accounted for by a scarcity in their best country. A remarkable instance of the sagacity of the fox-hound occurred in this hunt during the last season. After a good run, and the fox going to earth, and a short attempt to get him out without success, the mouth of the earth was filled with large stones. The wood in which the earth was, being within a short distance of Mr. Horlock's house, a favourite old, worn-out hound, who is always allowed to run loose, hearing, it is supposed, the pack at the earth, joined them. Early next morning the whipper-in going to examine the earth, found the old hound watching its mouth, having dragged out the large stones; and, on further examination, he heard a terrier, belonging to the kennel, baying the fox within; and, as the terrier had not been with the pack the day before, there is no doubt but that the hound had taken him to the earth. They were eventually taken from the earth, and the fox allowed to escape.

By a letter from Lord Yarboro's hunt we are informed, that this has been one of the worst scenting seasons ever known, and that these hounds have had fewer good runs than in any former year; that they have, in fact, scarcely had a good day's sport since Christmas. Our correspondent also states, that Mr. Hanbury has still engaged to take Lord Yarboro's young drafts this season-thus giving his country some hopes that it is not his intention to relinquish, at all events, his able and liberal assistance, even if some other gentleman should undertake the more arduous task of managing the hounds. Report says that £1500 is already promised towards the support of this pack, whether it changes hands or not.

Mr. Hanbury's seceding will be felt much by all the hunting countries north of London, as he has for many years brought, at a great expense, the young drafts from Lord Yarboro's, Sir Tatton Sykes', Lord Fitzwilliam's, and, occasionally, Lord Lonsdale's, thereby bringing the best blood within reach of other kennels, and, at the same time, showing great liberality to those who took them off his hands.

J. Goodlake, Esq., of Wadly House,

near Farringdon, Berks, is collecting, we understand, a pack of dwarf foxhounds to hunt hare, and, report says, to get his hand in, should anything induce the Hon. Mr. Moreton to resign the Vale Country at a future time; but the sport he has had during the latter part of this season will, it is hoped, induce him to continue the management of that pack—no man can do it better, or give greater satisfaction to the country.

Mr. Fellows, we are happy to hear, has decided on not relinquishing the Vine Hounds, which have had an unusual succession of good runs, superior, in many respects, to most packs.

Mr. Assheton Smith has also been fortunate in finding stiff-necked foxes, and has had some of the best things possible in that country We do not, however, hear of his killing quite so often as might be expected with such a splendid pack and such able men as Dick Burton and Tom Day, to say nothing of their unrivalled Master and Huntsman, whose fearless and undaunted spirit still continues equal to his former days. Mr. Smith's entry is, we hear, capital, which the fact of his sending lately twenty-five couples of drafts to Mr. Moreton will show.

Of the Craven Hounds little need be said, but we hear they have finished their season as they began, and have killed forty-five brace, making, within one or two, as many foxes as they have hunted days since the 1st of November, and having left off hunting nearly a month earlier than of late years, owing to the late dry weather.

We regret to hear that no arrangement has taken place in the Dorsetshire countries between Mr. Farquharson and the Blackmore Vale Hunt, now under the management of Mr. Portman, M. P.; and that in consequence of a cross the day before, a large field of sportsmen with the latter had the mortification of drawing blank the covers belonging to that excellent sportsman the Rev. Mr. Yeatman. Our object is, and ever will be, to encourage the noble sport of fox-hunting; and if, by any means, a better understanding could be brought about, we would most readily use our humble endeavours in promoting it.

The execution has been entrusted to Messrs. Rundell and Bridge, whose taste and judgment, and command of first-rate talent, have been sufficiently evinced in that splendid work of art, the Shield of Achilles, designed and modelled by the late John Flaxman, Esq.

To most of our readers the pedigree and performances of Eclipse are no doubt perfectly familiar; but the following short account of that celebrated horse will not, we conceive, be unacceptable at the present time.

Eclipse was bred by the Duke of Cumberland, of Culloden memory, and obtained his name from being foaled during the great eclipse in 1764. He was got by Marsk (though Shakespeare also lays claim to the honour of having been his sire), out of Spilletta, who was out of Mother Western, by Regulus, son of the Godolphin Arabian.

When a yearling, Eclipse was purchased, for seventy-five guineas, at the sale of the Duke of Cumberland's stud by Mr. Wildman, a sheep-salesman of Smithfield. His first appearance on the Turf did not take place until he was five years old, when he ran at Epsom for a Maiden Plate of fifty pounds, which he won with the greatest ease, distancing all his compe

titors.

Previous to his running for the King's Plate at Winchester, in 1769, Mr. O'Kelly gave Wildman six hundred and fifty guineas for a half share of him, and afterwards purchased the other half for eleven hundred guineas. He was the winner of eleven King's Plates, carrying 12st. weight in all except one. The fame of Eclipse as a stallion was so great, that O'Kelly when asked, in 1779, what sum he would take for him, is reported to have replied, that the price of his stallion was £25,000 down, an annuity of £500 for his own life, and the privilege of sending six mares to the horse annually. He also stated, that he had realized £25,000 by him. Eclipse died at Cannons, on the 28th of February, 1789, aged twenty-five years; and, according to the precedent of the Godolphin Arabian, cakes and ale were given at his funeral.

NO. XIII.-VOL. III.

