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has no more foundation than that an earth has occasionally been opened by a discontented person; and I believe it is unnecessary to inform the generality of your readers that a master of hounds has a hard card to play, and cannot please every one. Ranger tells us next that "good casts are now first made." Casts for what? If one is to judge from the context, he means good covers are first drawn-his expression is not that of a sportsman. I have heard of casting hounds and casting horses, casting stones, a casting line, a cast of flies, and even of cast clothes, but I never yet heard of making a cast for a cover, the locality of which you must be perfectly acquainted with. PADDY WHACK.

66

The Chase.

"WHERE is our chase intelligence for the March number?" we exclaimed, turning over a heap of letters in the hope of finding something that might supply the place "where the pasty was not ;" and "where!" responded echo, represented by the official imp-Diabolus Typographicus-who had been despatched to ask for "copy." Chase ! there has been nothing of the kind for the last seven weeks, and the poor frozen in fox-hunters" are ahout as much to be pitied as the 66 poor frozen out gardeners." That so many able-bodied men, horses, and hounds, should have been so long out of a job is truly distressing; scarcely a fox or a winter-cabbage having been unearthed since the new year commenced. But what have we here?- -a solitary letter, giving an account of a run with the Cleveland on the 4th of January! The glory of fox-hunting has, for a season, departed, and even the EVER-GREEN —what a winter!-has only one leaf:

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As you frequently express a desire to receive hunting intelligence from all quarters, I take the liberty of sending you an account of a splendid run we had with the Cleveland hounds; it is of a somewhat old date, but I suppose, from the general state of the weather, during the last few weeks, most of your reports will be of an equally retrospective nature. On Thursday the 4th of January, a bag-fox was turned down before these hounds, near the Acklam Blue-bell; he first made for the Stainton road, leaving Thornaby close tothe right; then past Mandale-mill, and

crossed the Stockton road to Fleet-hollow, and Newport-lane. All this, save the first minute or two, was at a tremendous pace, which began to tell on the greater number of the horses, more particularly as they had now arrived at a quarter, where awful brooks were of frequent occurrence. One immense yawner stopped all the field, with the exception of Mr. Newton, (of Kirby,) Mr. Danby, Mr. G. Peirson, and Captain Healy. The Captain, mounted for the day, by Mr. Vansittart, on that splendid hunter, Bottle-copse, formerly well known in the South, fully supported his reputation as one of Nimrod's "Crack Riders of England." Reynard now made an attempt to turn for the Eston hills, but was obliged to return, and at Lackenby-lane, the first and only check occurred; in about two minutes, however, the hounds recovered their scent, and went away as fast as ever, towards West-Coatham. A stiff flight of rails on a bank now appeared, an awkward object after so severe a day's work; Mr. Danby, however, on his good chesnut, fortunately succeeded in clearing them, and was thus enabled to view the fox dead beat before the hounds, who in a short time seized their prey. The distance was computed at about eighteen miles; the time, about an hour and a half. Any one acquainted with the heaviness of the country, on the south banks of the Tees mouth, will readily believe that the purls were numerous. Many lamed, and many tired horses, were the result of this day's work; it is thought, I regret to say, that one good hunter will never be able to appear in the field again.

I may take this opportunity of stating, that in your list of Yorkshire fox-hounds, you have omitted those of Mr. Hill, of Thornton, near Pickering. The huntsman's name is Booth; that of the whipper-in, Ecclefield: the latter is, I understand, one of the most daring riders ever seen, and has had, at one time or other, nearly every bone in his body broken. The huntsman to the Sinnington hounds, is John Atkinson. Colonel Hildyard's harriers are hunted by himself; his whip's name is William Lane. Mr. John Andrews, manager of the Cleveland foxhounds, is also their huntsman; and his son Thomas officiates as whip. There is a pack of harriers near Whitby, called the Newholme-cumDunsley; but I know nothing of their officials. There is also a farmer's pack of fox-hounds in the same neighbourhood, called the Ugthorpe and Lealholme. Before closing this letter, allow me, as 66 a constant reader" of your magazine, to suggest the desirableness of your employing your influence with Mr. Jorrocks to pay a visit to Melton this season. I am sure his delightful companion, the "Yorkshireman," would be proud to accompany him, and afterwards to give us an account of all their doings; and perhaps Mr. Alken might find some of them worthy of his pencil.

PHILIPPOS.

Varieties.

A whole length Portrait of RALPH LAMBTON, Esq, engraved by JOHN PORTER, from the original Picture painted by F. GRANT, and presented to Mr. Lambton by the TALLY-HO CLUB.-Hodgson and Graves, Pall Mall.

In the N. S. M. for last May, we gave an account of the presentation of this portrait to the loved and honoured master of the Lambton hounds, whose name throughout England has become current as expressive of the character of the gentleman and sportsman. No master of hounds combines more perfectly the “suaviter in modo" with the "fortiter in re ;" a maxim which is thus translated by a member of the hunt:

"The rash and the forward he quietly rates,

And goes like a good one at hedges and gates."

