power in a head sea, and also great stability and capacity for stowage and she can well carry provisions for four months with 12 guns and 85 men on board. Every possible attention was paid to perfecting her as a man-of-war. She has very high bulwarks, scantling far exceeding that of ordinary vessels, and, moreover, a solid bottom: she is, in fact, a mass of timber, as her Noble owner was determined that no objections should be raised as to her want of substance when brought into trial for sailing. Here he profited by experience of what was urged against the Pantaloon yacht, which vessel, having outsailed all the old-fashioned ships in Sir Edward Codrington's squadron, was purchased by Government of the Duke of Portland, but was found neither to have a solid bottom, nor the proper quantity of timbers for a man-ofwar, and the latter were put in before she was taken into the King's Service. Far different, however, was the case of the Water Witch, who started last year under the direction of Captain George Pechell, R. N. to join the experimental squadron of Sir P. Malcolm, with her proper guns, and all the weight on board equal to to that of four months' provisio.us, stores, and water for 75 men. The task she had to encounter must be admitted to be a formidable one; for in this squadron she had to contend with The Castor, Vernon, and Snake, all new ships built on the most approved principles, and only just launched: however the gallant Water Witch fully realized the expectations of her Noble owner, and proved herself decidedly superior: and in a subsequent trial with the far famed Pataloon, in a voyage to Lisbon, she beat that vessel in the most extraordinary style conceivable, and could have made her passage to Lisbon in a dead beat to windward in one fourth less time!! No wonder, after this, that it is universally asked by sea-faring men why this improved class of vessel is not at once adopted for packets and light cruisers. It has been ascertained that the stability and capacity of the Water Witch is fully equal for every purpose, and that such a vessel would be quite as useful as those expensive brigs just built, one hundred tons larger, and carrying only sixteen guns, being two guns less than what the brigs used to carry that were fifty tons less burden. The expense would much be lessened, and for light cruisers there would be a great saving in men and in the equipment: moreover, for the purposes of war, the brig of 330 tons, like the Water Witch, and with her qualities of sailing, would be perfectly efficient, as it appears that even the large and expensive brig of 430 tons, from her number of guns being reduced to 16, is not in future expected to fight the corvettes mounting 20. These latter vessels it seems are to be charged with the fighting department of the small class of ships of war. It is reported that the Earl of Belfast has made a most liberal offer of this fine brig to Government: I have good reason for believing, however, that she is fitting up as a yacht; and if such be actually the case, I do really think it a great error of judgment in "the powers that be" to let her slip through their fingers. So fine a vessel ought decidedly to be in the King's Service. Employed as a cruiser on the coast of Africa she would be invaluable, for she is faster than the clipping schooners that are used in the Slave Trade, and it would be a matter of impossibility for any to escape her by sailing. The cruisers that are now employed on that station are the ten-gun brigs razéed; that is, with the bulwarks cut down, and carrying a long gun on a pivot carriage: but the very idea of such a vessel being a match for a slave schooner is SIR, AS NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING 1833. S far as fine weather goes, and its influence calculated upon, we had every reason to expect a full meeting-then against it, the Chancellor's Budget-the King's commands to the Knights of the Garter-Saint George and the Dragon—a scanty issue of paper currency in the absence of the precious metals-and a few from fear they should not see others, and many from fear they should be seen themselves, made it altogether a thin meeting; not but it was said there were plenty of people in town ready to come down to win sums of money, but a sufficient number could not be found willing to undertake a journey to lose it. J. B. G. a congregation on the Sunday morning, numerous and devout as its Church would hold, to hear a sermon by the Rev. George Fisk, of Cambridge, and to give their money in aid of the funds of the National School-a school professedly to teach the child its duty towards God and its duty towards its neighbour from love and gratitude; instead of the good-by-force Bill of Sir Andrew Agnew. So elegant, gentle, persuasive, yet so powerful and true were the arguments used by the Rev. Divine, and so sensible the congregation of them, that this is said to be the best collection made since its establishment. I merely make these remarks to prove that a man may