[ GRATIS.] SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1863. [ GRATIS.] RACING IN" FRANCE. THE PROSPECTS OF THE SEASON. ( FROM OUR 0" VVN CORRESPONDENT.) On the 21st of February Mons Grandhomme issued his eighth number of the French Racing Calendar for 1863, and it is doubtful whether any issue that has ever appeared from No. 30, Rue Grammont, can be compared with the one now before us, both as regards the general importance of its contents and the interest that has been manifested in its publication on account of the information anticipated from it. The issue of the French Calendar has for many years been of great importance to racing men in France, inasmuch as it has always con- tained the complete programmes of all the meetings for the ensuing year at Paris and Chantilly. The interest its appearance creates has been enhanced considerably this year, owing to its containing results that have been arrived at after several months' deep consideration on the part of the racing authorities of France relative to the great day on which they have invited all Europe to assist them in a sport that they have fostered carefully for years, with a view to its becoming a national pastime, and the advancement of which they are now encouraging by endeavour- ing to secure for it a spirit of international importance. Of course, we refer to the great race for 100,000f that is to be run for at Paris on the 31st of . May, and we are sure our readers will concur with us in opinion that the task which devolved on the rulers of the French Turf in arranging all matters connected with this great event was one that required the greatest consideration, for it must be borne in mind that this 100,000f was derived from two very important sources, namely, from the railway companies of France and from the people of Paris; that it was given with a view to advance racing for the purpose of benefiting trade, and that its continuance depends on success. In fact, the race in itself will not only decide the merits of the respective three year olds from different countries, but it will in another sense contribute largely towards settling a question that has frequently arisen between the enemies and promoters of the Turf, the former asserting that racing is useless to a country excepting as an amusement for the rich, while the latter hold that it stimulates trade, and can be traced as a very important institution in a country's welfare. The reputation, also, of the French Turf will be greatly affected by the result of this event, for the character of the day's sport is almost certain to insure the presence of all the great Turf authorities of the day. It will draw together the best journalists from all countries, whose opinions will immediately be echoed to the • world, and by all these this single day's sport will be judged as a criterion as to what racing in France really is— whether its flou- rishing condition has been exaggerated, or whether it does exist as a great institution, to be regarded with admiration as having advanced to a great state of perfection in a very few years. The conditions of the great race being on an international prin- ciple, it was of course almost necessary that the other races to accompany it on the card shall be on somewhat similar terms, and this idea has been wisely adhered to, for on turning to the Calendar we find that tbe programme of the day comprises five races, and that three of these are open to horses of all countries. The opening event, the Prix d'Armenonville ( named after a favo- rite fixture of the Chantilly Hunt), is of 2,000f, for French horses only ; the winner to be sold for l, 500f (£ 60) ; distance, 1 mile 4 furlongs. The second race is the Prix du Conseil General of 4,000f, for three year olds and upwards of all countries ; entrance 150f, 50 ft; weight for age ; the winner to be claimed for 7,500f (£ 300) ; distance, 1 mile 2 furlongs. The third race is the Prix Pavilions of 6,000f, for French three year olds and upwards; weight for age, with penalties, & c; entrance 200f, h ft; dis- tance, 2 miles 2 furlongs. Then comes the Grand Prize, and the day's sport is to conclude with a Handicap of 6,000f, for three year olds and upwards of all countries; entrance 300f, 200 ft, and 100 only if declared; distance, one mile and a half. In glancing at the conditions of these races, one conversant with the subject can easily perceive that they have been very judiciously contrived, so as to obtain large fields. A Selling Race in France, such as the day's sport commences with, generally brings ten or twelve together ; then there are sure to be many for the second selling race, for doubtless there will be se- veral from England that will be brought over to lead gallops for crack companions for the big race, whose value will not exceed £ 600 or £ 700, which the owner would net, together with the stake, in case of a claim. The conditions of the third race also are such that a tolerably large field of the French division may be expected at the post, though in this instance we think a "" Slight mistake has been made by not leaving it open to hoiWof all countries. Whether the great race will bring a fiela tQcether commensurate wth its value is a question that has given rise to a great difference of opinion, but on this point will the success of the day to a great mea- sure depend, and the handicap being on precisely the same terms as the Omnium or French Cesarewitch, excepting that it admits horses from all countries, ought certainly to bring as large a field together as that race has hitherto done, namely, from twelve to sixteen. The above races, besides being of a cha- racter likely to obtain large fields, exhibit another recommenda- tion in having their conditions so diversified a3 to bring together for the stranger's inspection every description of race horse in France. In the Selling Race he will see the very worst; in the second race he will see specimens of the middle class; in the Grand Prize he will see the very best; and in the Prix Pavilions, which is over a distance of ground, he will probably see some of the stoutest horses of the country, of ages varying from four to six. The programmes for the spring and autumn re- unions at Paris and Chantilly are nearly the same as they were last year, and they comprise no new races, excepting a Selling Stake of 2,000f ( the Prix d'Auteiul), which forms a fresh item for the first day at Paris. In all, at Paris and Chantilly, fourteen days' racing have been provided for, comprising 71 races. The added money at the Paris Spring Meeting amounts to 103,000f, or £ 4,120. At Chantilly Spring the sum is 62,500f, or £ 2,500; for the summer meeting at Paris it amounts to 118, OOOf. or £ 1,780. At Paris Au- tumn, 70,000f, or £ 2,8000, and that given for the two Autumn meetings at Chantilly amounts to 29,500f; the sum total of this calculation being 3S3,000f, or about £ 15,300, as added money for the meetings of Paris and Chantilly. This amount greatly ex- ceeds that which was appropriated to the same meetings last year, even when we deduct the 118,000f for the Paris Summer Meeting, for several of the smaller stakes have been augmented. We perceive in one instance as much as 6,500f has been added to a race ( the Prix du Lac Handicap), run on the last day of Paris Spring, which last year was a very insignificant event of only l, 500f, whereas now it can boast of 8,000f, which makes it one of the most valuable handicaps in France. Most of the minor events of the Paris Spring Meeting are en- gaged for during the present month and first week in April, but the engagements have all been made for the best stakes, such as for the Prix du Cadrau for four year olds, and the Prix de Long- champs, the Pouled'Essai, the Poule de Produits, and the Prix de l'Empereur for three year olds, and all these stakes have been well subscribed to, as we find the names of 25 well known performers of lass year in the Prix du Cadrau, including Stra- della, Orphelin, Alerte, Falandre, Mazeppa, Choisey le Roy, & c; and in the three year old races the names of Charles Martel, Loup de Mer, Stentor, Grand Dame, Nobility, Lucida, and several others of the dark division that are now talked of in connection with the French Derby and Grand Prize are frequently conspi- cuous ; besides which, several whose names to us are more fa- miliar as performers of last year, such as Cantonnade, PasPerdus, Guillaume de Taciturne, Fleur de Mai, and Lord Stamford's flyers, Brick and Armagnac, are engaged to do battle with each other, so we are likely to have many fair trials for testing the merits of the young division ere the Derby and Grand Prix occupy our immediate attention. In order that the readers of BelCs Life may be well informed on all matters connected with French racing, we shall endeavour to glean every intelligence respecting events and future competitors in a continuation of this paper on the prospects of the approaching season. CONTINENTAL TURF STATISTICS, 1862. ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The following tables contain a list of the Principal Winners, the Most Successful Stallions, and Winning Horses, in the Aus- trian Dominions, in Germany, and Baden Baden :— PRINCIPAL WINNERS. No. of No. of Value of Owners. races run. races won. winnings. Frd. d'or Count Henckel 31 15 3.050 Count Lagrange and Baron Bievre 27 7 2,856 Count C. and Count G. Lehndorfi' C3 28 2,132* Count O. Kinsky and Baron Bethmann .. 36 10 1,948 Count J. Renaid 21 12 l, 738| Prince Esterhazy 7 3 1,711 Iierr von der Luhe 47 15 1,615 HerrE. Moll 10 7 1,505* Count Batthyanv and Count A. Zichy .... 35 12 1,461 Count Huuyaly 23 7 1,322 Count Hahn 35 8 1,265 Baron R. Maltzahu 6 3 1,105 IIerr G. Pogge 14 7 912* Roval Frederick William Stud 26 7 754 Herr H. Delamare 9 4 782* Baron Mesnil 13 3 582* Rowland, Esq 2 1 500 Herr G. Bandmatm 6 4 469 Count R. Wenckhcim G 2 466 Count G. Gotzen 21 7 459* Imp. Mil. Stud, Kis Ber 5 1 422 Count Bernstorff 17 5 391* Mr Walter 7 3 373 Couat A. Bethlen 13 5 358* Count Henekel, jun 8 1 345 Count D. Teleki 2 1 840* Count Alveusleben 4 2 320 IlerrHasperg 26 7 317 Count P. i alify 5 3 3' i9* Prince F. Kiasky 9 2 297 Count Alvensleben •. 25 3 ^ 93 Herr Simpson 8 ...... 4 277* Royal Traiehnen Stud 20 5 264 Prince Sulkowski 5 2 256 Mr Scliaub 20 6 255 HerrE. Fewez 11 4 248 Lieut Jachmann 18 7 240 Lieut Baron Wilamowitz 9 2 239 M Fasquel 1 1 230 CountN. Esterhazy 21 ...... 5 218 Prince Sanguszko 2 1 213 Bount Roszwadowski 2 1 211 l t Stoctean 5 2 205 < tSchlieffen 23 3 196* iStjnt 5 1 189 WINNING HORSES, Races Races Value of won. run. winnings Frd. d'or Stradella, by Cossack or Father Thames.. 2 2 2,112* Ocean, by Sheet Anchor 4 7 1,815* Lady of the Lake, by Teddington 3 4 1,714 THE CHASE. Comesta, by Testator 5 Guiding Star, by Robert de Gorham 5 5 Little Pippin, by Blackdrop 5 9 Wild Rose, by William the Conqueror.... 2 3 Confidante, by Stockwell 3 6 Whlteno-- e, byHartneitsteinorSheetAnchr. 6 8 Claudius, by Smaragd 5 11 Pontius Euxinus, by Blackdrop 7 14 Gladiolus, by Kingston 5 10 Arthur, by Hartneitstein 3 5 MaidwfKar, by General Williams 7 11 Deutsche Michel, by Italian or Musician. 3 7 Gaspard, by Daniel O'Rourke 3 8 Medora, by Seraglio 1 2 St Mark, by Jeremy Diddler 4 Mincio, by Chief Justice 1 Avalanche, by Wild Dayrell 3 Tuccio, by Orlando 5 Angus, by Castor 1 Aurora, by Ephesus 2 Vanquisher, by Voltigeur 1 Fullsail, by Sheet Anchor 3 Varus, by Ibicus 3 Alfold, by l. ittle Jack 1 Malice, by The Libel 3 Radamans, by Chief Justice 1 Cocktail, by Collingwood 2 Lord Milton, by Surplice 9 Antler, by Chief Baron Nicholson 2 Le M rechal, by Monarque 1 Alivo. by Lightfoot 4 Saraphiin, by Bonnie Scotland 3 Ellen, by Idle Boy 2 Faculty^ by Colsterdaie or Orpheus 2 Noiseful, by Talfourd 2 First Trial, by Tadmor 3 Star of the East, by Chanticleer 3 Dragoman, by Champagne 1 Br m by Argur out of Boundless 4 Apollo, by Pyrrhus the First 3 Bievre, by Pedagogue or Elthiron 3 Rigoletto, by The Baron 1 Egmont, by Fitz- Gladiator 2 White Rose, by Slane 1 Ilona, by Bay Momus 2 Talfourd, by Talfourd 1 Katherina, by Paragone 2 1,114 ; 1,200 1,031* j 1,015 950 933 915* 912* 781 739 644* 590 571 500 469 422 416* 397 388 374 359 356 356 347 346 340* 320 297* 2i6 278* 265 264 260 256 255* 252 250 248 236 232* 230 228 228 218* 211 204 LIST of THOROUGH BRED STALLIONS and MARES, which, within the last twelve years, have been imported from England to Austria, Hungary, and Poland. STALLIONS. Teddington Amati Picoreur Daniel o'Rourke King of Kars Grey Pyrrhus Bivouac Bolton Sir Tatton Blue Jacket Blemish Forbidden Fruit St Giles Sirocco Ephesns Bashi Bazouk Canrobert Midhope Oak ball Preston Italian Ducrow Scotchman Musician Chief Justice Comforter Little Harry Ferrhill Van Stroom Snowstorm Grapeshot Clair de Lune Little Jack Gwldfmder Night Hawk Vandal Polmodio Sprig of Shillelah Compromise Ptolomy Cotswold Shooting Star Revolver Arsenal Melior Wilsford Chief Baron Nicholson The Reiver Frantic Y. Voltaire Tirailleur Sutherland V. King Tom Conqueror MARES. Honevsuckle Rosa May Catastrophe Queenstown Switch Rlack Tiffany Pauline Maritomes Calliope Tiff Sepoy Witchcraft Miss Worthington Elastic Donna del Lago Claire Maria Theresa The Mermaid Thirza Conspiracy The Gem Miss Eleanor Breviary Bramah Pootrah Pyrrha MissLetty Dahlia Madame Rachel Fanny Lady Louisa Silk Peeress Alas Kate Tulloch Tyne Vanity ( Irish) Cyrene Red, White, and Blue Medway Ambassadress Agitation Susan The above is compiled from advertisements which have appeared in Vogler's Calendar, Austrian Racing Records, & c. Little Polly Uzella Cure Mare Paradox Taurina C'estrea Lady Shrewsbury Fleece Paulina Bay Letty Problem Harriet Maid of Kars Confidante Strutaway The Novice Taly Mickey Free Mare Calmuck The Ugly Doe Traviata, & c COURSING. THE LATE BALDOCK MEETING. The Baldock Sapling Meeting, which closes the present season in Hertfordshire, took place over the Bygrave estate on Thurs- day, by the permission of the president of the club, J. Smyth, Esq, who, at every meeting throughout the season, has exhibited untiring exertions in upholding the popularity of the Baldock Club, which, with their open Champion Challenge Meeting, have attained a verv distinguished position. I am not an advocate for sapling running, as I have witnessed so many good greyhounds spoilt from overexertion at such an early age. Only two years ago, ever this groind, Mr J. O. Daintree ran a litter of very handsome saplings, by Junta out of Debonnaire, each of whom won; they never format, however, the severe running to which they had been subjected, and, although eagerly purchased at large amounts afterwards, they barely paid their training ex- penses. At the present meetiig but two four dog sapling and two four dog All- aged Stakes were made up. We commenced on the last side of Bygrave House with the Sapling Stakes, No. 1. I shall not attempt to describe the runiing of each sapling, as they were not slipped, but merely loosenet by hand. Mr Potterill's sapling, by Monarch out of Spot, ran ele- erly, but was outpaced in a long trial with MrWadlow's f d, by P& er out of Housemaid. The latter has evidently seen several hares, but after the gruelling course he had this day, I much questionwhether he will ever pay for keeping over until next season. Mr Marshall's r w b, by David out of Violence, and Mr Storj's f b, by Tempest out of Nelly, sister to Secret Present, both exhibited promising abilities, more especially the latter, who showed great pace and resolution; she is one of a l. tter of six, bred by Mr T. Porter, Pomona- place, Fulham.— Tae All- aged Stakes, No. 1.— Ino ( late Cara) and Blacklegs wert from slips well together; Ino ultimately gaining first turn, tnd wrenching twice, let in Blacklegs, who again turned the hsre to Ino ; some short ex- changes followed ; Blacklegs killed. Holyoak raced away from Wanderer three lengths, wrenched, turned, and killed.— All- aged Stakes, No. 2.— Impetus, in a pi ice of turnips, outpaced and outworked Fri: r Grey. Wellington and Mechanic were slipped in turnips; Wellington went six lengtis in advance and killed. The card now being ru- i once throigh, the coursers present were invited by Mr Smyth to partake of luncheon at Bygrave House, where a capital repast was povided. We then ran off the deciding courses of the Sapling Stakes, and the deciding course of All- aged Stakes, No. 1.— Inoaid Holyoak: The latter showed most speed, but ran wide of his hire, by which Ino, who ran closely and cleverly, gained an easy ' ictory. Impetus, after getting possession of the hare, won a goid course throughout, finishing with a good kill, being but littli assisted by his oppo- nent, Wellington ; Mr Inskip thus beinj; successful in winning both the all- aged stakes. Ino ( late Cara) isby Judge out of Clara, and own sister to Mr Lister's Chloe, winne; of the late Waterloo Cup. Mr Warwick officiated as judge, and ?. Craft as slipper. A party of fourteen gentlemen afterwards diied at the club quar- THE DUKE OF RUTLAND'S HOUNDS AND COUNTRY, BY " CECIL." Most majestically situated on the summit of a hill, Belvoir Castle stands eminently conspicuous as an object of grandeur and magnificence that may be happily associated with the elevated j conceptions of a ducal residence. The stately appearance of the j edifice, towering above ancient oaks and other timber trees of j venerable growth, with which the base is surrounded, conveys to j the stranger sentiments of its fitness as the residential seat of a j distinguished family, and it is discernible from many parts of the country, as far distant as the eye can reach. In the midst of a fine estate, consisting of more than twenty manors, the facilities ' for enjoying the sports of the field are of the highest order. Fox- I hunting has for ages held its supremacy, and no country can ! be better suited to the purpose. The land is generally favour- • able to scent, and before so much of it was subjected to the plough ! it was more so than at present. The fences are mostly negotiable, I though oftentimes they are of a character to call forth the best energies of horses and riders, without which foxhunting would be divested of its most exciting charms. The coverts are sufficiently extensive for the preservation of foxes, and numerous are those capital gorse coverts for which the counties of Leicester, Lincoln, and the adjacent parts of Nottingham are so essentially famed. Taking Grantham as a centre, and striking a radius of twelve miles, all, or nearly all, the places of meeting are encompassed. Within easy distances of that fine old town are Great Gonerby, Barrowby, Syston Park, Belton Park, Gipple, Cold Harbour, Weaver's Lodge, Ropsley, Somerby, Boothby Hall, Ponton, Har- laxton Hall, Stoke Park, Hungerton Hall, Denton, and Belvoir Castle, from which place JtSo. tesford is the nearest station, and within four miles. Melton Mowbray commands Piper Hole, Goadby Park, Waltham, Stonesby, Saltby, Croxton Park, Her- reng's Lodge, Three Queens, Eastwell, Harby, Pleungar, and Longar, at the same time they are all within easy access from Grantham. The Great Northern Railway runs nearly through the centre of the country, north and south, with branches to Not- tingham and Sleaford. Bottesford station is convenient for Elton, Foston, and Staunton; Hougham station for Hough- on- the- Hill and Dry Doddington; Claj pole station for Stubton and Cotham ; Ancaster station for Leadenharn, Fulbeck, Caythorpe, Bayard's Leap, Broadwater, Culverthorpe, Aswarby Park, Cranwell, North Itanceby, and Barkston ; Sleaford station for the north eastern ex- tremities, which include Kirkby Laythorpe and Haverholme Priory ; Corby station affords opportunities for reaching Irnham House, Burton Cogles, Bitchtield, Lenton Village, Keisby, Aslackby, Kirkby Underwood, Dunsby Wood, Colsterworth, and Easton Park, which are on the confines of the Cottesmore Hunt, and these neighbouring packs frequently interchange cordialities by running their foxes into each other's countrv, an event which when terminating with blood, invariably arouses feelings of un- bounded satisfaction to the visitors. There is some very nice grass country in this district, but bearing northward, the eastern boundary consists of fens, where horses cannot follow. On the north Lord Henry Bentinck exercises the prerogative of hunting and from Grantham to Caythorpe the fences are light, and so is the land, and is not, therefore, except in wet weather, favour- able to scent; but when that important element does serve hounds can race over this country at a terrific pace bringing horses to grief, as soon, or possibly sooner, than where the fences are of greater magnitude. North of Caythorpe the country becomes stronger, with more grass, though, unfortu- nately, there are fewer foxes than in other parts. The western confines are good, and the vale of Belvoir enjoys a wide- spread fame, but the improvements of modern farming, as in almost all other places, have contributed materially to alter the hunting aptitudes of the country. Draining, for example, by increasing the powers of evaporation, has had a great effect; and artificial manures are very generally condemned as antagonistic agents an impression, however, with which I am not quite prepared to con- cur. The now common practice of ploughing up the stubbles immediately after harvest is one of the most prejudicial opera- tions, but as it is so conducive to the interests of the farmers we must gracefully accept the custom without a murmur. On the other hand, as arable cultivation has increased, so has the keepino- of cattle in the yards; and sheep are the sole occupants of the open fields; they, too, are mostly folded, by which means the impedi- ments they present when roving at large are materiall v diminished There is much difficulty in arriving at any precise data by which I can be determined when foxhounds were first introduced to the Belvoir kennels. It has been asserted that they have been esta- blished over one hundred and thirty years, but I am unable to find any authority to confirm that inference. The earliest date of entries supplied by the manuscript lists at the kennel commences with 1756. That they were