the corresponding optic, and grinning as if he were contending for a pound of tobacco through a horse-collar, his neck half broken on the right in his awkward efforts to bring his cheek down to the stock, would bang into the middle of a covey of birds though they were but just hatched, aye and glory in the deed.

Nor can I see that it would be of any such great benefit to the farmers generally on the contrary, to the aggregate it would be prejudicial: the hey-day of the season occurs at a period when they are, or ought to be, busiest; and if in other times it was necessary that

"He that by the plough would thrive, Must either hold himself or drive :"

these are not days for idleness, at least if we are to judge by the universal complaints; and I know nothing more likely to convert the most industrious of the class, those who are obliged to work on their own farms, thence pre-eminently "their countrie's pride,” into a lazy dissolute gang of idlers than this same liberty, which some advocate as a sovereign panacea. The case as to fox-hunting in my humble opinion is different it occurs at a late period in the first place; and in the second, if he breeds well, every day he is out he is bringing his horse on his business as a hunter, and is sure sooner or later of a good price. It is true he may sell his game; but when that fails at home, and he once gets into the habit, he will seek it elsewhere, and go on step by step to the gaol, and perhaps

worse.

Now I beg not to be misunder

stood there are numbers classed as farmers to whom these remarks cannot apply, and I am most anxious to give offence to no one: while at the same time, on the principle of "hear both sides," I beg leave to state my humble opinion on a point which has been much lately under discussion. The petition of the gunsmiths shews what a decline has already taken place; and in my opinion nothing could superinduce or bring to a speedier termination the catastrophe, which, unless something be done, is inevitable to all honestly connected with the trigger save the Magnates or greatest landed proprietors. would be the last person to attribute blame to any one, much less the present rulers, who, I firmly believe, are honestly attempting all that men can do in the Herculean task of accommodating matters. But the evil exists, and is already felt; and we have seen changes enough within the last few years to let us know how speedily such matters work.

I

I am one of those who am old fashioned enough to prefer my own country to any other, and, remaining in it, am so aware of the vast change which these last few years have effected, that, like the old woman cut short in the song, I am sometimes tempted to exclaim, "why, I beant I!" Let these be continued, and especially let the inducements to reside on their own properties be frittered away piecemeal, and taken from the smaller country gentlemen, and the benefit will be incalculable. No man will remain to be circumvented and bearded at every turn on his own ground; and they will naturally emigrate, to seek those enjoyments which their own

country does not afford, when those which it does are arrested from them "vi et armis." The gun-trade is in distress acknowlegedly : "the shops in the Strand," says Colonel De Lacy Evans, are nearly bankrupt from want of custom." How so? Ask the Parisians, who, a few weeks after the " days of the barricade," found their city in a state of unexampled distress: and what was the principal cause?-the flight of the affrighted foreigners. Now of those domiciled strangers, eight in ten were British! Increase the causes at home which induce the moneyed classes to leave it, the gunmakers may migrate also; and as for the vendors in the Strand, it will be of little matter to them whether the window-tax be repealed, or not, for their doors and windows will have to be shut up. And not only this, but nothing would surprise me less than to see emigration commence at the extreme and opposite end, and see our landholders selling off, "resigned The green hills of their youth, among strangers to find"

a local habitation and a name. "Oh!" cry some, "good riddance! they can't carry the land with them!" but they can carry the price of it; and every ten pounds the minor emigrant takes away is a loss to this falling countrya slow but perpetual drain. One thing indeed, it might be difficult to find purchasers; unless, good

OF

sooth! the most extraordinary of all (and as unexceptionable as any) of our recent changes, the restoration of God's chosen Israelites, our peoplesh! may unlock and unfold the means: nor, were such the case, could want of birth or blood be objected to them--" your Jew is your only gentleman"Norman blood indeed: it is, comparatively, the upstart puddle of yesterday. Should "such things be," and a fair portion of the land fall into the possession of the Tribes, let us hope that they may adopt some of its habits, and become sportsmen: then perhaps the waning star of the gun-trade might culminate; and if so, one thing bringing on another, they must drop one of their own most peculiar ones; positively they must eschew beards. I cannot conceive a more accursed concomitant, damp or hot, to a shooting sportsman, or one more dangerous: we are every season horrified with husbands and brothers, &c. brought home by divers accidents wounded and killed to their wailing woman-kind. But Chrish, Mo! only conceive a fine young heir-apparent of a Shenie carried in to "Rachel weeping for her children," burnt to death by the ignition of his own beard from an accidental spark! Be these things as they may, let us yet hope something may turn up, and "live in hope, though we die in despair."

A Chip of the Old Block.

June 8, 1833.

swer the remarks of our Correspondent QUARTOGENARIAN SO much, that there is little doubt he must partake of that breed. Speaking of the Second Cross with the Setter and Newfoundland dog, he says (see Sporting Magazine, vol. v. Second Series, page 108):-"The unrivalled truth and tenderness of this animal's nose, and his great sagacity, induced a pretty considerable cross, which has produced the heavy black dog so generally to be met with: they are, however, in my opinion, over heavy for general use, hunt straight out, without much quartering and a

SIR,

still stern, but frequently good finders, right and left, from superiority of nose, and back tolerably free: they are well calculated for large turnip pieces, as they generally stand to their point, are easily seen, and excellent retrievers, though sometimes rather too fond of hare to be easily broken." All this FRIDAY answers to; and to this may be added, that he is very fast, remarkably steady, and seldom known to chase hare; but this, no doubt, arises from good breaking.

We understand the talented painter is much pleased with the efforts of the young engraver.

ON my arrival at Windsor on the 3d of June, to be in readiness for Ascot Races the next day, I found the place unusually alive, with all the trades and grades of the place-from the King of a great and mighty nation, to the man" wot mends shoes," that is, if he had any to mend, and could raise a bit of leather-flocking down to the water-side to see some boats gaily floating over the richly-tinted face of old Father Thames. "Poh! poh!" I think I hear you say, "what has this to do with sporting?" Now, according to the high authority of the Boys and the Frogs in the Fable, sporting, after all, is only matter of opinion; and in that" standard work" of Mr. Hood's, you will find that Cows have their Regattas, and by the same rule why may not the ETON Boys have theirs? You give us these pastimes also from other places; and is it not

fair that these should have a place, and, if possible, a more distinguished one? for you are as likely to draw from them the pure JOHN BULL as from any other School. The procession went up the water with the greatest regularity to Surley Hall, where in a meadow hard by they found a tasty spread" of eight tables, one for each boat's company of about ten or a dozen each, in sailors' and fancy dresses. Το see their faces, Mr. Editor, you would not have believed yourself at Surley Hall, and in half an hour many did not know it themselves, Champagne and other wines flew round so fast-Prince George of Cambridge at the head of the first boat in rowing, and at the first table in feasting. The King and Queen were present, but hurdled off from the tables, as were the Nobility and Gentry, who, though they had the pleasure of seeing their children " do