The

I'd rather die than do that-it makes my back ache so." Blue Nose spoke as he felt-the Saxon is of the same opinion—but what would Mrs. Grundy say if he came out with it? . . . . . Let us arise, give three cheers for the future, and, as they say in Nova Scotia, "walk into it like a thousand of bricks.' There is a good old axiom, "laugh and be fat." Cæsar had an especial horror of the lean and hungry Cassius. Let us be of good cheer. No man ever succeeded who attempted to make pleasure the staple of life-you can no more exist upon it than on the perfume of flowers. It is a resource; not a social principle. When the current of existence flags, then help it with that which shall make it sparkle on its way-" time is like women and pigs; the more you want it to go, the more it wont.". . . . Carpe diem is a maxim that the Roman no doubt had from those who were the ancients of his days, and which they derived from the sages who lived before the Flood. Time is a great riddle: like the nigger's pig, "it's bery little, but it's dam old."

SURPLICE AND CANEZOU.

THE SET-TO FOR THE ST. LEGER, 1848.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, PROM A PAINTING BY HARRY HALL, OF NEWMARKET.

As a curious, and equally as an established fact, had it come to be chronicled in turf history, that the winner of the Derby went on to Doncaster to be beaten. No matter how good his own powers, or how superior the hands he was in, the sun of the Leger day set with the shine taken out of him as sure as year after year's experience could make it. May-be, when there was nothing in within three or four stone of him, they drugged him, as they did Plenipo; or the " party," too strong for the game in their hands, took to coquetting with another of the lot, and so disappointed themselves and the double event in that way, as all the world knows they did with Cotherstone. Or, armed with a curious cunning to keep other people from making the crack safe, they set their heads to work to do it themselves, by never giving him a gallop till his jockey asked for his "leg up"-as is it not written they did with Coronation? Or, once more, seeing he was brought bright and blooming up to the post, the great point became that he should never leave it; at least, not in anything like decent time-as sure enough it happened with Mameluke. In short, Fate declared against any such succession, and good judgment and good management gradually bowed down before her decree, as example after example went to show that the Leger was lost only because the Derby had been won.

It is the old story through, of the boy who cried wolf so loud and long, that when he did come nobody would believe it. Certainly no Derby winner ever reached Doncaster with a much worse look than Surplice. His friends, indeed, gave him all that support, money, and confidence can give. But the law and the prophets generally were

against him. The more common feeling was well grounded too-his unequivocal defeats at Goodwood-the fresh change in trainer and quarters his desertion by his jockey at the last moment-All this looked rather more per contra, while the event only went to confirm what difficulties fortune can surmount for any youth of spirit she takes into her favour. We cannot help thinking my Lord Clifden more a lucky man than the Leger race a true one, as we as surely consider the latter a second at least of fine effects which that great artist, Mr. Scott, has lost the credit for, from some little uncertainty in applying the finishing touches.

In the July number of the Magazine, we carried the history of Surplice up to Epsom as the winner of the Derby. We now continue it to the close of the year, on an equally good showing, as the winner of the St, Leger.

At Goodwood, ridden by Robinson, and carrying 8st. 10lb., he ran second to Lord Chesterfield's Distaffina, 8st. 2lb., for the Gratwicke Produce Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft.; a mile and half (50 subs.). Duke of Richmond's Hornpipe, 8st. 5lb., and Mr. Bowes's Wiasma also started. 5 to 2 on Surplice. Won easily by a length.

At the same meeting, ridden by Robinson, and carrying 9st. 2lb., he ran third and last for the Racing Stakes of 50 sovs. each; the New Mile (17 subs.). Won by Mr. Payne's Glendower, 8st. 131b.; Colonel Anson's Corsican, 8st. 71b., second. 13 to 8 on Surplice, who was beaten off.

At Doncaster, ridden by Flatman, he won the St. Leger of 50 sov each, h. ft. (132 subs.), beating Lord Stanley's Canezou (2), Mr. B. Green's Flatcatcher (3), and the following not placed:-Duke of Bedford's Justice to Ireland, Mr. B. Green's Assault, Mr. Parr's Sponge, Mr. Humphries' Escape, Mr. Pedley's Besborough, and Lord Stanley's Cannibal. 7 to 4 against Canezou, and 9 to 4 against Surplice. Won by a neck.