ENTRY FOR THE ECLIPSE
FOOT.

Lord Chesterfield's Priam.
General Grosvenor's Sarpedon.
Mr. Stonehewer's Zany.

DEATH OF X.Y.Z.

WE have to announce the death of X.Y.Z., the property of and bred by Mr. Riddell, of Felton Park, Northumberland, one of the first racers of his day in the North of England. He was a bay, by Haphazard, dam by Spadille, foaled in 1808. He was chiefly famous as a Cup Horse, having won nine; viz. 4 at Newcastle, 3 at Richmond, 1 at Lamberton, and 1 at Ormskirk. He started 5 times in 1811, and won once 140 guineas; 6 times in 1812, and won 4, value 595 guineas; in 1813 he ran 9 times, and won 7, value 700 guineas; in 1814 he ran 6 times, and won 3, value 380 guineas; in 1815 he broke down at Newcastle for the Cup, with large odds in his favour against Biddick. Thus out of 27 races he won 15, by which he cleared 910 guineas. He was no where for the Leger, nor did his performances as a three year old promise much, with the exception of his race for the Newcastle Cup, in which he beat Engraver and two others During the three following years he beat some of the best horses, including Slender Billy, Cwm, Sligo, Biddick, &c. He was beaten 3 times by Viscount in 1813, viz. at Catterick, and for the Cups et Durham and Pontefract. For the last he was also beaten, in 1814, by Tramp. The same year he ran a dead heat for the Northumberland Stakes at Newcastle with Catton, who walked over, X.Y.Z. receiving a compromise.

He received his name in consequence of Mr. Riddell having determined, on account of his great ill luck, to abandon the Turf, and he proposed X.Y.Z. as his last experiment. He fortunately turned out a trump, nor has Mr. R. since had to complain. Dr. Syntax, Don Carlos, Count d'Artois, Mustachio, Caccia, Piatti, and Emancipation, have successively graced his stables. X.Y.Z. has not been so fortu

K

ance and admirable sport. The Billesdon Coplow of course monopolized the attention of the Meltonians, some of whom dropt their money to a large amount. The following started: Tommy Tickle, carrying 7lb. extra for winning this stakes last year (rode by Lord Wilton); Bilberry (rode by the Squire), the Admiral (Mr. Kent), MeJetrix (Mr. White), and Fanny Kemble (Mr. Brooke). The Admiral made sail for rather better than two-thirds of the distance, when his pilot found it convenient to take in a reef; Meretrix and Fanny Kemble making their exit about the same time. Tommy Tickle and Bilberry commenced a slashing struggle at the distance, the former winning by half a neck only. So satisfied was the Squire of the superiority of his nag and his own inferiority as a rider, that he offered to run Tommy Tickle for a thousand sovs. at Newmarket-" jockies to ride." Meretrix was the favourite. Bilberry won the Forced Handicap at the close of the day, and these are the only races out of nine or ten that deserve notice.

The Melton gentlemen manage to get through a good share of business in the course of a week, and this was one suited to their taste--a sporting main of cocks being added to their accustomed Field and Drawing-room diversions(!). The parties were Sir Harry Goodricke and young Mr. WalkerWeightman feeding for Sir Harry, and Phillips for his opponent-the terms 10 guineas a battle, and 300 guineas the odd. The fighting was all on one side the Baronet winning by fourteen battles. Mr. W. has to thank himself for this signal defeat. He is too fond of breeding and fighting his own cocks, for he will find that to win a main without professional assistance, is a thing of very rare occurrence. He lost a good stake, and two or three other gentlemen (Messrs. W-—n, II-r, &c.) did not escape scathe

less.

HOLDERNESS HUNT.

A capital meeting, but interesting only to the Hunt, and its immediate

vicinity; our general readers will, no doubt, readily excuse details.

BATH SPRING.

Capt. Rhys and J. Bayly, Esq.,

Stewards.

April 11, 12.-The extreme beauty of the weather, and the unusual strength of the entries, attracted an attendance that has seldom been surpassed in number or importance. The races possessed little interest beyond the moment, and were remarkable only for the fact of a Middleton colt having won the principal stakes! On the first day the Lansdown Stakes were won by Mr. Biggs's ch. f. Miss Badsley, by Middleton, two years old (G. Baylis), beating a c. by Phantom, out of Euphrasia, two years old, and eleven others, who were not placed; a very severe race between the two, and won by only half a head-6 to 1 agst. the winner. From this, and other demonstrations, we are inclined to suspect that the real superiority of Middleton's blood is beginning to show itself, and that his stock will have a good season. The Ladies' Cup was won by Confidence (Mr. Peyton), beating The Flyer, and three others, by half a head-a regular slashing race, and won by downright jockeyship. On the second day the Kelston and York Handicaps were severally won by Thorngrove (Darling), beating Suke and three others in the first race, and Pandora and three others in the last-neither of them excited much interest. The remainder of the Stakes were confined to cocktails and hacks.

BEDFORD SPRING.

Col. Thornton, Steward.

April 12.--The result of two of the races excited hopes in the Tories, which were sadly disappointed by the event of the great contest two days after in Westminster. "Anti-Reformer" came off victorious in two races, and in one of them actually defeated"Liberty" itself-but for this the races, however good, per se, would scarcely have justified the brief notice bestowed upon them.