Hill, and had a most brilliant scurry of twenty-five minutes, when the fog came on so thick that we were obliged to stop the hounds.

Jan. 16; Houghton-on-the-Hill.-Found at Glenn Gorse; had an out-and-outer of fifteen minutes and lost him. Such a promising opening! such a varmint! but the Fates, the jades, were adverse!— Found a second fox at Shankton Holt, cousin german to the above; went away fast, through the Hardwicks, by Nosely, over the brook, those who could, and lost him in Hallaton Bottoms, after twenty-five minutes not to be beaten.-Found a third fox at Fallow Close Gorse; had another splendid thing of eighteen minutes, and ran him to ground in view of Ram's Head.

Jan. 17; Six Hills.-Found at Walton Thorns; ran hard in covert for thirty minutes, and killed.-Went away at a slapping pace with another, and ran him to ground in a drain near Loughborough after twenty-five minutes very best pace, without the slightest check.-Found a third fox at Elbow's Gorse, but lost him almost directly.-Found a fourth at Mundy's Gorse; ran him very hard for twenty-five minutes, and killed.

Jan. 20; Shearsby Inn.-Found at John Ball; went away instanter, leaving Bosworth Gorse to the left, and ran him to ground in a drain near Bosworth village, after a good hunting run of forty-five minutes. -Found a second fox at Bosworth Gorse, but did nothing with him.— Drew Laughton Hills; got on the drag of a travelling fox, ran him tremendously for fifteen minutes, and killed.

Jan. 21; Bunny.--Found at Cripple's Gorse, scent however too unfavorable to do anything with him.-Found a second fox at Willoughby Gorse, and went away smartly, leaving Elbow's Gorse to the right, over the Foss Road, pointing for Old Dalby; then bore to the left, leaving Curate's Gorse to the right Widmerpool village to the right, and stopped the hounds between four and five o'clock, pointing for Bunny, after a very fine run of fifty minutes

Jan. 23; Keythorpe Hall.-Found at Vowe's Gorse; went away, leaving East Horton to the left, Loddington village to the right, through the Wood to Skeffington: in Skeffington Wood unluckily changed foxes; went away with a fresh one through Tilton Wood, Launde Wood, Loddington Reddish, Ram's Head, leaving Keythorpe Spinnies to the right, through Hallaton Bottoms, and lost him in Hailaton village, after one hour and fifty minutes, affording one of the best day's sport of the

season.

Jan. 24; Ragdale.--Drew Shoby Scoles, and Lord Aylesford's Gorse, blank.-Found a brace of foxes at Grimstone's Gorse; killed one in covert; went away with the other; ran him fifteen minutes very fast indeed, to ground.-Found a third fox at Walton Thorns; had a slow hunting run of fifty-five minutes, and lost him near Brooksby.

Up to the present time, twenty-nine brace and a half of foxes killed, and plenty left all over the country yet; but Jack Frost has put his VETO on the genial health-inspiring chase for the present; but not for long let us hope.

Leicestershire, Feb. 10, 1845.

VOL, V.-THIRD SERIES, N. S.-No. 27.

CLIO.

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M. VILLEMAIN A LINE-FISHER.

TOUCHING the last illness of M. Villemain (French Minister), the Press is much occupied about the life of that man of letters because a Minister. Every Journal nearly has sported an anecdote about him. Here is one, dear MAGA, quite new, and possibly much more true than all the others; and as it is in the fishing line, possibly it may suit your Book.

M. Villemain is, or was, an indefatigable amateur of line-fishing. Do not exclaim! nothing is more paradoxical than a definition of the line, invented by some Dramatist-I forget the name:- "the line is an implement for fishing, which is terminated at one end by a fishinghook, and at the other by a simpleton!" Lafitte, Coupigny, and Malibran were passionately fond of line-fishing. Tulon, Habaneck, the illustrious Alcide, Tousez, Levassor, Rossini, are all known amateurs of line-fishing!

Then M. Villemain is a line-fisherman. For more than three years previous to his illness and dimission, almost every morning, scarcely had the sun risen, M. V. departed, plainly dressed, but armed at all points for bamboozling the finny tribe, to establish himself at an excellent spot under the "Pont des Arts," which he had himself discovered-a deep hole, which the fish were pleased to frequent, and which he took still further pains to entice by throwing into it all sorts of delicacies, such as cooked corn, teasers, and other attractives.

Unfortunately, one fine day, the Minister found his spot occupied : he paced about a long time growling at the usurper, and ended by sitting down at another, where he took nothing at all! whilst at that his happy rival was making a superb fishing.

