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There must have been some suspicion, too, I fancy, as to what kept us; for in addition to the Doctor asking pointedly after the health of the back sinew, Bessie Gradus remarked, in her quiet way, at breakfast

“What a funny term a steeple-chase is : I wonder what it is. Wasn't there one near the town, yesterday? Did you hear who won, Mr. Softun?

She knows all about it now, though; for the degree was a good one after all, and somehow--but isn't this “immaterial” here?

A CLEAR CASE.

BY CLARENCE.
ENGRAVED BY J. WESTLEY, FROM A PAINTING BY G. ARMFIELD.

Oh! what are you at, Mr. Reynard ?-oh dear!

Oh what have you done there ?-oh fie!
I fear that the case is against you so clear,

That like bigger rogues you must fly...
Yet 'tis hard to give up the game but just won-

I admit it, yet take my advice :
Cut your stick!, and be off, you old son of a gun!

And over the hills in a trice.

For though “ Time the Avenger" you may not have read,

And your conscience be void of remorse,
If but for one instant you'll raise up your head,

By the next you'll be off for the gorse.
Yes! I know it is hard-deuced hard !-to be caught

At a moment like this—to be caught in the fact :
But foxes, like men, by experience are taught

That in moments like this they must act.
I confess all the joys-and share the delight

Of sporting, in every fair kind of a way :
But my notion is this-It is better by night

Your poaching to do, than thus brave it by day.
I admit it was varmint, and dashing, and plucky,

So close to the keeper's to go for your prog!
But if you escape, you may think yourself lucky,

From friend Plush's remarkably wide-awake dog!
Then drop the poor victim you caught while at rest,

Thus craftily, cruelly taking her life!
Paws off ! froin her mangled and still-heaving breast,

And away like a shot, or 'tis war to the knife !

But I know which you'll do you'll be off and away

To your carth in the glen ; and when safely lodged there,
Will regret that you could not quite “play out the play-

And I own 'twas enough e'en to make a fox swear!
But patience in foxes—as well as in Job-

Is a virtue that never is found out of place :
Take your cue from your brethren who sport the long robe,

And in future avoid such “a very clear case !"

LITERATURE.

Messrs. Longman usher in one of our own staff in Major Byng Hall, the now established historian of the west of England, to which district it appears he was appointed by the Royal Commission, as their representative and exponent of the Great Industrial Exhibition. " THE WEST OF ENGLAND AND THE EXHIBITION" is the consequence of this tour; although, with great judgment, the wonders of the latter are not suffered to occupy much space in the volume. It is rather a wayside, chatty record, with, may-be, no very great aim, but throwing occasionally a new light on some of the towns and villages visited, as well as generally culling much pleasant matter from them. “The West of England” is not especially addressed to the sportsman, but offers itself as an agreeable companion to any one who may turn his horses' heads in the direction the Major himself travels.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

M. Jullien has undoubtedly taken the tide at the flood, and there can be no question that the constant overflowing of Drury LANE THEATRE must “lead on to fortune.” Who can doubt the existence of an affluent exchequer, after viewing the undulating masses that nightly throng the space devoted to the Promenade (?). No wonder that everybody flocks round the bâton of M. Jullien, for not only is the admission remarkably low, but there is such an infinite variety of amusements that should form of themselves an irresistible inducement. Besides the music which is interpreted by professors not to be surpassed in their art, there are instruments which, taken in every sense, are not likely to be equalled. Never was there such a collection of wind and stringed instruments. Dominie Sampson's exclamation need be repeated often and often, on surveying the wonders of this orchestra-for indeed they are “ prodigious !" Such wind instruments never were blowed! and such stringed instruments never were played. As for the very big drum, why it beats everything that ever was, is, or can be. To the latest addition, it is true an objection must be urged; for the thin, wiry tone of the “ Exhibition Pianoforte” is not at all suited to 60 large an arena as Drury Lane. Added to the extraordinary performances of Sivori, Bottesini, and Kønig, there are the latest compositions of the never-stand-still director—the “ Indian,” the “Bloomer,” and the “Great St. Leger”-a combination at once warlike, showy, and racy. With all these and a thousand other attractions, glittering, dazzling, and sparkling as the crystal curtain, the season is to be brought to a conclusion on the 12th instant with a Bal Masqué.

