tit [ GRATIS.] SUNDAY? MARCH 1, 1863. [ GRATIS.] THE CHASE. FINE RUN WITH THE ESSEX HOUNDS. ME EDITOB : Seldom has such a season for sport been seen in Essex with Mr Arkwright's Hounds as that which is rapidly drawing to a close; and amongst the many good things that have fallen to our lot, as a hunting run, that of Thursday, Feb 19, stands unrivalled. The meet was at Kelvedon Common, and punctually at eleven o'clock our septuagenarian master gave the word, and oil' we trotted in high spirits to Park Wood, anticipating a sure find. The Fates, however, had decreed otherwise, the covert having been disturbed the day before by harriers. The Kelvedon and My las coverts were then drawn blank, the varmint not being ^ at home, or at any rate not above ground. The Navestock Woods irere next tried, as usual, without success, and the Squire then directed his steps to Curtis Mill Green, which, thanks to the watch- ful care of those fine specimens of the sporting British farmer, Messrs Hicks and Mills, we have never visited in vain. A brace of foxes are always to be found there— often a leash ; and in that respect the green under their supervision contrasts favourably with the coverts of some of their wealthy neighbours, where we have already twice experienced a blank day. But to return to Thursday's proceedings. The hounds were scarcely in cover, , when a single challenge, quickly followed by the welcome music J of the whole pack, proclaimed that the object of our search was j there, and well on foot. One turn round the upper end of the green, and away at a splitting pace for Pyrgo. Here, in bygone days, was a drain that has often afforded safety to the vulpine race, and of this apparently Reynard was thinking; but " a change came over the spirit of his dream" when he found it stopped, and that he must trust to his own speed in the open to get clear of his pursuers. The iron fencing about here, however, gave him a few moments' law ; but the noble pack was quickly on his track, and away through Bedford's and the lower Havering Woods, thencfe by Cheese Cross, and through Gidea Hall, ana over the railway towards Upminster Common. At Nelmes he appeared to think he had gone far enough in that di- rection, and a sharp turn to the left bothered some of those who thought they were riding to a straight- going varmin. A gallop across Squirrel Heath and some slow hunting across the enclosures brought us to the Eomford and Hornchurch road, where a check of some minutes occurred ; but at length they made it out over the road and over the brook, and away towards Dagen- ham. Before reaching this place, however, he turned to the right, crossed the railway and the Romford road, near : the Whalebone Gate, and headed for the new enclosures in Hainault Forest. Suddenly changing his mind, however, j he dodged back, occasioning a check of a quarter of an hour or j more ; but his cunning was of no avail; his line was again struck, i and the pack, in ent upon a late supper, unerringly followed him i through Priest's and on to the Bower Wood at Havering. Here he could do no more. A turn or two round the wood and he died as a fox ought to die, after a run of three hours and seven minutes. Those who persevered to the end, and their name was not legion, had thus a most satisfactory finish to as good a day's sport as man need wish to see. Not the least pleasant part of the sight was the expression of satisfaction which overspread the face of the worthy master as he watched his pets struggle for the dainty morsels whilst the shades of evening fell fast around. The distance gone over was not far short of twenty- four miles, and great credit must be given to Tom Wilson for his perseverance in the face of a not very brilliant scent. Hoping you will think this run worthy of a place in your columns, I beg to subscribe myself, VULPISECUTOE. then only a scratch pack, drafted from various kennels, much could not have been expected. Very different is their appearance this year. Now a very even lot of well- proportioned hounds are got together. If there be any fault it is this : they are inclined to be large, and on a good scenting day I would pity poor Puss at the end of twenty minutes' run. On Friday, Feb 1- 3, the meet was at Llangendeirne. The day was beautifully fine, and hounds and horses looked well. A hare, supposed to be the village hare, and invincible, from the number of times she has beaten all the grey- hounds in the neighbourhood, was immediately found, and the run that followed can scarcely be described'on paper. She made in the first place for Glanrhidw, then turned and went straight to Cystanog, a distance of seven miles; thence she turned in the direction of Carmarthen, and, after a very smart run which lasted one hour and twenty minutes, was run into in the open near Bola Haul, in the presence of a very select few, who, by dint of pluck and hard riding, managed to come up just in the nick of time to save the hare. Another was quickly found, but from some unaccountable cause the hounds could do 110 good with her ; so all trotted off" home, highly satisfied with the day's sport, and wishing for another. This they had not long to wais for. On Monday, Feb 16, the meet was the Windmill, and as luck would have it, we had another gloriously fine day. At first we did no good. Hares were continuously getting up, so that it was as much as ever " Twmmy," who, from some cause, was not to- day mounted on his favourite " Low- backed Car," could do to get the hounds to stick to one hare. Our patience was, however, more than rewarded; for at last up jumped a fine old Jack hare, who had evidently come into this part of the country from amatory motives, and dear was the penalty he paid. Oft he went for the Cwmcoch Covers, and forced his way across the almost impassable bog, and on over the steeple chase course, up to Derllys, and on to Merthyr; then turned up to the right to Cwmcynnen— scent breast high all the time. The hare now turned back and over two or three farms, evidently making its last effort for home, to the Kilhyr Covers; but, alas ! poor Puss's time was up, as the further he went the nearer the hounds were to him, and at last they ran from scent to view, and pulled a rare good hare down near Rickett's Mill. Distance 10 miles, time 50min, and run from, end to end without a single check. Every one, including some gentlemen from the neighbouring hunt, went home satisfied— at least, their horses seemed to have had quite enough. The season has now nearly closed, and I may saythat Mr Price has had every reason to be satisfied with the character of his hounds this year. He has had lots of sport and killed plenty of hares. There' always was a large and well- mounted field to wel- come him and his merry pack at the meet.— Tours, ic, HARRIER. THE WORCESTERSHIRE. MR EDITOR: Several years have rolled by since I last claimed a space in your columns, to record the doings of our hounds ; and, harking back for a moment, one is startled at the numerous changes that have taken place around us. Fresh actors come upon the scene, while others who have grown grey with years have reluctantly yielded to the call of Time, and if there are some who happily have not yet gone from us, they have relinquished the sport they so long enjoyed. " So men and horses in their turn decay, So flourish these now those have passed away." The Worcestershire and the Colonel, however, pursue the even tenor of their way, and we hope will long continue to do so. The season, so far, has been a bad cine, for though foxes on the whole are plentiful ( barring the Worcester side of Droitwicli, where the Westwood coverts have all recently been drawn blank), the •' smell'' has hitherto been indifferent, and I regret to add that when there has been a chance of a run, it has more than once been spoiled by the unruly conduct of a portion of the field, who, taking advantage of the good nature of the Master, in seldom calling them to order, or noticing their irre- gularities, are constantly over- riding and surrounding coverts, and thus become the destroyers of their own sport. On the 21st we met at Brockeridge and drew Arber Wood, and before a single horseman had reached the side of the covert, a fox was on foot and away instanter. Mawe got his hounds on the line without a moment's delay, and away they went a cracker over the inclosures, and across the road at the bottom of the Shensham Gardens, and over Mr Patrick's Farm, down to Shens- ham Mill, his point evidently being Church Covert, but suddenly changing, he turned short, and boldly faced the Avon Meadows, with their large ox fences and deep, wide ditches, full up to the brim; and away he went, with a wet sail, to Twyning Fleet, where he either crossed the river, or got in some old buildings contiguous to the ferry, for Mawe could never recover him. Time, 25min; pace good all the way, and for the most part over grass. The quickest and best thing we have had for a long time, and, to those who rode the run, most enjoyable; but those only who meant business could stay, as there was plenty to jump, and where the least funking or hesitation must have proved'fatal. We then drew the osiers adjoining Shensham Pool, and found directly. Ran a ring round the Pool and Harbour Wood, and broke on the common side, which he skirted, and made the large fields below Ripple, crossed the hill, Croome- road, below the church, and leaving " Jack's Paddock'' on the right, and Smith- moor on the left, sailed away over the meadows to Baughton, where he turned to the left, and faced the " Ridings ;" crossed the TJpton- road, and, sinking the hill, stood out for Dunstall, through Gregory's Wcod, and over the park wall at Croome, into the Dewy, and here, unfortunately, we changed, and the hounds missed the " kill" they so well deserved. The riding in this run, over a big and difficult country, was creditable, and some who went in the first rank would take their own part over any country. One welter weight, after charging very gallantly a " tall" hedge with a yawner full of water on the drop side, came to grief, and had a regular cropper, but getting second wind he continued and rode the run through very pltickily. A change of keepers at Spensham has certainly brought about abetter species of fox, for the brace we ran were of the right sort. Before they have been short, bad running ones, took very little killing, and were worried with no relish, so the change to- day was a welcome one. I must not omit to notice how much we appreciate the sportsmanlike character of the noble earl of Croome, who breeds and preserves plenty of good foxes, and on whose estate a blank day is a thing scarcely known.— Yours, & e, Feb 23,1863. OBSERVER. SPLENDID RUN WITH THE HAMBLEDON FOX- HOUNDS. DEAR BELL: It is with much pleasure I now send you a short account of a most splendid run we had with the above hounds, on Friday, the 20th inst. The meet was at Uppark Telegraph, on the Downs of Lady Featherstonaugh, wnere a good array of about one hundred as well mounted sportsmen as might be wished for put in an appearance, including about fifty red coats, graced with ssme of the fair sex, whose presence generally causes animation in the field. The weather up to about twelve o'clock was hazy, which however favoured us by soon clearing off. The ground in good order and the scent well laid. Williams's Wood was tried, when immediately " Tally- ho, Tally- ho'' was heard. All seemed anxious to get away. Reynard, after a few turns and a sharp run through Chill Grove to Fillis's Wood went to ground. We then tried West Dean Cover, near Saddler's Furze. The hounds had no sooner been thrown in than a fine old game fox was found, which immediately took to the open ; at a terrific pace he made for Kill Devil Copse, which soon told on the faint- hearted, and reduced the field to about fifty. Reynard here being hard pressed, turned and made for Fillis's Wood, when we had a check of two or three minutes, which men and horses seemed to en- joy. Reynard next headed round by Elston Hills, and downbyHart- ing. Hereasplendid chase was to be seen, foxhounds and sportsmen all together. He then ran straight on to Uppark ; here the pace severely told on the horses, and made the field beautifully less by reducing its numbers to about twenty- five, who struggled man- fully to be up at the death. However, Reynard deceived them by taking fresh vigour— wheeled to the right straight off the Downs Hill and away to Capt Hugonie s at a slashing pace, where more being fairly done up, had to fall out, Which no doubt they reluctantly did. However, away went some ten or twelve fearless horsemen at a slashing pace down the hills, then turned to the left a short distance along the public road, across several fields, into a chalk lane ( where more came to grief), then crossed some heavy fences into a ploughed field, and made for Nursted Copse, about a mile and a quarter from Petersfield, where poor Reynard, a beautiful, fine, five year old fox, was run into, after a slashing run of about five- and- twenty miles. Time, about two hours and 30 minutes. " We noticed amongst the dauntless few in at the death about five or six red coats, including Capt Wyndham and Capt Paulett, and three local gentlemen— fearless horsemen— including Mr Boyes of Petersfield, MrDierden of Midhurst, together with a gentleman from Harting, whose name we regret not being able to learn. " We cannot conclude this inefficient report of this capital chase without giving our best thanks to Capt Paulett, the master, for the kind and courteous manner in which he received all present, as also to bear testimony of the able manner in which his huntsman hunted this gallant pack ; and when they next meet in the same neighbourhood may we be there to see! THE WINCHESTER HARRIERS. ME EDITOR: Having the pleasure of meeting Mr Dear's famous little pack this week, an account of their doings may not be unin- teresting to your numerous readers. On Monday, Feb 16, we met at Stockbridge. Frosty; could not throw off till one o'clock; soon found. After running round Evely Wood some time the hare went off over the Stockbridge turn pike towards Over Wallop, then bearing to the right, crossed the Salisbury turnpike towards Amport, laid down in a turnip field; rose in view; back towards Danebury Hill, being pressed made for Clatford Oakcuts. Owing to the late hour, and not much scent, the hounds were stopped. Parties acquainted with the locality will know the extent of country traversed. THURSDAY, FEB 19.— Sutton Scotney, Two many hares on foot. After some time settled to one; ran to the Winchester Race Course, through Gyprey's Bushes, to West Stoke, then back, and, after a smart run, to ground;; the rare occurrence of digging poor Pussy out amused many. We soon found another near Sutton Down Farm. Offatarapid pace over the Stockbridge turnpike to Bullington Hill, leaving Barton Stacey to the right, by Cocum Farm, to Sutton, and was pulled down in Mr Canning's lone plan- tation ; pace throughout exceedingly good; the ring made up- wards of nine ' miles. Time, 55min ( by the watch of our gallant Colonel of the Rifles) without a check. To the satisfaction of the field ( and doubtless of the horses), we had less than five miles home, for most had had a sufficiency. SATURDAY, FEB 21.— An extra meet: Barton Farm. Found near the Worthing Turnpike Gate, about one mile from this city. At aclipping pace puss crossed therailway to Hook Pits Farm, over the race course to Waller's Ash Tunnel, to Stoke Farm, and killed, after a most exciting run, at Jacob's Bottom, being ( as the crow flies) upwards of five miles from the starting point. The hares here are wonderfully strong, and frequently go three to four miles straight from home. This little pack are working hounds, doing nearly all by themselves, to the gratification of the field.— Yours, & c, AMATEUR. P. S. My letter ( by mistake) was not posted last night, which enables me to add we have just had a better run than ever. TUESDAY, FEB 24.