NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. WE beg to refer the attention of Gentlemen who take an interest in the support of Hunting and the well-doing of the Turf to the Notice that appears in the last page of our Advertising Sheet, for a TESTIMONIAL to Mr. TONGUE, for the zealous manner in which he has advocated the interests of those two great National Amusements. His pen has for some years been devoted to their practical improvement: indeed so ably and assiduously, that we think there is no one more entitled to the valuable thanks of the Sporting World. The "Letters on the Road" will not suit: the ribbons have been too well handled on the same line already. "Catechumen" must have made a mistake in addressing his "Use of the Surplice" to us: his messenger had better fetch it. The Paper on "The Martingale" appeared in our pages some few months back, in our May Number. "Q.'s" question had better be referred to Bell's Life. "T. R."-There are twenty-six Hunting Maps out. Received: Rees's "Diary and Almanac," sold by Graham, of Aldgate. It is a useful little book and descrves patronage. SPORT WITH HER MAJESTY'S HOUNDS. Nov. 27. From the frost on the preceding night it was doubtful if the hounds would meet to-day; but Mr. Davis, who never loses an opportunity when it is possible to have a start, and the sun breaking out before noon, arrived at Salt Hill with the pack at half-past twelve.A hind was uncarted, and after the usual law, the hounds went away with a burning scent at the top of their speed for Burnham Beeches, where the chase dodged about for some time, and then off for Lady Grenville's Park at Dropmore, thence to Beaconsfield at a tremendous pace without a check, turned to the left for Hotspur Gate, and down to the farm-yard at Hotspur Bottom, where disdaining to take shelter, she bent her course to the left, making right for Wickham, where "bellows to mend" was evident in many of the tits, and most part of the Field cried "enough!" At Wickham she took soil in the millstream, but, being pressed, she mounted the steep hill on the opposite side of the water, which proved too much for her exhausted state, and on returning to the stream, she fell a sacrifice to the gallant pack, no one being up to whip them off. It was an out-and-out run of an hour and twenty minutes over at least twenty miles of country. Several of the Surrey Gentlemen were at the bottom of the hill, and the Noble Master came up shortly after. Nov. 29.-Maidenhead; a large Field.-Uncarted at Maidenhead Thicket, and after a ringing run, doubled back to Maidenhead, and crossed the Thames to Cliefden, the hounds and horsemen passing over the bridge. Upwards of an hour elapsed before the scent was recovered; but at length she was found near Lord Orkney's, at Taplow, and the hounds being laid on, they went away by the Village, nearly to Burnham, crossing the Great Western Railway near Two-mile Brook, on to Cippenham, back to Eton Wick, and again to the Thames, taking refuge on the rocks near Boveney, when the hounds were called off from the day closing in, leaving the deer at liberty to choose on which side she would land on terra firma. Dec. 2.-Uncarted at Brick Bridge: had a good run of little more than an hour, and took at Sawyer's Gate, near Sunning Hill. Dec. 4; the Billet near Bedfont Turnpike.-The celebrated stag "Hedley," on being uncarted near the Staines Union Workhouse, made away in good style towards West Bedfont, round to Stanwell, doubling to Staines Moor, over the Mead to the Thames, which he crossed to the Surrey side, the Field and hounds taking Staines Bridge. On being again laid on, Hedley went away for Thorpe, crossing the brooks to St. Anne's Hill, where he was secured after a run from first to last of about an hour.-In crossing the brooks there were numerous spills, with ducking accompaniments; and these mishaps, owing to VOL, V. THIRD SERIES, N. S.-No. 25, A the rottenness of the takes-off, occurred to some of the oldest and most experienced attendants on the Royal Hunt. Owing to the severe frost which now set in, a stop was put to hunting till the 19th, when a by-meeting took place at the kennel. A young deer, upon being whipped out of one of the out-houses, went off across Miss Ferrand's farm, making for Winkfield Row, on to Sir John Walsh's park, where it was taken after about half an hour's run.—A second deer was then turned out, going away towards the Crispin, doubling back to the Heath, and away in beautiful style across the New Mile Course for Sunning Hill Wells, and thence for High Beech and the brick-kiln in the Bagshot Road, nearly to Windlesham. It then doubled to the right, making across Bagshot Park, and was taken at the Jolly Gardeners, between Bagshot and Blackwater, after a capital run (all view hunting) of an hour and twenty minutes. Dec. 20; Salt Hill.-This being the first meeting advertised since the breaking up of the frost; there was a muster of upwards of twe hundred horsemen, including several of the elite of the Hunt. The celebrated stag "Jim Crow," upon being uncarted close to Farnham Lane, went away at the back of the village, wheeling to the left almost to East Burnham, and thence, at a racing pace, in the direction of the Bucks, on to Littleworth Common, and was taken in the millstream at Woburn, after a capital burst of forty-five minutes. The frost again came on with great severity, and the hounds have since remained in kennel. A DILEMMA. Engraved by J. H. ENGLEHEART from a Painting by R. B. Davis. "Discre OUR plate describes no unfrequent incident of the Chase. tion" will shew itself now and then, whatever may be said at breakfast or dinner :-big words are not always followed up by corresponding actions in the field. Our friend in the plate is a likely fellow enough one would think to take such a bit of fencing in his stride. He's long enough to take it himself, which by-the-by he seems to have done; but why didn't he keep in the saddle and do it? He may pull till the bridle comes off before he'll get his quadruped over, and there's the chase slipping away from him, and all because he didn't like the bit of a drop on the other side. "Go-a-head, Sir, go-a-head; you are all over behind, and in ten minutes you may go home for what further you may see of the hounds; but, hark-ye, another time, if you have the least shadow of a shade of a doubt that your heels may be too heavy, take another smack of the cherry-brandy before you mount." |