seventy-seven pounds ; at Chester to the amount of fifteen hundred and fifty-five pounds; and at Epsom to the amount of one hundred and eighty-eight pounds" errors excepted”-as regards fractions. What does the corporation of Doncaster say to that ?......

I design to continue this analysis during the season, submitting to similar comparisons all our principal turf-reunions. It is the especial office of the journalist to watch over and record the practice and policy of such branches of social economy as come within scope and province

of his purpose. The newspaper essayist discharges this duty anony· mously, and with absolution for personal consequences. I am writing,

not only without such immunity, but with a perfect consciousness that in adopting this principle I shall call into existence much bitter feeling, and point it against inyself. I desire to offer no individual offence ; but I am wholly indifferent to personal results upon a point of public duty. I see racing going to the dogs—I had almost said, to the devil --as fast as it can, and am not disposed to hold iny peace in such a jeopardy. It is already shorn of much that embellished it, and the organs of public opinion are discoursing much subtle eloquence to its damage. One of the literary « weeklies,” some short time back, thus commented on the turf as a national amusement

" It encourages manly sports--we say; knowing that, if we do not lie outright, it is a miserable quibble. Of all surviving manly sports' racing is the one that has in it the least of manliness : a sport performed by deputy, with all its excitement in a gambling venture, and surrounded by a whole atmosphere of cheating and swindling.... Again we say that it encourages the breed of horses-a brod of little practical use. The highly artificial requirements of the turf are not of paramount necessity elsewhere; and to our eye it looks as if horses used in some national employments were not improving of late-those of the privates in cavalry regiments, for instance.... The fact is, that racing is a custom that falls in with our habits-our rare holiday making ; our railway and travelling facilities; our great collections of unassociated strangers; and our toleration of pecuniary rather than any other style of overt licentiousness.... Our aristocracy has not many remaining functions to attest its somewhat doubted utility in modern times : and if it would strike out new paths in amusements suited to the day-devise the Goodwood model of some better recreation-it might do vast national and social service, not more beneficial to society than creditable and useful to itself.”

Now, while professing entire ignorance of what the “ Spectator" means by “the Goodwood model of some better recreation,” I give it credit for a paragraph prolific with mischievous inuendo : possessing " meal and bran," but mixed into an unartistic mess...... Antonio." I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano

A stage, where every man must play a part

And mine a sad one."
Gratiano,

" Let me play the fool :
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come:
And let my liver rather heat with wine
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster ?
Sleep when he wakes ? and creep into the jaundice

By being peevish?"
What a fair way of life would he ensure for himself who made
Shakspeare his " guide, philosopher, and friend !” There is no moral
contingency for which he does not furnish an antidote or specific. How

apropos of the present peril of the turf is the axiom-" When sorrows come, they come not single spies''! It was not enough that the million rushed into the ring ; that rogues rushed into the columns of newspapers, with offers to insure customers money ad libitum for twelve postage stamps ; but sober journals themselves must needs have their especial soothsayers. It may be urged, they are only catering for the public taste ; but it is with very unwholesome food. That it is not “a feast of reason” has been emphatically shown in the present year. One of the most able racing correspondents of the press, whose experience, judgment, and opportunity were sound data for success, has not been right in a single instance where a practical knowledge of the turf could best be brought into operation-I mean, in reference to the great weight-for-age races of the season, up to the middle of June. His selections were well advised : see how they turned out. For the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes-won by Hernandez-he announced The Mountain Deer as winner. For the great match at York-won by the Flying Dutchman-his choice was Voltigeur. For the Derby-won by Teddington-he selected Hernandez ; and for the Oaks—won by Iris - Payment. For the Queen's Vase-won by Cariboo-he predicted Nancy ; and for the Emperor's Plate--won by Woolwich-Trouncer. I do not propound these quotations, by any means, in a disparaging sense : I merely offer them as samples of the fruit of racing prophecy, gathered from a prime stock. ...... It is but parcel of a bad policy; on item of Othello's “ bombast circumstance." "The fever must be near -if it has not actually reached—its climax, and the system approaching convalescence. Let us hope for a healthier condition, and neglect no course that may promote it.