established previously to that year there can be no doubt, as the list to which I refer relates to the entry of young hounds, one of which owed his paternity to Mr Noel's Victor. That gentlemah must have been master of the pack then hunting the Cottesmore country. It would be very interesting to determine at what period, and by whom, the first pack of hounds was used exclusively for the purpose of hunting foxes, but that point, I fear, cannot now be determined. It is recorded in history that James I., on his journey from Scot- land, beguiled his time with hunting, and that from Newark he passed on to Belvoir Castle. Live hares were liberated • and, if history be correct, hounds in those early days were encouraged to hunt drag scents; but no mention is then made of the legitimate chase of the fox. The poetical effusions of Somer- ville bear testimony that foxhunting had become an established pastime ere he wrote his beautiful poem, " The Chase," and as he died in 1742, at 50 years ef age, we have conclusive evidence of the sport having been previously adopted. Passing over the periods when wild boars and wolves had been hunted down and extermi- nated from our woods and forests, the stag and the hare were for a time the selected beasts of venery, when it is apparent there was a transition, so to speak, te the chase of the fox. When hounds were cheered on to either fox, stag, or hare, whichever they might find, that renders it so difficult, nay, impossible, to define the data when they were made steady to their game. Somerville gives confirmation of this in recommending " A diff'rent hound for ev'ry diff'rent chase Select with judgment." He could not have expressed himself so eloquently and classically as he did on many essential points had he not been well up in the " noble science." Highly ai:.. using are the imaginations of naturalists that the primitive variety of the canine tribe bore the character of sheep dogs, and then, again, to what description of sheep dog did they set their affections, for they are as widely different as two animals of the same species well can be. There is the Scotch collie dog, with smooth coat, sharp nose, erect ears, and bushy tail, barely more than 15in or 16in high, to be eompared with the breed more commonly used in England, measuring five or six and twenty inches in height, with curly coat, prehensile ears and a bob tail, and I shall be glad to be enlightened as to which variety of these two is the honour due of being the primogenitor of the foxhound? I think all masters of hounds and huntsmen of the present day will agree with me that such an assumption is a poetical phantasy. Nevertheless, there must have been some animal of the canine race to commence the order with, and it is quite as reasonable to apply the characteristic of the blood- hound or the mastiff, and, indeed, very much more* so than to anything bearing resemblance to the sheep dog of modern days. Marvellous as it appears that the gigantic mastiff should be of the same species as the diminutive terrier, yet so it is ; and this proclaims most unequivocally to what an ex- traordinary degree the canine race is regulated by treatment and climate when under the influences of domestication. This pro- perty of subserviency to certain causes exemplifies moreover to I what a vast extent the perfection of foxhounds terMhe WhVtoHor^ Hotel', whereThe dohgs of thTpaTseaTon mc* ed> selecting parents gifted with valuable pro- were discussed. In the course of the evenhg Mr Wad low pro- . Parties and qualifications. Without presuming to establish my posed Mr Hart as member of the Balded Club. Mr G. Fell argument as a met, i tninK it mgiuy probable that the error into seconded the proposition, notice being given © the hon sec. In wflich naturalists have been led, as regards the distinction of pri- — T JL In Tvr>. £ <-.,„ mogeruture being derived from the sheep dog, most probably arose from the use of dogs when they were first domesticated, in collecting and driving their sheep, without reference to any peculiar characteristics, or in any degree identifying a par- conclusion I am pleased to state Mr G. Thody. the hon sec of the Baldock Club, is gradually recovering from the serious spinal injuries he received in a railway collision whei returning from Bedford a few months ago. ASHDOVVN. GREYHOUND PRODUCE, < SC. On the 6th ult, Mr Ginger's Gipsy visited Galaituomo; on the 8th, Lord Sefton's Sy lphide visited The Brewer. on the 9th, Mr Lewis's Bracelet visited The Brewer; on the lltt, Mr Bateman's Bailiffs Daughter, by David, visited The Brewtr; on the 20th, Mr Marcliat's Mona visited The Brewer; on tie 22d, Colonel Bathurst's brindled bitch Sister to Lord Sefton's Steamer visited The Brewer; and on the 25th, Mr Hatchett's Hyira visited The Brewer. On the 1st ult, at Worcester, Dewdrop ( dam of Ok. ball), three pups to Dr Faustus, namely, two dogs and one bitcl, all red; on the 7th ult, Flower of the Dale ( sister to Oakball), si; pups to Dr Faustus ( all red dogs). On the 7th ult, Mr Sym-, fawn birch Sally; and on the 16th, Mr Bullock's fawn bitch Ski) visited Dr Faustus. The following bitches during the Waterloo weekvisited Mr Barden's Blue Hat. at Crosby, namely, on the 15th int, Mr Bar- tholomew's blue bitch Bonnets o' Blue, by Bright feeel out of Bonnie Lass; and on the 19th ult, Mr Jardine's red , nd white bitch Cordelia, by King Lear out of Ladylike. On the 18th ult, Mr Price's black bitch Patience, by BIek Cloud out of Riot, nine pups to Seacombe, namety, one blue aid white ticular variety. The learned Doctor Johnson tells us that the dogs used by the ancients did not pursue their game by scent; in this he might have been mistaken, for there is every reason to suppose that they possessed some kind of dogs which did, and that they use4 others similar in their instincts to greyhounds. The forests, thickets, and rough woodlands in which the ancients were accustomed to enjoy their pastime, would not have afforded them sport without the assistance of nose. On a former occasion I quoted a short extract from a work written by Edward of Langley, some five centuries ago, and it is very evident from the remarks he introduces that in those days they had certain bunds " that shall be finders," and others that " shall come to the views:" furtherftiore, he thus describes the soul inspiring scene, when the stag comes bounding from th-.- copse. " And then he shall see the hart pass before him, and he shall halloo and rant mightily: and he shall see which hounds come in the van chase, and in the middle chase, and which be skirters." Nothing can more clearly prove the customs of those times. There is every probability when hounds were first kept at Belvoir that the stag was their game, indeed, there is evidence of this in an ancient picture representing the chase of that animal ; and taking the date from the kennel book, of which I was favoured with a perusal, and in which, as already men- tioned, the first entry of young hounds was made in the year dog, one black and white dog, one black dog, two blutbitohes, 1756, under the impression that they had been rendered steady ' ' " ' '• ' done. lueand to fox a few years previously, I believe it will not be very far from STALLIONS. No. of winners. SUCCESSFUL ijrtallions. Blackdrop, by Phy^ cian 13 Sheet Anchor, by Lottery 2 Cossack or Father Tfiwn'es 1 Teddington, by Orlancfo 2 William the Conqueror, bv Touchstone .. 4 Robert de Gorham, by Sii'Hercules 1 -•----• x 5 1 1 1 3 1 27 10 Testator, by Inheritor .. Hartneitstein, by Sir Heresies Stockwell, by The Baron.. Hartneitstein or Sheet Anchor, Smaragd, by The Provost ....... Chief Baron Nicholson, by The Baron Kingston, by Venison Chief Justice, by The Hydra General Williams, by Womersley 1 Castor 2 Fitz- GIacliator, by Gladiator 4 Voltigenr, by Voltaire 4 Italian or Musician V 1 Daniel O'Rourke, by M- h Birdcatcher .. 1 Surplice, by Touchstone 7V1 2 Jeremy Diildler, by Jerry 1 Little Jack, by Slane 2 2 Talfourd, by Ion 2 3 Ibicus, by Grey Momus 2 4 Champagne, by Touchstone ,... « , 2 7 Wild Dayrell, by Ion 1 3 Collingwood, by Sheet Anchor i 3 4 Orlando, by Touchstone 2 7 Ephesus, by Epirus 1 2 Stilton, bvCotherstone ,..,.- (> 6 The Libel, by Pantaloon 1 3 Paragoiie, by Touchstone 4 5 Phenomenon ° 0 Idle Boy, by Harkaway Chanticleer, by I. Birdcatcher Monarque, byTheBaron, Sting, or Emperor Lightfoot, by Velocipede Bonnie Scotland, by lago Italian, by Touchstone Colsterdale or Orpheus Tadmor, by Ion Augur, by I. Birdcatcher West Australian, by Melbourne,.., 2 2 No. of Value of races w" on. winnings Frd. d'or ... 2,871* / 2,171* 2 2,112 G 1,818 6 1,251* 5 1,200* 5 1,124 1,106* 905 933 91.5* 783* 781 762* 644* 608 606* 593 590 571 500 492 469 466 two black bitches, one black and white bitch, and white bitch. On the 18th ult, Mr W. Ground's Tibbie ( dam of Edgar,> audy, Giddy, & c) visited Flashman; and on the l. tli, Mr D. Kent's Venus: and on the ' 25th, M* A. Ground's Lovebird also pad him a visit, at the Griffin Hotel, March. 0; i the 20tli ult, at Coopersale Lodge, Ess:- x. Mr Eltringmm's white and fawn bitch Lucy, by Pugilist out of Cinderella, * even pups to Bridegroom, namely, five red bitches, one red dog and one red and white dog. On the 24th ult, Mr Bartlett's brindled bitch Honey Bee, line pups to Blue Hat, namely, one blue brindled bitch, one fwn bitch, one brindled dog, one fawn dog, one blue and white tog, two fawn and white dogs, and two blue brindled and white dojs. On the 2oth ult, Mr J. Theyer's b'. ack ticked bitch Lola, en pups to Seacombe, namely, one blue and white bitch, one bue bitch, one black bitch, two black dogs, three blue dogs, and tro blue and white dogs. On the 24th ult, Mr J. Theyer's black ticked bitch Lilla, sx pups to David, namely, one black and white bitch, one red bitcl, one black and white dog, one red dog, and two red and white dogs On the 13th ult, at Dervock, Mr Douglas's brindled bitch Erir four pups to Mr Barden's Blue Hat, namely two blue dogs, anc two fawn bitches. On the 2- 3d ult, Mr Scott's red bitch Lady, three pups to Mr the actual date if assigned to 1750. In further confirmation of this, in the Brocklesby kennel book there is an entry of four couples ofpappics in 1750, by Lord Granby's Dexter, son of Mr Noel's Victor, evidently a celebrity of his day, and it is reasonable to supposethatDexter'sservices would nothavebeen soughtforhad he not proved himself worthy of distinction, by three or four seasons' probation in the Belvoir kennels. Thus the pack would be esta- blished by John, third Duke of Rutland, whose life, by the in- vigorating effects of the chase, was prolonged to the patriarchal age of 83; but his successor died young, and left his son a minor, • luring which period a committee was appointed to conduct the hunting arrangements till his grace came of age. In the year 1831 the mastership was undertaken by Lord Forrester, a noble- man whose ancestors had so greatly distinguished themselves, as to render all the highest attributes of the chase inheritances. The late Lord Forrester, one of the finest horsemen that ever crossed Leicestersire, imparted the same excellencies to his son, and the superlative judgment of Squire Forrester, of Willev, in all matters relative to hounds and hunting, was another " of the family qualities which his lordship cultivated by that most important mentor, experience. Under his able management for more than a quarter of a century, the Belvoir pack has been brought to its very high state of perfection. No hound not quite true in sym- metry would his lordship ever permit to be entered, and then, 460 418 415* 441 418 374 359 349 339 333 329 322 310 278* 265 260 260 255* 248 240 Barnes's Pilgrim, namely, two black and white dogs, and one blue unless they were good in their work, they were speedily drafted, bitch; all saved. On the Duke of Rutland coming to the title in 1857, Lord Forrester On the 25th ult, at Thirsk. Mr Gill's red bitch Sophia, by Piatt resigned the trust to his grace, who, it is to be hoped, will speedily out of Sophy, nine pups to Artillery, namelv, seven dogs arid two jrecover from the accident which has so painfully deprived him - - - > f the enjoyment of a pursuit he affects with such liberality nd e ithusiasm. To the prejudicial influence of repeated changes of masters and hntsmen, to which so many packs have been doomed, these are nost happily exonerated. In the year 1791, till April 1805, they wre buuted by Newman. Shaw then succeeded, and con- tiV. ed in office till 1816. The ever. celebrated G . osey entered the sei- ice of the late Duke of Rutland as whipper- in, in 1794, an> turned t'ie hounds to Shaw till 1817, when his promo- tioi took place, and he continued as huntsman till 1842. Thus he was on duty in the Belvoir establishment— wanting only two seasns— the unprecedented term of half a century. To his exqui- site udgment of the requisites and of the properties necessary to be olierved in the breeding of hounds, most judiciously assisted durm the latter portion of the time by Lord Forrester, the Bel- voir pek has progressively attained the very great perfection for whicht. he banners of fame are so extensively unfurled. After so long ajervice, when age and those unfortunate infirmities which flesh iiieir to, rendered his retirement imperative, he was suc- ceedediy William Goodall, who had acted as his whipper- in five seasons and he continued as huntsman till he was called to that state " :- om which no traveller returns," in 1859. His last hours were ktdly solaced by frequent visits from the Duke of Rut- land, wb generously added graceful soothments to his departing spirit, b assuring him that his family should be provided for, a promise - hich has been most liberally carried into effect. James Cooper, Vio though born in Scotland is of English parentage, commencd his studies of the venatic art with a pack of harriers kept by - Ir Urquhart at Mildrum, in Aberdeenshire. To steady hii from hare, he had five seasons' tuition under merry Jon Walker with the Fife, after which an engage- ment wit! Lord Henry B<* itiriek introduced him into the truly spor= ng county of Lincoln, when he came to Bel- voir first tcwhip in t « Goodall, at whose death he was ap- pointed humaan. With the precepts of such talented professors he has had very opportunity of becoming a master of the art, bitches. On the 24th ult, Mr Whyte's fawn bitch Widow ( own sister to Lady Portsea). five pups to his Wonder, namely, two black dogs, one black bitch, and two fawn dogs. On the 15th ult, Mr Bartholomew's Muscatel, eight pups by Mr W. Clark's Sponsor, five saved, namely, two black and white dogs, two black bitches, ar. d one blue and white bitch. On the 19th ult, Mr Short's fawn bitch Success, by Portsea out of Shade, seven pups by Mr Whyte's Wonder, namely, three dogs and four bitches, all black. On the 23d ult, at Worcester, Mr Nicholl's red bitch Nimble visited Mr E. Watton's red dog Woodman, by Larriston out of Fan. On the 2- 3d Jan, at Islewortli, Mr C. Farnell's Faith, by Bonds- man out of Bounceaway, six pups to Little Wonder, namely, live dogs and one bitch. On the 27th ult, Mr W. Bailey's white and fawn bitch Madame Wharton ( sister to Menschikoff and England Still) visited The Monk of Thorney. On the 28th ult, Cruel Fate, black ticked bitch, bv Skyrocket out of Shame, visited North Briton, at Holly Hill, Enfield, Middlesex. On the 24tli ult, at the Red Lion, Shooters' Hill, Mr C. Jardine's red bitch Fairwater visited Mustard. On the 20th ult, Mr Bell's black bitch Mayfly ( dam of Belted Knight and other winners) visited The Wizard, at York. On the 14th ult, Mr Pollock's ( of Mountainstown) red bitch Banter, by Judge, vfcited Mr Spinks's Seacombe. Oil the 20th ult, Mr Dixon's Ladylike visited Mr Jackson's Forester. On the 19th uit, at Worcester, Mr West's black bitch Gay Girl, by Weapon out of Varna, visited Mr G. Grainger's Goorkah. During the past week, Mr Colman's Fly and Mr Hill's Sister to Dare Devil have visited Mr T. L. Reed's Ajax ( brother to Riot). On the 21st ult, Mr Best's black bitch Bess visited Mr Athey's Raby, at York. .... „ On the 25th ult, Mr J. Partridge's black bitch Perfection visited and most su essfully has he adopted their principles. A very Mr G. Finch's Der Freischutz, at Worcester. I light weight md a fine horseman, he is able to live with his hounds at the terrific pace they are so frequently accustomed to skim over this flying country. Referring to the old lists of the Belvoir Hounds, I found that the kennels to which they resorted for fresh infusions of blood were in days of yore Mr Pelham's ( the Brocklesby), MrNeel's, LordMonson's ( which were distinguished among other perfections of their time for their rich black and tan colour), and Mr Meynell's. When Mr Heron resigned the Cheshire country, the late Duke of Rutland introduced that gentleman's pack to the Belvoir kennels, and they consisted principally of the Quorn descendants. Subsequently Lord Lonsdale's and Mr Osbaldeston's kennels were searched for celebrities, also Sir Tatton Sykes's, Sir Richard Sutton's, Mr Foljambe's, the late and the present Mr Drake's, the Duke of Beaufort's, and occa- sionally Lord Fitz William's. By the acknowledged principle of etiquette, " stniores priores," Rallywood, now eleven years old, is entitled to precedence, but he has numerous other and stronger claims to the pride of place. When in the vigour of youth no competitor could outpace him or show more determination in chase, and, with an afternoon fox, when the powers of nature were failing in other hounds, his endurance and courage were alike undaunted. There is yet another plaudit, and a still more lasting one, for the good old hound; he is the progenitor of a very numerous family, doing great honour to their parentage. His colour is a very rich black, white, and tan ; his symmetry is most captivating and perfect. With a splendid, intelligent head well set on, a nice clean neck, good shoulders, legs straight as arrows, rare feet, fine back and loins, with capital thighs, rather under than over twenty- three inches in height, he is, in my estimation, as near as possible the perfection of a foxhound. Lord Yarborough's Rallywood is his sire, and Sprightly his dam. She is a daughter of Mr Foljambe's Singer and Guilty. Lord Yarborough's Rally wood was a son of Basilisk and Rosebud, daughter of Rector and Frolic ; Frolic of Watchman and Fallacy, by Fairplay and Wanton, daughter of Bertram and Whiinsey ; Rector a son of Pilot and Rarity ; Fairplay of Trimbusli and Flourish ; Bertram of Mr Osbaldeston's Bachelor and Vengeance. Poor Will Goodall's memorandum is graphically descriptive of Lord Yarborough's Rallywood:—" This is a most beautiful little short- legged dog, exceedingly light of bone, but with beau- tiful legs and feet. 1 got him in exchange for Ragland in 1850. This dog was considered by the late William Smith to be one of the best bred hounds in the Brocklesby Kennels. Rosebud, his dam, worked up until she was 10 years old; she was never known to do anything wrong ; they are perfection in their work, and everlasting.'' The produce of Rallywood I will proceed with in due order after having introduced the paternal representatives of the Belvoir Kennels. Singer, in his eighth season, a son of Comus and Syren, is a rich black white arid tan, of true propor- tions, with great thighs and bone, and has rather a numerous family. His sire Comus is a son of Champion and Barmaid, and Syren is a daughter of Mr Drake's Duster and Sprightly ; thus in the maternal line he goes back to the same family as Rallywood. Challenger, in his seventh season, is by Chaser ( a son of Lord Yarborough's Rallywood and Caroline) and Destiny ( daughter of Mr Drake's Duster). He is quite a foxhound, with great power, but his colour ( a lightish bare pie) is not quite in conformity with the beautiful black and tan which prevails in these kennels, Nimrod is one of the Belvoir colour, descended from Guider and Novelty, Guider being a son of Mr Drake's Duster and Gamesome. Chan- ticleer is a son of Chaser and Destiny, therefore of the same parentage as Challenger, but a year his junior, and the same age as Nimrod. Alfred, entered the follow- ing season, is on rather a larger scale and of value, when an increase of size is sought for. His sire Trusty represents Mr Foljambe's kennel, being a son of his Forester and the Belvoir Trinket. Nightshade, the dam of Alfred, is a daughter of Nigel aud Blameless. Cruiser is by Mr Foljambe's Duster and Charmer, a daughter of Lord Henry Bentinck's Contest. Limner, a fine lengthy hound on short legs, is a son of Comus and Ladyblush. Stormer, son of Guider and Stately. Striver, a particularly clever hound, is by Trusty out of Sanguine. Comrade, a charming coloured hound, with fine symmetry, is descended from Comus and Ransome, and possesses all the fine characteristics of the ken- nel; he is in his fourth season. Of the same entry are Render and Soman, two splendid sons of Rallywood and Destitute, a daughter of Sir Richard Sutton's Dry den; in these two brothers the beautiful type of the Belvoir blood is exemplified in its utmost perfection, and the description already given of Rallywood has only to be repeated ; Render's shoulders are quite a study. Des- titute, the dam of these hounds, was entered in 1854, and is still able to do her part in accounting for her fox, a rare proof of consti- tution ; her dam. Tuneful, was a daughter of Trouncer and Skil- ful, by Mr Foljambe's Stormer and Fortune; Stormer by his Rattler and Spinster, a daughter of the Brocklesby Chaser and Scandal. With so much fresh blood, the characteristics are still preserved to an eminent degree. Rasselas and Raglan, sons of Rallywood again; and Nightshade, their mother, has been already introduced as the dam of Alfred; a characteristic description of them is a repetition of what has already been given. In their third season is Nathan and Nelson, both hounds of great style and symmetry, sons of Fariplay and Nosegay; the latter has possibly the best shoulders, but both of them are, in every respect, re- markably clever. With Wrangler I close the list of stallion hounds; he is a eon of Lifter