Elliston," &c., &c. Routledge and Co.

The above "drafts" will be duly honoured wherever they are presented, for the drawer possesses a fund of sterling qualities, his notes being payable all over the world, and the coinage of his brain being up to the standard of the best metal; to drop further metaphor, we will briefly say that the work before us is replete with talent and humour. The writer, who has mixed in the best London circles (not exclusively what are termed the extreme fashion, but what is far more valuable, in literary, dramatic, and scientific coteries), has the "happy" talent of conveying to the reader anecdotes and histoirettes, penned in the most graphic manner; there is no straining after effect, no attempt at pedantry, but an easy, concise, agreeable manner prevails throughout-now intermixed with downright good sense-now enlivened with the most sparkling humour-now rendered piquant by some dash of merriment worthy the pen of a Hook. Nor is the work confined to prose: some poetical effusions are introduced, which would stamp the author as a clever poet. The lines to Sir William Follett are of a first-class order, while the Legend of Dunmow is quite equal to that of the Ingoldsby legends. Perhaps, however, the most original composition is the Model Prologue; and all we regret is, that the story attached to it was not given, for the whole affair was one of the best skits" of the day, equal, nay superior, to all the practical jokes of the great author of "Sayings and Doings." Among the prose articles, the gems are "Miseries of a Prize," "Run for the Doctor," "Privileged Persons," and “ A Wretched Vacation." The original letters which are appended to the volume are deeply interesting; and when we add that the volume, published at eighteen-pence, contains two hundred and seventy-six wellwritten pages, we shall not be accused of flattery in recommending it to our readers. Messrs. Routledge, in publishing the above work, have shown their usual discretion; it will add to the brilliant catalogue that has emanated from their press, and too much praise cannot be awarded to this spirited and liberal firm, for their benefactions to the million, in producing the best standard works at a most reasonable price. We trust the public will respond to the call, and support them in their expensive and onerous undertaking.

66

ZURIEL'S GRANDCHILD; a Novel. By R. V. M. Sharling. Newby, Welbeck-street.

We confidently recommend this book to our readers, as one prominently superior to most of the literary compositions of the day. The characters are evidently taken from nature: that of John Zuriel, Esq., of Star Court, Lancashire, the millionaire, is admirably delineated, and in our own intercourse with society we have often met his prototype.