— Met'at Wortley— that good sportsman, Mr Edward Bailey's farm. After a pleasant run of forty- five minutes, killed in the open. Soon found another on Pitt Down Farm, near the railway tunnel, four miles north of Winchester. Without a check ran nearly to Farley Mount, five miles south- west of Winchester; thence to West Wood; obliged to whip off, owing to a fox being on foot and several other hares. The hunted one was viewed entering this wood. Our friend never trespasses on the provinces of the foxhounds. HARE HUNTING IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. MR EDITOR : The true lovers of hare hunting, and there are many of them, have had some rare opportunities lately of indulg- ing in their favourite pastime with the very promising newly formed pack established through the liberality of Mr Lloyd Price, of Castle Biggin, in this neighbourhood. It is not too much to say here that all credit is due to him for his pluck in coming forward and at his own expense hunting a country under the difficulties which always attend hare hunting in the neigh- bourhood of a county town. This pack gave very great satisfac- tion lasfcyear in wiany long and trying runs. But « s they were HUNTING IN INDIA. A FIRST- RATE DAY WITH THE MADRAS HOUNDS. MR EDITOR : It is my good fortune to describe, and yours to chronicle, one of the best runs ever placed on record in the annals of the Indian Chase. The Madras Hounds met at Sydapett Bridge this morning, and but few of the admirers of the ' noble science attended," though some half dozen in scarlet, and three or four more in less gorgeous array, had managed, in spite of the many and various dissipations of the previous evening, to cheat Morpheus of a portion of his dues, and made their appearance with the daylight. The gallant little pack— alas: too much re- duced in numbers— were soon uncarted, and looked a good deal brighter and keener than the pale faces of their owners— a trifle fat perhaps, a fault which three or four such morning's sport as I am about to describe, would go far to remedy. The first draw was the covert on the east bank of the Sydapett brook, but nobody was found at home. Some patches of standing Indian corn were equally inhospitable, but Mr Jack had evidently quite recently made his bow, for old " Countess'' at once spoke to his departure. The rest of the pack speedily joined the cry, and eight couple of melodious tongues proclaimed that the " enemy" had faced as nasty a country as ever an unfortunate Indian sports man was obliged to cross. Wet cultivation stretched for miles in every direction, and riding to hounds seemed to be an impossibility; so much so, that the whole field deserted, with the exception of the officials, a well- known hard riding gentleman from the Mount, and a distinguished member of our local bar, whose perseverance in the field is only equalled by his wonderful success in " making the worse appear the better cause" whenever he pleases. The backsliders thought, perhaps, thatrthe certain gallops on the race course were better worth see- ing than anything the uncertain " varmint" could cut out for them over such unfavourable ground ; but alas! " L'hommepropose mais Dieu dispose," and fortunately for the chosen few, a timely check enabled them to bring the hounds ba k to the Sydapett co- verts. Two open woods were drawn blank, and the hounds were then thrown into the thick lying on the edge of the river, when they soon made known the presence of a game specimen of the vulpine tribe, to whom they quickly gave notice to quit. Nor is the covert safe. He pants for purer air. Hark what loud shouts Ke- echo through the groves: He breaks away. Shrill horns proclaim his flight, each straggling hound Strains o'er the lawn to reach the distant pack, ' lis triumph all, and joy. At first, indeed, there was a difficulty, for Mr and Mrs Jack were evidently interrupted at their early tea, and went away to- gether, running through covert parallel with each other, and taking the same line when facing eastwards, across the open ground towards the woods on the Poonamallee side of the Adyar river. Fortunately, however, the pack, with that " politesse" which distinguishes foxhounds equally with fine gentlemen, left Madame to her own devices, and devoted the whole of their unwelcome at- tentions to Monsieur. He took them at a heart- breaking pace through the woods at the back of Amaveram Village, and across the cultivation at the edge of the plain behind the Artillery butts. Every hound scored to the cry, and each did his work to perfec- tion. It seemed, indeed, as though he must take to the open, and then his fate was sealed, but at the sight of the wide expanse of plain his heart failed him, and making a ring of another mile or two towards the back of the long Tank, he came round to the covert where we first made his acquaintance, after giving us a clipping gallop of about 25 minutes. The hounds were now close upon him, and rattled him three times round the covert in excellent style. They were apparently within a yard of his brush, and were evidently bent on blood. In spite of his heading sharp back on his own line several times, they hunted him with great steadiness. The whole of the inhabitants of the neighbouring village were afoot by this time, and seemed to be as keen as the hounds themselves, shouting and yelling, and heading poor Mr Jack in every direction. Thanks to their well- meant but most unfortunate endeavours to assist, in what to them naturally ap- peared to be our object, a chop seemed to be inevitable; but, more by good luck than good guidance, the " wily one" managed to steal away again along the river bank, and was viewed apparently very much the worse for his first breather. See! there he creeps along; his brush he drags And sweeps the mire impure ; from his wide jaws His tongue unmoistened hangs; symptoms toe sure Of sudden death. Ha: yet he flies, nor yields To black despair. Garie and true to the last, he set his head right for Poona- mallee, and gave us another magnificent gallop of about twenty minutes, over a first- rate bit of country. The sport was now be- coming a great deal too good for the nags, for the pace and heat had begun to tell sadly both on hounds and horses, and neither men nor beasts were sorry when the rate of going was a little moderated, by a sharp turn back towards Sydapett Village. Here the scent became gradually worse and worse, and as it was found to be a quarter past eight o'clock, discretion was voted the better part of valour, and the hounds were trotted back to Sydapett Bridge, and put into the van a little before nine.* The hounds were running from five minutes before seven to a quarter past eight— one hour and twenty minutes— and had they found half an hour earlier, or had their going condition been a little more perfect, this splendid run must have ended in a kill. Though none present, I am sure, grudged this game jackal his life, and long may he live, say I, to give us many more such runs. Not a single cast was re- quired during the day, scarcely a check occurring at all, and none lasting more than a minute— that game old lady Countess, ably assisted by Celia and Guardsman, invariably hitting off the line, and moderating the zeal of Rifleman, who, true to his name, was always skirmishing to the front. Though the absence of the field on this occasion is much to be regretted, yet I own I think our excellent sport is in some measure attributable to it, for the hounds were never over- ridden. If the gentlemen of the hunt would only remember invariably to ride a little wide of the hounds, and not directly behind them, and would always pull up and stand perfectly still, without talking, or making suggestions, when a check takes place, the Madras Hunt would rarely have a bad day's sport. The hounds can do their part of the work right well, as the}' have proved this morning, and jackals are generally to be found, though no doubt the weakness of the pack is against their getting them out of large ceverts ; however, after such an excellent morning's sport I cannot do better than sign myself NIL DESPERANDUM. Jan 13, 1863. * In India hounds are whipped off when the sun gets well up, too much light as effectually putting a stop to hunting as does too little in England. A run must be compressed into about two hours, as it is not light until six, and there is little or no scent after eight. DEAR BELL: The meet of H. M.' s 51st Light Infantry Fox- hounds this morning was at the Race Course at half- past six a. m. After drawing for a quarter of an hour a large hill fox was found, and after running him for a mile he went to ground. The hounds were then trotted off to a favourite " nullah," where the hounds got on a drag, and after some very pretty hunting for nearly ten minutes ( the scent being very bad), a jackal was viewed going away. The hounds got well on him, and after a run of forty minutes without a check, ran him into the rocks, eight miles dis- tance, over a country which would astonish our " Meltonians." Out of a large field the only three up at the finish were Captain Watson, Captain Brigstock ( huntsman), and Mr Lockwood. I may mention that the Indian fox is not like our English one; the former being smaller, and seldom or ever " goes away." The jackal is rather larger, and runs like an English fox, but the hounds will not eat him as they do our fox at home, the jackal's food being so frightfully beastly, such as dead camels, while in the most putrid state, & c. The 51st Regt have an excessively nice pack, and I should say the best in this country; in all they have eighteen couple, exclusive of puppies, and out of which there are eleven and a half couple of thorough bred English foxhounds, the rest being three parts bred, and we only wish success to them, and that we may have many a run of the same description, with the addition of a " kill."— Yours, & c, ONE WHO SAW IT. Rawul Pindu, Punjab, E. I., Jan 10, 1863. towards our colonel, who turned him again with a ball in his neck towards where Captain G.— as staunch and as good a sportsman as ever trod heather— was standing, coolly awaiting his arrival, and who put a five ounce ball into his chest, which doubled up Bruin like a bundle of clothes, and thus ended the scrimmage. Those who witnessed it will agree with me that no description, however florid, could do justice to these scenes: the yells of the men, the roaring of the bear, the hurry- scurry that took place on Bruin's charging, baffles all attempts at description; and I only hope we may all live to enjoy another such a day's sport together. The animal, when dead, was found to haveno less than seventeen bullet holes in him. * * PERFORMANCES OF WINNING YACHTS IN 1862. HORSES IN TRAINING IN FRANCE. ( CONTINUED.) * In the French Derby. AT CHANTILLY. DUKE DE MORNY'S— TRAINER, W. SMITH. Pauvre Mignon, b li, 6 yrs Solferino, ch c, 4 yrs Bisbille, ch f, 4 yrs Blanchette, br f, 4 yrs Nofelie, ch f, 4 yrs Sauterelle, b f, 4 yrs ; Demon, b c, by " The Baron out of Dianne, 8 yrs f Distinguo, b c, by The Flying Dutchman out of Quiz, 3 yrs Pas Perdus, b c, by The Flying Dutchman— Serenade, 3 yrs Gloria, br f, by Pelion out of Geelong, 3 yrs 1 Toilette, ch f, by Surplice out of Jessamine, 3 yrs Lucette, bk f, by The Nabob out of Lucy Long, 3 yrs Marguerite, b f, by Vindex out of Malmsey, 3 yrs Ba3' ard, ch c, by Newminster out of Babette, 2 yrs Eldorado, bk c,' by The Nabob out of Elfride, 2 yrs Gideon, ch c, by Monarque out of Garenne, 2 yrs Javelot II., bk c, by The Nabob out of Jessamine, 2 yrs Quintin Metzis, b c, by The Nabob out of Quiz, 2 yrs Rembrandt, br c, by The Flying Dutchman out of Racketty Girl, 2 yrs Sans- Souois, b » by- ® < issaek out of Second Sight, 2 yrs Sapliir, b e, by Nuncio out of Silistre, 2 yrs Sauvage, b c, by Festival out of Lastborn, 2 yrs Dinorah, br f, by The Nabob out of Dianne, 2 yrs Jeanne d'Arc, br f, by The Nabob out of Miss Johnson, 2 yrs La Reine Blanche, b f, by Monarque out of Margaret, 2 yrs Perle, b f, by The Nabob out of Partlet, 2 yrs Rosine, ch f, by Nuncio or Father Thames out of Rosalie, 2 ys MR MONTGOMERY'S— TRAINER, B. WHEELER. Esperance, b f, by Nuncio out of Dacia, 3 yrs AT MAIS0NS LAFFITTE. COUNT TALON'S— TRAINER, J. SPINKS. Laudanum, br g, aged Shilock, b c, 4 yrs Crinoline, b m. 6 yrs Nina, f, 4 yrs Campeador, ch g, 5 yrs COUNT DE COSSETTE'S AND CONFEDERATES- • TRAINER, J. CA8SIDY. Ringleader, b g, aged Church Langton, br h, aged Harry, ch g, aged Starlight, 5 yrs Jamb d'Argent, brh, 5 yrs Peau Rouge, br h, 5 yrs Tam Tam, br g, 5 yrs Le Due Job, br c, 4 yrs THE TRAINING GROUND AT CHANTILLY. From information we received during the early part of la£ t year there appeared every probability that the French Jockey Club was prepared to take into consideration the great requirement at Chantilly of a new ground for training operations. Various sug- gestions were volunteered by the sporting press and others in- terested in the subject, and a plan— which in substance contained the whereabouts and natural advantages of certain lands con- tiguous to Chantilly— was indirectly placed under the notice of the higher authorities. It is not, however, advisable to place too much reliance in the rumours in racing circles during the winter recess at all relating to future improvements, for as racing men have then but little else to occupy themselves with, excepting the anticipations of the season to come, they are very liable to talk a good deal about future reform and the extinction of existing evils, & c, thereby causing much argument, and a mul- tiplicity of suggestions at the time, but which decline in interest as the more weighty affairs of racing^ commence. This lias been precisely the case as regards the training ground at Chantilly, for although the subject was resumed late in the spring, ' when little Jesse Bundy and another small lad had their small frames almost annihilated by their horses coming in con- tact, in consequence of the contracted dimensions of the forest rides, there has been nothing really advanced towards the remedy of this evil, which we are convinced is alone the reason why French horses are not of precisely the, same quality as their English progenitors. If, as some say, nothing can be done at Chantilly in the matter of forming a new exercising ground, why do not the proprietors of race horses abandon the place alto- gether \ Such a proceeding, however, we think would be quite un- necessary, for we cannot be led to see why a suitable tract of land cannot be found near Chantilly, which might be prepared if the expense was placed as a matter of little consideration. Chantilly is by no means an agricultural district; its soil is not of a profit- able nature, and its rents are consequently generally very low, in some instances not more than lOf or 12f per acre. Thus, in the first instance, it appears likely that for no very exorbitant rent any quantity of land might be obtained. Its condition, however, in " the second place, might be a drawback, for although perfectly level, and one can go straight away for several miles without the obstruction of hedge or ditch, the soil is certainly not well adapted for turf, being for the most part shallow and sandy ; but for all this, in those portions where the plough has not had entire sway, there can be found turf quite as good as on the Pelouse at Chaatilly; so that with time, and a certain amount of expense, seme good gallops might be made, with the advantage, at least, of being in the open, instead of in a confined forest, and on a description of turf which, if not quite so elastic as that on the Wiltshire downs, would be preferable to a sand gallop, frequently hock deep. It does certainly appear singular that the several noblemen and gentlemen who maintain racing establishments at Chantilly do not really apply themselves to a matter of such great importance to their own interests, and more especially as several we could name, in everything else that re- lates to their studs, are so profuse in their expenditure, as to give one quite the idea that, if their horses could eat gold, they would have it. In concluding these remarks, we must not forget to mention that the Jockey Club authorities have for the present en- deavoured to do what they can for the Chantilly trainers, by making many improvements in therides, all having been widened by the sides being dug out and levelled, and the Ride des Lions has been extended from the railway bridge right to the top of La Morlaye Hill, which now makes it two miles and a half, instead of two miles; besides which, a great deal of the wood has been eut down on both sides, so as to admit as much air as possible. We hope the rules as to the different lots passing each other will be more strictly adhered to than they were last season, for otherwise accidents are likely to be more frequent than ever, as on no previous year have so many horses been in training at Chantilly. As another boon to trainers also, the Jockey Club has opened the Pelouse for horses to gallop on every Thursday, and as the owners take advantage of this to see their horses in the open, and bring down their Parisian friends with them to breakfast, Thursday has become quite a gala day at Chantilly. A DAY IN THE JUNGLE— A BEAR HUNT, MR EDITOR : Several of your sporting readers may have slain many bears, but few I think have enjoyed a better bit of fun with Bruin than fell to the lot of a party of six gentlemen, who, with a train of 100 coolies,, started off one fine morning to beat one of the largest jungles iti Northern India. We had . been given to under- stand that there were bears in great numbers, and certainly the trees about the place showed innumerable marks of the presence of our black friends, but the first day we were doomed to be dis- appointed. In the morning one of our scouts had informed us that a bear was sleeping on a rock just under the road, but we, thinking it better to get forward to more promising ground, would not go out of our way, but told the man to keep watch, and we would give Bruin a call in the evening. Well, on our return, disappointed, as I before mentioned, the man reported that our " fat friend'' had not awakened from his siesta, so we followed our guide, and by good luck came on " fatty" before he thought of moving, although he must have heard our footsteps long before. But this bear is supposed to have tasted human blood once or twice previously, and that, I imagine, was the reason he did not consider it worth his while to move. F. was the first to see him, and at once put a bullet into his hide; roar- ing with pain and rage, he still did not allow his wrath to get the better of his discretion, but broke away. We all followed, and were tracking his blood, when F. sung out that he heard a row above and ahead some little distance. F., M. and my- self then leaving the others, who were on the blood track, started off as fast as our legs would carry us, and were suddenly brought to a halt by my stopping and seizing my rifle from my shikaree, for by good luck I twigged Bruin as he was standing on a ridge some thirty yards just above us. A coolie, who was running ahead to cut off the bear as he imagined, was somewhat startled at find- ding himself within five yards of the enraged brute, who stood for a second between two trees looking at him. I shouted to him to run, and just as he stooped his head my bullet whistled into Bruin's ribs, who, thinking the coolie was the aggressor, at once flew, rather than charged, after him. Then ensued a scene I think few have beheld. For fifty yards the bear was within a foot of the coolie, who ran better than anything I have ever seen, but who would, no doubt, have been overtaken and torn in pieces, if a drop of fifteen feet had not most opportunely come in his way ; down he fell, and the bear, from his own impetus, jumped a long way over him, and very nearly bowled over our goed old doctor, who was just below; by good luck the bear could iwt stop to turn round, so the doctor escaped, and Bruin, charging down hill, made open- mouthed ENGLISH HORSES IN NEW ZEALAND, DEAR BELL : As I know you like to receive sporting news from any part of the world, and as you will get this in your dull season, I write to let you know that we have had several valuable additions to our blood stock during the past year from England. The following horses arrived safe, and are now doing well here:— Traducer, by The Libel, 5 yrs; Dowry, by Rataplan, 3 yrs: Brunette, by Tadmor, 3 yrs; Mermaid, by King Tom, 3 yrs; Tom King, by King Tom, 3 yrs; Quick- step, by Vandyke, 2 vrs. Tomyris. by King Tom, and Maori, by King Tom, were landed safe, but have since died. Another valu- able mare died on the voyage. Our races take place on Saturday, Jan 20, and following days ; I will send you the account of them as usual. There is a champion race in Otago, in March, with £ 1,000 added, £ 100 each if you run your horse. I am sorry to say only seven horses are entered. I shall be there, and will send you the result.