and Wisdom, and is descended through his sire from Mr Drake's Lucifer. To describe minutely every hound in a kennel consisting of sixty- seven couples would occupy much space, and might be condemned as a tiresome pro- ceeding, and, in fact, so wonderfully suity is the pack that the de- scription of one hound sufiicies for them all. They are of nice height, none exceeding twenty- three inches, remarkable for true proportions, excellent shoulders, good thighs, with unexception- able legs and feet. However I cannot deny myself the pleasure of introducing the family of the Rallywoods, of which there are fourteen couples and a half. Willing and Waspish out of Destiny, in their fifth season. Rosey and Ringlet, two most captivating daughters of Dowager, sister to Destitute, of great size, power, and quality rarely found in the sex. Render and Roman have been already duly honoured. I have now to add their sister Royalty. To Ras- selas and Raglan their sisters claim distinction : Rosamond, Ruthful, Rapture, Reckless, Riot, and Ransome— all those have been entered four seasons. In the year following, Clasper, Dainty, Destiny, Finder, Nectar, Nimble, and Nancy, also Rover; then come Dimity, Delicate, and Drayman. Last year's entry consists of Byron, with Norman and Nigel, the last two sons of Nightshade, the dam of Raglan, evincing exquisite quality, and all the high characteristics of the family, and Norman has already greatly distinguished himself in his work. There is no place better calculated in very respect to meet these hounds than at the Three Queens. The proximity to Melton ensures the attendance of a large portion of the aristo- cratic coterie who affect that highly favoured region. Then there is a magnetic attraction for another class, whose utmost ambition consists in over- riding hounds ; for in this country, unless on one of those exceptional days when there is a good scent, they have frequent opportunities of enjoying their fun. The land is light, and the fences of a character not calculated to impede progress. These very aspiring gentlemen are nevertheless sometimes dis- appointed in their pleasures, and it would be hard indeed if they were not, seeing how frequently they cause disappointment to those who go out with the hope of enjoying a run, and of taking the country as it comes, rough or smooth. Thus there is a fine opportunity of witnessing the " malice prepense'' which pre- vails to spoil sport, by defeating the operations of the pack, and frustrating the efforts of the huntsman. But I will proceed to explain how a gallant fox and a good scent upset their machinations. A trot of some three miles or more to Sproxton Thorns served to take away the stiffness of aged hunters and relieve the pipes of the plethoric. The hounds soon found, and, after a little coquetting, a fine fox presented himself in the open. On the left there is a lane, which was thronged with spirits ambitious for a start, and a large portion of the field, equally anxious, occupied the country on the right. Before a hound was out of covert, halloes in both directions in- creased the confusion ; a brace of foxes, as it eventually appeared, were on foot, one of which gallantly faced the throng of horse- men in the lane. The other, with equal determination, threaded his way through the horses on the right, and hounds were work- ing as best they could in both directions. Which way to steer was a matter of uncertainty, but seeing Cooper, and hearing his horn on the left, cleared up the d. iubt. He succeeded in getting some of the hounds, and they settled to their work in a manner that none will do unless accustomed to such difficulties. They were not long in reaching Bescoby Oakes, but there were only nine couples. On entering that covert they inclined to the left, and away straight as possible for Croxton Park. As I passed through the gate on to the classic turf, reminiscences of Billesdon Coplows came across me, but the speed of Bellissima would have failed to outpace the pack. How charming it is to see the efforts of the overriding crew defeated. Like pigeons the hounds flewjover the hill— they had never been interrupted ; the pace from the commencement had been too good for that. Down the vale to Branstone, where the fox, turning on the right, was headed, which occasioned a check. Time 30miri, distance over six miles. Re- covering the line, the hounds hunted their fox magnificently to the nursery at Knipton, where the fox was viewed, but, closely pressed, he quitted his quarters, and soon after found an asylum in a bank near Allen's Wood. Here they were joined by the remainder of the pack and the portion of the field who had followed them. A second fox was at home in Tipping's Gorse; he went away to Hungerton Gorse, and a great portion of the field riding to the first couple of hounds that got away brought them to a check, and he was given up. They had a good day when they met at Waltham, but, as I was not present, can only describe it as it has been re- lated to me. The hounds found at Croxton Banks. Away, leaving Harston Pasture to the right, straight through Allen's Wood, leaving Tipping's Gorse on the right, through Stoke Pasture, and pointing for Stoke Park ; the fox was headed, and turned to the left through Wyvilie Plantation, leaving School Plats Gorse on the right, on for Winmere- hill Gorse, from thence to Hungerton, where the hounds ran into him in 55 minutes. On the following day from Great Poulon, they found in Stoke Park Wood ; hunted their fox to Stoke Park, where they lost him. Found again in Boothby Great Wood, and went away very fast, leaving Bassing- thorpe on the left, Burton Coggles on the left, and Burton High Wood on the right; on through Swayfield Wood and Tortoiseshell Wood, to Mockery Wood, where he was lost. On the 7th of February these hounds met at Great Gonerby, a day that will long be remembered with deep regret in consequence of the sad fall the Duke of Rutland met with, and which has so unhappily deprived his grace the pleasure of hunting, it is to be feared, for the remainder of the season. A fox was found in Gonerby Moors, and the hounds hunted him with admirable truth aud pa- tience an extensive ring, skirting Syston and Belton Parks, back to the covert in which he was found. They then drew Casthorpe Hills, and a fox broke covert at the bottom, but turned to the left for Gonerby, racing over the grass fields at a great pace. It was there that his grace, riding his horse at a high and stiff cut fence, met with the accident. The horse, not clearing it, threw the duke very heavily, and Mr Blackwood and others who saw it, and went to his assistance, felt painful alarm of the consequences. A conveyance was procured with all possible despatch, and his grace was taken to the George, at Grantham, and as all further particulars have been made public, it is unnecessary to repeat them. The hounds, on reaching Peascliff, were stopped. It is scarcely possible to express the deep sympathy and regret the unhappy event occa- sioned among all classes in the neighbourhood where the noble duke's virtues, kind courtesies, and acts of liberality are so well known and so highly appreciated. A memorial had been prepared by the farmers and others, residing in the hunt, to express their gratitude to his grace for his many acts of kindness, and to thank him for hunting the country, which was to have been presented a few days after the accident occurred, but which has been of ne- cessity deferred. The run of the season took place after this: it was from Stub- ton on Feb 10. They found in the old gorse, and away for Stragglethorpe, but, turning to the right, the fox crossed and re- crossed the Brank several times, leaving Brandon Village on the right, Hough Gorse close to the right, and the village to the left. He then went as straight as a crow could fly for the main earths at Normanton Hill, which, fortunately, were stopped. Leaving Sparrow Gorse on the left, and Ranceby High Wood on the right, he went through North Ranceby Village, across Ranceby Park, leaving Bully wells on the left, to Quarrington Village, threaded several gardens, and on for Sleaford station, crossed the railway and the river, and running from scent to view, the hounds pulled him down in Sleaford Carrs. Time, lhour5Qmin. CECIL, SIR RICHARD AND " THE SQUIRE." Mr. EDITOR: " Cecil,'' in the Supplement to Bell's Life of Sun- day, Feb 22, states that Sir R. Sutton brought a splendid pack of hounds to Cottesmore, with which he hunted the Burton country, and had infused fresh blood into them by breeding from the Bel- voir, Brocklesby, Sir T. Sykes's, and Mr Foljambe's kennels. Now that, is not quite correct. Sir R. Sutton was my most inti- mate, kindest, and best friend I ever met with, and when Mr Assheton Smith left the Burton country, he bought his hounds and hunted it. I told him at the time that he would not like them, as they were far too large, and he would find that they would neither turn so quick with a scent, run so long, last so many years ; nor carry such a head as good average- sized hounds. At the end of his second geason he wrote to me to say that I was a true prophet. I persuaded him to try mine, and I sent him two stallions. He crossed with them almost entirely from that period until his death. I have several letters in my ' possession now from him, saying " Squire, there's no sort in England like yours.''— Yours, & c, GEORGE OSBALDEST0N. No. 7, Park- road, Regent's Park, Feb 25. LORD POLTIMORE'S HOUNDS. MR EDITOR : Since these hounds have been in their Cattistock country they have had a succession of good sport, and it was my fortune to meet his lordship at Bradford on the 20th inst. Soon after the hounds were thrown in a brace of foxes were soon on foot; the hounds, settling to one, forced him through the cover, racing over the open for Frampton. Ran into him after a very quick thing of twenty- five minutes. A second fox gave us a ring from a small gorse close to the Dorchester turnpike road, to Martinstown. His lordship, thinking it a vixen, gave the office to Evans for Hampton Brake, which, after giving us two good runs, was, for the first time this season, drawn blank. However, one of the right sort was found in a neighbouring turnip- field, and going his best pace over the Wynford and Compton hills for the Roman road, the hounds giving him such a duster to this point, he headed back for the earths at Compton withy bed. Finding no accommodation there, he skirted the village of East Compton, and over the hill for Kingston Russell, through Dower Field, pointing for Nailers, which leaving to the left, the hounds carried him over the fallows on Eggerdon Hill, and getting him again on the down, raced him to Tzen Hill. Sinking the vale he crossed Poorstock Common, where it was a treat indeed to see the persevering qualities of this beautiful pack through the short gorse and over the bogs of the common; hunting every inch, and racing him up the trackways, they carried him over the Bridport Railway and through the en- closures of Witherstone towards Poorton, where the hounds being close upon him he made a short turn, and was pulled down in a meadow adjoining one of those beautiful ravines with which that country abounds. Thus ended a brilliant run of one hour and fifteen minutes; distance about fifteen miles. Forty odd brace of foxes, I am told, have already fallen victims to this pack; the ladies, as usual, taking precedence, marking up about twenty- three brace to their score, and the dogs eighteen and a half.— Yours, & c, DRUID. A DAY WITH THE WARWICKSHIRE. MR EDITOR: On Monday, Feb 23d, the meet Charlecote Park, found in a small spinney, outside the Deer Park; a bagman- hounds would not settle to him till they got a view, and then they coursed him till they killed him in the River Avon, when they would not break him up, thus showing what an esta- blished pack of foxhounds would do under sueh circumstances. Found a second in the gorse, but owing to old Tom Matthews or his hounds not relishing him we gave him up after a few fields, and went in to Warwick Park, which proved blank. Then to Oakley Wood, where one of the right sort was viewed away; here the hounds settled to liim in earnest. Straight to Ches- terton Wood, through the wood to Itchington Hold, back to Chesterton, through the top corner as if going to Lighthorne Rough, turned to the left, leaving Lighthorne Village to the right, up to Lighthorne Little Houses, leaving Verney's Gorse tofthe right, straight as if going to Bawcutt's new cover; left that, pointing for Knightcote, turned for Fenny Compton Village; before leaving that village, pulled him down in the middle of a grass field; the most handsome kill I ever beheld, no horse being within a field of the hounds. Time one hour 45 minutes from find to finish. I was rather pleased to hear Old Tom ask a certain gentleman to stop and see his hounds break up a good wild fox, which they did to perfection. Out of a large field only a few saw the finish, amongst whom were Mr Bolton King, the master of the day, Mr De Wit, Mr Alford, and a few others whose names I did not know. The yeomen mustered a few, amongst whom were Tom Bawcutt, Jacob Fletcher, and others; Tom Matthews, who picked up his fox, going as well as he did thirty- five years ago, with Worral the first, and Hall the second whip. I am sorry the master was not there. The hounds and horses are a great credit to the Hon Mr North and his ser- vants; they are turned out in first- rate style, and have had above their share of sport.— Yours, & c, ONE WHO WITNESSED MONDAY'S SPORT. THE GROUSE DISEASE. THE WEST NORFOLK HOUNDS. DEAR BELL: We have again had a brillant day with the Squire's hounds. The meet was " The Kennel." Some select friends enjoyed the well- known hospitality of Marham House on the previous evening, and in the morning, it is needless to say that a large field did ample justice to the sumptuous breakfast prepared for all coiners. Healths drank, appropriate speeches made, and all vaulted into their saddles, eager for the fray. The order was the Shrubbery, and soon were we cheered by the " first note in . covert," " Tally- ho" in three places ; one breaking at the top. Harris was quickly on his line, and away the " beauties" streamed over the large fields as if for Beaeham- well, but, turning to the right, Reynard made for Barton Lays. Here, being headed, he came back over Mr Aylmer's farm, up to Fincham Mill; then taking Gallow- lane, where Harris displayed much skill in hitting him off again, from the crowd having been enabled to get up. He afterwards made good his original point, going straight for Stradsett; sweepingacrossthe park, the hounds forced him through the various covers, on for Crimplesham, and showed their hunting qualities over the ploughs " Forward!" again was the cry, and bustling him through the plantations, they carried a good head to Ryston, where, the scent becoming cold, we were obliged to leave this gallant fox, and hope next year to find not only him, but several of his descendants, to take us over the same line. This run was at least 11 miles.— Yours, & c, EXIT IN FUMO. " THITHOLDERNES^ DEAR BELL : During a sporting tour, having visited most of the principal packs this seasos, last Saturday, Feb 21, one of the finest runs and best day's sport I ever enjoyed was with my fa- vourite pack, the Holderness stagbounds, belonging to that inde- fatigable sportsman. Sir C. Constable. The morning was bright, clear, and genial, all things proclaiming " the hunting morn," which a capital field seemed to feel and appreciate. After meet- ing at Wyton tollbar we trotted off to Mr Johnson's, of North Park, where the deer had been previously turned at large. Know- ing him to be one of the right sort, only little law was given him, starting at a rattling pace, which was continued for one hour and three quarters. After leaving North Park went away to Little Mittles, turned short back, leaving New York to the right, going in the direction of Nut Hill, then bending to the left, taking a straight line over the Elsternwick drain, then in the direction for Fitling, making his point for Garton, where he was headed back; then going direct to Danthorpe Hall, then on to Burton Pidsea, where we had a momentary check ; time to this point, one hour and three quarters hard riding. By this time Forfitt's ( the hunts- man) favourite mare, Ranger's " Daughter, having had quite enough of it, he immediately jumped upon his second horse, which happened fortunately to be at hand, the field having become hors de combat, with the exception of Sir Clifford, his son, the huntsman, whips, and a few of the hardest riders of the meet. From Burton Pidsea the stag, nothing daunted, shaped his course for Hilstern, leaving Owstwick on the left, and from there to the Cliff Top, the pace being very severe. Mellon, the second whip, here lost his horse, stout Heart of Oak having dropped never more to rise. Then by Grinaston Garth to Brailswood; here the hunts- man's second horse was done, and he surveyed it in despair, and, like Richard, could have said, " Ahorse! ahorse! a kingdom for a liorse." Sir Clifford, at this point, seeing the predicament the huntsman was in, immediately gave his best horse, Havelock, from the stables of the well- known Murray to him, and he was, by this means, enabled to take the stag at Garton, after one of the severed runs on record— little less than thirty miles. This is the same deer, known as Brail's Deer, that gave the celebrated run last year. Amongst others we noticed Mr Constable riding for- ward the whole of the run on the Duke of Manchester, another of Murray's.— Yours, & c, NIMROD. P. S. They had a first- rate run on Wednesday, Feb 24, of one hour and three quarters. Uncarted at Carlton, and took him at Goxhill, over a very rough country. Meet, West Newton. GOOD RUN WITH THE PENDLE FOREST HARRIERS. MR EDITOR : This well- known Lancashire pack meet occa- sionally at Gisburn, the seat of Mr John Peel. On Saturday, Feb 21, they were at this favourite fixture, and had an excellent day's sport over the far- famed Craven pastures, but the run of the season took place on Monday, Feb 23, and was allowed by the oldest sportsman to be the best and fastest thing ever seen with the P. F. H. The morning would have pleased the most fastidious, and, judging from a southern wind and cloudy sky, there was little prospect of bad sport from lack of scent. The meet was fixed for Hesketh Roughs, between Bracewell and Gis- burn, and as some of the field were proceeding to that point, a buck was seen trotting about. There was no time lost in acquaint- ing the master, who, ever ready, speedily laid the hounds on its track. The pack were a few minutes before they settled down to the scent, but some of the leading hounds catching a view of the buck, they coursed him at a rattling speed to Westby Hall, when, turning to the left, he aimed for Riming- ton Mill. Before reaching this point he changed his course, and running a wide circle, he returned almost to the point at which we found him. Not dwelling a moment, he crossed the Colne and Gisburn turnpike road near the toll- bar, and past Gauber plantation, through Eight Acres, and, almost following the line of the footpath, lie crossed the road near Gisburn Mill; at this point we had our first check, time 25min. The hounds were quickly cast towards the river, and in returning, old Vengeance hit it off over the park pales; we raced him across Gisburn Park over Poultry- house Bridge, through the plantations and pleasure- grounds to the Temple, then through Painly, where he crossed the Ribble, at that famous salmon- hole the clay- pit, through Ray wood to Windy Pike, thence on to the great coverts. The ground here was very heavy, and the pace began to tell on the field, which gradually became more select; through this cauntry, in spite ef hares getting up in all directions, the pack stuck most staunchly to their game: though there occurred a slight check, most fortunate for those who had bellows to mend. But no time was lost, for Tom Cook, the huntsman, making a most judicious cast towards Fooden Moor, again got the hounds on the scent, and away they went as hard as ever they could put legs to ground, in the direction of Bolton, when, turning to the left, he made again for the river, the hounds running breast- high, carrying him through Fooden Wood, where he again crossed the river, and, mounting the hill, went through Wheatly Farm. Here he was " Tally- hoed," and the pack, bursting from scent to view, raced him through Coppy Gill, across the river into Spring's Plantation; he was soon driven out of this, and again tried to cross the river, but in vain ; the gallaHt pack pulled him down in the middle of the stream. Time, from find to finish, an hour and twenty minutes. The P. F. H. have for the last two seasons been under the able management of Captain Hargreaves, of Broad Oak, Accrington, who, as a liberal and keen sportsman, is unsurpassed. The condition in which eleven and a half couple of hounds were turned out and handled by Tom Cook, the hufits- man, was much, and deservedly, admired, showing as he did, throughout this run, both steadiness and determination. The hounds have a considerable dash of foxhound in them, and show excellent sport.