be a Sportsman-obey the commands of his Sovereign-do his duty as a Statesman six days a week, and be a Christian the whole seven. On the Saturday evening a number of carriages arrived with some of the best friends to the Turf as well as to mankind: these, added to those remaining here during the intermediate week, and the town's people that could conveniently leave their homes at a time like this, formed VOL. VII-SECOND SERIES-No. 38. The Heath at half-past one (MONDAY) presented us with a company much more genteel than 0 extensive, and the list of sports much more numerous than interesting. The first of the six races was a 501. Plate over the Beacon Course. Sir M. Wood's Lucetta and Lord Berners's Comus horse were the only two entered: the former made play, and play only it was, and to Robinson, her jockey, only a pleasurable ride: to the latter all toil and trouble, and to his jockey, John Day, more like pain than pleasure; having a full stumble and a half in the last hundred yards, whether from his Lordship's fault or the horse's misfortune, or both, is not for me to say: but he had a leg that made it unsafe to ride him, and a leg that made it impossible for him to take a proper preparation, therefore could not win. Lucetta won by two lengths, with the betting 3 to 1 upon her. The Optimist Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., T. M. M.-This contest lay between Variation and Volage: Archibald was in it, but did not start. The fine form of Variation in the October, and its being known that Robinson was to ride her, raised the betting as high as 2 to 1 upon her: there were those, however, that did not like the 51b. she gave, and the sore heel (they say) she had in the bad weather, which rendered her training incomplete: Arnull rode Volage very correctly under the circumstances, and won by two lengths. Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, T. Y. C., four subscribers, and so well done as to make a smart pretty interesting little affair of it-won a head by Pavis on Miss Mary Anne, 3 yrs old, 7st. 5lb.; Landrail, 5 yrs old, 8st. 71b. (Macdonald), second. A little remark was made on this riding, but as it was by a man who is guided altogether by winning and losing, it ought not to be noticed, except in justice to Macdonald, who seldom comes to Newmarket, to say that his riding was very good, that his patience was perfect as long as he had occasion for that virtue, and his exertions as spirited as long as they could answer any good purpose. Messenger was third, giving 5lb. to the winner; and Dryad last, giving 2lb. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, colts 8st. 7lb., fillies 8st. 4lb., T.Y.C., the winner to be sold for 200 sovs. if demanded, seven subscribers. This was won with " quite a splash" by Pavis on Mr. R. Stephenson's Alice, and, though two lengths, with ease; yet, strange to say, no one claimed the winner: Elvaston second (Natt), Tippitywitchet third; followed by Dromedary, Tigress, and others (the strongest and fiercest of the forest), and yet no one claimed! Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., R. M., three started. Robinson, with his best seat, on his best saddle, on The Saddler, won it a length; Mr. W. Ley's The Hermit second (Pavis); Mr. Kirby's Dinah third: even betting on The Saddler. This certainly reads grand, the giving 191b. to Dinah, both of a year, and 26lb. to Hermit for being a year younger: but my greatest delight was to see, for the first time in my life, a Saddler run honest. The finish to our day's sport was one of the finest and most splendid things that the eye can see or the mind imagine-beautiful in nature, and refined in art: it was a match between Lord Conyngham's Minster and Mr. Ridsdale's (Duke of Cleveland's) Trustee, 8st. 71b. each, 200 sovs., 30 subscribers to the Stakes, "all Sportsmen good and true," of 100 sovs. each, h. ft. Twenty-four of these, from various causessuch as just notions of economy 66 Across the Flat. As soon as it was known that Chifney was to ride, he having been ill a few days previously, the odds rose to 7 to 4 on Trustee-not by lower ing Minster; but having met re-fear of exposure-illness-incently on similar terms, only on a different course, when Trustee won by a head, many thought that what had happened might happen again, as there are no ifs nor buts in jockeys like these. Robinson on Minster made fine steady running to Abingdon Mile Bottom, Chifney about two lengths in his rear, with his designs all hid. At the ascent he began to shew himself Robinson ready to go, and did advance a little, which for a few strides seemed in his favour: at half-way up the cords Trustee just put his nose first, and kept gaining by an inch at a time, which at the post amounted to half a length. Most extraordinary applause followed; not because this Duke or that Lord had won, but admiration at the wonderful talent and matchless exertions of the two greatest horsemen in the world. TUESDAY We had four races on paper: the first the King's Plate of 100gs.; three entered, Galata, Datura, and Camarine: the name of the latter enough of itself to win a race, which she did by walking over for this. The Two Thousand Guineas Stakes!!