able, and arrogant set of men do not exist than the natives of Liverpool. The only contribution to the meeting which they make is one which we would willingly dispense with; viz., their presence.......Never was the eye more shocked by scenes of cruelty, or the ear more disgusted by ribaldry, than during the transit of five miles from the subscription room to the course." Here is by choice of the first of the writer's alternatives a going into the Yankee-doodles rather extensively. But our friend must not suppose he has the argument all his own way. He may suspend Transatlantic manners naso adunco: the republican has tarred and feathered Bull full frequently within our memory. Just now that Lord Palmerston has delivered himself of one of the most emphatically English speeches ever uttered within the walls of parliamentanent our views of meum and tuum-and the course that Great Britain will probably adopt in the collection of her debts from the foreign creditor, a specimen of United States journalism, published a few years ago, illustrative of the national policy and politeness, may be allowed a place here, by way of balancing accounts, if not of kicking the beam. Its vein is the strongly satirical; its philosophy of a school whose principle was so ably expounded by the late Sydney Smith: "Our comments upon the awful fact, that an American citizen had been refused admission into a London club because Pennsylvania owed more money than she could readily pay, were brought to an abrupt termination yesterday, from absolute terror at the contemplation of the possibility that some heir to the glorious privilege of oppressing an exhausted tenantry, or the possessor of a parliamentary commission to defraud creditors, or perchance a sprig of the royal family, nurtured in. the hot-bed of illicit love, might have been accessary to the interdiction. When we reflected upon the sensitiveness of many of our countrymen to the criticisms of English Cockneys, the ambition of others to be regarded as au fait in aristocratic manners, and the consequence which a large portion of them attach to foreign reputation, we could not but feel alarmed, lest in making such portentous disclosures we might become aiders and abettors of a fashionable, not to say fatal, crisis. It is true we were bred in a faith that did not rate the good opinion of one of Nell Gwyn's progeny as essential to character, much less did it esteem the certificate of a club, compounded of swash-buckler and manikin, as evidence of individual or national repute; but we suppose our education was defective in an important particular, and the suddenness with which the knowledge of this truth flashed upon us quite palsied our weak faculties. Indeed, we begin to think that the liberties of this country are intimately connected with the fashionable orgies at Almack's, and have some mysterious dependence upon the length of the Duke of St. Albans' coat-tail. "A remarkable coincidence in the announcement of the terrible rebuke of the London club, and the determination of Pennsylvania to pay her interest in January next, gives the stamp of authority to these views; for it cannot be credited for a moment that the State of Pennsylvania has adopted this resolution from motives of policy, the instincts of honesty, or the coercion of reason, in the presence of so overbearing an inducement as that of qualifying an American gentleman to chat scandal with a keeper of the Queen's hounds, and discuss Tokay with a taster to a royal tipple. One cause of the grief that keeps our people fat, the penury that has rendered us so prosperous as a nation, and the oppression that has made the United States as thrifty as Jonah's gourd, is, no doubt, the neglect of the masses to imitate the lascivious sentimentality of European high life. There can be little doubt that if the United States' Government would import a lordling or two every year, for the country to make an ado over-or, in default of such a curiosity, a tolerably smart writer (Dickens answered well enough once), in the course of time Americans might be imbued with a degree of pusillanimity, from which the most auspicious results might be expected. The honour of sipping tea with the courtezan of a court has heretofore been confined to a few of our fashionable bloods, who have returned to their country vastly improved in their ideas.-They damn republican manners with commendable zeal, and discourse of what Sir George Come-by-chance said to Lady Lucretia with the nicest particularitynot omitting to mention that Lady Lucretia would have blushed but for the effeminate appearance of Sir George, who was rather attenuated in the shank to make a good Tarquin. We must be permitted to state that we know a number of Americans who have made the tour of Europe without being bettered by it-who have actually come back as good republicans as they were before, having totally neglected to improve their principles and opinions by associations of the most hopeful character. This dulness, however, is not a characteristic failing of American travellers. "Now, if the London club persists in refusing our citizens admission until the Pennsylvania debt is paid off, it will be seen that one of the great avenues to national nincompoopery is shut up to American progress. Hence the alacrity of Pennsylvania to pay up back interest. If the people of Mississippi and Illinois could be brought to comprehend the vast benefits that naturally flow from the cordial intercourse of American gentlemen with the water-flies' of Cockneydom, they would certainly bestir themselves to discharge their debts also. So many calamities threaten us from the