Ascot Heath Races, despite their special appliances and means, ruled below the average in the social millennium. The weather was summer in her pouting humour ; the sport not of a character to set before a court. People were plentiful enough, for with all the world on a visit to us, such a rendezvous could not fail in the matter of multitude. Moreover, Her Majesty honoured the revels with her presence : the Exhibition year will be memorable in the history of England for passages of intercourse between the Sovereign and the subject, quite beside the practice of modern centuries. At Ascot, as everywhere else, progress had put its best leg foremost. The lawn appertaining to the Grand Stand was raised, and other improvements had been effected ; the ensemble being of a more sylvan character than common to such places generally. Business--as betting is termed—was bad : caution was the order of the day, which is, indeed, saying the same thing in different words. The sport commenced with the Trial Stakes, run a match between The Moor, nine stone three pounds, and The Sphynx, four stone six pounds ! the heavy weight the winner-3 to 1 on him. The Gold Vase, given by Her Majesty, for which ten entered, had seven at the post. The odds were 3 to 1 against Prime Minister ; 4 to 1 colt by Coranna out of Monica ; 5 to 1 King Charming; ditto Cariboo; 6 to 1 Breba ; ditto Little Jack; ditto Windischgratz. Nancy didn't show. As usual with the stablo, Little Jack made the running. At the distance Cariboo and Prime Minister lay alongside Lord Exeter's horse, and the trio raced home, Cariboo first, beating Little Jack by a neek ; Prime Minister a very good third. Breba fell, and

ran away when she got up, whereby a man, who had indiscreetly run into the course, was run over, and all but killed. It was fortunate she did no more mischief. A Produce Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds, 7 subscribers, came off a trio. They laid 7 to 4 on Merry Peal--a correct view, for she led from end to end, and won with all ease by two lengths. The Ascot Stakes, out of its 109 subscribers, had fourteen at the post. The odds were 4 to 1 against Ballet Girl ; 5 to 1 Vatican ; 7 to 1 Abderhaman ; 8 to 1 Vampyre ; 9 to 1 Ninus ; 10 to 1 Pitsford ; 12 to 1 Herbert ; 15 to 1 Tophana ; and 16 to 1 Aurora. The distance-two miles and a half-afforded room for many changes, though the chances were in a nutshell. It was evident before half a mile was run how the issue would be. At the distance Flatman went up with Vatican ; beat his horses as he pleased, and won by three lengths. The First Year of the Third Ascot Triennial Stakes, 48 subs., and seven of the two-year-olds at the post. The betting was but 6 to 4 against Red Hind ; 2 to 1 Moultan Lass ; 4 to 1 Songstress ; and 6 to 1 the Rebecca colt. The favourite- having won all through-finished first by a length. The Ascot Derby, il subs., was run a match. They laid 7 to 1 on The Ban ; but in a rattling set-to he was defeated

a head-by Phlegethon. The Second Year of the Second Ascot Triennial Foal Stakes--New Mile -48 subs. The field consisted of eight-Miserrima backed to win at even ; 5 to 1 against Anspach ; ditto Deceitful ; ditto Midas ; and the same against the filly out of Celandine. Here the fielders threw out, for the favourite won as t suited her-finally by a length, in a canter. The Welcome Stakes ame off a trio, won by Lamartine in a canter, with 2 to 1 on lim. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for two-year-olds. This las another trio : 5 to 4 on Plumstead ; 2 to 1 against Hirsuta ; 5 to Zagainst The Chase. This “ boots” in the betting was first at the faish, cleverly, by half a length.

