upon the condition of an annual fine of £1000, to be paid in sæcula sæculorum. Next year we are to have better things. Mr. Clarke, of Newmarket (morally and mathematically an upright judge), succeeds Mr. Lockwood, and, by the blessing of a committee of gentlemen with a handsome treasury at their disposal, matters will be improved in the year of grace upon which we have entered. The last Leger was the richest ever run for-the net amount to the winner having been £3,650. Coronation, though beaten, everybody swore, and swears, is half a stone better than Satirist. Such is not my opinion, and time, perhaps, will tell that I am not wrong. Attila was so infinitely the most superior two-year-old of the Meeting, that I name him, and no other. He has been a good card for his master-a spirited and upright member of the turf: may that which he wins by honours, never be lost to him by tricks!

Liverpool Autumn Meeting is a most impotent substitute for Heaton Park. The dwellers on the Mersey have no taste for the competition of horseflesh. Unless some radical change be effected, this affair must fall to the ground. At the Newmarket First October, Potentia won the Grand Duke Michael Stakes-being a stone or two better than she was in the spring. As an offering to Pluto for the countenance of Plutus, Mr. Batson (without the slightest attempt at metaphor) gave Robinson, who rode Potentia for the Oaks, to understand that he, Mr. B—, thought him, Mr. R., no better than he should be.

It is a pity people rarely improve as they grow in years. As it was upon the Leger of 1834, so it was on the Grand Duke Michael of 1841, and so it will be till the end of the chapter. Mr. Batson's courtesy is not the quality that shall embalm his memory for posterity. At this Meeting commenced the celebrated controversy, Iliona v. Iliōna, the true vernacular of which my Lord Palmerston declared to be, Hillionnee:-I take it, his authority being the pronunciation of the word by the wise men of the East. Worse things were said and sung, about that question, than the following:

"How delightful to see, in the evening of age,
The statesman affecting the scholar and sage;

A Fox with HORNE TOOKE settling idiom and trope,
Or a ST. JOHN discussing old Homer with POPE!
E'en thus our own Palmerston, bankrupt at court,

At a New-market club doth his prosody sport,

Teaching grooms in Greek dactyls and spondees to chatter,

And deciding the long and the short' of the matter!

Happy man! from the troubles of office set loose,

Thus devoting your talents and time to the MEWS!
Your fame, my dear P., after all that is past,
Will rest on a STABLE foundation at last!"

The Second October was very brilliant. For the Cesarewitch, twenty-seven went out of one hundred and five nominations-the largest field that ever started at Newmarket, with the following three exceptions, all being for the Craven Stakes, viz.-in 1775, when twenty-nine ran-Lord Grosvenor's Barbary won; in 1777, the same number-Mr. Pratt's Maiden won; and in 1778, twenty-nine also, when Sir Charles Daver's Woodpecker won. The Squire was the favourite; and, as my account of the Meeting stated, he was beaten by

half a mile, from the effects of poison. There is much mystery, and more suspicion, about the whole of that affair. I suppose I may be permitted to give my opinion, and the reasons on which it is founded. He is first favourite for the Cesarewitch, and heavily backed: the field was thus a good spec, if a little bird was kind enough to whisper, that "there is many a slip," and so forth. Then see how such a casualty as a horse being poisoned, is likely to throw him back for an engagement to come off within the subsequent fortnight. Being so sent back in the odds, and poisoned to boot, when one sees the particular steed come out, and make all the running over such a course as the Ditch In, and win a race of terrible severity, is it a marvel that one grows sceptical, and falls into the conclusion that it was not a deadly drug that was administered? Why was no demonstration of a desire to investigate this matter made by the Stewards of the Jockey Club? The great event of the Meeting, however, was the Clearwell, wherein the three best public two-year-olds of the season met. won with all ease by a length, Wiseacre second, and Chatham, 7 lbs. extra, third. The running of this colt was first-rate; he has never been beaten, and yet he made his début without the stable entertaining an idea of his quality.

Attila

Probably the annals of Newmarket afford no record of such a Meeting as the late Houghton: the sport extended over the entire week, and was as good as it was abundant. The Cambridgeshire Stakes, won by Vulcan, was the most attractive race; that is, according to the present estimation, because it was the best for the bettors round. The Criterion deserves the careful analyzation of those who speculate largely in Olympics. I beg, with all submission, to withhold my impressions of the various performances having prospective reference and interest. Some six years ago I boldly spake out, and said that, barring Plenipotentiary should die before he finished his Derby, the victory was his. Since then, vaticination has become a common trade and handicraft; false prophets have multiplied exceedingly; and the art of the seer has become a by-word and reproach. My ambition extends no further than that I be accounted a faithful and discreet chronicler. As to soothsaying, "hic cœstus artemque repono."

MIDSUMMER AND MUSQUITO.

WE are indebted to the politeness of the Earl of Stradbroke for the drawing from which our engraving of these celebrated greyhounds. was made. His Lordship was also kind enough to furnish us with their pedigrees and performances, which are as follow:

Midsummer, a black bitch, by a dog of Mr. Gurney's, out of Lord Stradbroke's Mermaid, by Mariner, was born in 1838, and was entered for, and won the Oaks, at the Swaffham Meeting, in November, 1839. She was sent to Ashdown Park in February, 1840, but, from circumstances, did not appear. She was entered for the Great Champion Stakes at Deptford Inn, in the same month, where her running was

greatly admired, and, on the last day, she was decidedly the favourite, but the severity of the frost obliged the members to separate, and the stakes were divided. In November, 1840, Midsummer was not in force, and did not appear in public; but in February, 1841, she won a Sweepstakes at Ashdown Park; and afterwards ran for the Cup at Deptford Inn; on the last day, she was slipped at a wild hare on the Downs, which she did not see, and lost seventy yards in the run up, against Captain Wyndham's blue bitch, Whirlpool; she made up the ground, and the course was difficult to determine, but was adjudged to Captain Wyndham's bitch, who won the Cup. In March, 1841, she met the same opponent at Liverpool, when, after a good trial, the course was decided in favour of Midsummer; since which time she has been out of training.

Musquito, a red dog, born in March, 1838, was got by Lord Stradbroke's Mariner out of his Matilda, both great winners in public. He was taken to the Swaffham Meeting in November, 1839, but falling ill with distemper, could not appear. In the February following he ran for the Claret Stakes at Ashdown Park, and beat Burgundy, on the first day, who had won the Ashdown Cup in November. He was put out by Boscobel in a very close thing on the second day. Musquito next appeared at Deptford Inn, in the same month, where he ran for a Sweepstakes at a Champion Meeting, but a severe frost coming on, the last day's sport could not be run out, and he divided the stakes. In November, 1840, he won the Westacre Sweepstakes at Swaffham. In February, 1841, he won the Cup at Ashdown Park; and, in the same month, he beat Mr. Biggs's Beaumont, at Deptford Inn, in one of the finest courses ever seen on those celebrated Downs ; and £100 were offered for him on the same evening. The wheel of a cart was driven over his foot in October last, while at exercise, and training for the Swaffham Meeting. It is hoped that he may recover, and be able to run in February, 1842.