closing of the London clubs against our countrymen, and such individual mortification to those of our citizens who consider the touch of a noble lord's digits as the next best thing to a seat in parliament, that further procrastination in the settlement of money jobs might be construed into an indifference to the fate of this great republic; and, what is yet more heinous, a disregard of the community of Bondstreet loungers and Hyde-park loafers in high and low degree.". All that fair weather could do for the éclat of the meeting on Aintree now to be related, it did with a prodigal hand: pity art had not followed the example, however confined the scale. The road to the course was a terrible ordeal: dust and devilment held Saturnalia supreme. Instead of four days of it, however, there were but three; being at the rate of five and twenty per cent. less of purgatory; and after a descent, too, by an express train from Euston-square!-Speaking of which calls for the hint, en passant, that the modern Argonauts are discontented with the slow rate of travelling by that conveyance, and insist upon a broad-gauge line from their town to the capital, by way of Oxford and the Great Western; a communication which will save them an hour and a half in their trips, both ways. An eminent engineer, one of the steam kings, said to me some years since, he should not die happy till he had got a hundred miles an hour out of a locomotive: it now looks as if he would surrender the ghost to his satisfaction. The list that met the eye, on its opening within the pleasant sanctuaries of the Waterloo or Adelphi, was not of the quality of the carte of either of these hostelries. It was not without a piece de resistance to be sure; but there were too many of those vile racing vol-au-vents, yclept heats, for one of the right Olympic palate. The supply of horses we understood to be ample; but the market was shy in the article of legs. Betting was very bad; by which, in the ring, they express the opposite of brisk. Your honest townsman thinks it small beer-an achievement as flat and unexciting as swipes-to bet with an honest brother townsman, who is sure to pay him if he wins. He must not only have the hope of winning, but the prospect of being cheated afterwards, to give the true zest to his speculation. How else are we to account for the fact, that until some professional gentleman intimate in the accents of a speaking trumpet, and with a face of the metal generally used in the manufacture of that instrument, what he will condescend (and whom) to do, nobody will dare to venture "a bid"? But let Leatherlungs open his mouth, or Frontdebronze intimate his purpose, and lo! the servum pecus follow, even as their fellow muttons flock to the shambles. The meeting, therefore, for the morrow did not promise as picturesque a show as if it had been mounted more artistically-a proper banditti being provided for the stage by means of a series of second-class carriages on the North Western railway. That morrow, Wednesday, July 11th, came, however, in due course; and, as usual, after a most miscellaneous progress, in company of a most Cockney cavalcade, the pilgrimage to the course was accomplished. That course-so far as art could assist it-has been well cared for. The grand stand, with its ample enclosure, is a perfect model of its class; and as for the business departments, both in regard to the racing and refreshing, they are together unapproached on the British turf. At Goodwood the equestrian arrangements are as good-perhaps better; but at Liverpool the feeding is unique: Soyer cannot beat it: I'll lay him odds-a plat of turtle steaks to a go of buttock and carrots. Well! we're at Aintree! but the last mile-with four insides all bringing down 12st.-had very nearly pumped out the last puff of our Pegasus. The sprinkling of fashionables was sufficiently exhilarating; and the plebs mustered strong. At two o'clock the running began with the accustomed Croxteth Stakes: three starters: Sagacity the winner, by some two or three hundred yards. She was the favourite; and her backers had no lack of sagacity. The Free Handicap of 10 sovs. each, h. ft., with 50 added, for all ages except two years old, T.Y.C., brought to the post a dozen of the seventeen entered. Spithead was first in the ring at 5 to 2, and he was also first in the throng up to the stand, when Burlesque ran past him and won very cleverly by a length. Radcliffe and Secundus were fair runners-third and fourth, the others beaten away. To this succeeded the most important event of the meeting, as a racing spectacle. The Mersey Stakes has become one of the leading two-year-old trials of the season. Aintree lies conveniently for approach from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, as also, indeed, from everywhere else. So Erin sends thither her sucking champions, and Caledonia stern her doughty young ones, and Taffy has a shy for the honour of the leek. In this instance the race, barring accidents, was a foregone conclusion; but then a horse has not a fee simple of his form "He's mad," says Lear, "that trusts in the tameness of the wolf; a horse's health; a boy's love; or a light o' love's oath"-a perilous category for your backer of a nag to win the Leger in September at 2 to 1, because he won the Derby in the preceding May! But it was a foredoomed result-Assault, of course, the lion of the ring, having more than the lion's share of the race. Who would ever have dreamt that on the turf the keenest file should wish to B. Green? But his lot is a chapter of accidents from first to last. Mr. G. S. Ford accommodates him with it a hundred per cent. under