— Yours, & c, A YORKSIIIREMAN. P. S. The Peer is looking very well, and his subscription is raised to 20 guineas in consequence of the running of The Marquis. Canterbury, New Zealand, Dec 12, 1862. AQUATICS. BALLOON CANVAS. MR EDITOR: As all hands appear to have come to an agree- ment to condemn the use of shifting ballast, perhaps you will kindly allow me to call the attention of the public to a subject, the evils of which are, in my opinion, just as great as those con- nected with trimming ballast— I mean balloen canvas— and what so easy to put a stop to ? All the regatta committees have to do is to prohibit the use of jack yards and jibs that come more than a certain distance aft of the forestay. The suppression of them would really be a great boon to the racing fraternity, as it would greatly reduce the expense incurred by owners every time they start their yachts, and there would not then be the necessity for all the extra hands that we see on the decks of our race boats at every regatta; and putting expense aside, I am sure that every yachtsman will allow the nuisance of having a number of strange men on board his vessel.— Yours, & c, OCEANA. Thursday, Feb 19. CLASSIFICATION OF YACHTS. MR EDITOR : On looking over the regatta lists oi 1862 I have been struck with the want of uniformity in classing the racing yachts. Some clubs offer their first prizes to yachts of 30 tons and upwards, while others adopt 25, 20, 15, and even 12 tons as a starting point. This may induce a large entry, although it is doubtful, but it is likely to be as destructive to sport as it would be to start Shetland ponies with thorough breds for the Derby, and to allow the former time. Fancy the disappointment if, in- stead of the noble racing on the Mersey last season, the weather had enabled 15- tonners with clouds of muslin to walk off with the heavy prizes intended for their betters. Let the clubs agree to a certain classification, and in a year or two we shall see yachts built expressly to race in these classes on equal terms. I would suggest — 30 tons and upwards, No. 1 prize; over 15 and under 30 tons, No. 2 prize; 15 tons and under, No. 3 prize.— Yours, & c, NORTHERN BURGEE, NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK YACHT CLUB.— Some additional in- telligence may still be given with regard to movements in pro- gress among the members of this club. Mr Green and his brother are having a cutter built at Mr Hastings's, at Great Yarmouth. The cutter, which is being constructed expressly for a high speed, is about the same burthen ( 14 tons) as the Wanderer ( Mr J. L. Barber), the champion yacht of last season, which was also built by Mr Hastings. Mr Nightingale has been making very consider- able alterations in the Rover, with which he so perseveringly con- tended against the Wranderer at the various regattas of 1862. Mr H. R. Tompson is having a cutter of about 11 tons built by Mr Houghton, at Norwich. It is evident, then, that it is intended to cut out some sharp work for next season. THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION.— His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has intimated, through Gen Knollys, " his great pleasure in becoming the Vice Patron of the Eoyal National Lifeboat Institution, and in contributing a dona- tion of £ 30 for the purposes of the institution.'' The Prince of Wales thus occupies in the institution the place which the late lamented Prince Consort, his father, filled since 1850, with so much advantage to the cause of humanity. At that period the society possessed 12 lifeboats, and its annual expenditure was about £ 500. The institution has now a fleet of 123 lifeboats, and its expenditure is £ 15,000 a year. Its boats save every year, on an average, 300 lives from shipwrecks on various parts of our coast. It is worth recording that the lifeboat of the society at Padstow, on the Cornish coast, was, with the special permission of the late Prince Consort, named, two or three years ago, " The Prince of Wales." On the day that the prince attained his ma- jority ( on the 9th Nov last), that lifeboat was providentially the means of saving a shipwrecked crew from a watery grave— a coin- cidence with which his royal highness, as Duke of Cornwall, was much pleased to be made acquainted. LIFEBOAT SERVICE.— DROGHEDA.— The schooner Mary Ann, laden with Indian corn, from Liverpool to Drogheda, came ashore a few days since in a heavy swell, on North Bull Sands, near Drogheda. On seeing the perilous position of the ship, the life- boat of the National Lifeboat Institution put off to the rescue of the crew of four men, and afterwards safely brought them on shore. This valuable lifeboat has only been a few months on this station, and admirably did she behave on this her first trip. By directions of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London, the sum of £ 50 has been given to the Na- tional Lifeboat Institution from the funds of the Cbolmondeley Charities, In order to assist our readers in understanding this table, we give an example of the manner in which it is to be read:— Christabel, a cutter of 48 tons, belonging to H. H. Kennard Es< Built ( b) by Aldous, in 1857; lengthened ( 1) by Aldous in 1861. She won a prize of £ 100 on May 23 in a match of the R. T. Y. C. She was first, Audax was second, Phosphorus third, Glance fourth. The name of the winner is in italics, and the details of the race will be found under the name ef the winner. The cups, & c, are given as of their nominal value. With all the care that ' we can bestow, we can seldom avoid a few errors and omissions in this record of at least 2,000 facts. The errors are almost invariably corrected in Belt's Life of the following week The E. Y. S. and R. V. Y. C. being in the immediate neighbourhood of Osborne, testified their respect for the memory of Prince Albert by holding no regattas this year, and of course no royal cups were presented. This will probably account for the falling off in the amount of prizes sailed for. We do not notice in this list the private matches, of which there were several •— 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 ' 1861 1862 ' Number of Prizes 80 72 62 86 80 70 73 74 gi ^ Value of Prizes £ 3,600 £ 2,740 £ 2,550 £ 3,750 £ 3,210* £ 3,165f £ 3,34- 51 £ 2,738$ .'. 3.'.'..'.'.°£ 3,473|! .'.'.', '"'"".£ 2,925f Number of Winners 50 ..., 33 36 51 42 46 41 47 44 ' 33 * Including Challenge Cups to the value of £ 275, t ditto £ 20, I ditto £ 450, § ditto £ 125, || ditto £ 75, f ditto £ 65. The most successful vessels have been:— Phosphorus, which won £ 425 Audax £ 266, and Glance £ 215. Amongst the winners are but six new and two altered vessels. Of last year's winners 16 appear in the present list, and of the 38 winners 28 are professed racers'. The builders of the principal winners have been:— Inman— Flying Cloud £ 210 Aldous— Christabel £ 100 „ Violet ( cutter) 21 „ Violet ( schooner) 85 Total £ 206 Fife- - Cinderella £ 20 iEolus 100 Total , ,.£ 120 Harvey— Bessie £ 66 ,, Ariadne 15 „ Audax 266 Total .£ 347 Hatcher— Phosphorus £ 425 ,, Glance 245 ,, Haidee 15 „ Octoroon 20 Total £ 705 Steele— Circe £ 228 Wanhill— Bijou £ 21 ,, Echo 20 ,, Emmet 50 „ Enid 152 ,, Heroine 37 ,, Lurline 65 >, Queen 103 „ Swallow 30 Total. .£ 478 YACHTS. UEOLUS .. ARIADNE AUDAX .. AVALANCHE BANBA BESSIE BIJOU CINDERELLA.. Rig. Cutter Schooner Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter CHRISTABEL"!!".'.".! Cutter CIRCE CYCLONE ECHO EMMET ENID FAWN FLYING CLOUD. FOLLY GALATEA GLANCE HAIDEE . HEROINE LURLINE.. Schooner Cutter Cutter- Cutter Cutter Cutter Schooner Cutter Schooner Cutter 61 48 127 32 55 MAGNET. MARINA . MARS OCTOROON. OSPREY PEARL ... PHANTOM PHOSPHORUS. QUEEN QUIVER SWALLOW VAMPIRE VIOLET VIOLET VIRAGO VISION WATEBWITCH Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter Cutter s » » > Cutter J> 62 SJ » ) » » » Cutter Cutter 9 27 Cutter 50 > 9 » » » > >> » „ Cutter 28 » Cutter 12 Cutter Cutter » > 18 20 Cutter 12 131 36 35 12 Schooner 32 » » » > Sloop 11 Cutter Cutter 8 20 s> if Owner, C. T. Couper. G. Higgins J. H. Johnson J. Wheeler,, W. T. Doherty. J. H. Hedge.... R. D. Kane A. Finlay .. H. H. Kennard D. Richardson J. Field .... G. Put'land. T. C. Manderson. W. W.' F. Hay .... F. Scovell F. E. Holmes Count E. Batthyany W. L.' Parry T. Broadwoed A. Duncan W. Turner. 12 Capt Cramer., J. C. Atkins ., E. J, Bolton , J. C. Morice. G. Haines C. Long ... E. W. Nunn F. Hoare. S. Lane .. W. Turner. By whom built ( 6), lengthened © , or altered ( a). b Fife I b Harvey b Harvey b Wheeler ... 1860 Date of building or lengthening. Prize. 1861 1862 — £ 50 £ 50 £ 15 1860 £ 30 £ 73 10 £ 63 £ 50 £ 50 1860 £ 105 b Marshall. b Harvey.... 1861 b Wanhill ... 1856 b Fife 1862 b Aldous ! 1857 I Aldous I 1861 b Bteele b Patterson. b Wanhill . b Wanhill b Wanhill b Inman. b Payne . b Hansen b Hansen b Hatcher b Hatcher b Wanhill b Wanhill 1862 1856 1856 1861 1852 1858 1860 1862 1855 b Holden., b Ratsey ., I Ratsey ., b White ... I .., b Hatcher b White . I Hansen b Pinney.. I White .. b Hatcher Capt Whitbread ... CaptChamberlayne W. J. Penney ., CptCommerell, R. N Lord de Ros J. R. Kirby t: Capt Byrne C. H. Coddington, CaptSandford .... b Wanhill .. SChambrlyne. b Wanhill b Hatcher I Spencer... b Aldous. b Aldous b Byrne 1859 1843 1860 1860 1852 1855 1860 1862 1853 Date of Match. Club or Kegatta. 1842 1853 1862 1860 1862 1859 1851 1856 1854 1862 £ 30 £ 25 £ 21 £ 20 £ 21 £ 20 £ 100 £ 100 £ 50 £ 78 £ 30 £ 20 £ 50 £ 52 10 £ 100 £ 15 £ 100 £ 60 £ 50 £ 30 £ 25 £ 20 £ 30 £ 40 £ 105 £ 10 £ 25 £ 40 £ 25 £ 5 £ 10 10 £ 37 £ 65* £ 10 £ 100 £ 35 £ 40 £ 10 £ 10 £ 100 £ 20 £ 21 £ 20 £ 50 £ 100 £ 63 £ 50 £ 40 £ 100 £ 30 £ 42 £ 50 £ 52 10 £ 20 £ 15 £ 30 £ 30 £ 21 £ 40 £ 45 £ 10 £ 25 £ 20 2 9 20 20 22 1 8 19 22 9 June 16 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 2 July 8 July 9 July 11 July 15 July 16 July 9 July 11 May 23 June 16 June 20 July 16 July 22 Aug 19 Aug 22 June 16 July 8 July 9 July 11 July 15 July 16 Sept 25 July 1 July 8 May 22 July 8 Aug 5 Aug 15 June 25 July 8 May 2- 3 June 16 July 8 July 9 July 16 Aug 22 Aug 19 Aug 26 June 24 June 25 July July Aug June 16 June 20 June 25 July 8 July 9 July 11 Aug 19 Aug 26 June 16 June 7 July 14 Aug 20 June 16 June 24 June 25 July 8 July 9 July 11 July 15 July 16 July 20 June 23 Aug Aug June July Aug Aug July July 11 Aug 14 Aug 20 May 23 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 2 July July July 15 July 16 Aug Aug Aug Aug May June 26 Sept 25 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 2 July 8 July 9 July 15 July 16 July 20 July 8 July 26 May 23 July V, July 11 Aug 14 Aug 19 June 7 June 21 June 26 May 22 June 7 July 8 Aug 4 Aug 26 June 16 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 2 July 8 July 11 July 15 July 16 Aug 19 Aug 22 July 16 June 1 June 16 May 23 Juno 16 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 8 July 9 July 11 July 15 July 16 July 22 Aug 15 June 1 June 16 June 20 July 16 June 1 July 8 Aug 4 Aug 19 Aug 22 July 1 May 22 June 1 Aug 19 Aug 22 May 10 May 22 June 1 June 16 July 8 June 1 June 16 June 20 Aug 20 June 28 July 8 June 25 July 1 July 2 July 8 9 19 20 22 23 22 R. W. Y. C. of Ir. E. M. Y. C, R. M. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C, Cork Cork Cork R. St. G. Y. C. Cork R. T. Y. C. Southend Harwich R. Y. Y. C. Yarmouth E. W. Y. C. Torbay R. W. Y. C. of Ir. R. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork Cork Cork Queenstown R. N. Y. C. R St. G. Y. C. B. L. Y. C. P. W. Y. C. Lowestoft Carnarvon R. M. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. Southend R. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork Torbay R. W. Y. C. Dartmouth E. M Y. C, R. M. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. R. W. Y. C. Southend Harwich E. M. Y. C. R St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork R. W. Y. C, Dartmouth Southend R. T. Y. C. Boulogne Dartmouth R. W. Y. C. of Ir. R. M. Y. C. R. M. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C, R. St. G. Y. C, Cork Cork Cork R. T. Y. C, R. W. Y. C. Torbay R. T. Y. C. Southampton R. W. Y. C. Torbay R. St. G. Y. C, Cork Plymouth R. W. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. R. M. Y. C. R. M. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. N. Y. C, R. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork Cork R. W. Y. C. R. W. Y. C, Torbay Dover E. L. Y. C, Harwich Queenstown R. M. Y. C. R. M. Y. C. R. N. YC. R. N. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork Cork Swansea R. St. G. Y. C, I. M. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Cork Ryde toPlymth. R. W. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. R. L. Y. C, Harwich R. L. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. R. W. Y. C, Itchen Ferry Dover E. W. Y. C. of Ir. R. M. Y. C, R. M. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. N. Y. C, E. St. G. Y. C. Cork Cork Cork E. W. Y. C, Torbay E. Y. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. Southend RT. Y. C. R. W. of I. R. M. Y. C. E. M. Y. C. E. N. Y. C. E. St. G. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Kingstown to Ck Cork Cork Swansea Carnarvon R. T. Y. C. Southend Harwich E. Y. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. Southampton Itchen Ferry R. W. Y. C. Torbay R. N. Y. C. E. L. Y. C. R. T. Y. C. E. W. Y. C. Torbay P. W. Y. C. R. L. Y. C, R. T. Y. C. Southend P. W. Y. C. E. T. Y. C. Southend Harwich R. W. Y. C. I. M. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. R. M. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. N. Y. C. R. St. G. Y. C. Other Vessels and Remarks. lime race Avalanche Phosphorus 3 Glance o Osprey I Osprey 2, Glance 3, Lurline Enid 2 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Enid 2, Osprey 3 Phosphorus 3 Heroine 2, Imogen 3 Phosphorus 1 C'iristabel 1 Phantmn 2 ( second prize). Time race Amber Witch 2, Cyclone 3, Mars i, Clio 5 Amber Writch 2, Queen 3, Rapid 4, Cynthia 5, Lurline 6 Clio 2, Eva 3, Avalanche 0 Glance 2, Christabel 3, Osprey0, Marina0, Crusader © Glance 4 Osprey 1, Phosphorus 3, Coolin 4, Enid 5, . cEolus 6, [ Sibyl 7. Time race Phospnorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Heroine 1 Sivallow 1 Waterwitch 2, Atalanta 0 Haidee 2, Violet 3 Octoroon 2, Violet 3 Little Violet 2, Little Yankee 3 Fanny 0, Banshee 0 Vision 2 f Magnet 6 Itipple 2, Pet 3, Fairy 0, Dove 0, Virago 0, Bimu 0 Audax 2, Phosphorus 3, Glance 4, Marina 0 " Phantom 2 Enid 2 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 3 Glance 4 Audax 1 Echo 1 Red Gauntlet 2, Diadem 3, Ierna 4, Eagle 5. Janie 6 Glance 1 Eowena 2, Anita 3 Galatea 2, Diadem 3, Red Gauntlet 4, Wild Flower 5. Flying Cioud 1 f Anita 6 Night Thought 2, Eva 0, Pearl 0, Wild Wave 0, Violet j^ f^ l1 [( cutter) 0, Violet ( schooner) 0 En id 2 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Glance 2 Christabel 2, Emmet 3 Phantom 2 Queen 1 Corsair 2, Eva 3 Echo 1 Avalanche 2 Phosphorus 1 Echo 2, Ierna 3, Ethel 0 Phosphorus 1, Christabel 3, Glance 4, Sibyl 5, Osprey0 Lurline 0, . ffiolus 0, Avalanche 0, Marina 0, Coolino! Echo 0. Protest Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 JEolus 1 Phosphorus 3 Zuffa 2, Ozone 3 Galatea 1, Leonora 2, Shark 3. Time race Galatea 1, Albertine 3, Violet 4, Silver Fish 5. Albertine 2, Sultana 0. Octoroon 2, Quiver 3, Wasp 4, Violet 5 Quiver 1 Vampire 2, Quiver 3, Fire Cloud 4, Ellen 5 Quiver 2, Vampire 3, Moonbeam 4, Little Dorritt C Circe 1 Phosphorus 1 ( second prize) Marina 1 Flying Cloud 2 Christabel l ( second prize). Time race Phosphorus 3 Osprey 1, yEolus 2, Phosphorus 3, Circe 4, Lurline 6, 1 [ Coolin 7, Red Gauntlet 8 JEolus 1 Enid 2 Phospfwrus 1 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 3 Audax 1 ( second prize) Echo 1. Time race Osprey 1, Audax 2, Christabel 3, Heroine 0, Crusader 0 Night Thought 2, Oriole 3 Bessie 1 ( second prize) Little Violet 2 [ CEnone 7, Aileen 0 Gertrude2, Sibyl 3, Nautilus 4, Cymba5, Avalanche 6, Phosphorus 3 Glance 5 Osprey 1 JEolus 1 Enid 2 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 1 Phosphorus 3 Sibyl 2, Coolin 3 Cinderella 1 Pet 2, Dove 3 Christabel l ( extra prize presented) Enid 2 Phosphorus 1 Julia 2, Leonora 3, Ella 4, Gleam 5, Galatea 6 Audax 1 Violet 1 Pearl 2, Maid 3, Eva 4. Oriole 5 Audax 1 Vampire 1 Folly 1 Bessie 1 Quiver 1 Violet 2, Rifleman 3 Avalanche 2 Phosphorus 3 Glance 5 iEolus 2, Glance 3, Lurline 4, Storm 5, Phosphorus C JEolus 1 Enid 1 Phosphorus 1 JEolus 1 Phosphorus 3 Audax 1 Glance 4 ( second prize). Time race Undine 2, Mona 0 Queen 1, Emmet 0, Vampire 0 ( second prize) Audax 1, Emmet 3, Queen 0, Christabel 0. Time race Christabel 1. Time race Avalanche 2 iEolus 1, Osprey 2, Enid 1, Glance 5, Coolin 0, North Glance 5 [ Star 0, Lurline 0, Wren 0 Osprey 1 Enid 2 Ranche 6, Coolin 7, Sibyl 0, Echo 0, Enid 0 Lurline 2, Glance 3, ^ Eolus 4, Christabel 5, Ava- Clutha 2, Coolin 3, Galatea 4, Avalanche 5, Osprey 6, TEOIUS 7, Gertrude 0, Sibyl 0, Ariadne 0, Marina 0, Georgiana 0, Eugenie 0, Kingfisher 0 Lurline 2, Glance 3, Avalanche 4, Coolin 5 iEolus 1, Osprey 2, Enid 4, Christabel 5, Lurline 6. Avalanche 7, Coolin 0, Glance 0. Time race Ariel 2, Leander 3, Ianthe 4 Paragon 0, Ranger 0 Phantom 2, Emmet 0, Vampire 0 Phantom 2 Violet 2, Little Yankee 0 Audax 1 Folly 1 Folly 2, Don Juan 3 Octoroon 2, Don Juan 3 Folly 1 Folly 1 Banba 2, Atalanta 3, Ripple 4. Waterwitch 0 Oberon 2, Octoroon 3 Queen 1 . Folly 4 Folly 1 Jessie 2, Ottilia 3 Bessie 1 Folly 1 Cyclone 1 Bessie 1 Oriole 2, Ellen 3, Mars 4 Cyclone 1 Queen 1 Flying Cloud 2 ( second prize) Pet 2, Dove 3 Cinderella 1 Cinderella 1, Brenda - 3, Magnet 4. Time race Swallow 1 Ripple 0 Banba 1 Chailengee Cup. SHIFTING BALLAST. MB EDITOR : 1 rejoice greatly to find the subject of shifting ballast so energetically taken up in your paper this year ; and when I state that, owing to a peculiar plan of the accommodation in my vessel, I cannot use shifting ballast to the same extent as the vessels I race against; and that in a race last season I escaped by a miracle a collision, a vessel racing against me being so propped up with shifting ballast that, had she gone suddenly about, and filled on the other tack, she must have inevitably gone over, I think I shall be acquitted of being an advocate of " athwartship" shifting ballast. I cannot, however, go the length of your esteemed correspondent " Red with White Maltese Cross," who advocates the entire exclusion of it during a race ( and, therefore, always) from the hold of a racing cutter; for I maintain, Mr Editor, that the racing cutters cannot carry their heavy masts and spars in foul weather without some ballast ready to shift " fore and aft." to trim by the head or by the stern, ac- cording as they may he beating against or scudding before a heavy sea; but, give them a ton or two of shot bags, and the racing cutters can, and do, make their passages against any sea- going craft afloat; and this the ocean race to Cork last year fully proves. Again, sharp, deep vessels cannot afford to lose the safety some shot gives in case of touching the ground. Last season a cutter ran ashore in Carlingford Lough, at about three hours' ebb, spring tides. All hands on the bowsprit end proved useless to get her off, but before a couple of tons of shot had been shifted into the eyes of her she was over the bank, and again in deep water, without which shifting she must have lain on her beam ends the whole tide. I, however, by no means despair that rules might be framed to prevent shifting ballast " athwartship" during a race ; and I will guarantee to bring my vessel to the starting buoy so arranged belowas to avoid any possible suspicion that bal- last could be shifted " athwartship,'' even though the floor shall be covered with shot bags. My plan is this : Every vessel shall have nets from the forward bulkhead on each side, running as far aft as may be, completely screening off the shot lockers, and fastened, on a wire line to pass through eyebolts in both deck and floor, and made secure and taut at the end by paddocks. Surely this would defy the most inveterate ballast shifters.