the relieving of sickness, and the prevention of poverty and much misery. These men who have not already joined it as benefit members should do so at once. They will never have such a chance again. And if every man who hunts, occasionally as well as regularly, would subscribe but a pound a year the institution would then be firmly established, and there would be no need for the hat to go round, as was the case when poor Owris was drowned, and Pouter, his first whip, killed, with other instances which we need not mention. Then the servants themselves-and some of them could ill afford it—came forward and gave liberally of their little, a step which the existence of this society would have averted. There are a number of gentlemen who come out hunting, wandering over on the horse, men who just pop down by rail to Bletchley, Bedford, or some other place on the home circuit, and perhaps never give a penny to the support of the hounds they ride over or the huntsman they call a fool. Is it too much to ask them to take the Hunt Servants' Benefit Society into their consideration, and give a pound a year to aid the men in the hour of danger and the day of distress, who now do so much for their gratification? Sure we are it will not be too much to ask M. H. S.,' who wrote in the 'Field' of April 29th, 1871, that, should the Hunt Servants' Fund be established, he was authorized by a friend to offer the sum of 100l. as a nucleus,' not to forget his promise, and to remind him that Mr. Anstruther Thomson is interim hon. sec., and that a letter addressed to him, at Tattersall's,' will meet every attention. May others, too, follow his good example! A meeting to discuss the rules will be held, about Derby time, at Tattersall's, when we hope all Masters of Hounds will make it their duty to attend and support the Committee.

Two hunting anecdotes, or one of them at least, pertaining unto the following of the noble science, and we close that parcel. A country Paterfamilias travelling by rail to town accompanied by his son, a youth of tender years, entered into conversation with a clergyman, their fellow-traveller, telling him that he was taking his boy up for the first sight of all the wonders and curiosities of the modern Babylon. After listening to a recital of the list, the reverend gentleman said, 'Ah, sir, you should take him to see my son-be is 'the greatest wonder of the day; for I allow him 150l. a year, and yet ' he has twelve hunters and two hacks at Mad-as-a-hatterborough, drives a coach in the Park, and entertains like the Lord Mayor himself!' Country gentleman was astonished, but found it was quite true.

Jokes should be avoided at the close of the season, but the facetious secretary of a hunt not a hundred miles from Charing Cross, made an expiring effort the other day. The master was not out, and the scent anything but good, but hitting it off by a judicious cast, a young hound, Crinoline, opened and carried the running over a garden fence. Gently, gently, Sam,' said our friend, that is a hound that must not be lifted!'

The pleasant face of him who is known to newspaper readers as Mr. Thomas' looks out from the title-page in this number, and recalls many an exciting struggle over a country and on the flat, from the time when, in 1857, he brought out Tom Moodie for a steeplechase at Shrewsbury, and, training and riding him himself, then and there made his mark as the rising gentleman jockey of the day. Mr. Pickernell, who was born in 1834 and received his education at Cheltenham College, may be said to have begun his racing career in Tasmania, whither he went, when quite a youngster, in '52; but it was at Shrewsbury that he won his spurs, at least in this country; and so highly was his performance on Tom Moodie-a terrific puller, and to ride whom Mr,

Pickernell had wasted very hard indeed-estimated, that Isaac Day was most anxious to secure his services as gentleman rider for his stable; and he was fortunate in so doing. Though he rode often on the flat in those days, and does still, yet steeplechasing has always been his passion and the branch of sport with which his name is most associated. His early friends and confederates were Sir E. Hutchinson and Mr. Capel, and while riding for them he won the Liverpool, in 1862, on that beautiful mare Anatis. In 1863 he married, and partially gave up the sport, but the old passion was too strong, and in '66 we find him carrying all before him at LiverpoolAutumn, winning all three steeplechases, and, after breaking his stirrup-iron at Beecher's Brook, on Sprite, beating George Stevens on Balder by a neck. Our space will not allow us to follow Mr. Pickernell through his long and honourable career. He has made his mark in many lands. He has come down the bank at Baden more times than we can remember; he knows the double and the herd's garden' at Punchestown by heart; and wherever on French soil there has been 'jumping,' there has 'Tom been found. His recent second win of the Grand National on The Lamb, and how we always look for him since poor George Ede's death in the 'cerise and blue' of Lord Poulett, we need scarcely refer to here. He is no doubt the best gentleman rider of the day: his judgment unsurpassed, his nerve unfailing, his finishing powers of the highest order. He has, however, other and better lifications than these: his thoroughly manly straightforward character, his genial bonhommie, and kindness of disposition have made him a valued friend, a much sought for companion, an universal favourite; and he has trod the not always very clean paths of sporting life without a speck on his honour or a stain on his name.