Wednesday.--Did the amount of matter to be dealt with permit it, the day calls for no notice beyond its racing facts. These commenced wih the Fernhill Stakes, 12 subs., run a trio. They laid 2 to 1 aginst Adine. The winner, however, was Forlorn Hope—“ never say die !-beating the favourite by a head only—a very close shave. Å Swepstakes of 15 sovs. each, 5 subs., came off a match, which Conelius won, beating Prestige ; 5 to 2 on the loser. The Royal Hut Cup, 48 subs., mustered a field of two-and-twenty: of these the 'avourite was Strongbow_7 to 2 against him, a great many othes being at various prices, but the winner not mentioned. It were vain o tell what befell in the early part of this scuffle. As they drew near some the favourite and Sir Charles were fighting it like grim death the latter winning by three parts of a length. The Coronation Stake, for three-year-old fllies, 100 sovs. each, h. ft., 14 subs., was run a patch between Merry Peal, with 5 to 2 on her, and Barcelona. The filsh, a severe one, brought Merry Peal-it was stated, and admitted in submission for the Stewards' award-twice in contact with her advrsary. Consequently the stakes were given to the owner of Barcelona. Old Jim Bland had a high respect for a wrangle, in the quality of an arès. A Plate of 70 sovs. handicap, had half-a-dozen runners. The betng was 5 to 2 agst. the filly by Cowl out of Celandine : 3 to 1 Vasa ; he same about Utrecht ; and 4 to 1 Louis Philippe. The apropos of the present peril of the turf is the axiom " When sorrows come, they come not single spies"! It was not enough that the million rushed into the ring ; that rogues rushed into the columns of newspapers, with offers to insure customers money ad libitum for twelve postage stamps ; but sober journals themselves must needs have their especial soothsayers. It may be urged, they are only catering for the public taste ; but it is with very unwholesome food. That it is not “a feast of reason" has been emphatically shown in the present year. One of the most able racing correspondents of the press, whose experience, judgment, and opportunity were sound data for success, has not been right in a single instance where a practical knowledge of the turf could best be brought into operation-I mean, in reference to the great weight-for-age races of the season, up to the middle of June. His selections were well advised : see how they turned out. For the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes—won by Hernandez-he announced The Mountain Deer as winner. For the great match at York-won by the Flying Dutchman-his choice was Voltigeur. For the Derby-won by Teddington-he selected Hernandez; and for the Oaks-won by Iris -Payment. For the Queen's Vase—won by Cariboo-he predicted Nancy; and for the Emperor's Plate-won by Woolwich-Trouncer. I do not propound these quotations, by any means, in a disparaging sense : I merely offer them as samples of the fruit of racing prophecy, gathered from a prime stock. ...... It is but parcel of a bad policy ; an item of Othello's “bombast circumstance." The fever must be near - if it has not actually reached_its climax, and the system approaching convalescence. Let us hope for a healthier condition, and neglect no course that may promote it.

Ascot Heath Races, despite their special appliances and means, ruled below the average in the social millennium. The weather was summer in her pouting humour ; the sport not of a character to set before a court. People were plentiful enough, for with all the world on a visit to us, such a rendezvous could not fail in the matter of multitude. Moreover, Her Majesty honoured the revels with her presence : the Exhibition year will be memorable in the history of England for passages of intercourse between the Sovereign and the subject, quite beside the practice of modern centuries. At Ascot, as everywhere else, progress had put its best leg foremost. The lawn appertaining to the Grand Stand was raised, and other improvements had been effected ; the ensemble being of a more sylvan character than common to such places generally. Business—as betting is termed—was bad : caution was the order of the day, which is, indeed, saying the same thing in different words. The sport commenced with the Trial Stakes, run a match between The Moor, nine stone three pounds, and The Sphynx, four stone six pounds! the heavy weight the winner-3 to 1 on him. The Gold Vase, given by Her Majesty, for which ten entered, had seven at the post. The odds were 3 to 1 against Prime Minister ; 4 to 1 colt by Coranna out of Monica ; 5 to 1 King Charming ; ditto Cariboo ; 6 to 1 Breba ; ditto Little Jack; ditto Windischgratz. Nancy didn't show. As usual with the stablo, Little Jack made the running. At the distance Cariboo and Prime Minister lay alongside Lord Exeter's horse, and the trio raced home, Cariboo first, beating Little Jack by a neek ; Prime Minister a very good third. Breba fell, and