— Yours, & c, E. T. VOLPECIDISM IN THE OAKLEY HUNT. DEAR BELL : Six weeks back in a weekly paper an article ap- peared about the Oakley country, giving places in the hunt where foxes were plentiful, and where they - were not. Not usually hunting with these hounds, I was out about a fortnight since, when we drew some coverts near Newport Pagnell, which, in the article referred to, were described as being without foxes. We found four. It was some time before the hounds settled down to the hunted one ; when, standing with a friend of mine, we observed the worthy master galiop across the field with the hounds after him, and some unsportsmanlike farmers headed the fox from the wood. As I know you alwayB like fair play, this, I am sure, you will agree with me was unfair to the fox, ar. d also to the owner of the coverts, which were stated to contain no foxes. If this mobbing of foxes continues, the members of the hunt need not be astonished if they do not find in the coverts re- ferred to, as the race of foxes then will soon become extinct. As I know, dear Bell, you are always a friend to field sports, I sub- scribe myself yours, & c., FAIRPLAY. [ We are glad to hear of there being so many foxes about, but, like the apples in the dumplings, " How did they get there "] THE~ VULPECIDISM IN NORFOLK. The affair noticed in Bell's Life a fortnight since has been care- fully investigated, and as the offending party has promised that he " won't do so any more," no further action will be taken in the matter. Attention, however, seems to be imperatively re- quired to the whole subject in the West Norfolk country, as on Friday, Feb 20, in the run following a meet at Marham, one of the hounds was caught in a trap as the hounds were running through Stradsett Park. In the same locality another trap was also ob- served, baited with a pigeon. These proceedings have excited some comments among the supporters of the hunt, who are ex- ceedingly annoyed that anything like vulpecidism— intentional or otherwise— should appear in the district, especially since the accession to the hunt of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Foxes are not so plentiful in the country that they can be made away with with impunity, and it would be a matter, of deep regret if the prince, when he joined the West Norfolk Hunt, were exposed to the probability' of a blank day. Since the publication of our last article on the subject of over- stocking, the alleged occasion of the disease in grouse, a doctrine which we opposed by such arguments as we were able to derive from facts and from long observation of the habits and instincts of grouse, we perceive that further letters have been published in support of the same views, the contents of which we cannot re- frain from noticing. We are informed that on one or two moors, where preserving had been successfully carried into effect, the disease made its appearance ; hence it is argued that over- pre- serving, i. e., a large stock of grouse, is incompatible with a healthy condition. There are several reasons which prevent us from concurring with this view of the subject, or from admitting that the inference is fairly drawn. In the first place, before the disease ever made its appearance, grouse were on many moors quite as plentiful, if not more so, than they are at present, or have been at any time subsequent to the appearance of the disease, and, in the next place, the disease has as trequently exhibited itself on thinly stocked moors as on the best preserved ones. To prove that the theory of overstocking was a sound one, it should have been shown that the disease had never made its appearance on any partially- preserved ground, which is not the case, as it is notorious, as we have before stated, that the dis- ease has been quite as virulent on deer forests as elsewhere; and if it can be proved, as we have no doubt it can be, that when the disease first exhibited itself in the year 18^ 2 its ravages were not confined to the overstocked moors of the north of Scotland, but displayed themselves with equal force on the thinly- preserved hills in the west, the inference naturally is that, although superabundance may in some instances have been attended with disease, yet in the case of grouse it is not exclusively the cause of the disease, in fact, that there must necessarily be some other cause; aud if we refer to the fact, too well known to bo disputed, that perfect health on some grounds exists simultaneously with disease on others, on the poorly stocked, as well as on the highly stocked, although we must conclude that the disease is rather endemic than epidemic— that it arises from a local rather than from a general cause— still overstocking cannot be accepted as the solution of the difficulty. That there must be a local cause we don't think can be ques- tioned, but what that local cause is remains to be discovered, notwithstanding the many other theories, in addition to the two which we have already noticed, which have been asserted with equal positiveness as the real causes of the disease, and on these we now purpose making a few remarks. The doctrine that the disease is occasioned by sheep, or sheep dressing, we al- together dissent from, and those who support it must be as igno- rant. of facts as those who support the overstocking and the hawk theory. On deer forests there are no sheep ; consequently, sheep are unjustly accused as being the occasion of disease there; and, as far as sheep dressing is concerned, we are acquainted with large moors in the north of Scotland, where the disease was very bad, on which there is never a single dressed sheep. Un- dressed yearlings are brought there early in the summer, and remain so long as the fine weather lasts, and are never dressed till after their removal to the lower ground, where they remain during the inter months, and, moreover, on some low ground, over which we shot for eight years, which was covered with dressed sheep, we never saw one single diseased bird; we cannot, there- fore, place much faith in this theory. The dressing frequently consists only of tarand butter, which we cannot believe hasany pre- judicial influence on grouse. That sheep frequently interfere with and spoil the sportsman's sport we are most ready to admit, as we have experienced annoyancef rom them in more ways than one. Frequently they are the innocent occasion of spoiling sport, by running before the sportsman aDd his dogs, disturbing the ground as he advances for very considerable distances, without his having the power of heading them; and at other times they have been designedly made the instruments of disturbing the ground by dis- honest shepherds at the instigation of their more dishonest masters; but that they interfere with the breed of grouse, or are in any way the occasion of the disease, we cannot believe, and we have not heard any one good or even plausible argument in sup- port of such a theory. On very extensive moors the flocks of sheep are generally large, and under the control of a few shep- herds, who can easily be converted into friends and allies, in which case the ground is not unnecessarily disturbed, and the spontaneous movement of sheep subjects grouse to little or no annoyance, as they proceed from one part of the ground to another by paths made through the heather, by their own footsteps, aud they rarely deviate from these, except when driven by men or dogs, or alarmed by any other cause. That a nest may sometimes be dis- troyed by sheep is just possible, but we do not believe the instances are frequent, and, moreover, after the young grouse are out, these sheep- patlis are most serviceable to them, especially when the heather is wet, as they can emerge from the places of their con- cealment by the means of these paths without wetting their fea- thers, and, moreover, when hawks pass over suddenly, an easy and ready access is offered them to the thick heather, where they remain in security till the peril be over. We are aware of in- stances where the removal of sheep on the part of the proprietor from a certain part of his moors, i. e., several hundred acres which surrounded his shooting lodge, by way of experiment, was attended with a considerable decrease in the stock of grouse, thus proving that the presence of sheep was ad- vantageous to the breed of grouse. We would however make a distinction between large moors and small ones, between large flocks, superintended by one or two shepherds, and numerous small flocks, as we have witnessed a wonderful difference; for if no bad results attend the presence of large Hocks, guarded by friendly shepherds, many bad consequences ensue from numerous small flocks, as these are generally looked after by boys, accompanied by a couple of dogs; consequently the ground is never quiet. In Argyleshire this is frequently the case, as the farms are small and the tenants numerous, and as each farmer possesses a few sheep, the contiguous mountains are generally shared ; the consequence is that at no season of the year is the ground perfectly quiet. These herd boysaremuch more mischievous and destructive of game than all the vermin put together; even if they are honestly inclined, and are paid for each nest on the ground, their curiosity is § uch that, in the event of their finding either a grouse or black game nest, they visit it so often that the old bird deserts the nest. So mischievous are these boys that we have known an instance of 16 partridges' eggs being taken from one nest merely for the purpose of feeding a tame magpie; in fact, it is most difficult to preserve game of any sort in Argyleshire, owing to the number of small tenants living on each estate, as each hovel— for, indeed, there are numerous abodes of human beings which merit no other appellation— sends forth two or three boys, with as many dogs and cats, all per- petually either disturbing or destroying game. Indeed, the enemies of game in Argyleshire come under the denomination of legion, as, in addition to toys, dogs, and cats, every description of vermin abounds, and is very difficult to be disposed of, owing to the rough nature of the covers. We have seen and killed every description of hawk there except the kite, and trap- ped polecats, stoats, weasels, badgers, and otters; the two latter abound on the west coast. Hawks are not easily trapped, except a bird be found which has just been- killed by one; then if a trap be immediately set, close by, by an expert trapper, the hawk may be taken, as nine times out of ten hawks return to birds killed by themselves; but it is a great error to suppose that you can trap a falcon by placing any bird close to a trap. We will venture to affirm no falcon was ever trapped in this way, except she were famished by the severity of the weather, but we never heard of an instance. Whatever game the falcon eats she kills herself. The case is different with hen harriers, as they may be trapped by a fresh killed bird being placed near a well set trap, in the line of country over which they may be ob- served to pass daily; but, as a rule, most hawks are shot either by waiting for them in their line of flight or by lying in conceal- ment in the breeding season in the vicinity of the nest. A vast amount of vermin may be disposed of by trapping, by a skilful trapper ; but still, on going his rounds night and morning, he ought never to be without his gun in a country where hawks are numerous, as more may be killed at unexpected moments by a man who is constantly about and who is a good shot than by wait- ing for them. Although hawks are generally difficult of access, still, whenever they are in pursuit of their quarry, they rarely or ever deviate from their coursein consideration of the presence of any one, so that opportunities frequently occur to those who are much about. We have frequently witnessed a hawk striking his quarry within a distance of thirty yards ; indeed, most hawks are bold, but none more so than the merlin and falcon. With regard to excess of sheep and reckless heather burning, we think the evils arising therefrom have been much exaggerated, and that neither one nor the other have in any way been the occasion of the disease in grouse. Excessive burning of heather has the same effect as excess of sheep ; it interferes with sport, but not with the health of grouse. Grouse become more difficult of access when thick heather is scarce; moreover, it is anything but agreeable on a sultry day to be obliged to traverse a large extent of recently burnt ground before you can reach heather in which there is a chance of sport. If the plan which has for years been carried out on Lord Dalhousie's moors, of burning in strips, were univer- sally adopted, it would be a great improvement. It affords a better protection to grouse, yields a regular supply of suitable food, and gives the sportsman a better chance of sport. When large quantities of heather are burnt together, without any inter- vening portions being left, this beat is not only lost to the sports- man, but young birds bred in the vicinity of it are easily victimised by hawks and other birds of prey. It is notorious that, in those parts of the moor where the heather is very thin and scarce, the coveys bred there invariably elecrease by the 12th of August from one- third to a half. That excessive heather burning is adverse to successful preserving we can affirm, from long practical experience, but that it has anything to do with the grouse disease we cannot possibly admit; on the con- trary, where there is much burning every year we have always found that, although the coveys were small, the birds were re- markably fine and healthy, which we attribute to the abundant supply of young plants There appears to be a difference of opinion as to the proportion of heather which ought annually to be burnt. On some moors, on which the soil is favourable to the growth of heather, one- eighth would not be too much. On other grounds, where the heather is slow of growth, even a twelfth part would be an excess; in fact, where the growth varies so much as it does on the moors of Scotland generally, there can be no fixed rule as to quantity. The quality ought to guide and direct the parties interested, but this is difficult of manage- ment, except some pre- arrangement be entered into, either by the landlord and tenant farmer, or by the latter and the sports- man. All shepherds and tenant farmers as a rule are disposed to burn too much, and as they are rarely restrained by any stringent conditions in their leases, it is always advisable, that the sportsman in taking a moor on a lease, which every wise man would do who is desirous of having continuous good shooting, should in limine come to a clear and distinct understanding with the tenant farmer, and we believe that in most cases a satisfactory arrangement might be arrived at. at a very twtting pecuniary sacrifice. As any wilful excess of burning, which it is at all times most difficult to prevent, if the shepherds and tenant farmers are hostile, would mar and spoil sport for several years, the import- ance to the sportsman of an early arrangement on this point can- not be exaggerated. We have seen the prospects of sport on a very considerable beat completely destroyed by wilful excess of burning, and we have no doubt, if proper measures had been opportunely taken, this outrage might have been obviated. Open drainage is another evil connected with sheep, for although it improves the land, still numerous young grouse are victimised by falling whence they cannot extricate themselves; in fact, although we exonerate sheep from being in any way the occasion of the grouse disease, we cannot deny their ' being the cause of many disadvantages to the sportsman; but as grazing rents are much more valuable than those derived from " shootings," the sportsman cannot expect the landlord to sacrifice a larger to a smaller interest; so that, as we have already insisted, the sports- man's only resource is in an immediate arrangement with the tenant- farmer and shepherds; and when the variety of annoy- ances which a tenant- farmer, with the co- operation of his shep herds, can subject a sportsman to, is duly weighed and con- sidered, a friendly alliance with the farmer and shepherd must strike every reflecting spertsman as an indispensable preliminary measure. There can be neither successful breeding nor good sport without the friendly co- operation of these important persons. WEST- LOHDON RAILWAY.— The West- London Extension Rail- way was opened for public traffic on Monday. This line is a con- tinuation of the old West London Railway from Kensington across the Thames to the point on the South- Western and Brighton lines at Battersea, known as Falcon- lane Junction ( where the Richmond branch joins the South- Western main line, and the West End branch of the Brighton Railway runs alongside the latter), having communications with both systems. It is of con- siderable importance as forming the first metropolitan junction between the great lines north and south of the Thames on the west side of London, and was constructed under peculiar circum- stances— there being no shareholders, and the capital being found in certain proportions by the London and North- Western, the Great Western, the Brighton, and the South- Western companies, who use the line in common. SUPPLEMENT TO BELL'S LIFE IN LONDON, MARCH 8, 1863. ANGLING. where fish can be generally killed, and this is one of the great secrets of success on most rivers. You may, we will suppose, be on a fishing excursion, and have a couple of vreeks to spare. You locate yourself and go to work: it may take you nearly all your timefind out the best bits of water, and just when you are abomt to leave you discover why that bungling old local always managed to kill a bigger basket of fish than you could— top sawyer" though you are. If you happen to be fishing a river " jelow or near a mill, make the miller your friend ; he has you in his power, and often he is a fisherman himself, and has not much love for intruding anglers. He cannot prevent your fishing, but he can preventyour taking fish, which I suppose to be yourobject. On a mild and cloudy morning, a brisk southerly breeze rippling the water, youapproachthestream; the trout rising well, and you tackle up, if a tvro, with trembling fingers, and an anxious but happy feeling that you have hit on a regular big- basket day. All being - . prepared you go to work, and perhaps soon kill a good hsh or noon by a bright and warm sun; and again the e^ ning msy bring j tw0_ when all ,0f & sudden, the trout cease to rise, and you cannot - ••• - - ' 1 move a fish, what can be tlie reason? There is no change m the SPRING FISHING. As yet the trembling year is unconfirmed, And winter of't at eve resumes the breeze, Chills the pale morn, and bids his driving sleet Deform the day delightless. Still night succeeds " A soften'd shade, and saturated earth Awaits the morning beam to give to light, liaised through ten thousand plastic tubes, The balmy treasure of the former day.' Buch is the ever- varying aspect of the present seiswi. The'chill breeze and driving sleet of the morning is often succeeded at AQUATICS. the sharp north wind and cutting frost. Marck, according to our English ideas, ought to< lccfme in like a lie ® , and go out like a lamb," and this year if be has not succeeded £ n doing'the roaring to sufficient extent to likea his advent to tlio king of beasts, he has brought in the first southerly . gale, combined with rain, we have had for some time. Cm not sorry to see the rainKl, and I trust all our salmon rivers may be soosi flooded, running bank high ; for the news from all quarters is, " our rivers are full of spent fish." If we have new good floods thousands Of fish will ran down, and many of them return about June in splendid condition. In my last I gave the angling bill of fare for tlie month or the earlier part of it. There is little change yet, save that grayling ought not to be killed. Pike and percli are als ® too far advanced to - fee taken, unless you wish to rid your water of these fish. If y ® u do so now is your time. You may generally find pike now lying in pairs ; the female fish some dozen or two yards above the cock. In angling for pike on a river at this time I have found it a good plan to fish up stream, as you meet the cock fish below the hen. If you hook the. cock y0U Can play him and kill without disturbing the hen. But as I before stated, I would never fish for pike at this season, unless I wished to destroy the breed. Few people tlisnk much about that - little rascal, the perch. All preservers of trout raise their voices against " poor Jack. " Did you ever happen to bait your " pater- noster'' with a small teout ? << § 0 ; » you will exclaim, with great indignation, no doubt, at the bare idea of your being guilty of such an act.. Well, I have, and I will bet a big apple with " any other man,'' if he baits his pater- noster with two minnows and one ,- small trout, about minnow size, when fishing for perch, he will take two perch with the trout- baited hook to one with the min- nows. In fact, perch play " old hookey'' with the small fry of trout ; perch are regular water wolves; they go in droves, and dash into a swarm of poor little trout fry, destroying thousands. The pike is certainly a murderous rascal, but he prowls about, like the tiger, and does his work single- handed; it's a hundred mouths against one. When the perch becomes three or four pounds, he is then worse than any pike in a trout river, and a man who kills him ought to have a medal. Where trout are preserved, I would kill every perch, as well as pike, in the water. Apropos to the preservation of trout, some time ago I was walking on the banks of a good salmon and trout river, and observed several water ouzels hard at work on the shallows where fish had been spawning. Secreting myself, and filling my pipe, I • watched the movements of the birds. It is a common say- ing that " no man can do two things well at the same time.'' Now I do say I upset this theory, for I certainly did the smoking to perfection, and I very well observed every movement of the birds. The water was perfectly clear, and I could see every stone in the stream below me, and being well hid behind a large tree which overhung the water, the birds often came close to me whilst feeding. My abservation proved to me that though the shallow was full of spawn ( for I had seen several pair of large fish spawn on that very shallow), the ousels never went near where the spawn was deposited. If any person will take the trouble to observe the movements of this bird, they will find that he seldom goes very far from the stone on which he alights when feeding. He will perch himself on a stone in the river, and after " ducking" and " bobbing" for some time, down he goes to the edge of the stone, runs quickly a short distance, and then under he goes; but he does not go far away from the stone, and not into any great depth of water. He does not dive, but runs