No such enterprise in catering for the public is visible at any of the other theatres, as in most directions the managers seem to rely on pieces of antiquity that even in their day may be said to have been just tolerated, and nothing more. For instance, Mr. Kean has, at the Princess's, adopted this plan of resuscitation. It is true a novelty has been attempted in the shape of “ Tender Precautions ;' but with the exception of Mr. Keeley's discomfited recital of a kicking which he undergoes, there is nothing but elaborated tediosities. If the manager expects the public to visit his theatre, he must bring forward novelty of a sterling kind, for he may rest assured that “ The Wife's Secret'' has been disclosed too often, and that “ Town and Country” has no attraction for either metropolitan or provincial visitors. As for “ The Merry Wives of Windsor,” play-goers are perfectly content to rest satisfied with the many representations they have already witnessed, particularly as the present cast presents not a single feature to challenge comparison with “ the light of other days.” Instead of this resurrection work, let the Princess's remember “ Love in a Maze," and employ a good company on a good work.

Then the HAYMARKET, again, is working “ The Beggar's Opera," with Mr. Harrison the principal tenor, as Captain Macheath, as lively and graceful a performance as that of a juvenile elephant. On the other hand, the taste of “ fresh fields” observable in “ The Two Bonycastles," is to be noted as a move in the right direction. Of course the whole weight of the bagatelle rests upon the shoulders of Buckstone, who does the honours of the Atlas most becomingly. Of course the incidents are most improbable ; but then they are essentially farcical—and what's the odds where a laugh is the end to be attained ?

Another attempt at revival is being made at the OLYMPIC, where “ The Road to Ruin" is being done. It really seems that modern managers were zealously bent on taking this road. No one with the recollection of what Mr. Farren's Old Dornton was, would think of viewing it as it is. Then there is Mr. Henry Farren as Young Dornton. From such an infliction

“ Angels and ministers of grace defend us !" It is wrong altogether, the system which now pervades theatrical directors, of inviting comparison with the past, as the picture in all cases suffers by the cruel and unjust act. It is cruel to place an actor in a character that at once challenges comparison ; and it is unjust because he cannot be supported as the former representative was. Instead of thus ransacking the plays of the past, let managers rather adopt Mrs. Malaprop's plan of

"Taking time by the firelock !"

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SALE OF BLOOD STOCK. On Monday, the 17th, the first portion of Sir Joseph Hawley's stud came to the hammer at Hyde Park Corner, and realized the following prices :HORSES IN TRAINING.

GS. llautboy, b. c., two years old, by Old England-Lady Strut Caloric, b. f., two years old, by Hetman Platoff-Oxygen .......... 400 Bilberry, bl. f., two years old, by Touchstone-Lady Sarah .... Pluck, f., two years old, by Venison-Dauntless............. B. c., two years old, by Old England-Science ....... B. f., two years old, by Touchstone-Cheshire Witch ....... Br. c., brother to Truthteller, three years old, by Ascot-Testatrix ..... Vermuth, b. m., three years old, by Cotherstone-Vat ....... Merry Peal, b. m., by Slane-Vibration ...........

360 Breba, bl. m., three years old, by Touchstone-Lady Mary ...

110 Aphrodité, br. m., three years old, by Bay Middleton—Venus ........ 930 The Ban, ch. c., three years old, by Don John-Young Defiance .... 630 The Confessor, three years old, by Cowl-Forest Fly...... Cranberry, ch. c., by Irish Birdcatcher-Lady Strut ...

210 Mendicant (foaled in 1943), by Touchstone-Lady Moore Carew...

STALLION.
Old England, by Mulatto-Fortress ................

YEARLINGS.
B. f., by Don John-Cheshire Witch
Veteran, by Old England - Vat....
Warbler, by Don John-Cavatina......
Haco, by Old England-Dauntless
Mocassin, by Cotherstone-Miami.
Br. f., by Slane-Aphrodité's dam...
Curfew, by Slane-Vibration ......
Friar Tuck, b. g., by Old England-Mendicant ..................
Huff, by Old England— Temper..........
B. c., by Old England-Vexation ..........

