went the wise men of Greece, who, since July, had never ceased to back the Danebury phenomenon, notwithstanding the rate of investment was dangerously dear." According to Macbeth

6 Time was

That when the brains were out the man would die." Such is not the case now. Indeed, the less people have of them, apparently, the better they thrive. The same fortune attaches to other natural ills. Formerly, when horses “ went" in the betting, they disappeared altogether ;

" But now they come again, With fifty mortal murders on their crowns,

And push us from our stools." Grecian may yet play Banquo in the ring. Before we take our way into Cambridgeshire, it will be well to relate so much of racing account as took place in the north. The tryst being Yorkshire of course ensured & sporting rendezvous. The Malton list was an imposing one, but there was an epidemic afoot, and the fields were short. The weather was lovely, the attendance was full and fashionable, "and all went merry as a marriage bell.” The first race was for the Two-year-old Stakes, 10 subs., and half a dozen runners. King of Trumps, backed against the field, went away in front, was never caught, and won cleverly by a length. The Malton Handicap, 47 subs., came off a quartet! The March forfeit, indeed was small-videlicet £3. Presto was the favourite, at 6 to 4 against him, and the winner, Little Fawn, was at 7 to 2. They made a hearty honest scurry of it, the victory, however, being an easy one, by a couple of lengths. The Amateur Stakes and the Welham Cup were non-professional, and the remainder of the sport not of a character to call for special report, save as regards one event. Wednesday opened with the Claret Stakes. Four went, 6 to 4 against The Cutlor, and the winner not named. This latter was Mr. Hesseltone's filly, Unity. Lots of running succeeded, needing no recapitulation,

Towards the evening of Sunday, the 20th ult., that “most excellent canopy” wherewith Newmarket Heath was roofed, became overcast, and the rain descended heavily for many hours. From this it came to pass that morning dawned on Easter Monday, as fresh and fragrant as Tempé. Betimes, Aurora came forth, and in her train were the Zephyrs, and noon was the ideal of the English springtime, which poets love to sing, and painters to pourtray. As soon as the lists made their appearance, it was seen that the first race of The First Spring Meeting was ordered for 2.P.M. The noon was too exquisite, however, to waste in the town, and many had gone to quaff the elixir of life upon the glorious plain that environs it, long before the issues of the afternoon required their presence. And they had their reward ; for just as the first race on the card was put upon the scene, down came the rain, and as long as the sport lasted so did the deluge, that drenched the unfortunates who met the pitiless pelting on a spot where there is no more shelter than in the middle of the Atlantic, For this, as well as more substantial reasons, the First Spring Meeting did not begin with promising auspices. How it sped we shall see in the sequel. It is ungracious to anticipate evil. The list contained eight events, five of which “came off,” as the vernacular goes ; the others paid or compromised. A Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs, each, for all ages above two yaars old, T.Y.O., three subscribers, brought out the trio. Col. Peel's Palmyra filly was the winner. Westow was the favourite, at 5 to 4 on him. A Sweepstakes of 10 soys. each for three-year-olds, same course, 4 subscribers, also brought out the whole lot. Trinket was first in the ring, at 9 to 4 against her. Croupier was first in the field, by a head. Sweepstakes of 200 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-old fillies, 5 subs., Ab. M., was run a match between Barcelona and Coticula - 6 to 4 on the former, who won by 10 lengths. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for foals of 1848, A. F., 10 subs. The favourite was The Squaw-5 to 2 against her. The winner was Balsamo : the extreme last was Juggernaut : half-a-dozen ran. Fifty Pounds for all ages above three years old, last three miles of the B.C. : four ran, and Cariboo, with 7 to 4 on him, won, beating Nutcracker by three-quarters of a length. I have been very concise in my recapitulation of this day's sport, for it was very unimportant. The distances by which the races were won are of course those given in the return lists. These official documents do not give, or rather, do not pretend to give the time in which the races are runa practice certainly more honoured in the breach than the observance

The rain continued to fall without intervals from the time it commenced yesterday up to 2 P.M. on Tuesday-the great occasion of the spring racing, not only in reference to Newmarket but in relation to the turf. I do not assume that the fate of the Derby is involved in the issue of the Two Thousand—but the betting is.