along the bottom close to the stone, and comes up not far from where he started; he will thus hunt round a stone, but does not go out into the stream. If he is perched on the side of the river, he will hunt the bottom close to the side, but he does not dive out into the rapid water; he searches the little eddies and still places, and picks np larva;, and water insects of all kinds. As I have said, the birds I observed did not go on the bed of the river where the fish had deposited their spawn ; and I do not believe they could have dug the spawn out from under the gravel, and with- stand the strength of the stream if they had attempted it; for it may be observed that the ousel is not a powerful bird in the water, neither is his bill adapted to " digging out," and he is seldom more than a few seconds under the water. I must confess I have for years been a great enemy to the water ousel; now I respect the little gentleman, for I believe he is perfectly innocent of the great crimes laid to his charge, and does more good than harm to a river, as there are many water insects which are very great de- stroyers of spawn. I do not believe there are many birds power- ful enough to grub out the spawn and sustain themselves against a strong rapid. Swans will do so, and I would as soon see the real " gentleman in black'' on a trout or salmon river as a swan ; but if you will observe even the swan, he works very hard to keep his position while devouring the spawn on a rapid. But why should we swear death and vengeance against birds, beasts, fish, and the insect race when man himself is, after all, the great destroyer ? Where nature is left to her own resources she seldom fails to be prolific. Visit the rivers in unpopulated countries, and you will find that the otter, and every bird, fish, and insect we deem de- structive, abound to an extent we can scarcely credit, being accustomed to waters running through our highly civilised land. Yet notwithstanding all these destructives, the rivers teem with fish; it is only when man appears on the scene that fish gra- dually disappear. Nature always retains the balance of animal life; man, in his civilised state, destroys it. One fact has always struck me as singular. I look at the vast continent of America. Who can tell how many centuries the race of men we call the " Native Indian" has inhabited that portion of the globe ? They lived in what may be termed a state of nature. For centuries they lived in this wild state, and they subsisted entirely on the wild beasts, the birds, and fish. They never in all those centuries increased in such numbers that the beasts, birds, and fish were not amply sufficient for their subsistence. But when the civilised races appear on the scene all is changed, so incredibly fast do the latter race " increase and multiply," that it is only by artificial means they can exist!! The wild animals, beasts, birds, and fish, all disappear, destroyed by the indiscriminate slaughter of civilised man, and it is only by cultivation of the land and breeding cattle that they live. Animals which we term'' game," whichwherein sufficient abundance to feed the vast tribes of native Indians for centuries have in the civilised districts entirely disappeared. The balance of nature has been kicked over by the march of millions of civilised men ; and if it is so on that vast continent, how much more so must it be on this small and thickly- populated island ? If it were not for for the preservation of game, birds, beasts, and fish, we should not have a head of either in the country, and yet there are men silly enough to rave against the game- laws and all preservation. We live by cultivation, and we must cultivate the lands and waters if we would have food, and must resort to arti- ficial means of cultivating, as we have destroyed, or nearly de- stroyed, the natural. Not but that nature would still be kind to us. and restore the balance if we would permit her. Give the rivers a jubilee for only two or three years, and it wo& ld soon be seen what she would do for us; but as that cannot, or will not, be done, our only means are preserva tion and cultivation. We all want game, beasts, birds, and fish; some require them for sport, some for food, some for profit, and instead of combining like reasonable beings, we fight one against the other, and, between the rival factions, destroy that which we are battling for. On our rivers two factions have been engaged in a combat, as furious, if not as bloody, as the " wars of the roses''— the upper water proprietors versus the lower— and they have for years been " cutting their own throats,'' or rather both destroying the prize for which they are fighting. But there is a still stronger " faction" who claim the prize for which the " roses" have been fighting, and whose rights cannot be longer denied. " The public'' have set up their claim, and declare the war such an in- tolerable nuisance that they are determined to put an end to it. The strong arm of the law will be enforced, and again our magni- ficent waters will be stocked with the king of fish. It is not my cus- tom to enter into discussions on legal quest ions respecting the rights claimed by the rival factions. My obiect, when writing on matters piscatorial, is to give my readers the best information I can with regard to angling at the time I write. What I tell them I have learned from the actual practice of many years. My lessons are practical; I tell them how I fish myself, and if I find I am successful, I recommend the same style. I give the flies used each month, and endeavour to show how they should be used; the best baits and tackle, and in what description of water they will be most successful. I cannot always give direct information • where to fish; for many of the waters I fish at different times are preserved, and though several of the proprietors are most liberal, if I gave the names and the rivers, the owners would be pestered to death with applications for leave to fish. It would not be courteous, therefore, in me to give addresses: but I shall in some future nuiii'ber give the names of some rivers and lakes where fishing may; still be procured, without any great expense. As I have said, it is not my custom to enter into legal discussions on the fishing laws; if I did so I should be obliged to exclude information on angling, which I hope is more instructive; but I cannot resist a few remarks anent the stake- net nuisance. My readers have, no doubt, seen the reports on the Irish fishery bill, new under consideration of the House of Commons. The battle between the stake- netjand bag- net proprietors, and other obstructors of the rivers' highway, is carried to the house. One thing is per- fectly clear, stake nets, bag nets, weirs, and all fixed engines for taking salmon and migratory fish are a public nuisance, and, as such, must be sooner or later done away with. It is useless to say that by doing away with the stake and bag nets, weirs, & c, you do great injury to a large body of men, and take the very bread from hundreds of families. Why, have not these very stake nets been for years the cause of depriving hundreds of industrious fisher- men of their living, who, before the introduction of these mur- derous fixed engines, were able to take sufficient salmon by fair netting at the mouths of the rivers, not only to supply the public at a cheap rate, but maintain their families and put by small sums for a " rainy day ?'' But, putting aside any wrong these bag- net proprietors have done all other fishermen, it is proved that their nets are a public nuisance, that they are dangerous to navigation, and have very nearly, during the comparatively short time the}' have existed, destroyed the breed of salmon. Why should the great cause of reform be arrested in the case of a " few paltry bag- net proprietors? We have swept away many public nuisances, and at every sweep of the reform brush some victims have suffered. When the Court of Chancery became such a nuisance that it was no longer bearable, there was a cry for reform, and for a length of time the lawyers, who saw the loss of their enormous fees, costs, & c, raised a howl respecting great injury and injustice they would . suffer. But still the Chancery Courts were reformed, and the lawyers and hangers- on of the courts suffered for the public good; and, no doubt, they felt patriotically happy in being the means of suffering for their country's good. Whether that was the case or not, we live in days when the public will not permit any great nuisance to exist for the benefit of any man or body of men; and though there may be victims who will lose by the reform, they must submit for the general good. I wish it was in my power to give my readers a sketch of a modern bag net. It is one of the most ingenious and artful pieces of workmanship that can be conceived. I have watched these murderous nets fishing, and, oh! what delight it was to me to see, now and then, an enormous seal quietly visit the net in search of salmon, for I knew he would cut the rascally trap into ribbons, and give the netmen hours of work to repair it. Then would the netmen apply to me ( knowing I was a bit of a rifle shot, and often amused myself with my gun on the seashore) to shoot the seal. I shoot the « eal! who had just done that which I would delight to do myself if I could, very likely! " But then your honour knows the seal kills lots of salmon." So he may, poor fellow! " it's his nature so to do;" but if he will cut your net into smithereens every day in the week I shall honour him as a good public ser- vant. Away with the bag nets, stake nets, and all fixed engines — down they must all come, for " the people'' demand it. Let the salmon only have a fair run up the rivers, and, as I have often remarked before, all the poachers, with spears, and burners of waters cannot destroy the breed of salmon, so prolific are these fish. There are another body of men who are, in their way, as destructive to the breed of salmon as the stake- net proprietors— the millers. Beware of the miller and his dam. IXis dam we may be able to manage, it is open to view, but cannot at all times see what goes on in- side the mill. Sctjie years ago I saw a trap under the floor of a mill, into which a stream ran; and in this basket- like trap mil- lions of salmon fry *\ ere taken, and many fine salmon; so great was the quantity of sailmon fry killed that the miller actually fed his pigs on them! I ht've not much to state concerning trout fishing. The same flies. I recommended in my last will now kill. The weather at present is more boisterous than it has been, and, if it continues, large flies wft'l kill better than the smaller. About this time of year many are anxious to find some waters where they can get fishing, and I win' give them a few hints as to their mode of proceeding. When you hear of " good fishing to be let," take care you are not " let in," ar. d before you " hang up your hat" and locate yourself make sure there are fish, and a sufficient stock for sport. When yo.' i arrive at your station, get some local who knows the wafer well, and can show you in what parts ofcthe river fish are usua.' y taken, for in every river there are parts that you may as well thKow your hat in as fish, and even to an experienced eye, good- looking water— this every old angler knows well. There are other parts of rivers weather, and the fly is still strong 011 the water. But if you could see within the walls of the mill above you, you would discover a vicious old miller who bsd been watching your every movement, the instant he saw you take a fish or two his bile was stired, and he stumped off to his main hatch, and let it down with a savage sism. The consequence was that a great body of water was sud- denly stopped, and the river were you were fishing speedily sank, the trout, finding'the water lowering, run under the weeds, and your- spcK't is at an end; therefore, I say, always cultivate the miller, find out his weak point, every man has some " weak point," it may be " beer, it may be baccy, it may be a secret feeling that he is of noble birth, but disowned by his unnatural parents. If beer ' is the failing, beer let it be ; if baccy, baccy ; but if the lord in disguise it is a more difficult matter. However, even this rock is to be weathered if you have tact, and you are no true angler if you have not. There are some men who, rod in hand and basket at shoulder, will walk through a country, and, simply by being civil and amiable, as well as agreeable, and, in fact, " jolly," will get any amount of fishing. There are others, • crusty, dissatisfied, grumbling creatures, who find it difficult to • get good fishing even for money. Such a man may rent a bit of good water, but if he makes himself disagreeable he will have a host of enemies round him very shortly. The miller will draw his hatch, and let down a lot of weeds and muddy water ; or the farmer will bully him for treading down his grass, or breaking his fences. He may pay a local angler to show him the best parts of the river, but he will not derive much benefit from his money. I was at a fishing station some years past, and was usually accompanied by an © Id local fisherman, who knew every stone, and where every fish in the river lay. I had very fair sport, and was about leaving, when a person I knew came down to fish, and I recommended him my own servant. I did not leave so soon as I expected, and happened to saunter down the river in the afternoon, when, to my astonishment, I saw my friend thrashing the water in a place I had never seen either salmon or trout taken. My friend returned in the evening with a very light creel and most vinegar countenance. I asked my old companion how it happened they had had such bad sport. " Why, you see, sir, he began grumbling at me when we started because the sun happened to come out rather warm, and then when I put him on ' the black pool,' where I know there be fish, he d d me be- cause he could not rise them; then he d d all Scotchmen, whieh I didn't care for, seeing my mother was a Brown and my father Dennis O'Murphy; but when he abused the dear old river, where on the banks of which I was born and bred, as which same is a sight too good for the likes of he to fish in, then, sir, my blood was up, and when I seed him drinking his whisky, and never offering me a drop, why then, sir, I knowd it was no use a putting him on the best posts to spoil, as 110 gentleman as is a fisherman would do such an onnatural act. So then I let him fish where he liked, and I hope he enjoyed his sport; but I'd rather go with some gentlemen for nothing than such as he for a sov a day." And so it is— you may pay, and pay well, for any sort of sport; Wt un- less you use tact and kind words towards those around you all your money will be thrown away. It is the custom to term the brethren of the rod " gentle anglers." I do not know what style of men angled in Walton's time, but if poor old Izaac could hear some of our young, hot- blooded piscators " let out'' when they happen to get " hung up," and some of the other hands grumble, growl, and threaten to " punch" poor slavey's head, he would find that the present race of anglers belong to the " reform" party. Whether they have reformed for the better I leave the shade of old Walton to judge.— Yours, & c, FIN. VANDERDECKEN'S LOG, 1862- No. IY. The young, the old, with eager eyes Watch the bold bark that tow'rd them files; Yet still with winds, and ocean's rage, Dire conflict must the lifeboat wage; She struggles strongly, like a soul Eacing with death for life's prized goal, And flashes through, or bravely throws. The billows ott, that rise like foes. WRECK OF THE H » S£ EWARD BOUND. ME EDITOE : There are occurrences that s ometimes come under eur personal observation, which, from aUendaat circumstances, awake ideas and thoughts that leave impressions on the mind calculated to enlist our warmest sympathies; who that witnessed the enthusiasm and excitement attendant upon the departure of in which they are adapted, fitted out, and found for their perilous duties, perhaps this expense might be justified by creating ad- ditional support, and giving thus occasionally a more lively im- petus to the feeling that such a support is ever requisite, not only for the purpose of keeping the present fine fleet of lifeboats in a constant state " of usefulness, but likewise to enable the institution to extend their operations, always keeping in inind that there are 800 lives per annum still in peril, and that must be looked after. The heart can very often be reached through the eye ; and the fact being presented, that well found, splendidly- manned boats, fit to do battle for men's lives, have been organised upon a well digested system ; that these same boats, whose daring exploits are daily upon record, are actually before the spectator, a material evidence not to be disputed, would go far as an all powerful appealal meetings such as regattas. VANDERDECKEN. THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. ROYAL MERSEY YACHT CLUB. The general meeting for the month of March was held at the club rooms, Liverpool, on Monday last, the Commodore and Rear- our gallant troops for the Crimea can easily forget it ? how com- j Commodore presiding. After the minutes were read over, several nanv after company of our gallant Guards, our noble line infantry, i members were elected and other names were set down for nomi- andtmr Splendid cavalry swept along'in serried array; all " atlor\. Rule X. of the sailing regulations havmg been revised, glorious in the pemp and chivalric bearing of Britain's invincible the notlce , o£ m0t. 10"' w '( i fwas fthe last ^ ing. was warriors sS discipline for the momeiit forgotten, and caps, ! unanimously carried:-" That no ballast or weight be shifted shakoes., and helmets whirled aloft on bayonet end and sword blade in all the triumph of anticipated conquest; and then the stirring, confident, heartfelt cheer of the heroes, as shoulder to shoulder they marched on board the transports. It was a goodly sight too, I trow, when those self- same stately trans- ports sailed away with their living freights of brave men and bold chieftains, bearing the legions of England to im- mortalise the names of Inkermann and Balaklava, of the Redan and the Malakoff. We cannot, either, forget when the busy little steamers puffed up and down the Thames, giving to the breeze that meteor flag that flew above the gallant spirits that made St Vincent' and the Nile, and Trafalgar, Navarino, St Jean d'Acre, and the glorious career of the Shannon brigade, familiar to our ears as Charing- cross or the Bank. How sober, respect- able, staid- looking " busses" were transformed for the nonce into warlike looking cruisers on wheels, rigged out in all the battle- banners of a victorious fleet, and manned by bronze- featured, medal- decorated sons of the Ocean, whilst " Rule Britannia" rose fitfully upon the air, the watch- word and the battle- cry of our island bulwarks, inviting to glory the stalwart mariners of our fleets of commerce. What noble aspirations and brilliant hopes were evoked as our royal dockyards and slips gave to the Ocean line- of- battle ships and frigates, and wicked- looking little during the match, that no water ballast be allowed, that no bags of shot or other ballast prepared or suitable for the purpose of shifting be allowed to be on board, and a declaration to that effect be signed by the owner or his representative previous to the match; that all ballast shall be under the platform or in the lockers, and that the platform and lockers shall be sealed down, by a person appointed for the occasion by the acting officer of the club. No more than the usual anchors or chains shall be allowed to be carried during the match.'' Several communications having been received from the leading members of the royal yacht clubs of the desirability of adopting one general code of rules and sail- ing regulations, the committee moved, " That in the opinion of this nweting the time has arrived when an effort should be made to supply the existing want of a uniform code of sailing regula- tions for match sailing, and authorises the sailing committee to take such steps as may be deemed advisable for securing the co- operation of the various royal yacht clubs of the kingdom in effecting so desirable an object.'' The Commodore and officers of the club were re- elected, and a vote of thanks passed for their zealous services. SHIFTING BALLAST. ^ W „ MR EDITOE: Will you kindly allow me to comment on a letter gunboats f and glorious' rollicking, free- hearted bands of British which appeared in your paper of the 1st inst, on this subject, ® - 1 1 j ~ fVin ^. yVitJnic rl n/ ilr t? o r. ITniAv. T Qi'frnpd k i prl wifr. h Whit. A " Qnrl a a omanofinrr f- n/~ » ro o rmz- vrl sailors rushed to man the fighting decks and nail the Union Jack to the main. When peace was proclaimed what a glorious wel- come was accorded to the battle- stained veterans that returned in triumph; how our good Queen with her own hands decorated the breasts of those brave subjects that had fought and bled for the supremacy of her throne, and maintained her invincible power signed " Red with White," and which, as emanating from a good and practical yachtsman, and one who owns a first- rate clipper yacht, deserves some attention. His pleas for allowing a racing cutter to be fitted up, as part of her equipment, with a few tons of shot bags, resolve themselves, in my opinion, very nearly into my strongest argument against them, viz, that their use will enable a CRICKET. MARYLEBONE CLUB AND LAW X. The committee of the M. C. C. having taken into consideration, during the last autumn, the many difficulties which have existed in carrying out law 10, so far as it relates to the height of the hand in bowling, determined, at a meeting held on the 31st Oct, to issue a circular addressed to numerous clubs, with a view to elicit the opinion of cricketers in the principal districts whether law 10 should be enforced or not. Replies have been received to the circular from many quarters, and the prevailing feeling seems to be that the restrictions on the height of the hand should be abolished, but that throwing and jerking should be disallowed as at present. Suggestions were made by some that additional or altered words might secure greater strictness in enforcing the law against throwing and jerking. The subject was fully considered at a meeting of the committee held on the 25th, Earl Sefton in the chair. The following resolu- tions were adopted:— " That a general meeting of the members of the M. C. C. be held in the pavilion on Lord's Ground, on Wednesday, the 15th of April, at three o'clock precisely, for the purpose of taking into consideration any proposals which may be made by members of the club with reference to law 10. " The committee do not propose to publish any of the letters they have received, but they will be placed in the hands of Mr Dark, at Lord's Ground, where they will be open to the inspec- tion of any member of the M. C. C., or other cricketers interested in the question of bowling. " By order of the committee, " ROGER KYNASTON, Treasurer and Hon Sec - pro tem. " 4- 3, Devonshire- street, Portland- place, W, Feb 25, 1863." In order to prevent a new style of delivery being introduced, should all restrictions except as to throwing and jerking be re- moved, by which the hand might be raised windmill fashion above the head, for the purpose of making the ball bump, and which on lively ground would be exceedingly dangerous to the person as well as fatal to good cricket, Mr Kynaston, who originally proposed, in 1835, the law substituting the shoulder for elbow, has suggested a middle course, by way of experiment, and will submit the following law for adoption at the general meeting, on the 15th of April:— The ball must be bowled; if thrown or jerked, or if the bowler on his arrival at the crease shall, during the last action of the delivery of the ball, raise his hand or arm above his head, the umpire must call no ball. Another alteration has been received from a member of the club as follows:— The ball must be bowled, not thrown or jerked, and whenever the bowler shill so closely infringe on this rule, in either of the above particulars, as to make it difficult for the umpire at the bowler's wicket to judge whether the ball has been delivered fairly and within the true intent and meaning of this law or not, the umpire shall call no ball. Any further proposals for altering law 10 must be sent to Mr Kynaston, 43, Devonshire- street, Portland- place, W, before the 10th of March, as one month's notice must be given of a general meeting, agreeably to rule 17 of the club, and all notices of motions must appear in the public advertisement. 