pital handicap, for which 13 ran, out of a nomination of 24. The ancient city more than preserves its quondam sporting reputation : may it go on and prosper," for the sake of lang-syne!” Upton-onSevern and the Royal Caledonian and Perth races also occurred in the second week of October : the 14th of that month was the first day of the Second October Meeting. It has been already nar rated in these columns how the Cesarewitch brought down its tens of thousands from London, and its multitudes from everywhere else. This popular frenzy, according to some racing authorities, beneficially influences our great national sport-haud meus hic sermo. The result was a stunner, the winner being the very worst favoured of any in the ring-in fact, not favoured at all. But Glauca-as the case frequently is—liad trained on with the season, and at its close was in a form better by stones than in the beginning of the year. The two-year-old running in the “middle week” was not remarkable for the appearance of any new stars. It was good; but that is not erough to support an animal in the market through the winter. There was, however, one eminent exception—The Prime Minister. The style in which that fine colt won the Clearwell was a theme for general admiration.

Wrexham, Brighton Autumn, Northallerton, and Hereford came next, and, on the 28th, Newmarket Houghton Meeting. The first feature of this, the wind-up of business at the capital of horsecoursing, was the victory of Mr. Osbaldestone's colt by Touchstone, out of Mountain Sylph. The field for The Criterion numbered a dozen, including Ariosto, at 5 to 4 against him ; the winner the worst in the ring, his nominal price being 5 to 1. The sporting Squire has now a profitable nag in his team. I wish him luck: no man ever had higher claims to a prize in the Olympian lottery. The Cambridgeshire was a repetition of its twin sister the Cesarewitch. This time Landgrave was just able to win in a crowd of twenty-three. As usual, the Houghton occupied the whole of the week, there being half-a-dozen races on Saturday. These call for no observation beyond that which was taken of them in the notice of the week's sport in our last number. The same observation applies to the Epsom Autumn Meeting, and others of its class, with which the “year's" racing terminated. A word upon the promise of the past, and we bid adieu to the Olympic annals of 1850. Progress, it would seem, is to mark the future policy of the Jockey Club. Many excellent and essential changes are contemplated. It is obvious, because it is but common justice, that, since the authorities there have consented-or condescended-to hire out certain portions of the heath to the public, in the shape of betting-rings, that the public have a right to more consideration, to have their convenience more catered for than when they were mere unprofitables. To any alteration in the principle and system of racing at Newmarket, however, I am altogether opposed. I trust the day may never come when its noble expanse of heath shall be cat up into cockney hippodromes. It the noblest of our national sports is indeed to be the spoil of the million—if the Turf has come to be regarded as an arena whereon the many may make their game, and be made game of, for the behoof of the few-let there be at least one spot of Old England where her coursers can put forth all their powers—where a race may be not only as fleet, but as tree as the wind; and may that spot be Newmarket!

THE VALE OF WHITE HORSE HOUNDS.

BY RABY.

Forsan hæc olim meminisse juvabit.

With what different and yet, perhaps, generally speaking, pleasing thoughts does one begin the new year! Fresh plans are formedHope stands upmost in the breast : we know not what may take place, but we all hope for the best. We do not like parting with the old friend that has just left us, and which has afforded us so many pleasant hours, but still we fondly hope that the new year on which we are now entering will also add to our pleasures, and introduce us to many new friends. Let us hope that it will do so ; and, at the same time, amidst all the changes that have taken place, and the agricultural distress that at present unfortunately prevails, let us trust that our national sports will be supported, and that the chase will ever flourish in “ Merrie England." For many years we have not had so open a season as the present up to this time, but I never remember to have seen so bad a scenting season ; indeed, all huntsmen that I have met with seem to agree on this point : there seems to be something in the atmosphere prejudicial to scent, which the three days' frost did not correct or remove-hounds run well for a time, and then throw up unaccountably without any apparent reason. There are few hunting countries more favoured than the Vale of White Horse : it is a country that generally carries a very good scent, but it has been far otherwise this season. It abounds with different sorts of fences suited to the different tastes and style of hunting men, one part (on the Bibury side) abounding with stone walls, whilst on the Bradon and Swindon side the country alters, and we find fine grass fields and a rasping hedge and ditch country ; indeed, the Bradon country is as fine a foxhunting district as any in England, and requires a good head as well as good hands to keep near hounds when running with a scent breast high. The country is not so extensive as it was when held by Lord Ducie, as the Buscot coverts, together with Coleshill and some other coverts in that neighbourhood, are now hunted by the Old Berkshire Hounds, and which passed into that hunt when Lord Gifford resigned the V.W.H. country. This is a sad loss to the V.W.H., and severely felt during the cub-hunting season ; however, the Cirencester woods are very large, and, from the beautiful rides in them, are admirably suited for cub-hunting ; indeed I know of no more charming place in woodland scenery than the “Ten Rides," Cirencester Woods. As you stand in the midille of a circular grass plot you find yourself surrounded by ten broad rides leading to ten different parts of the wood, and it is no uncommon thing to view a fox over several of these rides, if he runs in anything like a ring : this affords great advantage to a huntsman, as it enables him to see how his young hounds are doing their work. But still it is no easy thing to kill a fox fairly in these woods ; the underwood and brambles are so thick and interwoven that hounds have immense work to do to get through them—their shoulders are stripped, and sadly torn about : there is also a poisonous kind of thorn that injures their feet, and causes them to swell to a very great size ; so that in every sense of the word hounds must work for their fox here before they can kill him. These woods belong to that liberal-minded nobleman, Lord Bathurst, than whom there is not a greater friend to hounds and foxhunting : he has given strict orders that foxes shall be preserved, and does everything in his power to promote the noble science.