At the same meeting he walked over for the North of England Produce Stakes; St. Leger Course (19 subs.); Colonel Anson saving his three forfeits.

At Newmarket First October Meeting, ridden by Robinson, he won the Grand Duke Michael Stakes of 50 sovs. each; A. F. (23 subs.); beating Mr. Green's Flatcatcher. 11 to 4 on Surplice. Won by half a length.

At Newmarket Second October Meeting, ridden by Robinson, and carrying 8st. 5lb., he was not placed for the Cesarewitch Stakes of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft., &c. Won by Mr. Crawfurd's The Cur, six years old, 8st. 31b.; Colonel Peel's Dacia, three years old, 4st. 13lb. (2), Captain Harcourt's Ellerdale, four years old, 8st. 5lb. (3), Colonel Peel's Palma, four years old, 5st. 3lb. (4). Twenty-seven others also stated. 3 to 1 against Surplice.

SUMMARY OF SURPLICE'S PERFORMANCES.

In 1847 he started three times, won three times, and received forfeit

The Buckenham Stakes (forfeit), at Newmarket .

250

In 1848 he started seven times and won four times :

The Derby Stakes, at Epsom

The St. Leger Stakes, at Doncaster

The North of England Stakes, at Doncaster
The Grand Duke Michael Stakes, at Newmarket.

5,500
2,975

750

1,100

£15,825

In consequence of the death of his nominator, Lord George Bentinck, Surplice was disqualified for the Royal Stakes in the Second October Meeting, as well as for the Great Four-year-old Stake, at Goodwood, both of which read like his own for the asking. He still, however, stands in for the Port, with, if we recollect right, another heavy handieap stake at Newmarket.

Canezou, bred by Mr. Allen in 1845, is by Melbourne, out of Madam Pelerine, by Velocipede; her dam Baleine, by Whalebone, out of Vale Royal, by Sorcerer,

Melbourne, by Humphrey Clinker, out of a Cervantes mare, is also the sire of Cymba, winner of the Oaks in 1848; of Sir Tatton Sykes, winner of the St. Leger in 1846; with a very good et cetera-although this is only his third year as a tried stallion.

Madame Pelerine, bred by Mr. Watt in 1832, cut a very unpretending figure on the turf; from which she retired at the close of her second season. In the stud she had hitherto been more remarkable for the regularity with which she continued to throw her foals, than for any particular prowess displayed by them. The "Stud Book" shows her nothing to rank with the Melbourne filly.

Canezou is a brown mare, standing nearly sixteen hands high; has a very handsome head, which she carries beautifully; a splendid shoulder and forehead; with good muscular quarters. If anything, she is perhaps rather highish in the leg, but is altogether a very fine blood-looking mare, with a coat like a piece of satin, and a stride that never ought to have been denied.

PERFORMANCES OF CANEZOU.

In 1848, Newmarket First Spring Meeting, Canezou, ridden by F. Butler, won the Thousand Guinea Stakes of 100 sov. each, h. ft. ; D. M. (32 subs.); beating Sir J. Hawley's Vexation (2), Mr. Bouverie's Prairie Bird (3), and the following not placed :-Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Miss Orbell, Lord Exeter's Tippet, Colonel Peel's Lola Montez, Mr. Quin's Attraction, Lord Stradbroke's Alpheia, and Mr. Coombe's f. by The Nob out of Rosalind. 5 to 1 against Canezou. Won by half a length.

At Liverpool she walked over for the Knowsley Dinner Stakes of 100 soys. each, h. ft. ; a mile and a-half (3 subs.).

At Goodwood, ridden by F. Butler, and carrying 61b. extra, she won. the Nassau Stakes of 50 sovs. cach; the New Mile (12 subs.); beating the Duke of Richmond's Helter-skelter (2), Lord Exeter's Tisiphone (3), and Lord Clifden's Tamarind. 2 to 1 against Canezou. Won by half a length.

At York, ridden by F. Butler, she won the Ebor St. Leger Stakes of 25 sovs. each, with 100 added for the second; two miles (61 subs.); beating Mr. Green's Flatcatcher (2), Lord Chesterfield's Distaffina (3),

and the following not placed :-Mr. S. Hawke's Miss Harrison, Mr. Lane Fox's The Lamb, Mr. Pedley's Besborough, and Major Yarburgh's Snowball. 7 to 2 against Canezou. Won by a length.

