high. Stockwell affords an instance of a very superior horse, being produced under similar circumstances, although he is on a larger scale. He was foaled in 1849; his sire, The Baron, being then only seven years old, and Pocahontas, his dam, was twelve years old. Birdcatcher and Guiccioli, the sire and dam of The Baron, were each of them ten years old when he was foaled. Sir Hercules, his sire, was six; and Peri, the dam of Sir Hercules, only four years old: he was her first foal. But Whalebone, his sire, was nineteen.

The caprices of nature are wonderfully exemplified in breeding horses. "There is no rule without an exception," and we find many instances of horses in which the characteristics of great stoutness, extraordinary stamina, and indomitable courage have been inherited from aged parents. Beeswing and Saucebox afford excellent examples; and there can be no question that the former possessed, and the latter represents, to an unusual extent, those perfections which are supposed to be lost by breeding from aged parents. The dam of Beeswing was sixteen years old when she gave birth to this her tenth produce; and Dr. Syntax, the sire, was twenty-two. Paynator, sire of Dr. Syntax, was twenty years of age when this game, honest, sound foal was produced. Priscilla Tomboy was thirteen, St. Lawrence fifteen, when Saucebox was foaled. Skylark, the sire of St. Lawrence, was eleven; the age of his dam is not known. Waxy Pope was twenty, Prunella his dam eighteen, and Waxy sixteen. Many other examples may be recognized in worthies of old times, Potoooooooo, Orville, The Godolphin Arabian, &c.

The custom of breeding from old parents applies more generally to ancient than modern times. There can be no doubt that the greatest advantage will generally be obtained by breeding from horses during the most vigorous period of their existence; but how can the opponents to early racing reconcile this theory with practice? One of the reasons why the produce of aged parents in former days were very frequently superior to those of younger progenitors arose from the fact of their not commencing to race so early, and consequently uot being put to the stud till the vigour of youth had nearly passed by. It is very evident that a horse or mare having been severely trained and raced requires some years of respite before they can be expected to produce foals of the highest pretension. Frequent running, indeed hard work of any kind, excites the nervous system in some more than others, and nothing but repose and quietude can restore the animal to that state which is indispensable with the utmost development of natural functions. When the propriety of running long distances is advocated, it must be remembered that the effect upon the nervous system is very great, and that that nervous irritability is hereditary; and when the nervous irritability exceeds the amount of physical or muscular power with which the animal is gifted, his capabilities of endurance in any hard work he may be employed, whether on the turf, in the hunting-field, or on the road, are materially reduced. This is one of the most important facts that can be brought forward against the theory of long races as tests of endurance in improving the quali ties of our racing stock.

In breeding for ordinary purposes it is not essential, indeed in many instances it is by no means desirable, to select the most distin

guished race-horses for sires. Those which from the compactness of their structure and action are too slow to gain celebrity on the turf are generally the most eligible to produce saddle-horses. It is erroneous to suppose that such animals are not bred; there are many of them; but unfortunately the greater proportion of them, as soon as it is discovered that they cannot race, are sentenced to undergo an operation which renders them incapable of perpetuating their species, that they may be more conveniently ridden as hunters. One of the greatest errors in breeding, and the cause of constant disappointment, is the unhappy selection too frequently made of sires. For what may be denominated country purposes, that is, for the service of farmers' mares, a weedy wretch, having won a few insignificant races too unimportant to render him worthy of notice among experienced breeders of racing stock, is ostentatiously paraded, and being offered at a low price, has more patronage than a short-legged, muscular, compact, and useful horse, whose want of speed, from his conformation-being from those conformations inadequate for racing-has occasioned his owner not to run him.

The opinion that we should return to the old-fashioned custom of running four-mile races, to encourage the breeding of horses adapted for ordinary purposes, must cease to maintain any weight, after the lengthened probation with which steeple-chasing has been encouraged. It is quite evident that very few persons have devoted their attention especially to this purpose; neither would they devote their energies to breeding horses exclusively for the purpose of running four miles on the flat, even for very valuable prizes. Mr. Vevers has been one of the most, if not the most, enthusiastic admirers of steeple-chasing; but ill health having compelled him to withdraw from the active management of his establishment, the whole of his stud was sold by auction on the 10th of October, but they scarcely produced remunerative prices, although several were purchased by gentlemen in the county of Hereford out of respect to their owner, among whom, as a sportsman, a neighbour, and a friend, he stands in the highest repute; and unquestionable expressions of regret were uttered at the imperative necessity which occasioned the sale.