43, Devonshire- street, Portland- place, W. ALL ENGLAND ELEVEN. MAT 4, Fulneck, Leeds— V 22 of Pudsey and district. MAY 11, Sheffield— T 18 of Sheffield ( W. SI inn's benefit). MAY 14, Glasgow— v 22 of Clydesdale Club. MAY 18, Berkenshaw, near Leeds— V 22. MAY 21, Manchester, Old Trafford— North VSouth. MAY 25, Lord's— V United ( benefit of Cricketers' Fund). MAY 2S, Bath— V 22. JUNE 1, Halifax— v 22 of the district. JUNE 4, Old Traftord— V 16 of Manchester ( with two professionals). JCNE 8, Southampton— v 22 of Union Club. . TUNE 15, Dewsbury—• V 22. JCNE 18, Broughton— V 20. JUNE 25. Kedditch— V 22. JULY 2, Morley— V 22. JULY 16, Hackwood Park— v 22 of Basingstoke. JULY 27, Walsall— V22. JULY 30, Longsfght— V 20. AUG 3, Boston Spa— v 22 of Boston Spa. AUG 6, Ashton- under- Lyne— V 22. AUG 17, Lawton Hall— v 22 of Cheshire. AUG 20, Harrogate— V 22. AUG 24, Scarborough— V 22 of the district. AUG 27, Liverpool— North v South. UNITED ALL ENGLAND. MAY 14, Gomersal, near Leeds— V 22. MAY 25, Lords— V All England ( for the Cricketers' Fund). MAY 28, Oxford— V 20 of Christ Church College. JUNE 1, Ealing— V 20 ( with two bowlers). JUNE 8. Seaforth— V 20 of the Northern Club ( with two bowlers). AUGUST 6, Southgate— v J. Walker's 16. AUGUST 10, Otlev, Yorkshire— v 22. AUGUST 13, Southampton— v 22 of the Union Club. AUGUST 24, Hastings— V 22. AUGUST 31, Newport, Isle of Wight— v 22 of the island. LILLYWHITE'S GUIDE TO CRICKETERS. • It is a very difficult, and at the same time a very easy task, to notice the issue of the winter edition of Lillywhite's Handbook. It is difficult to say anything more in its praise than to state our opinion that it is as perfect a handbook as any cricketer can wish for, whether he is one of the stars of Lord's or the Oval, or a country parson struggling to establish a village club. There are hints which the oldest cricketers may be reminded of with ad- vantage, and simple instructions which the earliest tj'ro can understand, including laws of the game and rules for clubs. Be- sides this, there is a thorough analysis of all the best and most interesting cricket in England, conveying the infor- mation of what was done and who did it in counties and universities, including averages of bowling, batting, and wicked- keeping, and a few words also on the review of the sea- son, smartly written, and a little friendly advice about wager matches, which so fully tally with our own ideas, that we cannot refrain from quoting them:—" One word more and we have done. In duty bound we mention this fact, viz, that as an event of the year, we record a single wicket match for a large wager. In kindly spirit we say to cricketers who love the game, ' When you know that every father who is fond of sport puts a bat in a boy's hand, believing that cricket will do him good, and will never lead him into harm; when you know that the best friend of cricket in the rural districts is the country parson, will you im- peril the game by promoting single wicket matches for money ? Be assured that it is only one step from single wicket matches for £ 500 to double wicket matches for £ 100 a man; and if ever the day arrives that cricket, like racing, becomes a money- match, then farewell to cricket as a popular sport."' The price is raised from Is 3d to Is Od, and if any man regrets the odd " coppers" he can be no cricketer or friend to cricket. DEATHS BY FIEE AT YEOVIL.— Early on Tuesday morning, March 3, a fire broke out in the premises known as the John Bull Inn, Middle- street, Yeovil. About three o'clock in the morning a neighbour discovered that a fire was raging in the rooms on the ground floor of the inn, and that the inmates of the house ap- peared not to be aware of their impending danger. He at once raised an alarm. The first to discover the fire in the kouse was a little boy, Albert Gulliver, aged eleven, who called his father and mother, the ostler, and a person named Warr, sleeping in the house. The ostler jumped out of the window into the yard, and having obtained a ladder, he placed it against the house. Warr in his fright either fell or leaped from the top of the ladder to the bottom, and unfortunately came in contact with a barrel. He struck his back violently, and it is stated that he has sustained such severe injuries that he is not likely to recover. Mr Gulliver, the landlord, with great difficulty susceeded in reaching the window in his shirt. It was found that he was seriously burnt about the hands and face. Mrs Gulliver, in her anxiety to rescue her children, rushed from her room, and it is supposed that she must have been stifled by the smoke, for she was not after- wards heard of. The little boy who aroused the other inmates was unable to save himself, and he also fell a prey to the flames. Miss Gulliver, who slept near the place where the fire broke out, is supposed to have been suffocated before it was discovered. The engine belonging to the Yeovil Volunteer Fire Brigade was first on the spot, but, for the want of a good supply of water, it could uot be set to work for some time. The West of England fire eagine arrived soon afterwards. Water was then copiously poured into the premises, but the fire had obtained such a hold that from the first it was seen that the entire destruction of the house was inevitable. The roof fell in with a tremendous crash about five o'clock, and three houses in the occupation of Mrs Baker, Mr Maniford, and Mr Morris, in Viearage- street, were entirely de- stroyed; but the fire was here cut off, and was ultimately got uoder about seven o'clock. Search was then made for the missing bodies, and by ten o'clock two of them were found in the ruins ; they are supposed to be those of Mrs Gulliver ind her son. They could not be recognised. VOYAGE UP THE NIGEE.— The London Gazette of Tuesday night contains « report from Lieut Lefroy, of H. M. 8- Investigator, of his recent ascent of the River Niger. It is in tike form of a diary, and itarratec a voyage up that river, from Ls^ os Rabba, and thence to the c& sip of King Massaba, at Combatee, where he expected to put himself in communication with Dr B& tkie; in this, however, he failed, as that traveller had gone to Kano. Lieut Lefroy accordingly returned with his steamer to Lagos. He speaks highly of the charts of the iSFjger by Lieut Glover, which made the pilot's duty superfluous. counterbalancing weight, thereby tearing her to pieces, and causing a great risk that if suddenly compelled to go about she will be almost, if not entirely, capsized, a case of which he in- stances from his own observation last season. It is true that he professes to wish only for a means of trimming fore and aft, but for this purpose, while racing, a very few cwt of hands, anchors, or chains will do all that is necessary, and, except when racing, he is not interfered with. As to his argument about going ashore, no doubt shot bags are handy in case of such a mishap, but as they were never car- ried until about the year 1854, and as lead in small pieces is largely used as standing ballast, I think a yacht, if not over- weighted with enormous spars, may jog about the world very well without their aid, even if their exclusion while racing did necessarily involve their exclusion while cruising. His plan for preventing ballast trimming is ingenious, but in practice would be most inconvenient, unless the clu'i supplied padlocks, and kept the keys; nets would be of little use, and if becalmed out all night, no uncommon occurrence, a serious nuisance. Moreover, his plan would not prevent a goodly number of shot- bags finding their way on deck, where, under the shelter of a friendly spare topsail, they would give fine leverage along the weather bulwark— the place, by the way, where I always used, in my racing days, to trim my little cutter, as she was rather sharp and narrow below for shot- bags to have much power. On the whole, and taking everything into consideration, while freely admitting that my plan has some inconveniences, I maintain that if the shifting of ballast to the windward is to be prohibited, and this seems to be tolerably well agreed to, and most clubs have a rule doing so, the best, cheapest, and fairest way to enforce the rule is to pre- vent racers carrying shifting ballast; and as a little bird has whis- pered to me that the Royal Thames, the best of our racing yacht clubs, is likely to look with favour on the proposition to do so, I have great hopes that the prohibition will be general this season, and almost begin to think that another pet project of mine, viz, the establishment of a central authority in the shape of a cHib similar to the Jockey Club or National Coursing Club, for the ex- press purpose of settling rules and regulations, arbitrating on dis- putes, & c, may some day be thought as necessary for the welfare of yacht as it lias been found of horse and dog racing. I have left myself little space to touch on the letter of " Northern Burgee," and only saying that I agree with him in his views, but think that 35 tons and over a better division than 30 tons and over, and hardly any allowance of time would practically enable a 15 tonner to defeat a 50 tonner, will conclude, signing myself, as usual, RED WITH WHITE MALTESE CROSS. Dublin, March 3, 1863. both by sea and land; their health and their welfare were cared cutter of 55 tons to carry the " heavy masts and spars" of a for by the State thev had so well served; and the dangers of the sea 75- tonner, which* she cannot do unless propped up with some and of the storm were guarded against by well found ships, dis- ^""^ rhnlanninor wpiorhf. th » » h, T ciplined crews, and able officers, that they might return in safety to their native land to enjoy in peace what their good right arms had so nobly won in war; pensions and prize money rewarded the young and vigorous, whilst Greenwich and Chelsea opened wide their portals to the aged, the enfeebled, and the maimed. Scenes of quite as impressive a nature, although unaccompanied by such brilliant accessories, are daily occurring around us, that should cause the mind much to dwell thereupon; there are as gal- lant bands ever outward bound in as noble ships, quite as signifi- cant of the power and dominion and the glory of our sea girt islands, as if they went forth heralded by the banner of conquest, the brazen notes of the war trumpet, or the deep- toned roll of the martial drum. These gallant ships go forth upon a bloodless errand ; their arms are furnished from our fields and from our mines, fashioned curiously and with cunning skill, the fruits of the busy brain and the sweating brow; their battle fields are the oceans that surround the earth, and fierce and furious are the contests they wage with the seas and with the winds, with light ning and tempest, with fire that withereth and destroyeth more fatally and surely and swiftly than batteries of the heaviest artillery ; with hidden and mysterious foes that appear and disappear as if by magic, coral reefs, and sand banks, and whirling pillars of wind- borne sea, before they return again laden with the spoils of many lands, where- with to build up merchant palaces, to swell the coffers of merchant princes, to convey to us the produce of far countries that alike contribute to the comforts of the castle and the cottage, and by their daring, skilful, and persevering crews to make us great in commerce as we are in contest. What welcome is ac- corded to these gallant fellows upon their return from campaigns of rare hardships and peril! campaigns during which they fare hardly, work hardly, and often die hardly— unwept, un- honoured, and unsung ! Well it may be truly said of late years that a great deal has been done on shore by those who profit much from his exertions, to give poor mercantile Jack a welcome and reward. Those noble institutions, the sailors' homes, have been a real boon and comfort to our wandering tars, where they can lay up in ordinary and take a rest from their labours, well tended, and well cared for, and feeling that they have a home in the old country after all. Then we have our hospitals for the sick sailors of all nations, and that admirable institution for aiding ship- wrecked mariners. But there is a great deal more yet remains to be done forour wayfarers of the sea; arid there is one institution for the benefit of sailors, the organisation and working of which is peculiarly and essentially our own, that deserves the heartiest encouragement and warmest support of every one that takes an interest in them, and from John o' Groat's House to the Land's End, or from Rathlin Island to the old Head of Kinsale, where is there a heart that does not warm to our adventurous bluejackets ? Let those who sit at home on a wintry night in the enjoyment of comforts and luxuries that Jack has toiled to bring from countries far away picture to themselves the homeward bound ships within sight of her haven of rest. Prosperous has the voyage hitherto been, and lighthearted and jocund are the merry- hearted mariners at the prospect of so soon seeing all who are near and dear to them. There is something in the corners of sundry strong chests wherewith to gladden the hearts of the old couples who, sheltering under ingle nooks, think of the bonny curly- headed wayward boys who would go to sea. There is a something for the comely matron who counts the months, the days, and the hours until the Good Intent is due from the far east. There are little somethings for little folk who remember a dashing, fearless brother that played with them, and laughed and sung to them, and went one day away to sea, and whose chair has been empty in the house, and whose place is unfilled in the heart ; and there is a something more than these for the blushing sweetheart, who plighted her trsth, and broke that crooked sixpence, and will never believe that the ship in which her William ( tailed can ever be lost. " Land ho !" What a joyous sound, and what a cheery laugh re- sounds from deck to deck as the prospect of home and all its kindly relations rise vividly in the breasts of the storm- tossed, wave- worn wanderers. That cloud, though, on the horizon! that little cloud no bigger than a man's hand ; how it gathers and spreads, and rises up high until the entire heavens are wrapped in its dusky pall; and the wind that was whistled for so anxiously comes in strong and fitful gusts; there is a dull, distant roaring, and speedily the good ship is stripped for the fight— the fight for home! She no longer careers along be- neath a mountain of canvas; there are warnings abroad that the cautious commander must not despise; the night draws on apace, and the tempest breaks forth in all its fury; the wild waters leap into frothing foam, blinding snow and sleet dash pitilessly upon the devoted crew; the land, so long wished for, is hidden away from sight, and a desperate longing to get clear of it— away to sea again— pervades all, for it has become a lee shore, that coveted home; and there is danger— perhaps death— along the rocky coast. More furiously than ever rages the storm, the stout canvas is blown from the bolt ropes, and the boldest heart throbs wildly as the good ship, that has weathered many a fierce gale, becomes unmanageable; helplessly she is borne onward, human skill and daring can do 110 more. All the wealth that is stored beneath her well- battened hatches would not purchase the safety of a single hair. " Breakers ahead!" that fearful cry that knells the doom of many a brave sailor, resounds fore and aft. Too late with the helm, good timoneer! too late! She gives a convulsive leap as the giant seas goad her madly onwards; another moment, and a shock is felt the most terrible that man can endure and live. She is cast with terrific violence upon the reef or the sandbank; the rich cargo that cost so much time, and toil, and foresight to gather within her hold, rives at her stout frame, and opens out her planking; her mainmast goes by the board, and her worn out, despair- stricken crew seek escape from the engulphing waters that rage over her helpless form by taking to the rigging of the only spar that stands. What of home now? Naught but the horrid) heart- rending shriek of strong men in their agony, strong men in their prime, dashed in a moment from anticipated happiness to a fearful doom. Is there no hope— no help— no guardians on the look out to step between Death and its victims ? Hold on, good foremast, there is hope and help at hand! And hands shall be grasped and the cup of kindness filled yet; hearths shall be gladdened, and little lips shall lisp joyously and bright eyes glitter tearfully at the story of that terrible night. The rocket soaring on high tells the tale that there were those in the old houses at home that had forethought to provide what help men could. By the blaze of that welcome flash the boat of mercy is discovered in her snow white panoply, urged along by sinewy arms, and manned by brave hearts. Hurrah! the bold, hearty British cheer peals above the storm, and the tiny lifeboat leaps triumphantly to the rescue— to welcome back to life, and hope, and home! That wailing cry, " Let not the deep swallow us up," has been heard, it floats on the wind and travels with the storm, and when the breakers lash the rocks in their fury, it is a warning round the Isles of Britain that that cry is abroad and must be re- sponded to. All honour be to the Duke of Northumberland, under the fos- tering care of whose noble house this mission has been accom- plished? honour be to those local committees who so ably second the efforts of the parent good 1 The names of Sir William Hillary and Mr Thomas Wilson will not need the aid of a costly mau- soleum to perpetuate them. The Perrots and the Chapmans, and the Barings, and those busy workers who spare neither time nor patience, nor trouble at that small house in John- street, Adelphi, have earned many an honest " God bless them!'' And those zea- lous workers in the good cause, Mr Richard Lewis and Captain Ward, who by precept and example, by their eloquent advocacy and unwearying diligence, carry on with ceaseless perseverance the duties committed to their charge, have reason to be proud of the success that has attended their efforts; 123 lifeboats stationed round our coasts attest the result of these efforts, and 48 other lifeboats, supported and provided for by local beneficence, show that the good example has been fruitful. Only to fancy that on an average 1,000 vessels are wrecked around our shores every year, almost at our very doors, and that by means of these lifeboats, of the rocket and mortar apparatus, and volunteer shore boats, four thousand six hundred and twenty- four lives were saved during the past year, and when we know that on an average eight hun- dred of our fellow creatures perish annually through those fear- ful catastropes, it needs no more forcible argument to draw the attention of all whom Providence has blessed with the means, and induce them to assist the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in their noble work of saving life. Much or little strengthens their hands, and the poor man's mite aids as efficiently as the millionaire's princely gift. Some of our yacht clubs have nobly responded to the appeal for co- operation ; the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Royal Thames, the Royal Victoria, the Royal Mersey, and the royal London clubs annually contribute to the Lifeboat funds. We hope the other clubs will come forward with equal energy and generous