The latter line of this version, however, is not so strictly true of the veteran sportsman as it was about fifteen years ago; time has somewhat cooled the ardour of old Rafe, as he is often affectionately called by the younger members of the hunt, each and all of whom regard him as if he were their sire; and two or three awkward falls which he has since received, have rendered him a less daring rider than in former days.

Mr. Lambton resides at Morton-house, near Chester-le-street, in the county of Durham, not far from Lambton-castle, the seat of his nephew the Earl of Durham. We give this piece of information for the benefit of our American readers, who possibly may not think less highly of the statesman who is about to visit the great western continent, from his being the nephew of a sportsman and gentleman like Ralph Lambton. The Earl of Durham himself, when John George Lambton, Esq. was an ardent supporter of the Turf, and had one of the most numerous racing studs of any gentleman in the north of England. Brother Jonathan, we know, loves a sportsman, and more especially a turfite. Our brother editor, of the New York Spirit of the Times, will doubtless avail himself of this information, and obtain for the Earl of Durham a "Sportsman's Welcome," should his lordship happen to visit any of the cities of the "Union.”

We must now say a few words of the portrait, which is very excellently engraved by Mr. Porter. Mr. Lambton is represented, standing, in the dress uniform of the Lambton hunt-black coat, with black velvet collar, and gilt buttons embossed with the figure of a fox running, and the letter L below, white upper waistcoat, and one of scarlet satin underneath. The character of the gentleman is expressed in his face; and from the firm hold that he has of his hat we discover a trait of the decision of the sportsman "agens fortiter in re." The likeness is a good one; and as the portrait is that of the man, unaccompanied by horse or hound, we doubt not that the engraving will have an extensive sale, not only among sportsmen but among many who, though making no pretensions to that character, respect Mr. Lambton as a private gentleman no less highly than he is esteemed by lovers of the chase as a master of hounds. Many of Mr. Lambton's non-sporting friends and old constituents, when he represented the city of Durham, will most assuredly possess themselves of this portrait, as a reminiscence of by-gone days, and of other fields than those of the Sedgefield or the Home country.

THE WOODCOCK.

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I had an opportunity lately of reading 'Lloyd's Field Sports in the North of Europe' and was particularly struck with the remarkable coincidence in the periods of migration of the Woodcock in that quarter of the globe, and this. Mr. Lloyd says, 'it usually takes its departure from Sweden towards the end of October or beginning of November;' this is the exact time of its arrival here; viz. 29th of October, in 1835, and 26th of October 1836. Mr. Lloyd goes on, and does not return until the approach of spring;' and adds, Mr Grieff says he never knew the Woodcock to make its appearance in the vicinity of Stockholm until the 6th of April, which about tallies with the time of their leaving our shores;' this also perfectly agrees with their exit from this, viz. 6th of April, in 1836, and 10th of April in 1837.

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Mr. Lloyd says: Woodcocks were exceedingly scarce in the vicinity of Stjean, which was also the case in all other parts of Scandinavia that I ever visited. This may be supposed, when I mention, that I never killed more than three in any one day during my stay in the north of Europe; indeed I never saw more than seven or eight of these birds in the course of a day's shooting, and very generally not one-fourth part of so many."

This account makes it apparent, that they are almost equally nnmerous here, or at any events more come-at-able; I cannot say I have often seen eight, but have repeatedly shot three, once four, and twice five in a day; this is to be accounted for from the difference of cover; here, if a woodcock is once flushed, with a couple of good markers, and a staunch dog, the chances are greatly against him; and I should say, generally speaking, the sportsman ought to give an account of six out of eight.

The Hills, 9th May 1837

Bengal Sporting Magazine for July, 1837.

Notes off Hand.

LIST OF STALLIONS FOR 1838.

RUSSIAH

AARON, at Carshalton-hill, Surrey, at 10 gs. ;-by Moses (son of Whalebone), dam by Election.

ABBAS MIRZA, at Eaton Stud-house, near Chester, at 10 gs. :-by Camel, out of
Medina, by Shebdeez; grandam Passamaquoddi, by Lignum Vitæ.
ARAB HORSE, at the King's Head-inn, Hedon, in Holderness, at 10 gs. (half-
bred 3 gs.);-by Kassaskis.

Ascor, at the Turf Tavern. Doncaster, at 5 gs. (half-bred 2 gs.);-by Reveller, out of Angelica, by Rubens.

BAY MALTON, at the Bay Malton-inn, Altrincham, Cheshire, at 5 gs. (halfbred 2 gs. and 5s.);-by Filho-da-Puta, out of Racket, by Castrel. BAY MIDDLETON, at the Turf Tavern, Doncaster, thirty-five mares at 31 gs.;by Sultan, out of Cobweb, by Phantom. The subscription is full. BEAGLE, at Sherwood-hall, near Mansfield, Notts. at 10 gs. (half-bred 3 gs.) ;— by Whalebone, out of Auburn, by Blacklock.