A national establishment is recommended for the purpose of breeding horses, and it is a suggestion which cannot be too urgently supported; although it is to be feared nothing of the kind will be adopted. As an alternative, however, joint-stock companies have been established with good effect; and there is ample scope for additional speculation. The object of a national establishment, as it is proposed, is to procure a vast number of small horses of eastern extract as a means of establishing a new source of blood possessing more of native purity. Upon that plan, I cannot conceive the most distant prospect of success; but, for the purpose of breeding horses of the highest character adapted for various purposes, an establishment on a most extensive scale could not fail to remunerate shareholders, and afford inconceivable benefits to the country. To such an undertaking I would most willingly offer to devote my services.

The extraordinary match, if such it can be denominated, which has recently taken place on the race-course at Longchamps, near Paris,

serves to confirm the superiority of English-bred horses over those of eastern extract, on a point upon which the partisans of the latter rest their hope, namely, the quality of endurance. The fertile columns of Bell's Life supply the particulars, from which it appears that one Genaro, a Spanish runner, had challenged all the horses in the world to beat him for endurance, the conditions being that neither himself nor the horses should come to a walk, the race being at an end as soon as that should take place. No limit was fixed for the termination of the match. Ten of the equine race were brought to the post to contest the match with the unfortunate, miscalculating homo, who, having run a distance of twenty-six miles seven furlongs, fell exhausted. The conditions of this singular encounter, and the relative places of the horses, are described thus

"SUNDAY, Sept. 26th.--Challenge of 2,000 f. offered by Genaro, the Spanish runner, against all horses in a race of endurance. Conditions of the race: Genaro on foot; all horses engaged against him, mounted by their riders, to start together. The horses to be continually either trotting or galloping, and Genaro running; either Genaro or the horses coming to a walk to be considered beaten, and not allowed to proceed any further. Either Genaro or the horses falling, to be lifted up, and set going immediately. And whoever at the end shall have made the greatest number of rounds, consequently gone the farthest distance, to be declared the winEntrance 20 f. The winner to pay 200 f. to the second; the third to receive half the entries; the fourth to save his stake. 13 subs.

ner.

1. Mr. Power's b. g. Loto, by Lottery (English), aged..

2. Mr. Murray's br. g. Old Ireland, by Magpie (Irish bred), aged...

Rounds.

3. Mr. Smith's ch. h. Taurus (Arab)

4, Mr. Robin's b. m. Sultana (Arab)

5. Genaro

6. Mr. Faithful's b. m. La Coquette, aged.

7. Mr. Jones' gr. h. The Pacha

8. M. De La Poersdig's Scavenger
9. Mr. Brown's br. g. The Fenman.

10. Mr. Poole's b. g. Peter Simple

Captain Parker's ch. h. The Nobbler bolted."

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40

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214

14

12

7

5

1

It has been said that fox-hunting and Leicestershire are synonymous that you would not mention the name of that county in any portion of the globe without being asked-" Have you ever been at Melton, or hunted with the famed Quorn Hounds?" Fox-hunting is, in fact, indigenous in Leicestershire, and forms so large a portion of Leicestershire life, that the Hunt occupies more of men's thoughts than Church and

State, peace or war, Parliament or politics, or any other thoughtengrossing subject. Even those who eschew all field sports, and from distaste or inability object to personal participation in them, own that Leicestershire would hardly be Leicestershire without fox-hunting, and make a duty of necessity by offering all facilities to the votaries of the chase, as a means of promoting what confers so much pleasure and profit on others, and links our aristocracy to the soil.

The Quorn Hunt forms the Iliad of Leicestershire: poets have "sung" it, prose writers have "said" it. Even the great Quarterly has thought it not beneath its dignity to laud it as the arena where the perfection of the noble science is exhibited, But besides adding to the fame of the old historical county, the Quorn Hunt has brought an amount of wealth into it that it would be difficult to calculate. It made Melton; it half-made Quorn. It yearly brings into the county some of the noblest of the land; it employs directly three thousand persons, indirectly many more; it enhances the prices of horses and horse provender; it formed the riding-school for our heroes of the Peninsula and Balaklava. Wellington himself has left on record his testimony to its value as a school for British cavalry.