The next day he got up an hour earlier, and off he trotted to the Pont des Arts. The lucky place was already taken, and by the same individual! For eight days he continued to repeat the same efforts of anticipation, but in vain; the place was always occupied !

At length, one morning he arrived before four; the usurper was already installed.-M. Villemain could no longer contain his anger :— "S'blood! this is too much!" exclaimed he: "why you must pass the night here, Sir ?”

The young fisherman (for he was a young man) replied by putting into his basket a slashing bream* which he had just hooked! "No, but I came here at the top of the morning as you see."

Villemain, in despair, sat himself down by the side of his rival, and began to question him.

"But, Sir, it seems you have nothing to do, since I find you here every morning?"

"And you, Sir, do you not come here also ?"

* A fresh-water fish for which the Seine is noted,

to go

"Me! that is another matter; if my occupations did not oblige me bed very late, I would come here much earlier, and I could easily prevent you taking my place--my place, so good that I have been at the trouble of baiting it!"

"Your place! is it your place?" said the youth. "It appears to me, that it is here as it is everywhere else in the world: if they had not taken away my place from me there, I should not have taken yours under the Pont des Arts."-And on saying so he hooked another large bream and put it into his basket.

Villemain grew pale and bit his nails with jealousy. "They have deprived you of your place, have they?" said he at length: "come, let us see, young man tell me all about it; I take an interest in you!"

Mechanically the young man set about to relate his story, but interrupted at every minute by some new take.-"Left the Normal School on being admitted into the University of Paris.........he had already professed two years with honor, when, having fallen into the unpardonable error of disputing with one of his superiors, he was suspended from his functions early in his career..........In spite of all his economy, forced to sell his books to live.........he was then reduced to seek, as a means of existence, the doubtful occupation of line-fishing!"

When he had finished, Villemain got up and left him, saying "Adieu!"

At twelve o'clock the young man returned to his home, just as an ordonnance had stopped before the door of his humble dwelling, aud delivered to him a despatch from the Minister of Public Instruction...... To him?.........It was indeed for him.........scarcely could he believe his own eyes!

This order contained in substance: "Sir, I am happy to have it in my power to repair a great injustice-you are restored to your place! Unfortunately the classes of Paris are filled up, and I am forced to send you to Versailles, Seine et Oise: but in recompense I have named you for a higher class there than the one you professed in at Paris"......And then follows the order to depart the same day. "The new Professor must not sleep another night in Paris!-Seine."

Pushed on by an unknown protector, the young Professor had a rapid advancement; but he was never recalled to Paris! Latterly, in short, named Provisor at the College of P, he would not repair to his new residence without coming to thank the Minister of Public Instruction. He was introduced, bowed low-rose up-wished to speak, but was struck dumb-the mouth open-stupified-he had just discovered in the Minister the fisherman of the Pont des Arts!

M. Villemain advanced towards him smiling, and said with benevolence :-"Well then, do you find your place at P- a good one ?" "And yours under the Pont des Arts!" replied the new Professor, perfectly recovered from his quandary.

They left each other, cordially shaking hands and promising themselves often to meet again.

Unfortunately for the protégé of M. de Villemain, he is about to lose much by the illness of his protector, unless he can hook another Minister.

W.

My "note book" opens with the crack Spring Newmarket favorite of 1839; I mean CÆSAR, a horse that bit his name most seriously into the memories of Lord Jersey's clever party. Cæsar is a bay horse, was foaled in the establishment of Lord Jersey in the year 1836, was got by Sultan out of Cobweb by Phantom, consequently he is own Brother to Bay Middleton and Achmet. Cæsar did not figure as a two-yearold, but at three years of age he proved himself, like his namesake of old, often victorious, inasmuch as he won the Riddlesworth Stakes, worth 1600 sovs., beating Euclid; also 620 sovs. and 100 sovs. at the Newmarket Craven Meeting. Cæsar was beaten for the grand “Two Thousand Guineas" in the First Spring gathering by The Corsair, and thereby arose a complete revolution in the betting on the Derby, for which race Cæsar had been backed down to as low as 2 to 1-This horse is now quartered at Hampton Court, where mares may be sent to him at 10 sovs. each, and 1 sov. to the groom. Further particulars may be gained by writing to Mr. Worley, Hampton Court. I am informed by a first-rate breeder that Cæsar's stock are amazingly fine and racinglike certainly the most fastidious turfite cannot quarrel much respecting the blood flowing in this animal's veins !