— Yours, & e, Thursday, Feb 19. RED WITH WHITE. MR EDITOR : In your last week's impression I read a letter signed " A Witch on the Broomstick." I do not question the " Witch's" theories, but I most decidedly do question the facts she advances in favour of them. The Galatea did not beat the Violet 49 minutes at Plymouth, but only 26 minutes ( vide BclCs Life of August 24th), and I can remind the " Witch " of another fact, which is not to be found in Bell's Life, that whereas she was allowed a number of extra hands to'assist in " stirring her stump,'' the Violet was by the terms of the race debarred that advantage, and she was sailed on that occasion by her owner and his usual crew of three hands, without extra help in any shape, I think everv yachtsman will allow that was sailing an d winning Asainsx ODDS, SUPPLEMENT TO BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON, MARCH 1, 1863. ANGLING. SPRING FISHING, « Moist, bright, and green, the landscape langhs around, Full swell the woods; their every music wakes Mixed In wild concert with the warbling brooks Increased; the distant bleatings on the hills, The hollow lows responsive from the vales. Whence blending all the sweeten'd zephyrs spring. Now, when the first foul torrent of the brook, Swelled by vernal rains, Is ebbed away, And whitening down the mossy- tinctured stream Descends the billowy foam; now is the time, Whilst yet the dark brown water aids the guile,. To tempt the trout." " With March the fly- fisher's occupation fairly commences, and the past winter has been so singularly mild th . it the season may *> e said to be in advance a " considerable period," as our Yankee friends would say. The welcome spring sorJg of the thrush, the bleat of the young lamb, and the scent of budding verdure has *> urst on cur senses long before the usual time these signs of spring lure the angling sportsman from the hunting- field. We may usually couple tlie sports of hunting and shooting, as they en- cage our attention about the same season; with the " Spring meetings'' of the Turf iy- fishfer. g may be said to commence, . and with the late October gatherings we lay aside our fly rods. But the mild weather has brought all nature . prematurely for- ward and though thefex hunter usually at this time of year ex- pects some of the best t< uns of the season, as the old dog fox will warn far afield in his amours, and give the well seasoned and liighly- conditioned pack many a bursting run, yet vixens cannot resist' the unusual genial warmth. Soon the cry of " Ware! viken" will be heard, and when that cry bursts on t he huntsman s ear his mind carries him forward to next reason in anticipation of sundry litters ef cubs, and if he does continue hunting for a few weeks, he does so often in fear and trembling lest he should Idll the poor vixen. Unless, therefore, we have a very great, • change in the weather, fox hunting will be curtailed by some weeks not only on account of the forwardness of the vixens, but the state of tha country. There is also another " stopper" to • many of the elders of the fox hunting community. I see those " wet blankets" to the " old- uns," the hedgers, most uncommonly busy mending the hedges, laying the binders along the tops, and viciously pegging down the same, filling the gaps, and mending • he broken gates and hurdles. Alas, for poor 16 stone " pater- familias !'' a few days more and the country will be as impassable - 4fco him as that disgusting bit of land on the other side of the At- lantic, lying between Washington and Richmond, is to the Federals. " Do you see that rascal filling up my favourite gap," . said another fox hunter to me; " my hunting's over for this sea- son," and he rode home mournfully. Panorama- like the sports- man's seasons pass like dissolving views, but a few days gone and • we were cheering our spaniels in the thick cover. Nowt we exclaim, w Qo rcst thee> my guI1) in t3ly case. In thy kennel, go rest thee, my dog; The summer must pass o'er our face, ' Ere again o'er the stubbles we jog." Still the hom of the huntsman is heard; but a few days, and his occupation is gone. He may then sing, " All hail to thee. Spring, thy mild reign is dear; Thy mixed character is to our liking true bred, For, though past is the fox hunter's cheer, We've the turf and the rivtr to sport on instead." But the river is our line at present, so let us see what is to be done on or in it. March brings the Hy- fisher to his favourite river haunt. Salmon and trout are now his game. Grayling may be taken, but they will soon be getting heavy in spawn, and it is tetter to treat them tenderly if you wish for sport with that deli- cate fish next season. Jack and perch may also be taken for a short time, but they, also, are filling fast. If you wish to keep down the stock of pike in your water, fish on now. In taking one pike, you may destroy the prospect of future hundreds. Trout are not yet generally in good order, but in many of the rivers in the south of England I have killed good trout in very fair condition early in March. The rivers in Hants, Wilts, and Devon • will yield good trout during the early part of March; and, as I have said, they are particularly forward this year, as, also, will be most of the Welsh rivers. These last are certainly some weeks earlier than our rivers. The flies I should use for trout, the early part of this month, on the southern rivers, are the " blue duns," made large or small, light or dark, according to the state of the water. I make it with— body, hare's ear; legs, - picked out from dubbing; wing, the young starling's wing feather when light; older starlings, same feather, when dark ; tail, two rabbit's whiskers. This is a capital fly on cold windy days, and if you fish deep with it you will generally kill large trout, as fish feed greedily on this fly on cold windy days, and at that time quantities of the fly are drowned before they can take fight from the surface. The March brown is a great killer on some rivers, And when " up'' trout will hardly look at anything else; but there are rivers in Hants on which I never was so successful with the March brown as with some other flies. The March brown is made — body, hare's ear, ribbed with yellowish olive silk; wings, feather of pheasant's wing, well mottled, light or dark, large or small, according to the day and water; when fine, with moderate water, lightish wing; when cold, windy, with high water, darker wing and larger; legs, feather from the back of partridge ; tail, two strands of partridge feathers. The hare's ear and yellow somewhat re sembles the blue dun; this is an excellent fly on many southern riVers, and I generally have it on my cast, made large or small, light or dark, all the year round. The body is made— hare's ear dubbing, mixed with yellow dubbing, and a slight portion of creen; wings, young starling's wing feather for light fly; older swirling's wing feather for dark; legs, small red hackle ; tail, two whisks of rabbit's whiskers. With this fly I have killed more trout on the southern waters than any other, and I never knew it to fail, when flsh are en the feed, in any trout stream ; of course it must be varied in size and shade, according to the water; and I believe it to be the very best general fly thrown on water. The " red spinner,'' another good fly at this season. He is a fine weather gentleman, and disports himself in the bright sun, and well he may poor fellow! for he has but a few days of life— I may say hours— and when life is so short, he is wise to enjoy it whilst it lasts. I think if some of our own race were to follow this poor © phemeridai's example, and instead of spending their short life in morose selfishness, their only pleasure the misery of their neighbours, if such men— and there are, I am sorry to saj', many — would but enjoy this beautiful world, and endeavour to make others around them enjoy it, they would live and die far happier. But, to return to our little sportive spinner. He is but an old friend with a new coat— a garment more suited to the sunny days he delights in than the " blue dun," which in fact he is, after the dun has cast his sombre coat. The spinner is an afternoon and evening fly ; he is a good killer on warm, fine days, but not when the sun is too strong during midday, for then my delicate gentle- man takes his rest. He is made— body, brown silk, ribbed with very fine gold twist; tail, two whisks of red cock's hackle; wings, grey feather of the mallard, which is found on the side of the bird near the legs ; the feather is improved by being stained in an onion dye ; legs, red cock's hackle. The " cowdung" is also a goed fly, particularly on windy days; it comes on about the middle of March; but I expect flies will be this season a week or two earlier than usual. There are two shades of this fly; the male fly is a bright yellow, the female a yellowish brown. I have found the male fly kill best on days when the water is bright, and the female on darker water; it is made— male fly, yellow worsted, mixed with a little green ; legs, light red cock's hackle small; wings, landrail ; female, body, olive- coloured worsted, mixed with brown and green ; legs, red cock's hackle; wihg, landrail. The " water cricket" isa favourite with many, but I do not find it kill so well as others. He is the scourge and de- stroyer of all surface insects, and may be seen on fine days darting after any fly on the water, which, if he succeeds in taking, he devours ; but often his bloodthirsty career is brought to an end by a gallant little troutie snapping him up in the height of his fierce pursuit. This is a small fly, and is made— body, orange floss silk ; legs, a black cock's hackle, which is cut short after putting on; wings he has not at this time of the year ; in the summer he has ; I may then have something more to say about this little murderer of flies— not trout. The great red spinner: This also, like the little " red spinner," is an old friend with a new face or coat. He is the metamorphosis of the " March brown," and is a[ most killing afternoon and evening fly from this time, or from the time the March brown is up until the end of the season, tike his namesake, he enjoys warmth, and is best used on warm afternoons, when he may be seen until dusk disporting bimself on the surface of the water, which he does not often light on; when he does, he often suffers for his temerity, as troutie is on the watch, and has a very great affection for him. The great red spinner is made— body, red brown dubbing, ribbed with fine gold twist; wings, starling's wing feather; tail, two long whisks of bright red cock's haekle; legs, red cock's hackle. The spinner is a large fly. The peacock fly is another favourite with some anglers, but I seldom use him, not that I have not at times found him useful, but he is no great pet of mine, and if I have a fly on my line which I have no great faith in I do not flsh with the same satisfaction as when I have an old friend on. I know many excellent and successful anglers who have favourite flies, and seldom use any others. I have fished with their flies, but don't fancy them. One very good fly fisher I often fish with seldom uses any other fly than one made thus :— Body, greenish yellow silk, ribbed with brown thread ; wings, starling's wing feather; legs, red cock's hackle; tail, same; and a little silver twist for tag. With this fly my friend kills as many trout as most people, and I have often used it with advantage. The peacock fly is made— body, peacock's har!, dressed with mulberry- coloured suk; wings, an old starling's wing fe ither; legs, black backle. For the Welsh early rivers the duns and blues come on as early as February, light and dark blues made buzz, that is, the hackle run from the tail to shoulder in the body, and the fly without wing, are capital killers all the first part of March. The March brown is the fly of Wales, and I believe it will kill all the year round, no matter whether the natural fly is « p or not: I never fished in Wales without it on my cast. There are two very good flies which are used with great success. When the water is dark, a fly, body gold tinsel, and red cock's hackle, or cock- a- bonddu hackle, put on buzz. The cock- a- feonddu hackle is a red hackle with a black tip. It is very diffi- cult to get a really good cock- a- bonddu hackle; and, if a good coloured cock a- bonddu cock in full feather can be found, it is always worth buying, as the hackle is excellent for many flies, both trout and salmon. The cock- a- bonddu fly is the fiy that nine out of ten Welsh fishermen swear by. If you meet an old fisher- man t! he odds are he will ask you to give him a fly, and cock- a- bonddu is his pet. The fly is properly a June fly, but it is fished with all the year round; no matter what colour or what height the water may be. The fly is made buzz; body, black ostrich harl, ribbed with bronze peacock's harl, over which is twisted the cock- a- bonddu hackle from shoulder to tail. This fly is called the " marlow buzz'' in England, and is used late in June. For my own part I have no great faith in the fly, but it will kill well on some waters. For light, clear streams in fine weather I have killed well with a fly made buzz, thus— body, silver twist, light blue hackle. As the fly- fishing season is now coming on I tnink some of my tyro readers may like to know tiow to make a fly. I advise all young beginners to learn to make bis own fly; he need not always put his art in practice; in fact, the tackle makers sell excellent flies at a very moderate rate, and there is very little gained in the matter of cost by making your own fly, when you reckon the price you pay for gut, hooks, Bilks, dubbing, hackles, and no end of feathers. The trouble, and often expense, you go to in search of good feathers, and the time you ocoupy in making a few dozen of flies ! and when you have made your fly, unless you are a really good judge of colour and of feathers, and can set up a fly well, the thing you have spent so much time on is about as much use as a " lump of chalk;" if thrown on the water it will act pretty much in the same way, viz, frighten every fish within sight or hearing. But it is absolutely « ecessary that you should be able to make a fly if necessary. You may be in places you cannot get flies, or you may want one which the fish are rising at and you have not in your book. It is an immense advantage to be able to sit down at the water's side and run up a good fly, or to be able to repair the only fly you have got that the fish will take. I will therefore endeavour so show you how to make a fly, though it is not a very easy matter to do in writing. I would therefore advise all who can do so to get some friend who is a good fly maker to show them the art, or go to some tackle maker, and for a consideration you will be taught artistically, and per- haps this, after all, is the best way to gain the art. First prepare all your materials, and lay them out on a light- coloured board or a piece of white paper; wax your silk, choose your hooks, gut, dubbing, silk, gold or silver twist hackles, and feathers; lay them all before you. The easiest flies to make are those made buzz, and I think they kill nearly as well as the wing flies. Take a piece of gut, see that there is no flaw in it, by testing its strength, then with your teeth flitten one end ; you will require a pair of forceps; place the flattened end of the gut on the lower part of the shank of your hook, with the waxed silk lightly wrap the gut on the hook, commencing at the head of the shank, and ending at about rather more than three parts of the hook, or just where the hook begins to curve. Mak< s a couple of half hitches, and secure Take your dubbing, and lay it on where you have left off. Take one turn of the silk over it, and then a half hitch or two. Take your hackle, and place the fine end on the hook. When you have just make the hitches take two or three turns round it, and then wrap the silk with a turn or two up to the head of the shank, and let it hang with a small light weight on it. Now take your dubbing, which will form the body of the fly, and wrap it round neatly to the head where the silk is hanging. Take a couple of hitches over it. and let the silk hang again ; then take your hackle, and twist it several times round the body, giving the fibres of the hackle a slope from towards the tail of the fly ; carry the hackle up to the head, and with the silk take two or three strong turns and then a couple of hitches, cut off the silk, trim your body and hackle with a fine needle, and you have a fly made buzz. This is the most simple explanatien I can give, and it is the easiest way I know to make a & y » To make e ringed fly will require more art, and I must defer giving an explanation until my next. The buzz flies are best m sharp streams and rapid water; in fact, I think they are better than winged flies in such water. The best time to fash at this season is about from ten until three, but there are days when the mornings are cold that the fish will rise later in the day; and I have often had capital sport on such days quite late in the afternoon, when the day has been well " aired."