The Vale of White Horse country has been held by different masters since Lord Ducie's time, though retained by none for any great period. When Lord Ducie resigned, he was succeeded by Lord Gifford, who gave up the Ludlow country to take it. He was succeeded by a committee, of which Mr. Raymond Cripps, of Cirencester, was the manager; and last season the country was taken by that first-rate sportsman and houndsman, Mr. Henry Villebois, of Marham Hall, Norfolk. Under his management the country, as a hunting country, must flourish, from the very liberal manner in which he does everything. He has, as may be expected, a very large and first-rate stud of horses, both for himself and men. The hounds are very much improved, and carry a better head than they did last season ; indeed, Mr. Villebois has spared no trouble or expense to lay the foundation for a good pack. I have reason to believe that upwards of one hundred and fifty couples of hounds passed through his hands last year. He is very fond of Lord Fitzwilliam's blood, and obtained a large draft from that kennel. He had also a large lot from Lord Fitzhardinge ; added to this, he purchased the Herefordshire hounds from Mr. Symons, when he gave up that country to Lord Gifford. No one knows what a foxhound ought to be, better than Mr. Villebois. He may be said to have been with hounds all his life, and can say, perhaps, what no other man in England can boast of-viz., that his father and two uncles were all masters of hounds at the same time! one, the late much-beloved master of the H.H.; the other, the present highly-respected master of the Craven hounds; and his father, at the same time, master of the Marham stag hounds; so that Mr. Villebois may now truly be said to be treading in the steps of his ancestors, and there is every reason to suppose, that as long as the blessings of health are vouchsafed to him, he will remain a true and staunch champion of the noble science. I am happy to be able to add, that owing to the popularity of Mr. Villebois, the V.W.H country was never known to be better stocked with foxes than at the present time. It is not only in the field that he is popular ; he bears the character of being a fine specimen of the English country gentleman, who wishes to see every one happy around him. He caters for his friends, both at his house and in the field, with a liberal hand; it being no uncommon thing for him to have eight or ten horses in the field on the same day, having mounted three or four of his friends. It is a sight that seems to remind one of olden times, to sec these hounds at their fixture: of course, everything as regards the appointments of the men is of the greatest neatness. Dinnicombe, his two whips, and the two second horsemen, have ench the good old-fashioned stirrup leather slung across their shoulder. This is of a two-fold advantage-one, of course, in case a stirrup-leather is broken ; the other to distinguish the men from the field, which in these days of nearly straight-cut coats and caps, is often very difficult, especially at a distance. Dinnicombe has hunted these hounds some seasons. He succeeded Grant when he went to Lord Parker, in Oxford

shire, who hunted the country Mr. Phillips now holds. He is a quiet civil man, an excellent servant, keen for sport, persevering to the uttermost, and will fag away for his fox with a determination that I have seldom seen equalled. He formerly whipped-in to the Hampshire hounds, when Mr. Villebois' uncle was master, since then he has held the post of huntsman to Lord Portman, Mr. Thawyts, &c. He is mounted on first-rate horses in the field, and has always a second horse out. Norris, the head whip, was formerly huntsman to Colonel Wyndham. He is an active wide-awake man, and well knows what he is about. He whipped-in to the Quorn hounds last season, and I have reason to believe gave great satisfaction. Cox, the under-whip, came from Mr. Assheton Smith: though a young hand, he is a good man with hounds, thoroughly fond of hunting, and rides well over a country,

The V.W.H. hounds hunt five days a week ; four days are advertised, with a bye-day on Wednesdays (generally), near Cirencester. Mr. Villebois has now the privilege of hunting the Chedworth country during Lord Fitzhardinge's absence from Cheltenham. This arrangement will benefit his Lordship by working these extensive woodlands; and it also affords great accommodation to Mr. Villebois, by giving him a greater extent of country,