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The Coaching season will commence on the 11th, when the Dorking coach will start, with the same proprietary as last year, only in addition to Sir Henry De Bathe and Major Whithington, Mr. Godsell, a great supporter of coaching revivals, has handsomely offered to supply a team, which will work between Cheam and Epsom. There will be some alteration in the changes,' and the ground between London and Epsom will be divided into three instead of two stages. The Brighton coach will make a start about the middle of the month also, and Mr. A. G. Scott is still the hardworking hon. sec. to both enterprises.

We regret to have to record the death of Sir Algernon Peyton, at the early age of thirty-eight, which took place suddenly at Bicester, from disease of the heart, upon his return from a day's hunting. Algey Peyton,' as he was familiarly called by his many friends, was a favourite with men of every degree. He did not pretend to ride; he was essentially a hound man, and devoted himself to his kennel. He would not hesitate to give a long price for any hounds in the market that were worth the money, and he made a good hit when he purchased a useful lot from Lord Poltimore, amongst which was Whipster by his Lordship's Woldsman. It was only on the Saturday before his death that Sir Algernon went down to Brocklesby, and secured Lord Yarboro's draft. Indeed he spared neither time, trouble, nor expense in improving his pack. His jolly manner and hearty welcome at the cover-side will be sadly missed by all who hunted with the Bicester Hounds.

About the same time society suffered the loss of another popular member, by the sudden death of General Gambier, an officer who had distinguished himselt at Inkerman, where he was wounded. The General only betted in small sums, but he was dearly fond of a bit of racing, and he was the intimate friend of some of the best of our leading turfites.

The early death, at twenty-four, of the Marquis of Graham was a shock to a large circle of friends; and about the same time one in a humbler walk of life, but well known to all the sporting men of his generation, Tom Wesley of Linslade, near Leighton Buzzard, also departed. In his rosy days he owned Counsellor and other good horses, and rode in many a steeplechase in very good company. He was for some time landlord of the Swan, at Newport Pagnell, but latterly he got into reduced circumstances, and has left a widow in great distress. The British public have recently sent sums, varying from the lordly note to the humble sixpence, to one who has admitted a weakness for horse-stealing, and has uttered the vilest slander possible for a man to utter against a woman. We feel that pleading for such a very unsensational person as a poor widow we are greatly at a disadvantage with this gentleman, but still if there be any who would wish to give a trifle to a woman in much need, it will be thankfully received at the above address.

We heard a battue anecdote the other day which is charming. To a certain castle, the residence of a noble peer who is a great hereditary office bearer in the state, came during the winter, among other noble sportsmen, a gentleman not, as it subsequently appeared, so au fait in shooting matters as his friends and companions could have wished. An order from him to Grant to send down to Castle five hundred ball-cartridges, was received by that eminent manufacturer with a surprise bordering on alarm. Could there be a revolutionary movement in that part of England, and was the coming republic to be proclaimed from the stronghold of one of England's nobles? was his first thought. He telegraphed for further instructions, and then found, to his great relief, that the ball-cartridges were intended for the pheasants! The story soon got wind, and for the future we should imagine a very rigid overhauling of the sportsman in question's baggage will take place on the occasion of

similar visits.

We intended to say something about theatricals, but find the Van full, and no room for anything but the smallest parcel. Mr. Toole now takes his benefit, or rather benefits, for one house could not possibly hold all the popular comedian's friends at the Gaiety on the 1st and 2nd. He appears in Shilly-Shally,' which but for him and Miss Farren-but we must not criticise. A treat it will be to see him in Off the Line,' in which he is so ably seconded by Mrs. Billington; an equally greater treat to laugh again at that celebrated exhibition of Domestic Economy which Wright first gave us, and which Toole depicts with a humour all his own. The Pretty Horsebreaker' and the Princess of Trebizonde' are also in the bills-two nights' hard work; but Mr. Toole is accustomed to and rather likes, we fancy, hard work. May it bring him a well-earned reward.

J.ONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.