— Yours, & c TEE GROUSE DISEASE. There is, perhaps, no subject connected with sporting which has been more thoroughly ventilated and more frequently discussed than the grouse disease, and by practical men supposed to have some knowledge of the question, and yet no light sufficient to enable us to arrive at a truthful and satisfactory solution of the precise cause and origin of the epidemic has yet been afforded us ; indeed, the greater part of that which has been written is calcu- lated rather to mislead and deceive than to enlighten and inform ' the inquiring and uninitiated portion of the sporting community. | The theories which have recently been submitted to our notice are various, some of an amusing, some of rather a ludicrous character, others somewhat reasonable, but none entirely satisfactory. We will enumerate those which have lately been promulgated, and then discuss them seriatim. Few possess much novelty, and some of them have long since been disposed of to the satisfaction ef the intelligent portion of the sporting community; but, notwith- standing this fact, they have recently been imparted and received as new and important discoveries. Overpreserving is one of this class. Overstocking with sheep, excess of heather burning, sheep dressing, the destruction of hawks, have each their advocates, and are urged as being either directly or indirectly the cause of disease in grouse. Those theories, which partake of the ludicrous, are followed by the suggestion of remedies of similar calibre ; indeed, it is enter- taining and instructive to observe how assiduously the parents of error exert themselves to support their long- cherished progeny with schemes characteristically delusive. One of the old theories, which has been refuted over and over again, and which we have already intimated has been recently resuscitated as a discovery, and received by a portion of the readers of a certain sporting paper as the undoubted solution of the difficulty, is that of overpre- serving ; but we have not been informed on what overstocked moor the disease first made its appearance, consequently, this, fact having neither been produced nor proved, the inference is valueless. Had the advocates of that theory stated that, conjointly with over- preserving, there had been no burning of heather, then the theory would have been plausible, and would have admitted of some sup- port from argument. When the heather is not sufficiently burnt, so as to afford an adequate supply of young plants for the whole- some nourishment of the stock of grouse upon the ground, dis- ease would be likely to ensue, if the instinct of grouse did not induce them to seek a remedy in migration to hills where suit- able food was to be found. That overpreserving is not the exclusive cause of disease is proved by the fact that this epidemic has exhibited itself with as much virulence in deer forests as elsewhere, and most sportsmen of experience are aware that grouse are not preserved there; and there are also many parts of Scotland where the disease has frequently exhi- bited itself, where grouse are by no means numerous, and never have been so; in fact, of late years, although the disease has not disappeared, the complaints have been that moors have been ex- tremely understocked; and apprehensions have been entertained and expressed that the mania for making large bags, together with the introduction of the destructive breechloader, would ere long entirely exterminate the breed of grouse. We do not, how- ever, participate in those fears. Where these overstocked moors exist, or rather existed, which originated the disease, we are not told. The theory is probably quite as good in the estimation of its originators without the knowledge of this, to them, unimportant fact as with it, on the plea that, as overstocking generally produces disease and degeneracy, therefore the grouse disease may have originated from this cause. A theory which is good in principle and pleasing to the imagination of the contriver must not be abandoned on such light grounds that facts in support of it cannot be immediately found; but in this case the facts are the other way — moors generally have not been overstocked. A comparison has been instituted between sheep and grouse, but there is 110 analogy in the circumstances ; consequently no correct inference can be drawn. If land be overstocked with sheep, so that on ground capable of bearing only 1,000 sheep, 1,500 are located, many, as a matter of course, during the severe winter weather, must be starved and die, but the case of grouse is altogether different. They can change their quarters ad libitum, and it is a well- known fact that they do so, as they are constantly on the move, not only flying from hill to hill, but migrating from the extreme north of Scotland to the extreme west; in fact, whenever any cir- cumstance arises to displease them with the locality where they were bred they move to a distance. Deficiency of young heather, the appearance of hawks, frequent disturbance will each be suffi- cient to occasion a flight from one moor to another or to distant ground, so that there is never any risk of any par- ticular moor being so overstocked that any covey of grouse can possibly be starved; they are not like sheep confined to a given number of acres, so that, if there be no young heather where they were bred, they cannot go elsewhere in quest of it. Partridges, it is well known, remain near the ground where they were bred; grouse are different in their habits, they take very much longer flights, and when they happen to reach ground which suits them they remain for months. There are hills in Argvleshire on which scarcely a grouse is to be seen from April till October, on which numerous coveys are to be found during the months of November, December, and January. Of this fact we had many consecutive years' ocular evidence. What was the cause of the migration we cannot affirm, or from whence the grouse, which were small and of peculiar plumage, came we could never learn ; but we can readily understand the reason of their remaining, as the hills in question were well sup- plied with young heather, the annual burning having been regu- lar, and, moreover, as these hills were contiguous to the sea, the snow never remained forty- eight hours even on the highest ground — so powerful is the effect of the saline atmosphere— conse- quently, good cover for the protection of grouse was as available as good food for their nourishment. We could men- tion other similar instances of migration, but one will suf- fice for the purpose of showing there can be no analogy between the circumstances of grouse and sheep which can in any way support the theory of overstocking as the cause of the disease. As to the number of sheep which moorland will bear, there can be no positive rule, as it varies so much in its quality and capa- bilities, so that the real question is more frequently, how many acres will one sheep require for his support ? than how many sheep will one acre bear ? Yet the latter question is more fre- quently put than the former, although shepherds and mountain farmers generally know pretty accurately how many their par- ticular hills will bear during an average winter. We have, how- ever, frequently seen hills which were much overstocked ; and in severe winters, when the farmers are poor, and have no extra sup- ply of food to sustain their sheep, very many die. In some win- ters grouse, also, on very high ground would suffer, if, like sheep, they were compelled to remain there; but instinct, as we have already intimated, suggests a remedy, and they migrate to the lower ground, where they remain till the mild weather re- turns. The influence of sheep on grouse preserving is a separate question, which we reserve for future discussion. Their total ab sence may, under certain circumstances, be more prejudicial than their excess, and en passant we refer to the purchase some few years since of very extensive moors in Scotland on the part of a very wealthy nobleman, where every description of game is largely pre- served, to the entire exclusion of sheep ; and it is reported that no heather is permitted tobeburnt. If this be the case. wehave the con- viction that the diseasewill, soonerorlater, makeits appearance, not in consequence of overpreserving, but because the grouse which do not migrate will either be obliged to live on old tough heather, or resort to the cornfields, but as the latter will only afford a tem- porary supply, the old heather must be their staple* food through- out the greater part of the year. We do not affirm positively that disease will ensue, but we believe it to be probable. Many coveys will migrate to a distance in quest of suitable food ; those which remain will be seen constantly throughout the autumn in the contiguous cornfields, as was witnessed this year by those who passed by the high road. We do not positively assert that bad food originated the disease, but we know that, it has occasioned a disease, and in all probability will invariably do so, i. e., when- ever the absence of the young, green, and moist plant is supplied by old, hard, indigestible, sapless heather. The crops of nume- rous diseased birds which have been opened after death have been found to contain this hard, undigested food; the crops, also, of partially diseased birds which have been shot have been found to be filled with a similar material, and the flesh of these birds when cooked is invariably hard, dry, and of a whitish colour, and to- tally without juice, consequently unfit to be eaten ; so that the inference that bad food is the cause of a disease, if not of the dis- ease, is a fair and a reasonable one, although it is repudiated with ridicule by those who prefer rather to draw upon their imagi- nation than to place any reliance on such simple things as facts. If good wholesome green food were found undigested in the crops of the dead birds, then it might be contended that the diseased liver arose from some other cause than bad food; but no instance of this kind has come within the range of our experience and that of others with whom we are acquainted, and who have directed their attention to this subject. When the great extent of the mountains in Scotland is consi- dered, it is difficult to suppose that overpreserving alone on any one moor could produce disease. Grouse not only are not com- pelled to remain on one spot of ground, but it is contrary to their habits to do so, especially where they abound, and where green food is scarce. It is well- known to all sportsmen who have resided throughout the year in the Highlands that grouse are much given to roam and change their quarters; they not only take long flights at the end of October, and on the commencement and throughout November, but they migrate from the north to the west coast, and remain there for weeks and months, when those which survive hawks, poachers, and sportsmen return to their native hills. It is a well established fact that the high ground in Aberdeenshire is deserted for the lower moors throughout the winter months; in fact, grouse are constantly shifting their ground, so that it is not easy for those who are really conversant with their habits to give any credence to the doctrine of overpre- serving as being the occasion of disease. In the spring of the year grouse invariably " stock out'' from the deer forests to breed on the adjoining moors, proving that when coveys are left intact, as they frequently are in deer forests, and may be elsewhere, that portions of them go to a distance to breed rather than remain to- gether on the same ground on which they were bred. There are numerous instances of grouse crossing sea water lochs of several miles in extent to breed on fresh ground; instinct, which never errs, inducing this seasonable change of locality. That partridges may be overpreserved is credible, but with a thorough know- ledge of the instincts and habits of grouse, and in consideration also of the extent of moorland by which they are surrounded, it is not so easy of belief, as they can and do migrate whenever an attempt is made to inconvenience them, either by over pre- serving, or by too frequently disturbing them, although the persevering efforts of the majority of sportsmen from the 12th of August to the beginning of September have of late years been tolerably successful in remedying any attempts at overpreserving. Having disposed of the doctrine of over- preservation by such facts and arguments as we have been able on the spur of the occasion to produce, we cannot refrain from inviting attention to another doctrine of a less valid, but of a more amusing description, one which is indebted to the imagina- tion rather than to facts for its existence, at least so it strikes us; it may be correct, but an experience on our part of more than thirty years cannot possibly admit it; it is that the disabled and sickly birds, which now remain in consequence of there being no hawks to destroy them, generate and perpetuate disease. Hence it would appear, if this doctrine be true, that the disease is not a disease per se, overtaking healthy birds, but is generated by birds which are sickly and disabled in consideration of shot wounds, & c, & c, and that these birds, which formerly were removed by hawks, now remain to propagate disease. In the first place, we don't believe that hawks prefer to select the sickly birds; we have seen them strike very many down, and those have inva- ably been healthy birds, for it is just as easy for either a falcon, sparrow- hawk, or riiffetail to capture a healthy bird as to take a wounded or sickly one; indeed, more so, as sickly birds are not much in the habit of flying, but on the contrary are indisposed to rise, and so far from becoming the victims of liawks become the easy prey of vreasels, stoats, polecats, et hoc genus omne. When the consumption of these sickly birds is attributed exclusively to hawks, that wholesale and voracious victimiser of wounded game is altogether ignored, viz, the hoddie crow, which abounds in Scotland, and whose boldness, cunning, and voracity far ex- ceed any qualities of that kind which any hawk possesses. It is strange the amazing oversight of which even intelligent men are sometimes capable when under the influence of a strong desire to establish a favourite doctrine or theory ; and it is certainly re- markable that professed sportsmen, in their efforts to prove that hawks kill all disabled birds, should entirely overlook the host of ground vermin which overrun all moors, and the hoddie crow, who, from our own knowledge, we can safely affirm is much more mischievous and destructive of game than any of the hawk tribe. The prowling cat also comes in for a large share of wounded game; but even admitting, for argument sake, that hawks really did clear away all disabled and sickly birds, 1 and that they have been generally destroyed on the moors, they still exist without molestation in all deer forests, and yet, notwithstanding their presence there, the disease has been as virulent as elsewhere, so that here again the doctrine falls powerless to the ground; in fact, in a deer forest, disabled game of any kind cannot long survive the misfor- tune of sickness, ae vermin of all sorts revel in impunity there. Some amateurs of this extravagant doctrine, incredible to relate^ and in justification of the French motto, " Levraie n'est - pas tou- jours vraisemblable," have literally suggested, forit certainly is diffi- cult of belief; that artificial domiciles should beereeted on the moors i for theencouragement of hawk# to breed in, in order better to preserve the breed of grouse. Others, carrying their extravagance further, have suggested the importation of the white owl from Iceland; but we question whether these suggestions have been received by the proprietors of moors with anything but the most unqualified ridicule. It is certainly much to be regretted that such beautiful and ornamental birds as the falcon and merlin should be destroyed to so great an extent as is practised by most Scotch keepers of the present day; but it is impossible for us to believe that their partial destruction has had anything whatever to do with the grouse disease; and if it be any satisfac- tion to the lovers of the hawk tribe, we can truthfully inform them that the falcon, the noblest of all the tribe, abounds on the west coast of Scotland, and in inaccessible rocks by the sea coast, and in some deer forests, where, as we be- fore mentioned, all hawks revel in impunity, so that there is no just cause for apprehension that the breed of hawks will be exter- minated. The merlin, which is a very beautiful little hawk, weighing only from eight to nine ounces, we regret to say, is be- coming rather scarce; the kestrel are numerous, the hen harrier, sparrow hawk, and buzzard, are occasionally seen, but they are by no means so numerous as formerly. The kite is very rare. All hawks are beautiful, and some of them comparatively harmless, and ought to be spared, but few keepers are inclined to make ex- ceptions, doing their utmost to destroy all that come within their reach, and this is very intelligible when it cannot, be denied that if the nests of the falcon and hen harrier, which are in the vici- nity of well supplied moors, are visited during the time their young ones are growing, that numerous