The V.W.H. pack consists of sixty-three couple of hounds. As I before stated, there is a great deal of the Fitzwilliam and Fitzhardinge blood in kennel ; also of the Duke of Rutland's and Lord Gifford's. In looking over the pack, the following dog-hounds (amongst others) strike one as being fine specimens of foxhounds :-Merchant, by Lord FitzWilliam's Monarch ; Fugleman, by Lord Yarborough's Fencer; Bluster, by Lord Gifford's celebrated Brilliant ; Marmion, by the Herefordshire Monitor ; Nicholas, a splendid hound, by the Herefordshire Herald ; Fleecer, by Mr. Colville's Rioter ; Trojan and Tarquin, by the celebrated Warwickshire Tarquin : Warrener, by Lord Gifford's Warrener ; Cardinal, by Lord Fitzhardinge's Cruiser. There is also a fine litter of three-year-old bitches from the Herefordshire pack: Adelaide, Amazon, Abbess, Artful, and Active, by Lord Gifford's Lucifer, out of his Amethyst ; Lutestring and Hostile, by Lucifer ; and Rally, by the Herefordshire Hazard, are as neat a lot of bitches as one need wish to have: these came with the Herefordshire pack. There are twelve couple of young hounds. Of these I take Harriet, bred by Mr. Villebois, to be No. 1 ; she was got by Warrener, out of Hopeful.

The first public meet of the season was Bibury-a fitting place for the opening day ; but great was the disappointment to a large field to find that Mr. Dutton had, by letter, requested Mr. Villebois not to draw his coverts, as he was from home. I know some Masters of Hounds who would have considered this but a very poor excuse for not drawing in a country where the fixture had been made public. However, the hounds were taken on to Ablington, and drew Mr. Butler's plantations blank-though a fox was seen, half an hour after the hounds had left, in a large turnip-field adjoining the plantation ; then to Barnsley; and at last found a fox in Ampney Ridings. The day was anything but satisfactory as an opening day, entirely owing to Mr. Dutton's not wishing his coverts to be drawn in his absence.

The sport with these hounds has been good, especially of late; taking into consideration the badness of the season with regard to scent, they have had two or three runs of the first order. One on Saturday, the 16th of November, was as fine a hunting run as a man need wish to ride to-finding their fox at Mr. Vizard's Gorse, near Little Farringdon, near Lechlade : going from thence to Filkins; then away as if for Tom Jolly's Gorse, skirted Bradwell Grove, on over the Windrush (leaving Barrington to the left) to Tangley (in the Heythrop country), where the fox was lost ; having probably gone to ground in these large woods. The distance from point to point is upwards of twelve miles. This run was over a fine country; and had the scent only been a trifle better towards the close of it, the hounds would have run into their fox.

Tuesday, December 10.—The meet was Charlton Park. Found a good show of foxes in the Marsh Coppice ; the hounds got away with one of them, and ran him to ground at Shipton Wood, in the Duke of Beaufort's country. Found a second fox in the Mill Withy-bed ; and killed him at the end of a perfect race of twenty-five minutes, without a check, at the Marsh Coppice.

Thursday, December 12.-Warneford Place, near Highworth. Found & fox at Highmore Coppice ; and ran him to ground at the Folly, owing to the earths being improperly stopped. Another was quickly found in Fresdon Coppice. Going away in a minute, he pointed for the Coleshill Brook, but turning to the right he ran the brook side for about a mile ; then crossed into Lord Radnor's plantations, and over the hill as if he intended to put his head for Farringdon, but bearing to the right he went by Maggot Mill; then by Mr. Verulam's at Watehfield, near Shrivenham ; but being headed he turned over Sand Hill and across the brook to Sevenhampton, and was drowned in the fish-pond at Lady Warneford's, close before the hounds. This was a very superior run of twenty-five minutes, without a siugle check. The hounds, gaing best pace from beginning to end, fully proved that they could race as well as hunt. A hard rider declared this was one of the fastest things he had ever ridden to. A large field assembled to meet the hounds on this day. Several of the old Berkshire men were out, headed by Colonel Campbell, of Farringdon Grove, and Henry Elwes, Esq., of Marcham Park : Jones also, the Berkshire huntsman, was out, and went well. I am glad to see he is at work again. He had the misfortune to break or severely injure three of his ribs, at the commencement of regular hunting. I regret to have to recount a sad accident that I have just heard has happened to Lord Gifford's head man, Dan, in Herefordshire. After a capital run of more than an hour, he put his horse at a fence—the last from the finishwhen his horse fell, and threw him with such violence that his thigh was broken. Dan, however, joined in the “ Who-whoop !” lying helpless on the ground. Casualties amongst hunting servants appear to be more general at this season than usual. Mr. Phillips has lately sus. tained a very great loss by the death of Bowman, his huntsman, which he will not easily replace. Poor Bowman's death was as sudden as it was melancholy. On Monday week he was preparing for the next morning's hunting, and had nearly finished his work, when he went into the saddle room for something ; and, sad to relate, he dropped down dead. He was an excellent servant, very trustworthy, and highly valued by his master. Bowman was formerly whipper-in to the V. W. H. hounds, and was much respected.

On Saturday, December 14th, the Vale of White Horse hounds met at Southerop House. A brace of foxes was found on Southerop Com