its value. Fate sticks by him, and had he failed to make sure of the victory by Assault, he had still a Flatcatcher in reserve. I wonder was he born sole heir to all this good luck; or is there a co-partner going snacks with him? Or is there a "family" party "standing in"? Five and a half to one against "Mister Green" for the Derby! Oh, jolly Green! was there ever one of your breed, seed, or generation could say the like before? Tuscan, a filly of Mr. Pedley's, and a sister to Pink Bonnet, was the second she's in both the Derby and Oaks: these pets of fortune's petticoats will be the death of me. The Sefton Stakes for three-yearold fillies, Lord Exeter's Circassian Maid won cleverly, though the worst estimated of the trio that started. A sixty sovereign plate wound up the sport with four heats; and as the second received ten sovs., the winner, Little Cassino, had £12 10s. per heat, minus expences. The Bickerstaffe Stakes, for three year olds, four subscribers, Lord Stanley's Bowstring walked over for this completed the day's programme. Thursday, here and nearly every where else, is the grand day. Like those of its class which occur towards Midsummer, the accompaniments are not the most agreeable in the world. Dust and swelter distinguish it pre-eminently; and in the matter of tag-rag and bobtail you couldn't have matched it on the civilized portion of the earth. Confusion worse confounded waited on the return home. The road is narrow, not better, in fact, than a bye lane in correct neighbourhoods-abounding with public houses, Tom-and-Jerry shops, and such like. These, or rather those who had resort to them, encroached on the little thoroughfare there was, whereof it came to pass that There was a deal of swearing, And nauseous words, pass mentioning or bearing." The course was, however, populous with one sort of society or another chiefly the latter. The leading families of the vicinity -to their honour and glory be it recorded had filled their houses for the nonce, and these made gallant show. The townsfolk of the better orders were shy, but of snobs and other monosyllabic denominations beginning and ending in s there was a mighty multitude. We will leave them, "nor cast one longing lingering look behind" for the sport. This began in somewhat an eccentric fashion. The event was the Foal Stakes, for stock of 1844, once round and a distance; five subscribers of 100 sovs. each, h. ft. For it Bowstring set off like an arrow, and led by a dozen lengths perhaps for a mile; Sloth then went past Lazarillo, who was the favourite: and in this form the trio reached the distance. There Lazarillo beat Sloth, but still waited till close upon home, when Butler made his rush, and won a very brilliant finish by a length. The use that was made of Bowstring, however, was the agent of his defeat; the pair made common cause against sloth. For the Derby Handicap there was a sporting field of eleven, though the numbers said little in favour of the weighting, forty-five having been named. In the ring they took 2 to 1 about Queen Mary-and they were right, for she had an easy victory of it by a length: considering the distance was but a mile, and the contrivance a handicap, the scabies at the conclusion exceeded the ordinary average extensively. A match between Lords Stanley and Glasgow, T.Y.C. terminated, as of course, in the discomfiture of the latter. The steeds were Abdiel and Discontent. Next came the Cup-" Coop" in the vernacular—in manner following .... The LIVERPOOL CUP or Plate, value 300 sovs., added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft., and 5 only if declared; the winner of any race value 200 sovs., including his own stake, between the day of publishing the weights and the time of running 5lbs. extra, of two such races 81b. extra; the winner to pay 30 sovs. to the judge; the second to receive 50 sovs. from the stakes; two miles; 135 subs., 104 of whom declared, &c. Mr. Meiklam's br. m. Inheritress, by The Saddler, aged, 8st. 3lb. Templeman 1 ... ....... Cartwright 2 Nat 3 Dunn 0 .C. Marlow 0 Wynne 0 Lord Milltown's Flahowlagh, five years old, 6st. 6lb. .... Mr. Skerratt's br. f. Romance, four years old, 6st. 6 lb. Duncan 0 Whitehouse 0 .G. Simpson 0 .W. Abdale 0 Prince 0 Murphy 0 Tasker 0 (carried 5st. Kitchener 0 5st. 10 lb. J. Evans 0 Mr. J. Osborne's b. f. Miss Castling, four years old, 5st. 8lb. ...Osborne 0 (Gwalior was scratched about three o'clock on the day of the race.) Mr. Mostyn's ch. c. Wiseacre, by Lanercost, three years old, Betting at starting :-5 to 1 against Pic-nic, 5 to 1 against Camera-obscura (taken), 6 to 1 against The Conjuror, 7 to 1 against Quadruped, 10 to 1 against Inheritress, 10 to 1 against Plaudit (taken), 12 to 1 against Conspiracy, 15 to 1 against Pantasa, and 20 to 1 against Sheraton. It was close upon four o'clock, when they got off, at the first attempt, in excellent array. The play was played by Inglewood, until his part was over, when Inheritress succeeded him; Pic Nic, however, doing the first business-up to the distance. There the mare became first lady, held her own, and won as she pleased, a clear length before Rowena-second of that ilk. It was a true run race from end to end; the pace throughout very good. The Grosvenor Stakes-14 entereddrew 4 to the post; Mr. B. Green's Conjurer, the favourite, against the field. In these days, however, folks are not invincible; so, for once, jolly Green lost; that whilom excellent animal, Burlesque, winning with all ease. To be sure the-but by-gones are by-gones. Her Majesty's Plate-four starters-was won, in a brace of heats, by one Mr. Shelmerdine's Walmgate-bar-without-by no means common |