But it would be tedious to enumerate all the benefits which the Quorn Hunt has conferred on the county, or which fox-hunting has conferred on the country at large. It is enough to say, that if we are to continue a military nation-and who can doubt that we are so now ?— we must have pursuits that fit men for "the tented field."

To all entertaining such views of the value of the chase, and to all who "share in the pleasure and the pride" of the Quorn Hunt, the announcement that it is likely soon to lose such a master as Sir Richard Sutton will convey deep concern. For many years-with a spirit never surpassed by our Reynells, Smiths, and Osbaldestons-Sir Richard, without a shilling's subscription, has alone borne the cost of this most costly establishment. This of itself would have been much; but this, after all, is but a small part of the debt of gratitude which the country owes to its excellent master. Besides the generous outlay of many thousands a year, he gives to the Hunt what is of far higher value: the exercise of a first-rate judgment, his constant presence in the field, and is unceasing efforts in every direction to procure what is the grand aim and object-SPORT.

If seasons have sometimes thwarted these efforts-if illiberal persons have sometimes thrown obstacles in his way, and thus ill-naturedly deprived others of pleasure they themselves cannot share the fault has not been Sir Richard Sutton's. A scarcity of foxes during the last season, and a consequent lack of sport, have, with some other untoward circumstances, led the respected baronet to feel that the Quorn Hunt, with past results, is hardly worth the cost and trouble which it entails ; hence his intended relinquishment at the close of the season. Hence, too, a very natural commotion in Leicestershire at the bare prospect of losing such a master: Sir Richard at Quorn, and Mr. Sutton at Skeffington, with the Duke of Rutland's and the Cottesmore Hounds on the eastern side of the county, afford such facilities for enjoying the chase as probably never will again be enjoyed. To disturb the present happy conjunction-to see the Quorn country go a begging for a master,

lose its prestige, and sink down to the rank of a regular hack country, is what sportsmen cannot bear to think of. Will Leicestershire, then, make no efforts to retain Sir Richard Sutton? We think it will. If there are systematic vulpecides among us-if there are any landed proprietors, who, not enjoying the chase themselves, are so narrow-minded as to do aught to prevent others from enjoying it-we trust they will seriously consider what a deep injury they are inflicting on the county, and alter their course. Let lord and squire, landlord, tenant, and peasant unite in doing what they can, to promote the success of the Hunt. Let the old hospitality be exercised, the old good-nature be shown, and the freehanded master of the first hunting establishment in the world may yet long hunt the country "gratis, free, for nothing." Folk may sometimes have had to complain of a pilfered hen-roost, a broken hedge, or a little unsightly but really harmless trampling of their fields; but what are these trifles when compared with the real service rendered to the farmers by the chase? Besides, let any actual and proved damage be only mentioned to that hereditary friend of the farmers and of foxhunting, Mr. Cradock, and it is at once liberally redressed.

We cannot command the weather; but with Sir Richard Sutton at Quorn, and fair play, we can command all other auxiliaries to sport. Losing him, we "ne'er shall look upon his like again."

Last season was, we confess, a most disheartening one. Even Sir Richard could not command success, but he did all he could to deserve it; and there have been seasons during his reign over The Quorn which may vie with any of those of its palmiest days; and the recollection of these, and the hope of their return, may well cheer him on. Blank days during the last season were the rule, rather than the exception, in other parts. In Kent, for lack of foxes, fox-hunting is to give place to stag-hunting, to the mortification of many a true lover of the chase. It is really very sad; but if noblemen and gentlemen will prefer battues of pheasants and partridges to the nobler and manlier pursuit, and wink at their keepers' fox-traps and fox-poisoning, the consequence will soon be that foxes will soon be extinct in the island, and, as a matter of course, fox-hunting too. It was well said last season, by one who had hunted in Leicestershire for a quarter of a century, We might as well try for a wolf or a wild boar as try for a fox at ******.” And this was spoken of a covert that, in other days and other hands, did not fail thrice in a season to find its fox.

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I hate asterisks, but I also hate vulpecides; and I promise, if murder goes on, murder shall out, One of the most disgusting humbugs that can be practised is that of professing fox-hunters-men who keep hunting establishments, have coverts, and affect to express their surprise that foxes are not found in them, when they themselves would feel real surprise if they were! On such as these, if the coming season be a repetition of the last, will rest the blame of depriving the country of so admirable a master as Sir Richard Sutton.