remnants of grouse and black game, & c, & c, & c, will be found in, and about them, perhaps more remnants of grouse than of any other game; if the hen harrier and falcon are located on a good moor during a breed- ing season, and escape molestation, the damage which they inflict is most serious. We speak from observation and experience, as well as from information received from shepherds and keepers whom we sent to examine the nests of these birds ; of course the hen harrier never had one day's grace longer than was necessary after the discovery of the nest, to ensure the capture of both male and female by trapping in the vicinity of the nest. With the fal- con the case was different, as the old birds were spared on more than one occasion, for the purpose of securing the young ones for the use of a falconer; this, of course, involved some sacrifice, but occasioned no regret; in consideration of the noble sport for which it was made, under theauspices of afalconer whom we were desirous of obliging. We think we may safely affirm that a brace of falcons on a good moor will capture at least a grouse each daily, and pro- bably more after the young falcons ( three or four in number) are fledged. On the last occasion on which we secured a brace of young falcons, as there were only two, although four eggs had been laid, there were literally heaps of the remains ef grouse round the nest, and some few remnants of other birds. The nest was in high rocks, difficult of access; so much so, that the shepherd who visited the nest was obliged to be lowered from the top of the rocks by a rope, two persons holding the same. And on the last occasion, when he descended for the purpose of removing the two young ones, when he had reached the nest, the falcon struck at him several times with the utmost violence, so that he was obliged to defend himself with a stick which he held in one hand. On his retreating with the young birds in a hand basket, he was followed by the falcon to a distance of three miles, having crossed a sea- water loch of one mile in breadth, and she continued to hover over the house to which the young birds were brought for a considerable time after his arrival. We could easily have shot the falcon had we felt so disposed. The tiercel, or male bird, we shot some months afterwards. With regard to the hen harrier, which has its nest in the heather, we are aware of an instance of a nest having been found by a keeper, in which the young birds were nearly fully fledged. This was on an outside distant beat, so that the keeper could not return with his traps till the next day. The nest, at the time of its discovery, was surrounded with remnants of game; and on the following day the keeper assured us he found the remains of five additional young grouse, as it happened to be late in the breeding season. In our next article we purpose discussing the other alleged causes of the grouse disease, to whichwe havealready only alluded. CHESS. CHESS PROBLEM, No, 339. By Conrad Bayer. BLACK. jj H JJ M Jjjj 11 jjjj JtM v/ y/ Zy/ M 11 • IIP 111 ill JJ m Jjf JJf B j § § JJ j § JJ Hi JL, • j ljp jjf jgj Jjf 11 ilP m WHITE. White to play, and mate in four moves. Game between Anderssen ( recently on a visit to Amsterdam) and De Lelie, Anderssen. 1. K P 2 2. K KtB 3 3. QP2 4. KBQB4 5. Castles 6. 1' K 5 7. PXKt 8. IC R K+ 9. B K Kt 5 10. Q Kt B 3 Game between Mayet and Hirschfeld, in Dusseldorf Club, May last. De Lelie. KP2 Q KtB3 PXP Same KKtBS QP2 PXB K to B QQ4 QKB4 Anderssen. 11. Q Kt K 4 12. PXP+ 13. Kt K R 4 14. B B6+ 15. Q K B 3 16. KtXB 17. RXB 18. Q K Kt 4+ 19. QXP- t- 20. Kt K B 5, and wins. De Lelie. BK3 KXp jito^ Kt Kt K 2 QXKt PXR Kt Kt 3 KKB Hirschfeld. QBP2 KP1 Q R PI PXP Q KtB 3 Kt l'XKt Q Q B 2 QP2 BXP K Kt B3 PQB4 B Q Kt 2 Kt Q 4 Mayet. 14. Kt K 4 15. BXQBP 16. Kt K Kt 3 17. B Q R 3 18. R K Kt 19. Q K 2 20. K K B 21. K K 22. BXR 23. KQ 24. QXQ 25. It K 26. K Q 2 Hirschfeld. K BXP KBP2 QKQB Kt K6 Q K 4 KtXKt P+ Kt K 6+ RXP+ KtXB+ KtXB BXQ BKB6+ Kt Q B 5+ Better Q B K B 4. Mayet. 1. K P 2 2. KKtBS 3. Q Kt B 3 4. Q P 2 5. KtXP 6. KtXKt 7. P K 5 8. KBl' 2( a) 9. PXP en pass 10. Q Q 4 n. KBQ3 12. Q K B 2 13. QBK3 Mayet surrenders, ( a) These Pawns are weak, Game between Anderssen and Van Kruije, in Amsterdam Club. Chess has made great progress in Holland. When we visited Amsterdam thirty years back there was no player to whom a first- rate could not have given Rook. Anderssen. Van Kruije, Anderssen. Van Kruije. 1. KP2 KP1 17. QKB7 KQ3 2. Q P 2 Q P 2 18. Kt K 4+ ( a) PXKt 3. PXP PXP 19. l'Q5 Kt K 4 4. K Kt B 3 Same 20. PXP+ K Q B 3 5. K B Q 3 Q B P 2 21. RXQ KtXQ 6. Castles Q Kt B 3 22. RXB Kt Q 3 7. Q B Kt 5 PQB5 23. KBP1 KB PI 8. K R K+ K B K 2 24. K Kt P 2 B PXP 9. BXKt PXB 25. I'XKP QRK 10. BK2 QBKB4 26. Kt K B 5 KtXKt( b) 11. Q Kt B 3 Q R P 1 27. RXE RXR 12. Kt K R 4 15 K 3 28. PXKt K Q 3 13. B K Kt 4 Q Q 2 29. P K B 6 RXP 14. BXB PXB 30. RQ+( c) K K 4 15. QKR5+ KQ 31. P K B 7, and wins. 16. Q R Q K Q B 2 ( a) One of Anderssen's grand coups. ( b) Rather play Kt Q B. ( c) Probably not the move looked for by his opponent! Game between Vitzhum and Vitzhum. KP2 KKtBS QP2 KBQB4 Kt K Kt 5 K B P 2 QKR5 P K R 3 Castles QKB3 P K B 5 KKR QKB4 Q Kt Q 2 Q K Kt 3 K Kt B 2 PXP en pass Pflaum. IC P 2 Q Kt B 3 PXP Same KtKRS PQ3 QKB3 Q B Q 2 Q K Kt3 Castles Q R Q KB3 QK2 QRKB KtK Kfc K RP1 K Kt P 2 PXP ( a) Better take Dusseldorf. Pflaum. BK BXKt KKtBS K Kt Q 2 RKB3 KXB KQ QKI5 2 QKtP2 B Q Kt 5 KtK 4 Kt K Kt S KtXB RXQ BXKt K K 2. Wins. KRP. Game between Hirschfeld and Mayet. in Berlin Club Hirschfeld. 1. KP2 2. Q Kt B 3 3. KBP2 4. K Kt B 3 5. P K5 6. Kt Q 5 7. Q Kt P 2 8. KtXK BP 9. PXB 10. B Q B 4 11. B Q Kt3 12. Castles 13. QP2 14. BQR3 15. B Q Kt 2 16. Q R P1 17. Kt. Q2 18. RXP Mayet, K P 2 K B Q Kt 5 PXP KKtBS Kt K R 4 B Q R 4 QBP1 KtXKt QXP Q KtP2 Castles Q Q Kt 3+ Kt K 3 P Q Kt 5 QRP2 B Q Kt 2 PXP PQR5 Hirschfeld. 19. Kt Q B 4 20. Q B P 1 21. KtQ6 22. BXKt 23. QQB2 24. K R Q Kt 25. PQB4 26. R K R 3 27. B Q B 28. BXKRP 29. Q Q 2 30. B K Kt 5 31. Q K B 2 32. Q K R 4 33. RXKt- l- 34. Q K R 5+ 35. Q checkmates. Mayet. Q Q Kt 5 ( a) QQ Kt4 QQKt3 Q PXB PQB4 BQ4 B Q B S K R P 1 KBP2 QRR 2 QQR4 KRQ RXKt KKB2 K Kt P 1 ( a) Queen here very muc- h out of play. The opening has been the wild and wonderful on both sides. Game between the Clubs of land, just concluded. Duisburg. Dusseldorf. 1. QP2 KBP2 17. 2. K P 2 PXP 18. 3. QKtBS KKtBS 19. 20. 4. QBKtS QBP1 5. BXKt K PXB 21. 6. KtXP QP2 22. 7. Kt K Kt 3 KBQS 23. 8. KBQ3 Castles 24. 9. Q K H 5 OK+ 25. 10. K Kt K 2 PKKtS 20. 11. Q K It 6 PKB4 27. 12. Castles Q R PKB5 28. 13. Kt K R5 QKB2 29. 14. P K Kt 3 Ii K Kt 5 30. 15. K KtXP K BXKt 31. 16. KtXB BXK ' Q Kt Duisburg and Dusseldorf, in Hol- Duisburg. Dusseldorf. RXB Q Kt Q 2 K It P 2 QRK P K Kt 4 Q K Kt 2 KtKBS KtK 5 RXB KRP1 Q K Kt 4 RKB4 KKB2 RK2 QKKtS K K Kt 2 RXKt The game was drawn. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The first spring show of the season took place on Wednesday, in the gardens of the society, and not- withstanding the wintry character of the day, was fashionably attended. The gardens, as might be expected, looked rather deso- late, but the dreariness was somewhat relieved by the fine effect of Mr Durenne's noble fountain, which, we regret to learn, is about to be removed. We understand that Mr Durenne has offered to leave it in the gardens on very liberal terms, but that the counsel of the society do not consider themselves justified in incurring the expense. It would be very desirable that some ar- rangement should be come to which would obviate the necessity of removing from the gardens a work of art which during the whole of last season was looked upon as its most attractive orna- ment. Why not make its purchase commemorative of the royal festivities which are now approaching ? It would not be an un- graceful compliment to the new vice- president to make the foun- tain a fixture, and call it after his royal highness, The show on Wednesday consisted of hyacinths and such other flowers as are hardy enough to defy the rigours of an English spring. The specimens were as usual exceedingly good of their kind, and were the subjects of general commendation. LEVEE BY THE PRINCE OF WALES.— His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, by command of the Queen, held a levee on be- half of Her Majesty, on Wednesday afternoon, Feb 25, in St James's Palace. The court was very numerously attended. The whole of the Diplomatic Corps ( with the exception of the Belgian Minister, prevented by indisposition), with the Secretaries and Attaches of their respective Legations, were present. One thou- sand gentlemen had the honour of being presented to bis royal highness, the presentations, by Her Majesty's pleasure, being considered as equivalent to presentations to the Queen. The levee was aiso attended by about 1,700 of the nobility and gentry. The Prince of Wales was attended by a brilliant court, comprising the Ministers of the Crown, the Great Officers of State, and the prin- cipal officer's of the Household of Her Majesty and his royal highness. CRICKET. CRICKET IN INDIA— M00LTAN. H. M.' s 89TH REGIMENT v H. M.' s 101ST R. B. FUSILIERS. This match was played on the 13th and loth December, and ended in favour of H M.' s 101st, with 148 runs to spare. Score: 101 ST REGIMENT. 1st inn 2d inn Ensign Airy, b Taylor 27 b Fraser 43 Lieut J. E. Harden, b Puttick 0 b Price 18 Private Stevens, run out 20 runout 5 Serg Louth, b Taylor 6 absent 0 Lieut W. S. Jervis, b Puttick 23 b Puttick 44 Corporal James, b Taylor 1 c Bell, b Taylor 0 Private Wyld, b Puttick 8 cBell, b Taylor 0 Private Hill, c Helme, b Taylor 10 b Taylor 0 Private Roper, b Taylor 3 c Bell, b Taylor 2 Private Morris, not out 5 not out 0 Private Ashenden, c Bell, b Taylor.... I b Taylor 6 B 7, 1 b 4, w b 8 19 B 2,1 b 4, w b 13 .... 19 Total — 123 Total .. — 137 89TII REGIMENT. 1st inn 2d inn Private Kilday, c Harden, b Jervis.... 4 c Jervis, b Morris 4 Corporal Cox, b Jervis 1 not out 5 Serg Bell, b Jervis 8 c James, b Morris 1 Lieut Price, c James, b Morris .18 b Jervis... 0 Corporal Ord, b Jervis 1 c Roper, b Morris 20 Lieut Helme, c Roper, b Morris 2 b Morris 8 Lieut Newbiggin, c Harden, b Morris. 2 b Morris 0 Private Taylor, not out 11 I) Morris 0 Lieut Fraser, c Ashenden, b Morris .. 0 absent 0 Private Wicks, b Jervis 1 c James, b Morris 1 Private Puttick, b Jervis 0 absent 0 B 7,1b 5, wb2 14 B 9,1 b 1, w b 1 11 Total - 62 Total — 50 RETURN" MATCH. The 89th thinking to regain their laurels, challenged the 101st, without officers playing on either side. 0 Score: 89TII REGIMENT. 1st inn 2d inn Corporal Cox, c M'Donald, b Potts 2 b Morris 4 Private Faulkner, b Hill 0 not out Corporal Ord, c M'Donald, b Hill " Private Taylor, b Morris Serg Bell, b Hill.. b Hill 12 12 run out 9 c Lyle, b Morris Private Wicks, b Morris 5 c Lyle, b Morris 7 b Morris b Hill... b Morris 0 0 Private Davis, c Morris, b Hill 7 Corporal M'Gaw, b Hill 2 Private Puttick, c Roper, b Hill 2 Private Carroll, b Morris 5 b Hill 2 Private Davy, not out 4 c Hill, b Morris 5 B3. lb 2, wbl 6 B 1,1b 2, wbl 4 Total - 52 Total - 51 101ST REGIMENT. Corporal M'Gillivrie, leg b w, b Taylor 1 Private Potts, b Taylor 0 Corporal Daff, c Bell, b Taylor .. 0 Private Lyle, c Wicks, b Tavlor.. 17 B2,1 b 1, w b 1 4 Total 78 Private M'Donald, c Carroll, b Taylor 0 Private Morris, c Faulkner, b Taylor 6 Prlv James, c M'Gaw, b Taylor.. l8 Private Roper, not out 28 Serg Louth, c Wieks, b Bell .... 2 Private Wyld, c Ord, b Taylor .. 1 Private Hill, run out 2 In the second innings of 191st Regiment, James scored ( run out) 0, Roper ( not out) 12, Louth ( b Bell) 0, Wyld ( not out) 2, Hill ( b Bell) 7, Daff ( b Bell) 0, Lyle ( b Wicks) 0; b 2, w b 3— total 26. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND SURREY. MR EDITOR : I observe some remarks in your paper of Feb 15, which ( being in London) were, last evening, brought under my notice. Those remarks would imply that the Surrey Club have made some serious charge against the Nottingham Club, but which I, as sec- etary to the latter club, have not yet heard of. The Surrey Club, through their secretary, have intimated their wish in the most friendly way to play us home and home, or one game at the Oval, but we, in the same friendly spirit, have de- clined, preferring this year to play other counties for which arrangements have been made. If it is any satisfaction for you, Mr Editor, to know, I beg to state that our cricket funds are in a prosperous state, and would warrant the committee in playing three or more home and home county matches ; but when I un- dertook the office of secretary, it was on the understanding that I should not be required to superintend more than twosuch matches, which explains in some measure why a third home and home match has not been entertained. As to your remark about a clique existing in Nottingham, or parties acting under the guidance of any player, it is unknown either to our com- mittee or myself, and if either existed I should, I believe, have known of it. The committee, as well as myself, have acted as we considered best, at all events independently, and take credit to ourselves that, if we have done but little, we have done that little well, and have kept in view, so far as we believe, the true interests of cricket. If, as you state, you know nothing of the merits of the case beyond what you have seen in the papers ( and I have no reason to disbelieve you), I am not surprised that you should have formed some very erroneous conclusions. Your observations on the duties of professional players, in the remarks alluded to, I mainly approve of. Their duty in the first place is, no doubt, to their county, and their next to the M. C. C. as the metropolitan club; they ought also at all times to promote good cricket, and then ( which may not be quite in accordance with your notion) do the best they can for them- selves.— Yours, & c, JOHN JOHNSON, Sec to N. C. C. Great Northern Hotel, Feb 26. CIVIL SERVICE CLUB. MR EDITOR : Will you allow me to inform Civil servants in general, and your correspondent " Civil Service" in particular, what has been done during the past season with reference to this club ? In the spring of last year, in reply to a memorial signed by a large number of gentlemen from nearly every public office in London, Mr Cowper, M. P., and First Commissioner of Her Majesty's Works, & c, & c, consented to set apart, for the use of the Civil Service Cricket Club, a small plot of ground in Battersea Park. This piece of ground was less than 100 yards in breadth, but it was all that could be offered for that season, owing to a large portion of the park being required for the show of the Royal Agricultural Society. It was intimated, however, that a more suitable ground might be allotted to the club in the follow- ing year. In consequence of this communication, a general meeting of the Civil Service was held on the 5th of May, when the following gentlemen were appointed as a committee, for one year, to form and carry on the club:— The Hon Spencer Ponsonby ( President) ; Mr W. H. Benthall, India Office ( Vice- President) ; Messrs E. L. Bateman, Ecclesiastical Commission; C. L. Bell, Board of Trade; G. Bennett, Office of Woods and Forests; J. Hales, Colonial Office; and J. W. Harman, Inland Revenue Office. One of the first steps taken by the committee was to make application to the owners or lessees of every available cricket ground in the metropolis, that the club might, if pos sible, be independent of the Government; butf the only definite offer received was from the proprietor of the South London Cricket Ground, Kennington- lane, who was willing to allow the Civil Service Club the exclusive use of his ground on two eveaings of the week, Saturday not being one of them, for the moderate sum of £ 70 for the season. Even this offer, however, was withdrawn before the committee had an opportunity of discussing its merits. Under these circumstances the committee again appealed to the Board of Works. Accidental causes, which need not here be detailed, caused considerable delay in certain arrangements which it was necessary to make, and it was only yesterday that a final answer was received to the effect that " the First Commissioner was happy to find that, without inconvenience to any other portion of the public, the eastern part of the ground, called the Western Practice Ground, might be used by the Civil Service Club." Having seen the ground in question to- day, I can add that it is of ample size, and that although much of it must be taken up and relaid, there is no fear that it will not be ready for practising on at the beginning of the coming season. I hope that " Civil Service" will" imme- diately adopt his own excellent advise, and " canvass for honorary and effective members," whose names, along with his own, I shall be happy to receive. Others will, I have no doubt, be glad to follow his example ; so I beg to inform them that the subscrip- tion per annum for playing members is one guinea, and half that sum for honorary ones, and that, at present, there is no entrance fee. Already ( without canvassing) nearly eighty playing mem- bers have joined, and I hope that before the next general meet- ing of the club, which will be aonounced in a few days, that number may be trebled. The following matches have been pro- posed for the coming season. Many of the challenges have al- ready been accepted, and none, at present, refused :— Marylebone, Free Foresters, Diamonds, Marlborough College, Charterhouse, Rickmansworth, Southgate, Surrey Club, Anomalies, Wimbledon, Putney Park, Quidnuncs, Inns of Court. I have only to add that I shall be ready to afford further Information to any Civil Servant on the subject of the club, and that any member of the committee will receive the names of gentlemen wishing to join.