emula- tion, for it is peculiarly their province to* assist such a national institution. The pastime of yatching is an aristocratic sport of these islands, significant of our power and dominion at sea; it can only be enjoyed by the wealthy and independent, and is productive of vast good as a nursery to our navy, and giving remunerative em- ployment to thousands of our hardy fishermen and pilots annually. It is on behalf of these very men that a claim to the co- operation of yachtsmen with the Lifeboat Institution exists; very many of them lead a hazardous and often precarious existence during the winter months in pursuit of the fisheries, and m piloting ships to the harbours and roadsteads around our coasts ; others, and by far the greater proportion, take to the coasting trade, and it is amongst the vessels engaged in this trade that we find the greatest proportion of casualties. To these men, therefore, the lifeboats are like guardian angels, and yachtsmen, that have enjoyed their summer adventures at sea, should not forget that many smart hands they have prized amongst their crews have to struggle with the wintry sea and the ice- laden tempest, and that the wee, white barkie is ever at han « l to assist them in their dire extremity. Well may the members of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club congratulate themselves on the bril- liant service performed by the lifeboat presented by them, and stationed at Brightstone Grange, Isle of Wight; eight trips did that boat and her gallant crew make through surf and breakers, and through her instrumentality 2- 33 human beings were rescued from the wreck © f the Cedarine, including amongst them five women and eighteen helpless children. The Thames and Vic- toria clubs have both presented lifeboats, in addition to their annual subscriptions and donations, and the Mersey contribute a considerable sum yearly, being the amount received at the an- nual ball. We have sixteen other clubs, surely they will not hesitate in assisting the objects of this great institution. At the Plymouth Regatta the lifeboat presented by Miss Burdett Coutts, and named after the late Prince Consort, was publicly tested, and excited great attention and in- terest. If this could be followed up upon future occasions, and at the regattas round the coast, if the lifeboats of the institution were to make their appearance where prac- ticable, fully manned and equipped for service, it would tend much to remind yachtsmen of their duty, and keep the public generally informed of the discipline and efficiency maintained throughout the life- saving fleet. There is no doubt this would involve some little expense ; but as none but those who have in- spected these splendid boats can be aware of the skill, labour, and perseverance that has been brought to bear in bringing them to their present perfection, of the admirable and complete manner ME EDITOE : I have read with much interest the letters which have lately appeared in your columns on the subject of shifting ballast, and think the plan for getting rid of that nuisance pro- posed by " Red with White Maltese Cross" to be the most feasible of any yet put forward. With regard to the arguments of " Red with White," in favour of keeping it 011 board for the safety of his vessel while making a passage, I must say, I think the yacht that requires a supply of shot bags to enable her to go to sea must be either very much over- sparred, or a very poor sea- going craft, indeed, and the sooner ship- builders give up constructing vessels of that class the better. I also beg to say that I highly approve of " Oceana's"' plan for disposing of balloon canvas ( which is, I think, as great an evil as the shifting ballast), and I trust that both may soon be banished from all regattas, and that we may again see yachts contending for our prizes able to carry their canvas without being propped up with shot bags— Yours,"& c. Tuesday, March 3, 1863. BLUE WITH RED CEOSS. NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION. POETHLEVEN LIFEBOAT.— Some interesting trials took place in she Regent's Canal Dock, Limehouse, on Wednesday, with a beautiful new lifeboat, which the National Lifeboat Institution tent on the following day to Porthleven, 011 the Cornish coast. Her self- righting and self- ejecting qualities proved to be most satisfactory. On being capsized by a crane she instantly righted, and the water shipped in the process was self- ejected through patent valves in 25 seconds. The lifeboat possesses also all the usual characteristics of the craft of the National Lifeboat Institu- tion. She was built by the Messrs Forrestt, of Limehouse. The transporting carriage of the boat, which was built by Mr J. Robinson, of Camden Town, was also tried on the occasion, and was found to answer admirably. By an ingenious contrivance the boat, with her crew on board, is launched off the carriage. With their oars in their hands they are thus enabled to obtain headway before the breakers have time to beat the boat broadside on the beach. The hauling up of the lifeboat on her carriage is accomplished with equal facility. A commodious and substantial house has been built, from designs furnished by C. IT. Cooke, Esq, honorary architect of the society, for the reception of the lifeboat, her . carriage, and stores, the site of ground having been liberally given by Edward Coode, Esq, of St Austell. The cost of the life- boat was presented to the institution by T. J. Agar Robartes, Esq, M. P., who had previously, in conjunction with the late Hon Mrs Agar, given the society the cost of the Lizard lifeboat. F. Penber- thy, Esq, the honorary secretary, Capt Austen, R. N., and other gentlemen have rendered the institution valuable assistance in establishing this lifeboat station. A free conveyance was readily given to the lifeboat and carriage by the Great Western, Bristol and Exeter, South Devon and Cornwall, and West Cornwall Railway Companies over their lines. The lifeboat will be drawn, on her carriage, through Helston, and will form part of a procession 011 the occasion of the wedding day of the Prince of Wales on the 10th inst. The National Lifeboat In- stitution has now 124 lifeboats in connection with it. Of these, 14 are stationed on the Devon and Cornish coasts, viz, at Ex- mouth, Teignmouth, Plymouth, Appledore, Braunton. Fowey, Lizard, Porthleven, Penzance, Sennen Cove, St Ives, Newquay, Padstow, and Bude Haven. Some of the lifeboats of the institu- tion were the means during the past year of rescuing 358 poor fellows from a watery grave, in addition to bringing 21 vessels safely into harbour. As each lifeboat requires about £ 40 a year to keep it always ready for instantaneous service, it is evident that a large sum is required by the institution to maintain in a state of efficiency our numerous lifeboat establishments, and that the good and sacred work in which it is so actively engaged can only be perpetuated by legacies and the continued support of the public at large. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has in timated, through General Knoilys, ' His great pleasure in be- coming the vice- patron of the Royal National Lifeboat Institu- tion, and in contributing a donation of £ 30 for the purposes of the institution.'' The Prince of Wales thus occupies in the institu- tion the place which the late lamented Prince Consort, his father, filled since 1850, with so much advantage to the cau-: e of huma- nity. At that period the society possessed 12 lifeboats, and its annual expenditure was about £ 800. 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 coasts. WINNING YACHTS OF 1862.— Mr Editor: Will you allow me to correct an error in your list of winning yachts in last week's number? At the Plymouth Regatta the Violet schooner won Earl Vane's Cup, in addition to the second prize of £ 20 given by the town. I am sure you wish your list to be as accurate as pos- sible, or I would not have troubled you with this correction.— Yours, & c, JOHN R. KIEBY.— Hotel de Louvre, Paris. YACHTING IN FEANCE.— The arrangements for an international yacht match at Cannes, on Monday, April 6, were noticed last month, and it has since been resolved to establish a yacht club there. The Due de Vallembrosa, who established the yacht match, was not content with having accomplished that, but de- termined to give, if possible, a permanent encouragement to yachting in the Mediterranean. Supported by M Legoff Mayor of Cannes, and M Pechard, Vice- Presidentof the Regatta Society at Cannes, a club has been formed, with a capital of £ 8,000, raised in 40 shares of £ 200 each. The whole of this capital has been sub scribed, and already there has been some discussion as to the pro- priety of increasing the amount to £ 10,000. The new club has acquired some land on the seashore, and a club house is about to be erected, the 15th inst being appointed for the reception and consideration of plans. As soon as a plan has been chosen, the work of construction, for which £ 4,000 has been voted, will be at once commenced. The annual subscription to the club has been fixed at £ 5 per year or season, or £ 1 per month. The club already counts thirty founders and more than sixty subscribers, and it is expected that not less than one hundred members will be obtained during the winter season, so that a total of two hundred sub- scribers would be thus assured. Valuable assistance and support is anticipated from the English colony which has arisen at Cannes. Towards the close of the year, and on the opening of the winter season, the inauguration of this Mediterranean yacht club will take place, and it cannot fail to attract many English yachtsmen within the sphere of its influence. The yacht Neva has passed into the hands of M Louis Bertin, shipowner, of Rouen, and Pre- sident of the Regatta Society, established at that town. It ap- pears that the schooner Fairy Queen, formerly one of the squadron of the Royal Western Yacht Club, has, after all, become the pro- perty of M Dupont. de la Thuillerie, of Marseilles, as was at first stated. In connection with aquatic matters in France, we may add that Bordeaux Regatta has been fixed for May 17 and 24, Arcachon for Aug 9, and" Royan for Aug 15 and 16. CAETEE AND CHAPMAN V FENTON AND KEMP.— For this pair- oared race we have received a further sum of £ 3 a side, and a similar deposit is to be made at Mr Hart's, Duke's Head, Fore- street, Lambeth, March 9. KINGSTON ROWING CLUB.— The Kingston Rowing Club wil' hold its first general meeting of the season on Saturday, March 14 at the Antelope Inn, Maple- road, Surbiton, at eight p. m. pre cisely, for the appointment of officers and committee for tl3 ensuing season, and for the general business of the club. POISONING BY MISTAKE.— A man named Tram well, residing at Stalybridge, has been poisoned by oxalic acid, given in mistike for Epsom salts, by his wife, It seems the deceased was affeted with rheumatism, and on Thursday his wife procured some Epom salts and linseed for him, which she placed near a paper conain- ing oxalic acid, which she had previously purchased for thepur pose of taking iron moulds out of linen. About noon on Fiday she in mistake administered the oxalic acid instead of the E> som salts. A surgeon was called in as soon as the discovery wasnade, but the deceased gradually sank and died in a very shorttime. An inquest was held on Monday, and a verdict in accordane with the above facts returned. THE PEESENT OF THE CITY OP LONDON TO THE PBNCESS ALEXANDEA.— On Wednesday the committee of management appointed by the corporation of the city of London to fi: on the most appropriate mode of presenting the Princess Alxandra with a gift of the value of £ 10,000, chose a diamond neckifie from the Messrs Garrard's, jewellers, in the Haymarket. Theiecklace is of the most magnificent kind, and it is understood tbt it had previously been seen and exceedingly admired by both he Queen and the Prince of Wales. Eight jeweilers sent in specimfisof their jewellery, but the committee of management were, we / elieve, all but unanimous in their preference pf the necklace su'mitted to them by the Messrs Garrard. The annual general meeting of this association was held on Wednesday, at Willis's Rooms, under the presidency of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, and there were also present Lieut- Col Lord Elcho, M. P. ( London Scottish) ; Lieut- Col Lord Bury, M. P. ( Civil Service); Col the Hon C. H. Lindsay ( St George's Rifles), the Duke of Marlborough, Earl de Grey and Ripon, the Earl of Dalhousie, Lieut Col Lord Ranelagh ( South Middlesex), Earl Ducie, Sir John Burgoyne, Col Clark Kennedy, C. B. ; Lieut- Col Earl Grosvenor ( Queen's, Westminster), Lord Llanover, Lieut- Col Lord Truro ( North Middlesex), Lieut- Col Lord Radstock ( 29th Middlesex), Lieut- Col Bigge ( 20th Middle- sex), Master of Lovat, Capt Horatio Ross, Col North, M. P.; Hon Arthur Kinnaird, M. P.; General Eyre, Capt Page ( London Scot- tish), Sir R. M'Donnell, C. B. ; Hon F. Byng, Sir H. Des Vteux, Capt H. St John Mildmay, & c. The CHAIBMAN said that the association was now an established institution, and his first duty was to remind them that, according to the rules, the president was to be elected annually. He had felt extremely flattered in being asked to continue in the presi- dential chair for a second year, but that term of office having also expired, the right of appointment again fell into the hands of the members. He was happy to say that the monetary affairs of the association were in a very flourishing state, there being a balance at the banker's of £ 1,300, and an invested capital of upwards of £ 2,000. Although the finances ef the association were in such a satisfactory condition, the council could not disguise the fact that the number of subscribers was not so great as he ( the noble chair- man) hoped, and it had been generally thought, would be the case. The number of subscribers was only about a thousand, and for a national association, the success of which had been so decided, the increase had not been so great as might be, and certainly had been, expected. The officers of the volunteers were especially in- terested in the success of the association, and the advantages of membership ( which it was to be feared were but imperfectly un- derstood) comprised free admission to the ground during the meeting and on review days, when they had the right to reserved seats in the Grand Stand; free admission to the distribution of prizes at the Crystal Palace, where seats were also reserved ; a members' cup, for which the competition was confined to members whose subscriptions were paid annually, and, finally, to the an- nual report, containing much interesting statistics of rifle shoot- ing throughout the kingdom and elsewhere [ hear, hear]. It was a matter of great gratulation that there were 12 colonial associa- tions in direct communication w ith the National Rifle Association [ cheers], and there were likewise 28 county associations similarly circumstanced, making in all, colonial and county, 40 affiliated to that organisation. That fact proved that the public had full con- fidence in the rules and arrangements which emanated from the National Rifle Association, and that the regulations laid down by them were recognised as the law as regards rifle practice [ loud cheers]. With reference to the progress in shooting many in- stances could be quoted to show that it was most satisfactory, and, amongst other cases, it was stated that one gentleman had made seven consecutive bullseyes at 1,000 yards [ cheers]. Such " accidents," as they7 were too frequently termed) if con- stantly occurring, although not to such a degree, proved that pains and trouble were incurred by the individuals, and the gene- ral favour and respect with which the rules and regulations of the National Rifle Association had been received, proved that the principles on which the shooting was conducted must be sound and judicious [ cheers]. The results were more gratifying when it was remembered that rifle shooting was one of the modern in- stitutions of England; and though it had been carried on for many years on the Continent, and especially in Switzerland, for many years, their foreign friends had been completely beaten out of the field [ loud cheers]; and as a further proof of the correct- ness of the rules and principles which originally emanated from the National Rifle Association, were they now generally adopted, not only in England, but he ( the noble duke) might say in every part of the world [ cheers]. They had to congratulate themselves on having the Prince of Wales as the patron of the association [ great cheering], and they would agree with him ( the Duke of Cambridge) that it was a compliment they could not too highly ap- preciate, not only from the exalted position of the Prince of Wales, but because it was a proof that the national feeling which had ori- ginated spontaneously, and the feelings and wishes of the country wereresponded to from the highest quartersof thestate [ cheers] were responded to not only by those who were in office, but from the Throne, for the fact that the Prince of Wales had become the patron proved that Her Majesty took the liveliest interest in the prosperity of the National Rifle Association [ continued cheers]. With regard to a discussion that took place last year as to how the Queen's prize was to be shot for he ( the noble duke) would just say that Her Majesty felt most desirous that the rules and regula- tions laid down originally by her late illustrious Consort should not be infringed upon. That lamented prince took the greatest pains and trouble in going minutely into the question of what rules should be laid down, and he ( the noble duke) hoped that fact alone would make it quite unnecessary to go into any discus- sion as to a change of those rules [ cheers]. Lord ELCHO said that it was proposed to make some alterations in the rules as to the election of president, and in the meantime he hoped his royal highness would again accept the office [ cheers]. The Duke of CAMBEIDGE assented, but trusted that the neces- sary revision of the rules would be speedily carried out [ hear]. Capt TEMPLAE then proposed " That small bores be handi- capped with the long Government Enfield Rifle at all ranges and at all contests where they were expressly excluded by the donors of the prizes, and that the Council be requested to give such a number of marks to the Enfield at each range respectively as will place it on equal terms with the small bore rifles.'' There was a general impression about the Enfield rifle not being a good one, but he thought it was quite a different weapon from the small bore rifle, and since it was more suitable for the rank and file of volunteers the use of it ought to be encouraged instead of being discouraged by other weapons more delicate, and not so rough and ready, being brought into competition with it. He believed the Enfield was popular with volunteers, and if the council shotild give them long ranges at Wimbledon wit/ i something like a fair handicap, they would be able to demonstrate its great uses. Lord ELCHO said if he might be allowed he would second the resolution, since Capt Templar, without any concert with them, had anticipated a resolution the council had come to at a late meet- ing :—" That the principle of weighting small bore rifles so as to equalise the shooting with the regulation long Enfield be adopted, but that the question of the application of the principle, both as regards prizes and marks, be considered at a future meeting of the council." He might add that at the next competition for the Queen's prize, they had resolved to admit 60 competitors, of whom the first 30 would have a rifle va'ue £ 15, and £ 5 in money, and the next 30 would have £ 5 in money only. Each competitor of the sixty would also receive a distirguishing badge, with a bar for each year be was in the number, aid that badge and decora- tion would be also given to each of the 40 of preceding years. In reply to Lord Ranelagh, Lord ELCHO stated that he ex- pected the expenses of the associat on would increase annually with their prosperity. In reply to some observations by another gentleman, he said that any change in the shooting regulations must come from Hytlie. To en suns fairness and obviate com- plaints that had been made, the immunition issued with rifles would be the same as the ammunMon issued at Hythe. For this year the ammunition would be the same as was issued for 1862. Farther, the competition at Wimiledon would take place on 6th July instead of 2d July, as last year, which would have been found very inconvenient. Tliey would have fixed it even later in the month on account of the weather, but this could not be done on account ef General Hay's atteidance on the Hythe courses. Lerd WHAENCLIFFE wishedCO know whether the council were willing to consider the propriety of handicapping those who de- voted so much time to shooling, and became thereby " top sawyers," and gave but little clance to others. After a few words from Mr HALLIDAY, of the Civil Service, Lord ELCIIO said it was proposed to shoot for some of the all- comers' prizes each day, anc also to diminish the value, but in- crease the number. Sergeant THOENBUEY, of ; he Victoria Rifles, hoped that the council would consider the question of making seven shots, or even ten, the number for allcomers' prizes. Lord ELCIIO said the nutter would be considered late in the year, when the prizes weredxed. Captain MOBKIS and L> rd AIRLIE made some remarks, and Lord BUBY said that it was practically proved at Wimbledon that the crack shots did not carry off more than one or two prizes, and that was most clearlyshown by the men in the International Match. Captain Ross deprecatel weighting the shooters, which did the greatest possible harm. Captain TEMPLAK urjsed that the Enfield was not fairly con- sidered, but would suspmd his motion till the meeting in May. The report was then idopted. The noble CHAIRMJ* N said that he felt somewhat awkwardly- placed, as remarks ha^ been made which he was not prepared to endorse, and which hi might yet be held to have endorsed if he allowed them to passwithout comment. He referred to the use of the Enfield rifle, .' n his official capacity he was obliged to take into consideration tin economic question, which he did not intend here to discuss publfcly; but as far as lie was concerned, he was perfectly satisfied wth the Enfield rifle for the general armament of the country, bdh for the military and volunteer services. It was not a questioi what weapon was absolutely the best, but whether the counry were prepared to go to the enormous ex- pense of changing their whole armament and adopting another weapon. Further no country had a superior weapon, and as long as they preserved^ heir superiority he did not think there was any occasion for chaige. On the other hand, the association was specially intendei to encourage rifle- shooting, and to encourage that art properl- it might be necessary to give prizes for rifles more suited to narksmen. That was another question. He did think it was dsirable to make such rules and regulations as would enable olunteers to become good shots with their own weapon, thougi not discouraging more scientific shooting; by such means tie meetings at Wimbledon would be made more acceptable am agreeable, and as generally useful as possible [ cheers]. General EYJE moved that the vice- presidents be re- elected, and that Earl Covper, Lieut- Col Gladstone, and General Sir John Burgoyne beadded to the number. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. The ordimry and extraordinary members of council were then re- elected. Consider/ ble discussion followed on the fairness of the compe- titive trial if small bore rifles at Woolwich, which Lord Elcho explained satisfactorily to have arisen among the gunmakers themselve who had been fairly beaten by Mr Whitworth, but would notown it. Captair M'GBEGOR, of the London Scottish, urged that the Enfield ' Ught to have a special prize, and that suggestion was supportel by Sir R. O'Donnell, late Governor of South Australia. Lord 3LCIIO observed that the association were bound to en- courageall good weapons, and the ofier of prizes for the Enf eld was deiendent on the contributions. His loyal Highness the CHAIEMANthought it would bea stroke of finaicial policy to give more prizes to the long Enfield [ loud cheers, and, though it was only his own opinion, he ( his royal highr » ss), without wishing to bring lower other rifles, could not help etving it would bring a larger area of competitors, and ex- tend ifle shooting generally throughout the country. Ea l DUCIE said that, on the part of the House of Lords, lie be- lievd that he might undertake to offer a prize for volunteers, witl the national weapon [ loud cheers], and he should be glad to lear that Lord Elcho would give the same pledge for the Cor. mons. I) rd ELCHO assented, amid great cheering. Sr JOHN BURGOYNE then moved a vote of thanks to his royal hifhness for his conduct in the chair [ cheers], " he Earl of DALHOUSIE seconded the motion, thanking his rcyal highness especially for his encouragment to competitions w. th the long Enfield [ cheers]. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE expressed his gratification with the v » te. His object in attending their meeting was to endeavour to leep up that harmonious and united feeling which they all lesired to maintain, and which he hoped would be maintained at til meetings over which he had the honour to preside. He would jnly add that the views he had thrown out on some points were entirely his own, and it was not to be considered that the council was in any way pledged to them. The good feeling with which they had been received was personally gratifying, and he trusted they would aid in extending the usefulness of the National Rifle Association [ cheers]. The meeting then separated. The following document was handed to our reporter, and it would have been read at the meeting but for the want of time:— THE QUEEN'S PRIZE AT WIMBLEDON.— The following are the arrangements for the distribution of new rifles to the competi- tors for the Queen's Prize at the Wimbledon meeting of the Na- tional Rifle Association :— 1. That new rifles shall be issued to the competitors for the Queen's Prize in exchange for the Government rifles held by them as members of the corps to which they belong. 2. That upon the issue of the new arms to competitors, the rifles previously held by them shall be immediately delivered into the stores of their respective corps. 4. That the rifles thus returned shall be retained in store by commanding officers, and held avail able, either to replace arms that may become unserviceable in abatement of the 10 per cent of new ones now allowed in ex- change for old arms, or for the service of any new members that may join the corps. 4. That commanding officers of corps shall forward a report to the War Office that tlae arms have so been re- turned into store, and a certificate that they shall be kept clean, and not leave the armoury, or be used for any other purpose until required for the above service. 5. That the distribution of, and the arrangement connected with the new rifles be carried out by the National Rifle Association; and further, that the association shall forward a report to the War Office, Pall- mall, giving the names of the several competitors to whom rifles are issued, and the corps to which they belong. 6. That the new rifles supplied by the War Department for the above- named service shall bear a distinctive mark on the barrel, so that they may be at any time identified. To this is appended a form of certificate to be used by comrnanding officers. THE VOLUNTEERS. THE ST GEOEGE'S CHALLENGE VASE.— The following letter has been addressed to the commanding officers of volunteer bat- talions in Great Britain:—" MY LOEDS AND GENTLEMEN : The time having arrived when I have to remind you, according to pro- mise, of the principles upon which the preliminary arrangements for the representation of the battalions under your command in the next contest for the St George's Challenge Vase will be carried out, and as the satisfactory results of last year's contest both to the volunteer battalions which were represented therein as well as to the funds of the National Rifle Association, are sufficiently well known, I submit that the remarks which I am about to make will not be uninteresting to you or to the members of the regiments under your command. In the first place, allow me to observe that the St George's Challenge Vase, with its several appendages, is to all intents and purposes a volunteers'prize; and that second- class as well as first- class shots of this or any previous year are eligible for the competitions for selection— an encouraging ar- rangement for many who have not been equally successful in their practice. In the second place, I wish it to be clearly understood that not less than ten members ( officers or men) must have competed for such selections at any time be- tween the period fixed by you and ten days previous to the meeting of the National Rifle Association at Wimbledon. It should at the same time be explained that all who feel inclined to take their chance should be encouraged to join such competi- tion both for the credit of their battalions as well as for the success of the objects in view, bearing in mind that the entrance of 2s each will be handed over as a donation to the association upon the same principle as last year, which realised a sum of £ 95, after ex- penses were paid. I11 the third place, let me again suggest that the simplest principle for the selection of a representative in an administrative battalion, whose corps are more or less scattered over extended districts, is for those corps to have their local com- petitions when and where convenient, separately or collectively ; and as soon as such competitions are completed the various regis- ters should be forwarded to the head- quar: ers of the battalion, in order that the commanding officer, with the assistance of his adjutant or musketry instructor, may decide at once upon the representative, according to the scores thus sent in, or institute a final competition between the best shots of the said corps ( thus registered), provided that the aggregate number of competitors throughout the various corps amounted to the minimum of 10. I may also remark that a selection may be made with convenience in substantive as well as administrative battalions at the time when the competitions for the Queen's prize are going on, the two first distances of which are the same as the ranges of the St George's Challenge Vase— viz, 200 and 500 yards. It could be so arranged that those members who are about to compete for the Queen s Prize, and who have also the intention of entering the Vase competition, can, upon their declaring such intention, and paying their entrance of 2s, have the two first distances separately registered under the head of the St George's Challenge Vase, and duly entered with other competitors for the same object, by which means a saving of time and trouble will be effected, which is so important. I offer this as a suggestion for your consideration. You will observe that I have especially referred to the minimum of 10 in each battalion being the sine qua mm, as before, for the qualification of a repre- sentative. I am anxious that it may not be considered to be a maximum as well, which, I regretted to find, was fre- quently the case last year, when some of the largest and most important battalions returned the entries of only 10 com- petitors, which in some instances was less than one per company. I beg to add that all independent corps which are attached to ad- ministrative battalions for drill or other purposes are eligible for the competition for selection as if they were corps belonging to such battalions, and I trust that they will accept the position which the committee of the St George's Challenge Vase are anxious to give them, provided that the commanding officers of the battalions to which they are attached are agreeable to the ar- rangement. I shall feel obliged by your having this letter copied into the regimental and all other order books, with instructions that it shall be read on parade, and also posted at the head quar- ters of every command ; and, in conclusion, I beg to say that it is our intention shortly to forward to you a carte devisite photograph of the vase, to be kept in the orderly- rooms of your battalions, on the reverse side of which will appear abridged and amended rules, and every necessary information in connection therewith ; and with the request that you will acknowlege the perusal of this letter, and be able to express your intention of co operating with me in carrying out the details of so extensive a challenge,— I am, my lords and gentlemen, faithfully yours, C. H. LINDSAY, Lieut- Colonel, Commanding St George's Rifles.— 39, Maddox- street, Hanover- square, March 4.'' PASSING EVENTS. BISHOP COLENSO.— The committee of the Athenpcum Club have, it is well known, the power of electing annually a certain num- ber of distinguished persons as members, without subjecting them to a ballot; and we understand that Bishop Colenso has just been elected a member of the club in that way. GALLEEY OF ILLUSTEATION.— To meet the convenience of the public, an evening entertainment will be given at this gallery on Saturday, March 7, commencing at eight o'clock, instead of the usual morning performance; and on Tuesday the management proposes to commence at six o'clock, to allow its visitors an op- portunity of witnessing the Illuminations. The entertainment will consist of " The Family Legend,'' and Mr Parry's new do- mestic scene, " Mrs Roseleaf's Little Evening Party." The former, we believe, is about to be withdrawn. HEALTH OF LONDON.— The deaths in the week ending Feb 27 were 1,410 against an average of 1,418. Smallpox exhibits a de- cided increase. In the two previous weeks the deaths from it were respectively 23 and 25; in last week they rose to 42. Fifteen out of the 42 occurred in the east districts, chiefly Bethnal Green, Bow, and Poplar. Seven were returned by the Smallpox Hospi- tal in Islington. Scarlatina was fatal in 68 cases, diptheria in 13, and typhus in 59. The deaths from phthisis were 159 ( against a corrected average of 164) ; those from bronchitis 167, against an average of 188; and those from pneumonia 72, against 104. The births were 2,240, viz, 1,163 boys and 1,077 girls. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF A MAGISTEATE.— TIIUELES, MAECH 2.— AS Mr John Gore Jones, R. M., was proceeding from Thurles to Borrisoleigh this day, to attend the petty sessions, he was stopped by two armed men 011 the road when about half way, who fired at him. Mr Jones was uninjured, but the mark of a bullet wa3 found in his overcoat. Mr Jones went on to Borriso- leigh, and apprised the constabulary of the outrage, who were shortly afterwards at the spot where it occurred, but found no trace of the intended assassins. No motive can be assigned for the act.— Dublin Evening Mail. ME AND MRS CHARLES KEAN.— These distinguished artists will leave this country on the 15th July, their destination being Melbourne. Prior to their leaving England, they will give a short series of farewell performances at the Princess's Theatre, com- mencing on the 4th of May, and terminating on the 15th of the same month. In the course of these eleven nights, Mr and Mrs Kean will appear in those characters which have chiefly assisted in establishing their fame. In the distant enterprise which they have undertaken they will be assisted by Miss Chapman and Mr Everett. DESTBUCTION OF A CHURCH BY FIRE.— The fine old parish church at Westerleigli is now in ruins, the result of a fire whieh commenced in the roof and communicated to the interior on Monday morning. The customary services were held in the sacred ' edifice on Sunday, fires were, as usual, burned in the stoves to warm the spacious building, and in the evening every- thing was left apparently safe, and the little township lapsed into its wonted quiescence. It appears that about four o'clock in the morning, as a man was attending upon his master's flock at Brace's farm he observed a light at the church. On going towards the spot he saw that the church roof was on fire, and immediately aroused the clerk and sexton. They then roused the villagers. The cushions, cloths, and robes, and also the time- worn organ, were rescued. The fine old stone pulpit, pictures of which figure prominently in some Gloucestershire histories, is terribly muti- lated. Happily the handsome tower and the west end of the church were comparatively uninjured. The cause of the fire is supposed to be the overheating of the pipe of one of the stoves, or the firing of some soot which had gathered near the roof, and the consequent ignition of some of the timber thereof. AGEICULTURAL HALL COMPANY.— An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in this company was held 011 Tuesday at the Agricultural Hall, Islington; Mr John Clayden occupied the chair. The report stated that the accounts showed a profit which fully justified them in recommending a dividend of 10 per cent, clear of income tax. The future prospects of the company were highly satisfactory. Out of numerous applications for rent- ing the hall the directors had selected one for a series of musical entertainments of a high class, commencing in the present month, and had secured a rent in proportion to the gross proceeds, which was likely to be remunerative without involving the company in any risk. They were also preparing to hold a great inter- national dog show in May, under auspices and arrangements which could not fail to render it a great success. The directors proposed to confine their operations to three or four shows in the course of the year, chiefly connected with agriculture or the national sports of the kingdom, and to letting the hall, either at a fixed rent or for a proportion of the gross receipts. The amount due to the contractors for the hall greatly exceeded the original esti- mate, in consequence of the alterations and additions; and they would have, in order to reap the advantages of the hall, to lay down a moveable wooden floor, erect an orchestra, construct warming apparatus, and, in other ways, increase the comfort and convenience of the building. Under those circumstances, the directors recommended the meeting to authorise the directors to raise a sum not exceeding £ 11,000 by the issue of debentures, redeemable within a limited period, and bearing interest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent. The chairman moved the adoption of the report. Mr Chiffins seconded the motion, and thought the next j'ear would show a better report than the present. After some discussion as to details, the report was adopted. A resolu- tion was then agreed to authorising the directors to raise £ 11,000 on debentures. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE OF FRIDAY, FEB 27. INDIA OFFICE, FEB. 26.— Her Majesty has been pleased to approve of the undermentioned promotions and alterations of rank amongst the officers of the Bengal Staff Corps, and of the Bengal army:— BENGAL.— Staff Corps. Admission. To be Captain : Capt ( Brev Lieut- Col) T. A. Carev, of the late l" th RegtN. I.— Promotions. To be Majors: Capt W. liavies, Capt R. M. S. Annesley, Capt ( Brev- Maj) J. I. Murray, Capt T. C. Merrick, Captain ( Brevet- Major) Henry Murray Garstin, Car. tain Edmund Arthur Grubb. Captain ( Brevet Lieutenant Colonel) William Templer Hughes, Capt E. M. Martineau, Capt S. B. Cookson. To be Capts: Lieut II. K. Osborn, Lieut E. H. C. Simpson. Lieut E. C. Impey, lieut W. C. B. Ryan, Lieut E. T. Sadler, Lieut G. J. Pasley. Lieut J. V. Hunt, Lieut C. F. Sharpe, Lieut P. II. F. Harris.— General List of Infantry Officers: Ens E. H. Webb to" be lieut, v Temple, late • iflth Nat Inf ( Staff Corps), dec; Ens H. S. Anderson to be lieut, v Ni- cholson, late 54th Nat Inf ( Staff Corps), dec. Medical Officers: Ass- Surs W. White, M. D.. F. E. C. S., to be surg, v Crozier, dec.— Alterali. n of Rink — General List of Infantry Officers: Lieut H. R. Rankin to take rank from Nov 4,18( 51, in succession to Hughes, late 02d Nat Inf, ret; Lieut J. G. Maclean to take rank from Nov 7, 18( 51, v Buttanshaw, late 47th Nat Inf, res; Lieut H. I. Baylis to take rank from Nov 10.1861, v O'Brien, dismissed; Lieut E. C. Davidson to take rank from Nov 14, 1861, in succession to Hoggan, dec; Lieut F. E. Wiggons to take rank from Nov 23, 1861, v Belli, late 40th Nat Inf, dec; Lieut E. P. Main- waring to take rank from Nov 28,1861, v Grant, late 45th Nat Inf, dis- missed : Lieut W. B. Afslabie to take rank from Dec 6,1861. in succes- sion to Phillipson, late 59th Nat Inf. ret; Lieut A. J. Tregonwell Welcliman to take rank from Dec 8,1861, in succession to Abbott, dec ; Lieut W. F. Tucker to take rank from Dec 1861, in succession to Bra- bagon, late 6th Nat Inf, dismissed: Lieut G. Angus to take rank from Dec 13,1861, v Christian, late 22d Nat Inf, dec: Lieut C. M'DowalSkene to take rank from Jan 1, 1862: Lieut II. S. Moules to take rank from Jan 7, 1862, v Stevenson, late 3d European Regt, ret; Lieut A. P. Samuolls to take rank from Jan 14, 1862, in succession to Newhouse, late 19th Nat Inf, dec: Lieutenant Charles M'Kensie Hall to take rank from Jan 19, 1862, v Ramsbotham, late 47th Nat Inf, dee: Lieut H. B. Swinev to take rank from Feb 6, 1862. v Bromlev, late 52d Nat Inf, res; Lieut J. E. P. Mosley to take rank from Feb 28, 1862, v Ramsay, late 17th Nat Inf, dec: Lieut W. P. Harrison to take rank from March l?-, 1862, in succession to Denniss, deceased; Lieut J. E. W. Howev to take rank from March 29,1862. in succession to Ileid. late 20th Nat Inf, dec; Lieut W. C. Farwell to take rank from April 3, 1862, in succession to Russell, late 43d Nat Inf, dec; Lieut D. Robertson to take rank from April 25, 1862, v Chapman, late 14th Nat I11 f, dec: Lieut W. F. Dods- worth to take rank from May 1, 1862, v Fitzgerald, late Gfith Nat Inf, resigned: Lieut C. O. Bowles to take rank from May 19, 1862, in succes- sion to Young, dec; Lieut II. M. Clarkson to take rank from May 27, 1862. in succession to Christian, late C8th Nat Inf, ret; Bleut W. J. Wil- liamson to take rank from June 6,1862, in succession to Carnegie, late 15th Nat Inf, removed from the Army List; Lieut A. G. Hammond to take rank from June 9, 1862, v Foley, late 62d Nat Inf, res: Lieutenant John Edward Sandeman to take rank from June 14, 1862, vice V011 Audlane, late 28tli Native Infantry ( Staff Corps), deceased; Lieut C. Key to take rank from June 15, 1862, in succession to Hervev, dec ; Lieut S. C. Trower to take rank from Juno 20.1862, v Copland, late 30th Native Inf ( Staff Corps), dec; Lieut E. Molloyto take rank from July 20. 1862, in succession t ® Smith, late 22d Nat Inf, dec; Litut W. M. Molyneux to take rank from July 25.1862, v Templer, late 3d European Regt, ret; Lieut R. A. Price to take rank from Aug 3, 1862, in succession to Davidson, dec; Lieut J. Butler to take rank from Aug 13, 1SC2, in succession to Thomson, late 29th Nat Inf, dec : Lieut W. M. Story to take rank from Aug 13,1862, v Bowles, res ; Lieut E. E. Grigg to take rank from Sept, 1863, v Cary, late 37th Nat Inf, dcc ; Lieut E. Z. Thornton to take rank from Sept 4, 1862, in succession to Somerville, late 61st Nat. Inf ( Staff Corps), dec; Lieut J. M. Tullocli to take rank from Sept 8, 1862. in succession to Godle. y, late 35th Nat Inf fcStaff Corps), dec ; Lieut C. Ransford to take rank from Sept 14, 1862, v Lee, late 6th European Regt, dec; Lieut G. M'Call to take rank from Oct 3, 1862, v Blackwood, dec ; Lieut J. It. B. Atkinson to take rank from Oct 22, 1862, in succession to Presgrave, late 59 Mi Nat Inf, dec ; Lieut J. Fraser to take rank from Oct 31, 1862, y M'Nair, cashiered; Lieut E. W. Smith to take rank from Nov 19, 1862, v Mackeson, late 74th Nat Inf, dec. Printed and Published by WILLIAM CHARLES CLEMENT, at the Office, 170, Strand, in the Parish of St. Clement Danes, in the City and Liberty of Westminster.— SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 1863.