Since my last notice I have received information that THE MUMMY is to stand for the season at Mr. Brown's, Veterinary Surgeon, Belgrave Gate, Leicester; thorough-bred mares at 10 sovs. each, and half-breds at 3 sovs. each, with the "usual accompaniment" to the groom. I am told that some choice mares are promised to furnish his seraglio.

I now come to that everlasting Goodwood Cup horse (and no starter after all)-need I say I mean GALEWOOD, perhaps one of the greatest impostors that ever distinguished or deceived the Turf Gentlemen: it is true he was one of the best animals that the Fielders ever sowed and reaped from. Galewood was foaled in 1833, got by the flying Lottery out of an Orville mare, the dam of the favorite Calypso, &c.The price of covering thorough-bred mares is arranged to be 5gs. each, and half-breds at 3gs. Any mare covered by this animal last season that did not produce a foal will be accommodated at half price; and winners and dams of winners, provided they are thorough-bred, will be served gratis. I have before remarked that Galewood in his racing career proved himself a gay deceiver:" whether in the Stud House he will retain that character "remains to be proved."

66

I find that CAREW is to be met with at Balchin's Training and Hunting Stables, Sutton, Surrey, where everything necessary may be found at 10 sovs, each mare; winners and dams of winners, 5 sovs. each, with

10s. to the groom: there will be a few half-bred mares covered at halfprice. Carew was bred by Robert Ridsdale in 1833, got by either Tramp or Comus out of Young Petuaria by Rainbow; grandam, Petuaria by Orville; great grandam, Mandane, by Pot-8-o's, &c. Mandane was the dam of Manuella (winner of the Oaks in 1812), Altisidora (winner of the St. Leger in 1813), Lottery (the best horse of his year), and Brutandorf (a regular stout customer in Plate and Cup races). When four years old he won the Goodwood Cup in famous style, beating a capital lot of first-rate horses; the prize was worth 860 sovs. Several other races proved Carew to be a good and stout performer: amongst the number may be cited his race when three years old for the Doncaster Cup, for which important event he came in a good second to Touchstone, beating, somewhat easily, Bee's-wing, 3 yrs; Venison, 3 yrs; and General Chassé, 5 yrs. There are good boxes at Balchin's, and further particulars may be gleaned by using "a bit of stamped paper."

OPPIDAN is comfortably "boxed up" at Simmons's Stables, Carshalton, Surrey, where mares may be sent to him by paying 10gs. each thorough-breds, and 5gs. each half-breds. Oppidan is a splendid creature, was foaled in 1826, got by the famous Rubens, his dam Dorina by Gohanna-Dorina, Sister to Hannibal by Driver-Facetious, by Mercury -Woodpecker-Everlasting, by Eclipse, &c. As a runner, Oppidan may be put amongst the "respectables," inasmuch as he defeated in many glorious encounters most of the cracks of his "long day," over all sorts of courses, and carrying in many instances very high weights. A reduction will be made to such Noblemen and Gentlemen who send two or more mares to this stallion, and also to farmers sending either full blood or half blood mares. There is capital accommodation for mares and foals, and hay and corn may be had at the usual figure. Any further information may be got by applying to Mr. Coleman, Veterinary Surgeon, at the "Nelson," Cheam, or to Mr. Simmons, Carshalton, where the horse may be seen and admired by the "connoisseurs" of racing stallions. Half-bred roomy mares could hardly fail to produce something useful if put to Oppidan.

At Yardley, near Birmingham, may be found the stallion SIR ISAAC, who is to serve mares at what I consider an extravagant figure, viz., thorough-bred mares at 10gs. each! It is true that his sire was Camel, also that he is out of Arachne by Filho-da-Puta. Arachne is the dam of Industry (winner of the Oaks 1838), The Ant (winner of the Riddles worth 1840), and several others of goodly fame. Sir Isaac is a brown horse with great power, and is apparently a sound and good constitutioned animal. Half-bred mares may be sent to this horse at the charge of 3gs. each: further information may be gained by writing to Mr. Holloway, Yardley, near Birmingham.

KREMLIN will serve mares during the season at High Wycombe, Bucks; thorough-bred mares at 7gs. each, and half-breds at 2gs., with half-a-crown to the groom. It may be remembered that this horse was at the same place last season, where he got a very decent quantity of respectable mares. Kremlin is a brown horse, was foaled in 1836, got by the celebrated Sultan out of Francesca by Partisan, her dam by Orville; grandam by Buzzard out of Hornpipe by Trumpator, &c. Kremlin