"Aye, there's the rub !" the money is the thing:

Your modern race is run for in the Ring. To return to the weather: it cleared as aforesaid at about two o'clock, and held up till the saddling for the great race cominenced, at a quarter past three, when down it came again, and never stopped-at least, so long as there was daylight. The attendance was much under the average. The special train did not bring down London, as its wont has been of late years ; and the town lacked lodgers sadly. The morning's list showed Newminster among the lot left in for the Two Thousand ; and as he did not forfeit nor run, the policy would puzzle those who might not be made aware of the on dit, by which it was accounted for. It seems that he had been backed to start for that event for a considerable sum against Grecian's starting ; and since the latter contingency was disposed of, he was-it was asserted-left in for the option of starting, unless a profitable compromise should make it needless. How that arrangement was effected I know not ; but the animal did not "go." He was understood to be suffering from the process of shedding his teeth-a casualty which befell Cotherstone on the occasion of his visiting Newmarket to race for the Two Thousand ; but he took that natural ill more mildly than the patient in the present case...... The sport commenced with the Royal Plate for mares, over the Round Course. St. Rosalia was backed to win, at 2 to 1 on her ; but Kissaway ran away with it, finishing first in a canter by five lengths. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for all ages above six years old, had, as it should have been stated of the preceding race, three starters. They laid 6 to 4 against Preslau, which he merited, winning very easily by a length, A Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each for three-year-olds and upwards, D. M., had seven at the post. This was a scurry whereof the Moor had the best by a length. They made Vasa the favourite, at 3 to 1, and laid 4 to 1 against the winner. A mighty rout equestrian now took place in the direction of the saddling stables. Presently down came the rain, as aforesaid, and within doors kept the Two Thousand

Guineas' field until the last moment for showing at the post. When they did come forth, they mustered half a score ; and certainly there were some tidy cattle among them. Hernandez is a great fine animal, and so is the Mountain Deer—the Mountain Sylph colt that was. Cnæus is a race-horse that will pay his way; and Glenhawk wont run third every time he starts. The Confessor looked better than he did ; and Boo looked like what you might expect from his title. Æolus did not take my fancy_but what a park hack Midas would make!...... Without more ado than gentlemen exhibit when they fall in for an amble along Rotten Row, they came to the post, and Mr. Hibburd said “go," and off they set, Boo getting on his legs the first, and leading by two or three lengths. They ran in company down the fall, and here the front rank was composed of Hernandez first, the Mountain Deer second, Glenhawk next, and so they finished, Hernandez winning cleverly by a length. The odds at starting were 2 to 1 against Mountain Deer, 5 to 2 against Confessor, 5 to 1 against Hernandez, 10 to 1 agst. Buckhound and Glenhawk, and 20 to 1 Midas. I don't think the field will furnish the winner of the Derby. The distance run was one mile and one yard, and the time given in the newspaper returns was 1 min. 52 sec. How this account was come by, I cannot say. Sweepstakes of 300 sovs. each, 100 ft., four year olds, B. C. It rained bitterly as Tomboy, Bordeaux, and Nutcracker cantered off for this pretty little -thousand—4 having paid £100 each. Nutcracker was leading in the early part of the race, and finished first by eight lengths. Bordeaux, backed at 11 to 10 against him, was nowhere. They laid 6 to 4 against the winner. I do not believe anybody was sorry when the amusements were over. At all events, if such there was, the writer was not “ the party."

Wednesday was a most pleasant vernal day, with a bad list and a company in a concatenation accordingly. We will therefore be rid of it as fast as we may. The racing began with a Handicap Plate of £50 for four-year-olds and upwards, Cesarewitch Course : three ran : 5 to 4 against Nutmeg, and 7 to 4 against Ninus, who won by three lengths

-the favourite far astern. Plate of £50 for three-year-olds and upwards, D. M. ; eight went for it : 5 to 2 against the Revival colt, 7 to 2 Borneo, and 4 to 1 Vasa. The latter won in a well-fought field by a neck. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., D. M., 7 subs., for threeyear-olds, though the Calendar leaves the age to the reader's imagination. Firebolt walked over, and Naptha withdrew her stake. A similar stake, over the same course, 4 subs., Santiago walked over for. For Renewal of the Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each (all forfeit, play or pay), for three-year-olds, A. F., 5 subs., Artisan walked over, and Ginevra withdrew her stake. Match for 200, h. ft., T. Y. C., Convulsion received 65 sovs. from Magnes—and so the list was brought to an end.

Thursday-sunny and showery as April days are wont to be-drew far from an average party for the anniversary of the One Thousand Guineas Stakes. Still it was not without its interest, as the advent of the chief event proved. The muster at the saddling stables was very considerable. As in the instance of Don Juan's visit to Lord Augustus Fitz-Plantagenet--there was

" - a young race-horse of old pedigree,

Match'd for the Spring, where several went to see." The name of this courser was also poetical : it was Aphroditenuncupatory stumbling-block, on which the touts broke their shins in