At Doncaster, ridden by F. Butler, she ran second to Surplice for the St. Leger, as already detailed.

At the same meeting, ridden by F. Butler, she won the Park Hill Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft.; St. Leger Course (41 subs); beating Mr. G. S. Foljambe's Queen of the May (2), and Mr. Quin's Attraction. 4 to 1 on Canezou. Won easily by several lengths.

At the same meeting she walked over for a Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, h. ft.; St. Leger Course (7 subs.); Major Yarburgh's Snowball saving her stake.

At Newmarket Second October Meeting she received 75 sovs. from Lord Exeter's Gardenia in a Match for 200, h. ft.; 8st. 7lb. each; T. M. M.

SUMMARY OF CANEZOU'S PERFORMANCES.

In 1848 she started seven times and won six times; she also received in a match.

The Thousand Guineas Stakes, at Newmarket, value

£

1,950

100

500

1,430

930

500

75

£5,485

Canezou's only engagement at present is in a four-year-old stake at Doncaster, which she must win if well-an understanding on which we expect to see her do great things before then.

The

Being disappointed in our promised portrait of the Leger winner, we engaged Mr. Hall to illustrate the finish for this memorable event-a scene which we think he has "put on" with singular success. set-to has the rare merit of looking like a race, as well as embodying faithful portraits of those engaged in it. Of Harry Hall's race-horses we have often had occasion to speak in terms of well-earned approval, and we may here make especial mention of his jockeys. We have seldom seen anything more characteristic than the resolute, but still elegant, attitude of Frank Butler. Who but will recognise the manner and the man, as it comes to a near thing, sitting so well back on his horse, and lifting him at every stride, with a fearful effect, from hand and heel, as he feels that mere " threatening" won't serve them? Flatman's figure, if not so inviting when at work, is equally after the originalquite as earnest and telling in action as his accomplished opponent, Nat in no way qualifies his punishment with that grace in administering it that Butler displays.

We hope Mr. Hall will not be spoilt by the praise we have felt it his due and our duty to give him, but continue a close study to that art in which he can lack no encouragement while he shows such ability.

TWO YEARS IN THE FAR WEST.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "STORIES OF WATERLOO," &c., &c.

No. IV.

Diminution of Irish Game-A Sportsman of the old school-His costume, flies, and. fishing-book-Extirpation of Trouts-Curious facts-Irish Pikes-Anecdote; a wopper-Grouse, Red Deer, and Rabbits-Anecdotes.

While in England and Scotland there is an outcry against the increasing quantity of game, in Ireland its diminution for a century has been steadily progressive. To talk of grouse shooting in the Emerald Isle is a fallacy; and one speaks of that which has been. Red deer are all but extinct. Lakes and rivers, which formerly were exuberant in trout, are now in undisputed possession of that nefarious and, in our opinion, inedible fish, the pike. Woodcocks are annually reduced by the thousand; snipes bear scarcely a proportion, to what they were in number fifty years back, of one to a hundred ; the bittern is never known to boom; and the landrail—and many a score we shot in boyhood, of an evening, over an asthmatic pointer, and with a Spanish-barrelled gun of our grandfather's, which, on a general average, gave one fire to two snaps-is now heard "few and far between. In sporting consideration, Ireland has been rubbed from the map of nations; and a country once celebrated for its manly field sports-its deer-stalking-its fox-hunting-its angling, and its shooting-will not now repay the outlay of a game certificate, or the maintenance of a setter.

Old people are given sadly to romance, and old sportsmen are particularly so; and we would estimate reports touching the past with caution, were not our earlier recollections corroborative of the statements of our grandfather. We can remember well the old gentleman taking the field, and great was the ceremonious preparation for the same. As Hamlet says

"Methinks I see him now";

and his outer man and his accoutrements are vividly "in our mind's eye." His tight corduroys met leather continuations at the knee. His velveteen jacket was greatly the worse of wear, and provided with numerous and voluminous pockets. As the sword of Hudibras had a page in shape of dagger, so had my honoured grandsire's jerkin a confederate garment in form of waistcoat. It, too, like a double-banked frigate, had its double tier of conveniences. Some of these pockets held flints-others a shot-charger, with No. 1, in case the Lord should deliver into his hands a straggling wild duck; and to these were added a turn-screw and a pricker; and there was a