— Yours, & c, J. L. PATTISON, Hon Sec, C. S. C. C. Admiralty, Somerset House, Feb 18, 1363. GEORGE PARR AND THE SURREY CLUB. MR EDITOR : In your paper of Feb 15, my conduct as a pro- fessional player, and particularly with reference to Mr Burrup and the Surrey Club, has been severely commented upon, i therefore think it necessary to offer an explanation, in order that the cricketing world should be in possession ef the real state of facts. In the beginning of last j'ear Mr Burrup asked me to play in England v Surrey. I promised to do so, provided it did not interfere with the Marylebone Cricket Club matches. After- wards I found out that Mr Burrup's match clashed with England v Kent at Canterbury. As it was impossible for England to play in two places at the same time, and as I subsequently discovered that the Canterbury week had for very many years been held at or about the same time for which Mr Burrup had fixed his match at the Oval ( which he, as secretary of the Surrey Cricket Club, must, or at all events should have known), I refused to play, in- asmuch as England matches are played under the immediate direction of the M. C. C., which is the senior club of the two, and I thought that my interference with their week at Canterbury was unwarrantable. My example being followed by many of my brother professionals, the old established Canterbury week remained the same, and the daysofthe Oval match werechanged. For this reason, coupled with the fact that I could not agree with the sentiments of Mr Burrup, expressed in his letter to me last February, with regard to the dilatoriness of the M. C. C. in not fixing their matches until the end of January, I have incurred the displeasure of the secretary of the Surrey Club. I have now for many years been a professional player, and no one is more grateful than I am for the kind support which I have met with at the hands of the public. I have played for the M. C. C. for nearly twenty years, and have always, with the rest of England, considered that club the fountain head of cricket. To them I owe my allegiance, and owing to giving it them I have incurred the displeasure of the secretary of the Surrey Club— but I cannot serve two masters.— Yours, & c, GEORGE PARR, Radcliffe- on- Trent, Feb 25. LANGTON WOLD CLUB.— We are glad to learn that this old established club of Yorkshire gentlemen will survive their un- courteous treatment by the successors of the late General Nor- cliffe, and summary ejectment from Langton Wold, as the Earl of Carlisle, with his accustomed liberality, has granted them the use of the ground in Castle Howard Park, that has recently been drained and relaid, and is one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in England. The club will in future be called the " Derwent Dale Cricket Club." BOILER EXPLOSION.— SEVEN OR EIGHT KILLED, SEVEN- TEEN INJURED.— About twenty minutes before twelve o'clock on Monday the inhabitants of the lower parts of the town of Hanley were startled by a loud report, which shook the windows of the houses. Simultaneously there was a tremendous outburst of steam, which proceeded from the furnaces of Earl Granville, on the Etruria- road, about a quarter of a mile from the town. It was soon ascertained that a boiler, one of many connected with the extensive establishment where iron is forged and rolled, had burst, and that several lives had been instantaneously sacrificed, besides many serious injuries being sustained, several of which, it is expected, will prove fatal. The boiler which exploded is one which was connected with the movement of the machinery in the puddling- house. It was nearly new, of the tubular description, fixed upright, and built around with brick. The force of the ex- plosion was manifested by the greater part of the mass of the boiler ( all, indeed, except a few fragments of the bottom) being lifted high in the air, and carried 150 yards away in the direction of Cobridge. Among those killed at once was the engine tenter, whose mutilated remains were found under a portion of the interior tubular part of the boiler, and about 80 yards from the site which it had occupied. It is supposed that he was carried thus far by the violence of the explosion, when the part men- tioned separating from the main mass of the boiler fell as it was found, crushing the crown of his head quite flat. Two men and a boy were killed in the adjacent puddling house, it is believed, by the falling masses of brick and debris drawn through the roof, which, on the side towards the boiler, was nearly shattered to pieces. A labourer was also killed who was engaged in wheeling a barrow across the yard. A tall and massive iron- clamped chim- ney, closely contiguous to the boiler, is much rent, and the fur- nace and other buildings, many scores of yards distant, bear evi- dence of the violence with which the bricks which surrounded the boiler have been thrown against them. Fragments of bricks were also strewn in profusion about the yards. At five p. m. on Monday it was known that five or six men" and a boy, were dead, and it was rumoured that another was on the point of expiring! Seventeen persons have also been removed to the North Stafford- shire Infirmaryj more or less injured. FIRE AT PIMLICO.— On Tuesday, Feb 24, a fire occurred on the premises of Mr Dynes, a contractor and builder, adjoining the Government Stores at Milbank, which was not extinguished until the contents of Mr Dynes's workshops were burnt out. As to the origin of the fire, not the least information could be obtained, but the supposition is that it commenced in the basement, probably from some sparks falling among the stock therein, and that it had been smouldering during the whole of the previous night,. THE APPROACHING ROYAL WEDDING. The preparations for the royal wedding are going forward with all activity at Windsor, both within the precincts of the castle and in the town. The arrangements in the interior of the chapel and choir itself are now nearly all completed as far as regards the accommodation for the visitors, and the long rows of seats, rising tier above tier, all covered with scarlet, cast quite a rosy hue over the nave. As a very large proportion of these seats will be occu- pied by ladies, they will doubtless be glad to hear that the Board of Works has taken a very liberal view of the requirements of fashion, and allowed a width of not less than two feet to each seat. These seats are arranged in blocks, spreading backward into the aisles, and tapering to a narrow frontage between the columns of the nave, so as to allow of Yeomen of the Guard being stationed in front of each column. Very large platforms have been erected on the right and left of the organ- loft— that on the right, over Sir Reginald Bray's Chapel, being for the use of the musicians and choir; that on the left for a limited number of the members of the Queen's household. Within the choir itself no galleries have been attempted, and the old oak carving of the Knights' stalls is not forced into unseemly companionship with temporary arrangements. Only a raised wooden dais, im- mediately in front of the communion table, is placed here, and on this the ceremony will take place. With the side aisles of the choir, however, no reserve in the matter of seats is attempted, and every possible nook from which even a glimpse can be had into the interior, and very many from which none can be had at all, have been handed over to the carpenters to fit with ma- terials, either for a sitting or a standing, according as the architec- ture permits. But for those not seated in the Knights' stalls, or immedietely in front of them, it is really very difficult to provide anything like good places, so as to at once command a view of the altar and the choir. The carved oak panelling in front of the royal pew over the communion table has been quite removed down to within a few inches of the floor of the pew itself, so that Her Majesty will not only see the ceremony from this spot, but be as plainly seen herself as if she sat on the raised dais. In fact, Her Majesty's attending the ceremony privately only means that she does not take part in the procession nor attend in royal state ; but, notwithstanding these exceptions, she will, as we have said, be as visibly present on this happy eccasion as either the bride or bridegroom. The memorial window dedicated to the me- mory of the late Prince Consort by the Dean and Chap- ter of Windsor is almost finished, and the last rem- nants of the glass painting with which West disfigured the building have been quite removed. The new window is a really noble addition to the general effect of this fine old in- terior. The Wolsey Chapel, in which the ambassadors are to assemble on the morning of the marriage, is also in course of completion. The centres which support its groined and beauti- fully carved roof have been struck, and though all the elaborate glass mosaics v> hich are to cover it cannot, of course, be placed before the 10th of March, enough will be done to make it appear worthy of the occasion, of its historic nam ® , and of its new pur- pose as a memorial chapel from the royal children to the memory of their late parent. The temporary buildings, the procession hall, and waiting and retiring rooms which are being built out- side the chapel are fast advancing, though by no means so for- ward but that one can see at a glance it will require hard and extra work to get them done before the appointed da}'. The short space of time in which it is necessary to complete these outbuild- ings will, it is said, prevent much being attempted in the way of mere decoration. After the procession through London on the 7th insf, the prin- cess with the Prince of Wales will alight at the Slough station of the Great Western Railway, and not at the Windser terminus, as was at first intended. From Slough they will drive to the castle through Eton and through the town of Windsor, entering the castle by the Henry VIII. gateway. Already the townspeople of Windsor are making great preparations to do honour to the arrival. One very fine arch is nearly completed at Windsor Bridge, and another still larger is being erected across the en trance to the castle itself. Both of these are to be illuminated at night, and both, if we may judge from the money that is to be spent on them, are likely to be very splendid things of their kind. It may save many of the public an unnecessary journey from London if we state at once that, on the morning of the marriage, none will be admitted within the precincts of the castle on any pretence without tickets. Up to the end of last week the applications sent in from the commanding officers of Volunteer corps to be present in Hyde Park on the 7th showed even then that the total force would be at least 16,000 men. We believe we are correct in saying that the royal carriage containing the prince and princess will diverge from the roadway through the park, so as to pass close along the front of the massive line which the volunteers will form there on that day. The Times suggests that the Lords and Commons should cele- brate the wedding of the Prince of Wales by a banquet. Also that the Exhibition building at South Kensington should be thrown open for festivities. " In that colossal nave, now empty and cleared of all barriers, thirty or forty thousand people might dance or promenade without incommoding each other. Thirty thousand half- guinea tickets would find ready purchasers, and would produce fifteen thousand guineas— more than sufficient to light, warm, and decorate the whole. Such is the idea; and it is argued with some reason that a committee properly selected would find no difficulty in confining the admittance to persons who would not abuse the privilege. Decorum may be insured without being exclusive, and there is nothing to prevent an enter- tainment being at once popular and respectable." The corporation of the city of London have announced to the Government their intention of making a bridal present to the Princess Alexandra of the value of £ 10,000. A communication from Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary, with regard to the order of the royal pageant on the entrance of the Princess Alexandra into the metropolis, was read at a meeting of the reception committee of the corporation of London on Tues- day, and is said to have produced among thein a feeling amount- ing to mortification. Sir George is understood to have directed that the Prince and Princess shall take precedence in the proces- sion, attended by the suite of their royal highnesses, and by a military escort, and be then followed by the civic and other offi- cial personages, who may take part in the reception at the Brick- layers'Arms Station. This arrangement proceeds from a desire to expedite as much as possible the passage of their royal high- nesses through the metropolis, having regard to the distance to be traversed and to the comfort of the princess; and it is thought that by the prince and princess being in the van of the retinue the pace of all the rest will be regulated, whereas, assuming them to be preceded by any considerable part of the escort, their progress might be unnecessarily delayed by circumstances beyond their control. The royal personages, it is said, with their attend- ants, will occupy six carriages, each drawn by four horses. The authorities of the corporation of London feel aggrieved by this arrangement, inasmuch as it precludes the Lord - Mayor from conducting their royal highnesses through the City, which they conceive to be his privilege and duty, founded on the usage ob- served on all kindred occasions. The entrance of the Queen into the city of London in 1837 is cited by them as a precedent. On that occasion Her Majesty was met at Temple Bar by the then Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, with a mounted deputation of 25 alder- men and commoners, and preceded and conducted by them to her destination. It is also argued that in all great State pageants, and so in this, the popular interest and admiration which culminate in the sight of the principal personages are whetted by the cu- riosity excited by those who precede them ; but that if the order suggested by the Home Secretary be adhered to the cavalcade will be deprived of much of its interest, and symmetry. The cor- poration, it is said, will probably expend £ 30,000 or £ 10,000 on the auspicious occasion, irrespective of the preparations they are making to celebrate the marriage, and they deplore an arrange- ment which they feel would mar the effect of the ceremonial. At Bricklayers' Arms Railway station extensive works are in progress to accommodate a very large number of persons with seats to view the arrival of the Princess Alexandra. Opposite the arrival platform tiers of seats are erected, some of which will be devoted to the use of the directors and their friends. In the large space in front of the station, but enclosed within its walls, several similar erections are nearly completed, and these will afford ac- commodation to an immense number of persons. Some progress has been made with the triumphal arch at London Bridge, very much to the annoyance of all persons who have to cross in vehicles from one side of the water to the other, as the thorough- fare is diminished in breadth by one- half at the place in question, and the blockade of the bridge is now in greater force than ever. At the Mansion House workmen are busily engaged in erecting seats in front of the building; and within the railings of the south side of St Paul's Cathedral, at the church of St Clement Danes, at that of St Mary- le- Strand, and at almost every other vacant place on the line of route the sound of the hammer is con- stantly heard ; while the fronts of most of the public buildings which face the line of procession, or wherever situate, are gra- dually undergoing a transformation by the preparations making for the illumination which is to take place on the night of the wedding- da}'. The inhabitants of Burlington Arcade have re- solved to decorate and illuminate that place on the day of the ar- rival of the princess and on the wedding da}'. The preparations throughout the country to celebrate the happy event continue to be made on a very extensive scale, and apparently there will be no spot so small in all the isle but will find means to show its loyalty on the occasion. NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.