BEDLAMITE, at Langford-hall, near Newark, at 16 sovs.;-by Welbeck, out of Maniac, by Shuttle; Offa's Dyke's dam, by Beningbrough.

BEIRAM, at Burghley, near Stamford, at 10 gs.;-by Sultan, out of Miss Cantly (sister to Burghley), by Stamford; grandam (sister to Silver) by Mercury.

BELSHAZZAR, at the Lodge-farm, Malton, Yorkshire, at 10 gs.;—own brother to Belzoni, by Blacklock, out of Manuella.

BELZONI, at Mr. Lucas's, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, at 101. 5s.;-by Black

lock, out of Manuella, by Dick Andrews; grandam Mandane, by Pot80's. BENTLEY, at Mr. Crockford's stables, Newmarket, at 9 gs.;-by Buzzard, out of Miss Wentworth, by Cervantes.

BIRDCATCHER, at Melton Mowbray, at 10 gs. and 10s. 6d. (half-bred, half price);-by St. Patrick, out of own sister to Luss, by Hedley.

BIZARRE, at Newmarket, 10 sovs. and 10s. 6d.;-by Orville, out of Bizarre, by Peruvian.

BOLERO, at Wakefield-lodge, near Stony-Stratford, at 3 sovs.;-by Partisan, out of Minuet, by Waxy; grandam Woodbine, by Woodpecker.

BRAN, at Smallheath, near Birmingham, at 12 gs. (half-bred, half price);-by Humphrey Clinker, out of Velvet, by Oiseau; grandam Wise, by Waxy. BUZZARD, at Mr. Crockford's stables, Newmarket, at 16 gs.;-by Blacklock,

out of Miss Newton, by Delpini; grandam Tipple Cyder, by King Fergus. CACCIA PIATTI, at Stockwell, Surrey, at 6 gs. (half-bred 3 gs. and 10s. 6d.) ;— by Whisker, dam by Walton; grandam by Shuttle-Delpini.

CAIN, at Bonehill-farm, near Tamworth, at 15 gs ;-by Paulowitz, dam by Paynator; grandam by Delpini-Young Marske.

CAMEL, at Stockwell, Surrey, thirty-five mares, besides three of the owner's, at 26 gs.;- by Whalebone, dam by Selim; grandam Maiden, by Sir Peter. CARNABY, at Wilton, near Salisbury, at 11 sovs. (half-bred, half price);-by Brutandorf, out of Miss Fox, by Glow-worm.

CHANCE, at Normanton-park, near Stamford, at 2 sovs. and 5s. ;-by Haphazard, dam by Waxy.

CLEARWELL, at Newmarket, at 11 gs. ;-by Jerry, out of Lisette, by Hambletonian; grandam Constantia, by Walnut.

COLONEL, The, at Dawley-farm, at 21 sovs.;-by Whisker, dam by Delpini, out of Tipple Cyder, by King Fergus.

COLWICK, at Bretby-park, at 10 gs. and 20s.;-by Filho-da-Puta, out of Stella, by Sir Oliver.

CONFEDERATE, at Wentworth-lodge, near Rotherham, at 6 sovs.;-by Comus, out of Maritornes, by Cervantes.

CRESUS, at Six-mile Cottage, near Newmarket, at 51. 10s. (half-bred 21. 15s.); -by Woful or Wildfire, out of Cressida, by Whiskey.

CYDNUS, at Stockwell, Surrey, at 5 gs. and a half;—by Quiz, dam Persepolis, by Alexander; grandam Sister to Tickle Toby, by Alfred.

DEFENCE, at Mr. Isaac Sadler's, Stockbridge, at 21 gs. ;—by Whalebone, out of Defiance (Dangerous's dam), by Rubens; grandam Little Folly, by Highland Fling.

DIVAN, at Euston-park stables, near Thetford, at 5 sovs.:—by Sultan, out of Pawn Junior, by Waxy; grandam Pawn (sister to Penelope), by Trumpator.

DOCTOR SYNTAX, at Newmarket, twenty mares at 15 gs. ;-by Paynator, his dam by Beningbrough, out of Jenny Mole, by Carbuncle.

EBURY, at Little-lodge, Hanbury, at 5 gs. (half-bred 2 sovs. and 5s.); by Master Henry, out of Bombazine (Snyder's dam), by Thunderbolt, her dam Delta, by Alexander.

ELIS, at Wilton, near Salisbury, thirty mares at 20 gs.;-by Langar, out of Olympia, by Sir Oliver.

EMILIUS, at Riddlesworth, near Thetford, at 31 sovs.;-by Orville, out of Emily, by Stamford; grandam by Whiskey, out of Grey Dorimant. EXQUISITE, The, at Stockwell, Surrey, at 5 gs. and a half;-by Whalebone, dam Fair Helen, by the Wellesley Arabian; grandam Maria, by Highflyer. FALCON, at Mr. Crump's, Skidby, near Beverley, at 5 gs. (half-bred 2 gs');by Interpreter, dam Miss Newron (Merlin's dam), by Delpini; grandam Tipple Cyder, by King Fergus.

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