the most grotesque manner possible. It never before was my fortune to see such a three-year-old filly at such a period of the season. To the eye she might have numbered five summers at the least. There is no necessity to delay till the notice of the race the fact, that at any part of it she could have run over her antagonists. She looked, and went, and was a stone better than any of them. To begin at the beginning -the races commenced with the Queen's Plate, over the Round Course. It came off a trio, finishing in the following order : Uriel, Ninus, Nutcracker, the last the favourite at 5 to 4 against him. The rain had told its tale, and the ground ran sticky and holding. It struck me that Marlow-riding no doubt to orders—was making very free with his horse, for Nutcracker had had a taste of the three-mile course on Monday, and of the Beacon on Tuesday. Renewal of the Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft.; for three-year-olds, D. M., 5 subs. This was run a match between Ariosto and Croupier, 4 to 1 on the former. The favourite “ clapped on" as soon as the flag fell, and went in by himself two lengths ahead. The One Thousand Guineas Stakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., 33 subs., D. M. This liberal lot of nominations was represented at the post by half a dozen. The last betting was 6 to 5 on Aphrodite ! 2 to lngainst Iris, and 8 to 1 Anspach. After a little coquetting on the part of the favourite, they got off, the Squaw and Anspach making the pace quite fierce ; and last of all, Aphrodite “pulling double," as the phrase is. They ran in this way threefourths of the distance, where Job Marson began to creep up, passed them one after another, and landed Aphrodite first by a couple of lengths. The winner is a flyer all over, with quarters cast, as it were, for the especial purpose of ascending a hill as easily as skimming the surface. If she don't astonish the natives at Epsom "it's a pity !” Lord Stanley no doubt has “a great fine mare":–Iris is not the animal to be despised in any field. I have not seen a colt out this year that I like as well as either of them. A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three-year-olds, first half of Ab. M., three subs., brought out the trio. Alboni was the favourite, at 6 to 4 against her, and Guy Mannering was the winner easily by two lengths. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three-yearolds, T. Y. C. This was another trio, whereof Trinket was the winner, as well as the favourite, being backed against the field.

Friday's racing commenced at half-past eleven o'clock, with a list of two events. In reference to the company, that was one too many. It was a lovely spring morning, with just the sort of air about it to make you feel the act of turning your back upon nature for London the sacrilege of taste. I say it not without sorrow, but certainly without surprise, that the First Spring Meeting at Newmarket in 1851, contrasted with its vernal contemporaries, proclaimed, in a manner not to be mistaken—"What a falling of was there.” “Insanire omnes." Everybody has gone betting mad, and bitten his neighbours...... “ List, List, 01 List.” The sport may be easily despatched. It began with a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each for two and three-year-olds, first half of Ab. M., which Guy Mannering, with 7 to 4 on him, won. For the Newmarket Stakes they laid 6 to 4 on Confessor ; but little Midas was the winner...... Thus was wound up the April Sport of the Turf, in the annus mirabilis of '51. Peradventure the fashion of the record may be obnoxious to objection

" But if a writer should be quite consistent,

How could be possibly show things existent?"

327

THE SOUTH AFRICAN HUNTER: HIS WORK, AND ITS

, NATURAL HISTORY.

BY GELERT.

It is a lamentable fact, as connected with a civilized country, that whenever a traveller of more than ordinary spirit and enterprise comes out of the crowd and devotes himself to a life of danger and privation, he no sooner reaches his native land and gives to the public the benefit of his researches, than he is assailed by a host of savages, whose shafts are scarcely less venomous than those of the wild men amongst whom he has sojourned, or the subtle reptiles on which he has placed his heel. It matters not whether his labours have been successful or not, nur whether they were encountered for the sake of science, for the benefit of mankind, or for mere personal gratification : the same fate awaits the majority of those who venture boldly forth upon the untrodden paths of an unexplored country. Does envy arouse this demon of scepticism within us that we are so ready to discredit and dotract from the deeds of daring men, whose courage and hardihood have borne them manfully and triumphantly through dangers at which our own craven hearts would quail ? or are our ideas so circumscribed that we are incapable of comprehending the wonderful sights and strange adventures which must inevitably be encountered by those who travel in an unknown and savage land ? Whatever it be, it is a fact utterly unworthy of us as a liberal and enlightened people, and little in accordance with the precept of “ doing as we would be done by.”

We have been led to these remarks by an article, at once offensive and unjust, which appeared in a leading journal relative to Mr. Gordon Cumming's work and collection of South African spoils. Mr. G. C. will congratulate himself (for he has not stooped to answer the unfounded statements of that article) that he has parallels in history, of whose company he need not be ashamed. He will remember the great Columbus, the Abyssinian Bruce, and Waterton the Prince of Wanderers : years rolled by cre these bold pioneers were appreciated, or their narrations treated as little better than idle tales. Time and circumstances, however, in their case gradually came to their aid and developed the truth; and, in like manner, Mr. Gordon Cumming may expect, sooner or later, the same justice from every one who peruses his most interesting work,

But, satisfied and convinced as we are of the truthfulness of every adventure he records, we beg to call especial attention to the minute and circumstantial manner in which he describes the incidents of each chase ; and how, on every occasion of watching, manœuvring, and engaging the enemy, he narrates the cxact and particular details relative to its capture and his own personal danger. The Diary of Evelyn is not more minute, nor, in our opinion, more accurate than this work of Mr. Gordon Cumming. “Whatever on those occasions,” he says, "I

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