-Here's a title! here's a race! enough to make a man run anywhere to see it, and run mad should he win. This is a race, not only on paper but for paper, and not only paper, but for gold! Nay, house and land -goods and chattels ; and some went so far as to stake their reputations, which had been lost years ago. There were, however, capacity-a smattering" of knowledge in calculations-501. sooner paid than a 1001., &c. &c. ; so that we had only six to the post at the trying hour; and these six, though easy to start, were difficult to keep together. Mr. Walker made a very judicious arrangement with his Yorkshire horses Boscobel and Mussulman, making such good play with one, and waiting so well with the other, that they had a fine race for last. Lord Orford's Clearwell, with the odds on the field against him 6 to 4 only, won by a head, for which his Lordship is indebted to Robinson's fine riding, and the perverse obstinate temper of Lord Exeter's Emmeline colt; for if he had taken only half the pains to keep on as he took to get out of the course, he must have won by a length. Sixty yards from home he was two lengths first, but as he went to the left at starting, for the sake of consistency he went by the post sothus losing a vast sum of money, the respect of all honest hearts, and the first place in the Derby betting at the present moment. Darling did all he could to convince him of his error, but in vain. Sir S. Graham's Jason was third (G. Edwards), Col. Peel's Nonsense fourth: but why fourth? Nonsense was everywhere. The first and second were fifty yards wide of each other, as if the Heath was not big enough, and with the others more scattered than it seemed possible to place six horses in such a space: it was a decision of great difficulty for the Judge, and very ugly to the eye of a looker on, except to Lord Orford; but who may still, perhaps, live to see through a different medium. The Lincoln's Inn Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for colts, 8st. 5lb., T. Y. C., four subscribers, won a head by Lord Stradbroke's Arethissa colt, by Sultan (Boyce); Mr. R. Wilson's (Mr. Williamson's) Miss Lydia colt, rode by Tom Robinson, second; Mr. Thornhill's Benefit colt third. What a benefit! Boxes, pit, and gallery all empty, with the expenses of the house to pay! One forfeited. Another Lincoln's Inn Stakes, for fillies, 8st. 5lb., 100 sovs. each, the same course, and same number of subscribers-similar race, and similar consequences, only Mr. Thornhill's Surprise filly won, rode by Connolly; Colonel Yates's Malibran second. The Duke of Grafton paid, as in the Colt Stake. These Lincoln's Inn sports seem to wear a peculiar dulness as suited to the name and place the losers looked like clients that had lost their suits, and the winners even little better than briefless barristers. WEDNESDAY.-Little sport, and a rainy morning-little to be seen, and less to be got; unless a cold, in addition to the influenza. The first race a Match, Rowley's Mile, 100 sovs. Lord Worcester's colt by Zealot, dam by Canterbury out of Merry-thought (the only one of the Merry-thought family on the Heath), beat Lord Lichfield's Mount Eagle: this affair, like an impression on soft wax, easy made and soon gone.Not so the next. This was a good race, and would have been a great one, but for the lack of two things, MEN AND MONEY. The spirit is left, it is true, though in a little compass. There must have been considerable betting to make Mr. Vansittart's Rubini so great a favorite in so small a ring: there must also have been great losses to produce so much grumbling in such a little compass. The Stakes was a Handicap one of 10 sovs. each, seven subscribers, and all started, which was won a head by Vestris, nicely rode in his usual way by Connolly; Rubini second. There is nothing allowed to the second horse; but if there is any abuse allowed, the rider of the second horse is sure to come in for his full share. This was the case with Boyce. "Why did the fool force running, carrying 4lb. more than the winner ?"" Why," says another, "did he make play, being short of work from a suspicious leg?"-" Why did he take the lead two lengths in deep running and deep ground, with a fat horse touched in the wind?" Poor Boyce could only say"and why were ye such fools to back me, knowing all these things?" He might have added, I have a master too, who kindly employs me and handsomely pays me: he perhaps is entitled to a voice in it. THURSDAY had five races on the list, but it was difficult to discover whether some of them were in joke or in earnest. The first for instance, the King's Plate of 100gs., the old-fashioned weights and the old distance-two causes of complaint in the present mode of racing, as few horses are prepared for such an undertaking. Sir Mark Wood's Lucetta and Mr. Sowerby's Vagrant were |