— The second meeting of the National Rifle Association commenced in the Royal Arsenal marshes on Monday, Feb 23, for the purpose of testing the rifles to be used at the forthcoming Wimbledon competition. Major- Gen Hay, Capt Horatio Ross, and Capt St John Mildmay were present as members of the council, the latter gentleman acting the part of secretary as heretofore. The names of the competitors entered for the occasion were Messrs Ingram, Reeves, Terry, Prince, Kerr, Whitworth, Bissel, Turner, Parsons, Baker, and Aston, the first five having withdrawn before and during the con- test. Mr Henry, who acted last year as a most formidable com- petitor against Mr Whitworth, was present on Monday merely as a spectator, and stated that he was ready to try his own weapon against that of the winner, whoever he might be, at the close of the trials. Each gunmaker was provided with his six rifles of the same description and quality— namely, minimum bores, 451 ; maximum weight, 9Jlb ; and minimum pull of trigger, 61b. The rifles were fired from fixed mechanical rests, and the arrangements were nearly similar to those of last year. The following state of the targets obtained on Tuesday, over the 500 yards'range, will show the various figures of merit:— Whitwortb, 57 decimal; Baker, 65 ; Parsons, 73 ; Turner, 74 ; Aston, 91; Bissel, 87. The result of the 20 rounds fired by Mr Whitworth on Monday, was on Tues- day ordered by the council to be cancelled, and the shots to be fired anew, on account of a breach of No. 8 Article of the Regulations, which states that " No cleaning out after trial shots, or during the 20 recorded shots, shall be allowed." The breach of the article consisted in Mr Whitworth having employed a me- chanical ramrod, having a point fitted to the bore of the rifle. This is constructed so as to push the lubricator down on the powder, and in doing so drive3 the fouling of the rifle down also, and leaves a clean tube for the bullet. This was observed by Capt Ross, and objected to by the council, on the ground that it infringed the rules, which provide that no cleaning rods shall be used. The diagram made on Tuesday by Mr Whitworth to stand in the place of the objectionable one of Monday, varied, however, but slightly from the former one. After computing the 500 yards' range, the result of which appears in the above scale, Mr Whit- worth and Mr Aston fired 20 rounds each over the long range of 1,000 yards, at the termination of which Mr Aston stated his de- termination to withdraw from the trials. On Tuesday the weather was exceedingly appropriate, with a slight variation and rise of the wind towards the latter part of the day, and which somewhat affected the flight of the bullets over the long range. The result throughout was highly satisfactory. The contest was continued on Wednesday, the competitors present being Messrs Whitworth and Turner, Parsons and Baker, and Mr Bissel, who fired alone on account of the retirement of Mr Aston. The range was 1,000 yards, and in order to facilitate the proceedings the two pairs of competitors were enabled to fire at the same time, a double range having been placed at their disposal. The firing com- menced at ten, and terminated about half- past five. Mr Whit- worth, as usual, made the best of the diagrams, the whole of which, from the double target, are as follows :— Whit worth, l ' 64ft — 2- 10ft; Baker, 2 74— 2 78 ; Parsons, 2- 37— 1 ' 94; Turner, 3 02— 2- 65 ; Bissel, 3 40— 2 89 ; the calculation being the radius from the first hit, and not the centre of the target, the object being to ob- tain a uniformity of aim rather than accuracy. A portion of Mr Parson's firing was found to be grouped together in a singularly close cluster, 16 of the shots falling together nearly one over the other, the remainder falling wide of the mark from the fastening of the rifle becoming somewhat loose, and the second batch of shots, all following one another, making a similar figure to the first. Had not the shift taken place, they would all have struck in a space of 2ft 3in square. One of his targets, made at 500 yards, had a mean radial deviation of - 32 of a foot. The cause of Mr Henry withdrawing his name from this year's contest was stated by him in a letter to the council. In it he protests against the employment of various machine rests, and states his strong conviction that the use of a variety of the rests cannot give the true figure of merit of each rifle, there being as much differ- ence in the quality and construction of machine rests as in the rifles themselves. The offer, therefore, that each competitor be allowed to bring his own rest is both useless and unfair. In his opinion, each competitor should use the same rest, which should be supplied by the association, and manufactured by a neutral party, who would have no interest whatever in the com- petition. MADAME TUSSAUD'S.— The curious should spend half an hour in examining the picture, by Hamilton, of the marriage ceremony of the Prince of Wales of 70 years ago and the Princess Caroline of Brunswick. It is very rich in portraits and court costumes. Hamilton, who was very accurate in his likenesses, was paid 3,000 guineas for this work of his pencil, and, considering the number of portraits it contains, does not appear to have been paid too much. Now that a Prince of Wales is about to lead a bride to the altar there is an interest in this picture which will be appre- ciated by most people. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. FATAL FIGHT.— At Carlisle, on Tuesday, James Callum, Nicho- las Brown, and John Coukey, all boys, were indicted for the man- slaughter of George Sinclair, at Carlisle, on the 29th of September last. Mr Campbell Foster prosecuted, and Mr Scott defended the prisoners. It appeared that the prisoner Callum and the de- ceased George Sinclair, the one 15 and the other 17 years of age, had challenged each other to fight, and on the day in question they went at eight o'clock at night, in the dark, to a piece of vacant ground called the Catholic Louning, near the river at Car- lisle, to fight. The prisoners Brown and Coukey were their seconds, and a ring was formed of boys of similar age. These two lads then fought 34 rounds, occupying an hour and 20 minutes, when a bystander proposed they should give over. The prisoner Callum said he was willing to do so, but the deceased said he would not unless Callum would give in, which Callum refused to do. Sinclair then jumped up off his second's knee, called " time," and rushed at Callum. The two lads got hold of each other and wrestled, and Callum threw Sinclair a cross- buttock fall, falling on him. Sinclair became sick, was unable to rise, was insensible, and on being carried to the dispensary died in a quarter of an hour, from extravasation of blood on the brain caused by exter- nal bruises on the head, arising probably from tlie fall he had received — The jury found all the prisoners Guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.— His lordship, in passing sentence, said he concurred in the view taken by the jury. There had been nothing unfair in the fight, and though the law prohibited fights, boys and young men would get into these fights, and the unfor- tunate death of the deceased might be attributed rather to an ac- cident. Yet the law did not allow this, and it was his duty to pass a light sentence upon them. The criminality in this case was very light indeed, and he thought the justice of the ease would be met by a sentence that they be each imprisoned for two days. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.— At Hammersmith, on Tuesday, John Pattison Innes, a short, dark complexioned, middle- aged man, was charged with endeavouring to obtain money by false representations.— Mr P. P. Gordon, a gentleman residing in Pembridge- gardens, Bayswater, stated that between seven and eight o'clock on Monday night his servant entered and said a per- son, who had been shown into the hall, wished to see Mrs Gordon. Witness went out and saw prisoner, and on asking what his business- was, he said he wished to see Mrs Gordon to obtain suf- ficient money to convey him to Glasgow, where he had a situa- tion. He presented witness with a letter purporting ts be an offer of a situation. He took it into the dining- room, and noticed that the ink appeared quite fresh. He returned and asked the prisoner for his certificate of character, upon which he took out some papers rolled in a piece of newspaper, and gave him one. Directly afterwards the prisoner followed him rapidly, asking for it to be returned, as he had made a mistake. Witness refused, and upon opening it he found it was a similar letter to the first the prisoner had handed to him, only it was in blank. It had the same picture of works as in the letter purporting to be the offer of the situation. Witness immediately rang the bell and ordered his pa,' e to procure a constable. The prisoner then said he would not be humbugged, and was about leaving the room when witness took him by the neck, and desired him to sit down in a chair till a constable came. He afterwards implored witness to have mercy upon him, and admitted that the offer of the situation was false, and that he was driven to do it as he wanted bread for his four children. He gave the prisoner into custody, and on being searched a card was found with witness's name and address upon it— The prisoner being identified as a well- known begging letter- writer, was sentenced to three months' hard labour. BRUTALITY TO A WOMAN.— At the Thames court, on Tuesday, Feb 24. a ruffian named George 8hields was finally examined and committed for trial for wounding Jane Dixon. The prosecutrix and the prisoner have lived together for several years. On the morning of the 2d ult, between the hours of one and two o'clock, fearful screams were heard from the prisoner's room, and the other lodgers in the house hurriedly proceeded to the place. They found Dixon lying in the passage, where she had fallen while en- deavouring to reach the street- door. She was insensible and bleeding, and there was a frightful wound on her head. Mr Wm. Giles, a physician and surgeon of Canton- place, East India- road^ was sent for, and dressed her wounds. When she was restored to consciousness she said that, in consequence of her paramour's threats, she lay down on a pillow on the floor by the side of the bed in which Shields lay. She was nursing a pet bird, when he suddenly leaped from the bed, swore he would murder her, and took up a heavy wooden chair, with which he struck her in a savage manner. He then took up a leg of the chair and beat her with it over the head, hands, and shoulders. She escaped from the room, and endeavoured to reach the street, but fell down in the passage from exhaustion and loss of blood. Her life was despaired of for several days. She had declared her intention not to attend the court, to give evidence. Mr Woolrych, however, was determined to have her testimony, ordered a summons to be issued, and said that if she did not attend a warrant for her ap- prehension would be issued. She appeared on Tuesday for the first tim « , and was in a very weakly condition. She repeated what she had stated to Dr Giles, and added that she could only account for the sudden and murderous attack made upon her by the fact that she had threatened to leave the prisoner. Her state- ment was confirmed in all the material particulars by a police- constable named Bagwell. On taking the prisoner into custody and acquainting him with the charge he said " I did it; lam the man.'' PASSING EVENTS. DEATH OF MR GEORGE GENGE.— The numerous friends and admirers of Mr George Genge, the popular vocalist, will learn with regret that he died on Monday, Feb 23, at his residence, Peckhain- grove, after a lingering illness, leaving his widow, who is in a delicate state of health, not only in great affliction, but in needy circumstances. DEATH OF MR DANIEL WHITTLE HARVEY.— We have to re- cord the death of this gentleman, the well- known chief commis- sioner of the City police. He died, after only two or three days illness, at. the age of 77. The cause of death was a carbuncle in the mouth. THE SWYNFEN CASE.— Another phase has just occurred in this case. On Tuesday an execution was put into Mr Kennedy's offices at Birmingham for Mrs Broun's ( Swynfen) costs in the recent litigation between herself and her former advocate. An execu- tion was also put into Mr Kennedy's office, Elm- court, Temple, on Saturday week. THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.— It is not generally known that numerous visitors, on presenting their cards, are daily ad- mitted into the Exhibition building. It is proposed that a mili- tary band shall play on certain days of the week under the western dome. The building now shows its enormous magnitude, and is in remarkable contrast to its former appearance. The photographs secured during its busy days are being sold at the only remaining stalls by the company who acted as photographers to the Exhi- bition." Around these stalls persons still linger to obtain me- mentos of the great event of 1862. There is one statue remaining which seeins somewhat emblematical— it is the Daughter of Sion sitting amidst desolation. A letter from Brest states that an alarming accident occurred there on Tuesday week, at half- past ten in the morning. A pow- der magazine, situate at the extremity of the gunpowder manu- factory " of the Pont du Bois, exploded with a terrific noise. The magazine contained 70 tons of pswder, but by a Providential chance, the explosion took place towards the adjacent fields. Had it exploded at the PontduBois. it is probable that a great part of the manufactory would have been destroyed. Three new magazines were blown to pieces so completely that no trace of them remains. Four new windmills were stripped of their roofs, and several other buildings are more or less damaged. The most unfortunate circumstance, however, connected with the accident is, that six lives were sacrificed. The dead bodies were collected in frag- ments, completely calcined. One leg remained suspended from the branch of a tree, the portion of the trowsers which had covered it was still burning, and other members were found in the river. There was but one man wounded, and he was at a considerable distance from the magazine when the explosion took place. He had an arm broken. The shock was so violent that it was felt at a distance of some leagues. NEW BATH THEATRE.— The new theatre, erected on the site of the old building, which was burnt down in March last, is nearly completed, and will be opened on Wednesday, March 4. The old structure could hardly have been surpassed in the excellence of its acoustic properties. The new building has been raised by a company enrolled under the Limited Liability Act, and the citi- zens of Bath have subscribed the whole of the capital of £ 12,000. The cost of the erection and accessories will be about £ 10,000. The works have been executed under the superintendence of Mr Phipps, architect, whose designs were chosen from among those of several competitors. MARRIAGE OF TO. M THUMR.— Tom Thumb has got married to a minute bride, 32 inches high, and 21 years old, Miss Lavinia Warren by name, and of Plymouth county, Mass. " The general," as the New York paper?, full to overflowing of accounts of the wedding, call him, is 31 inches high, and 25 years old. The lady had been engaged by Barnum for his museum, and according to one story he did all he could to prevent the little people from knowing each other. Fate was too much for him, however; he could not prevent the general from paying his twenty- five cents " like any other man,'' and entering the museum. That single act did the business. He went, he saw, and was instantly conquered. HEALTH OF LONDON.— The deaths in the week ending Feb 21, were 1,377, being 87 below the average. Small- pox was fatal in 25 cases, measles in 31, scarlatina 60, diphtheria 13, phthisis 162, bronchitis 152, pneumonia 72. The births were 1,012 boys and 896 girls— total 1,908. COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT WEDNESBURY.— On Thursday, Feb 19, a frightful accident happened in Steers Meadow Pit, worked by Mr Tolley at Wednesbury. On the night in question three men and a boy descended the shaft about six o'clock for their night's work. About nine o'clock an old pit shaft, distant about thirty yards from the colliery, and on the edge of a brook, gave way, the water instantly fsreing its way through the opening thus made into Mr Tolley's pit. Mr Hatton, at an adjoining mill, lost 110 time in having the flood- gates opened, which had the effect of drawing off a considerable quantity of water, which otherwise would have found its way into the workings. As it was evident that the lives of the men in the pit were imperilled, Mr Tolley was sent for, and on his arrival, an attempt was made to dam up the brook and stay the water. This, however, was found to be not so easy, and during the night a number of men were at work constructing the dam with timber, clay, & c. Two men descended the pit about midnight to endeavour to gain access to the poor fellows in the workings, but without success, the water being so high that it was impossible to proceed. On Friday week a crowd of 300 persons, principally miners, as- sembled, and many of them volunteered to go down the pit, but Mr Tolley would only allow five or six to descend. Mr Baker, the Government inspector, arrived about half- past three, and per- sonally directed operations. Throughout the day a sulphurous smokehad been issuing from the mouth of the old shaft, which about five o'clock burst forth into flames, and continued so all night. The scene was then one of impressive grandeur. The crowd had increased to 3,000 or 4,000 people, and the red glare of the flames, as they leaped high into the air, showed in bold relief the pit and its banks covered with anxious groups. The names of the unfor- tunate men who were in the pit were John Pitt, 50; William Gettings, 21; Edward Jones, 20; and Job Jones, his brother, 15. We learn that, excepting only the boy Job Jones, all these poor fellows have by this accident lost their lives. From the account given by this youth, who was recovered at about half- past six on Saturday week, after having been in the pit thirty- six hours, during thirty- three of which all hope of escape seemed ta have been cut off, he and his companions were all steadily at work, un- apprehensive of immediate danger, when between eight and nine o'clock Gettings, hearing the noise occasioned by the destruction of the dam, the falling in of one side of the workings, and the on- rushing of the water, gave the alarm, and himself, with Pitt, immediately made their way to a higher level. In his terror Edward Jones ran towards the shaft by which he had de- scended, and thus to an instant death, for the water was now pouring in between the spot upon which he had been engaged and the bottom of the shaft. The three others re- mained at the highest point of the workings until the water had risen so high as to touch the breast of the lad, whose waist, that he might maintain his footing, was firmly clasped by Gettings. As it was clear that the water was rapidly rising, and would soon submerge them if they could not gain a higher spot, the youth, after they had remained together about an hour,' spending the time principally in prayer, suggested that probably he might be able to climb the almost preeipitous side of a rocky eminence in the workings, upon the summit of which, if they could gain it, they would all be safe. By a desperate spring the boy succeeded in clutching a protuberance of the rock above him, and by a continued effort gained the desired spot. Pitt and Get- tings essayed to follow their youthful leader, but being less agile, and of greater weight, failed in every attempt. This fearful struggle for life lasted about an hour, when, in the darkness, the boy heard the last splash and plunge. There he remained until rescued on Saturday week about three o'clock. The corpses of Pitt and Gettings were afterwards brought up. and on Saturday night the miners were still prosecuting their unwearied efforts to recover the remaining corpse, which is supposed to be buried beneath the debris of the fallen dam and off- side of the working. The flames continued to belch from the mouth of the burning mine. Pitt leaves nine children, and his eldest daughter was soon to be married to the deceased Jones. Gettings was the stay of his widowed mother. Printed and Published by WILLIAM CHARLES CLEMENT, at the Office, 1i°,, 5trand'in tlle Parish of St. Clement Danes, in tlic City and Liberty of Westminster.— SUNDA1", MARCH 1, 1863,