........... The above were sold without their engagements ; but if the purchaser of either of the lots should wish to start for any engagement he will be allowed to do so on paying half the stake to the stakeholder, and, if he win, one-third of the stake to Sir Joseph Hawley. The remainder of the stud, consisting of the brood mares, the foals of 1851, and the produce of next year, will be sold on the Monday after Ascot races. Teddington, with some yearlings and two-year-olds, are now the sole property of Mr. John Stanley, who has been understood to have had a share in the establishment for some time. Of the above sold, Caloric, . Aphrodité, and The Ban, purchased by Mr. Magennis, go into Lumley's stable, Pluck into Rogers's, and Merry Peal and Bilberry into Drewitt's. Confessor, we believe, returns into T. Taylor's stable ; Breba was purchased by Mr. Macdonald, of Newgate-street ; and Old England gocs abroad. An immense and most unruly mob “ assisted” at the sale, but without in any case running the lots up to what it was expected they would fetch. There are supposed to be two or three remarkably cheap horses out of them.

Mr. Barker has sold the Lily to Mr. M. Dawson for 400 ; Lord Enfield The Nigger to an agent of the late King of Hanover for 700 ; Mr. J. M. Clarko his filly by Touchstone out of Maid of Lyme to Mr. Wynne,

of Liverpool, for 200. Mr. E. Phillips, the owner of Truth, has purchased the following brood mares :--Chance, by Confederate ; Sampler, by Venison ; and Lady Sale, by Muley Moloch. Lord Eglinton has parted with Bonnie Dundee ; this horse goes to Buenos Ayres, and Mr. Drinkald's Sauter-la-Coupe to Vienna. Lord Lurgan has bought Captain Flash of Mr. Joseph Dawson, and Mr. John Scott the yearling Welham, by Cowl out of Desperate's dam, of Mr. Horsley ; the mare herself goes to Bohemia.

Further RETIREMENTS.—Mr. Carew has announced his intention of selling everything off ; the steeple-chasers, indeed, have already been disposed of. The hunters come to the hammer on Monday, the 1st ; and the racing establishment very shortly. The Duke of Richmond, too, it is rumoured, wishes to withdraw; and Messrs. Tattersall have instructions to dispose of all or any of Lord Exeter's stud-say, the now usual figure, ten thousand for the lot. Mr. Gratwicke retires from all active participation in the sport, having handed his horses in training over to the Duke of Bedford, his Grace undertaking to train and run them, allowing Mr. Gratwicke a certain per-centage of the winnings, and returning the horses to him on their being taken out of work. In consequence of this arrangement, the following have left Kent's stable and reached William Butler's, at Newmarket :-Landgrave, Exeter, Hesse Homburg, Maidstone, Flirt, Sitting bourne, Feversham, and Gossip. There is no truth, however, ia the report that Lord Enfield's horses had also left Goodwood.

l'anson, who it will be remembered left Lord Waterford at a moment's notice, in consequence of the Robertson affair at Brighton, has been engaged by Lord Glasgow.

Mr. IIolmes, of Thirsk, the well-known veterinary surgeon and purchaser of thorough-bred stock for the foreign market, is now himself about to visit India. He announces a good business and some wellselected horses for sale, including Mr. Martin ; generally allowed to be one of the best looking stallions we have.

We are happy to be enabled to report that the licensed victuallers are getting on very favourably with their subscription list for the Metropolitan Handicap.

At a meeting of the Jockey Club, held at Newmarket on Wednesday in the Houghton Meeting, 1851, it was resolved that the following rule be adopted :“ In case any forfeit remains unpaid at the expiration of the racing scason, the

horse for which such forfeit is due sball be disqualified for being entered for any race at Newmarket or at other places where the rules of the Jockey Club are in

force, until the forfeit is paid. “ A list of these horses, with the amount of the forfeits due from each, shall be

published in the Racing Calendar as soon as convenient, after the Newmarket Houghton Meeting."

The question of repealing Rule 29 was ordered to stand over for further consideration.

Lord Stradbroke brought under consideration some proposed regulations with respect to the Queen's plates, and alterations of the rules concerning horse-racing in general.

Mr. Greville brought forward the subject of the charges made to the owners of race-horses, in the shape of fees for nominations and holding stakes.

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