ran away when she got up, whereby a man, who had indiscreetly run into the course, was run over, and all but killed. It was fortunate she did no more mischief. A Produce Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds, 7 subscribers, came off a trio. They laid 7 to 4 on Merry Peal--a correct view, for she led from end to end, and won with all ease by two lengths. The Ascot Stakes, out of its 109 subscribers, had fourteen at the post. The odds were 4 to 1 against Ballet Girl ; 5 to 1 Vatican; 7 to 1 Abderhaman ; 8 to 1 Vampyre ; 9 to 1 Ninus ; 10 to 1 Pitsford ; 12 to 1 Herbert ; 15 to 1 Tophana ; and 16 to 1 Aurora. The distance-two miles and a half-afforded room for many changes, though the chances were in a nutshell. It was evident before half a mile was run how the issue would be. At the distance Flatman went up with Vatican ; beat his horses as he pleased, and won by three lengths. The First Year of the Third Ascot Triennial Stakes, 48 subs., and seven of the two-year-olds at the post. The betting was but 6 to 4 against Red Hind; 2 to 1 Moultan Lass ; 4 to 1 Songstress ; and 6 to 1 the Rebecca colt. The favourite- having won all through-finished first by a length. The Ascot Derby, 1l subs., was run a match. They laid 7 to 1 on The Ban ; but in a rattling set-to he was defeated

a head-by Phlegethon. The Second Year of the Second Ascot Triennial Foal Stakes--New Mile - 48 subs. The field consisted of eight-Miserrima backed to win at even ; 5 to 1 against Anspach ; ditto Deceitful ; ditto Midas ; and the same against the filly out of Celandine. Here the fielders threw out, for the favourite won as t suited her-finally by a length, in a canter. The Welcome Stakes ame off a trio, won by Lamartine in a canter, with 2 to 1 on lim. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for two-year-olds. This Tas another trio : 5 to 4 on Plumstead ; 2 to 1 against Hirsuta ; 5 to

against The Chase. This "boots” in the betting was first at the faish, cleverly, by half a length.

Wednesday. Did the amount of matter to be dealt with permit it, the day calls for no notice beyond its racing facts. These commenced wih the Fernhill Stakes, 12 subs., run a trio. They laid 2 to 1 aginst Adine. The winner, however, was Forlorn Hope—“never say die' !-beating the favourite by a head only-a very close shave. A Swepstakes of 15 sovs. each, 5 subs., came off a match, which Conelius won, beating Prestige; 5 to 2 on the loser. The Royal Hut Cup, 48 subs., mustered a field of two-and-twenty : of these the 'avourite was Strongbow~7 to 2 against him, a great many othes being at various prices, but the winner not mentioned. It were vain , tell what befell in the early part of this scuffle. As they drew near some the favourite and Sir Charles were fighting it like grim death the latter winning by three parts of a length. The Coronation Stake, for three-year-old fillies, 100 sovs. each, h. ft., 14 subs., was run a latch between Merry Peal, with 5 to 2 on her, and Barcelona. The fish, a severe one, brought Merry Peal—it was stated, and admitted in submission for the Stewards' award-twice in contact with her advrsary. Consequently the stakes were given to the owner of Barcelona. Old Jim Bland had a high respect for a wrangle, in the quality of an asès. A Plate of 70 sovs. handicap, had half-a-dozen runners. The betng was 5 to 2 agst. the filly by Cowl out of Celandine : 3 to 1 Vasa ; he same about Utrecht; and 4 to 1 Louis Philippe. The