a not unfrequent practice formerly. The produce of Childers did not certainly inherit the amazing superiority of their sire, but he was not, as some have said, a bad stallion. He was the sire of several good racers; and as Sampson was got by one of his sons, and Snap by another, there are two most superior lines, remarkable both for size and speed, descended directly from him. Bartlett's Childers, his own and only brother, was a much more common and on that account more popular stallion: this latter was undoubtedly one of the best that ever lived. Among his produce are Squirt (sire of Marske, Syphon, and Mr. Pratt's "old mare," decidedly the best brood mare in the Stud Book), and the little Hartly Mare. Eclipse, Blank, Dormouse, Old England, Shark, and a hundred of other good mares, might be quoted as descended immediately from him. THE QUEEN'S HOUNDS. PRESENT MASTER, Right Hon. Lord Kinnaird. WHIPS, Bartlett, Freeman, and King. THE season with the Queen's hounds commenced November the 4th and terminated on Monday the 20th of April, and with a finish enough to glut the appetite of the most ardent lover of the chase. The Royal kennel is situate near to the renowned Ascot the spot is healthy, and the interior arrangements such as have claimed the admiration of all who have been permitted to inspect it. The residences of the establishment are enclosed in a ring, that of the head huntsman, Mr. C. Davis, commanding the entrance. The sick kennel is at Cumberland Lodge on the verge of Windsor Great Park, but is little needed, the skill and experience of Mr. Davis being more than a match for the many diseases to which the dog is liable. From the beginning to the termination of the season the pack at every "meet" has invariably appeared in the finest condition, as well as the stud upon which the members of the establishment have been mounted. Lord Kinnaird has not many months held the command: the appointment being one subject to the fluctuations of the political atmosphere, the entire management may therefore be said to be invested in Mr. Davis, who is now an old standard with the pack, and, like the present Noble Master, a bold and judgmatical rider in the field. His gentlemanlike bearing and deep devotion to the pleasures of the chase, coupled with his many other excellent qualities, have won him the respect and friendship of all who have ever participated in the sport afforded by the " Queen's." The Whips, Freeman and King, have been bred in the Family, and are of the same resolute character as Bartlett, affording when out the best encouragement to the timid beginner, and an example that must put all the half-bred-'uns to the blush who ape the character but are wanting the material. We embrace the opportunity of presenting our readers with a perfect abstract table of the season, and shall slightly allude to the most eminent runs: we will therefore commence with THE OPENING DAY, November 4th.-The appointment was Salthill, a quarter that at all times commands a good Field. The run lasted one hour and fifteen minutes, making direct from the Farnham road to East Burnham, across to Taplow Green and Clifden; took a ring or two in Clifden Park, and then made to Edgar Wharf, Bone End, over the River pointing for Bisham, but headed back; crossed the Thames a second time, and then on over Marlow race-course to Burrow's Hill, and took at Handy Cross Farm: pace quick, and but few up at the take. November 8th and 14th were runs equally splendid in character, the latter the last day the Ex-Master, Lord Erroll, held his commission. On the 15th the run lasted two hours and fifteen minutes, with a finish worth the whole kingdom to a sportsman. The 20th, although somewhat shorter, was a teazer, being from Binfield over the intermediate lands, a deep country with stiff fencing, to Bouzer's Farm, near Wokingham, without a check. The first part of the run on December the 4th was seldom, if ever, equalled in pace, which readily accounts for its sluggish conclusion, the noble animal itself and those in the wake scarcely having "go" enough in them to reach a gallop. On the 20th a deep country and a long run again tried the stamina of the Field; but on the 26th and 27th the waters in the low lands intercepted the running, and the sport proved indifferent. ON NEW YEAR'S DAY the Noble Lord Kinnaird made his first appearance in the character of Master. The fixture was Salthill: His Lordship was warmly greeted by a large Field, and the run, one hour and forty-five minutes, terminated at Maltsmoor Green. The run on the 3rd was long, and signalised only by a multiplicity of ups-and-downs. The frost intercepted until the 17th, when the "meet" was at Ascot, and the uncarting at Glendening's Farm: the line of country was Ascot Place, Winkfield, Brockhill, Warfield, Cabbage Hill, Billinghem Park, Haynes Hill, and back to Charity Farm. The 22nd afforded a good run of two hours; and the 27th a trimming run of fifty-nine minutes. The 31st was only a dodging run of one hour, but deserves recording from the spirited and hazardous conduct of one or two gentlemen of the Hunt in extricating and saving the life of a young man named Goodwin, who had been fool-hardy enough to take soil with the hope of forcing out the deer, but, becoming dismounted and entangled in his leathers, nearly suffered, to use a criminal phrase, the severest penalty. February 17th.-The first deer proved a slug, and was succeeded by a better. Prince Ernest of Saxe Coburg, who had travelled down per rail, joined the Field, and in the chase for the first time was made to kiss the golden soil of good Old England. The Prince, however, was not hurt, and remounted. The frost then interfered until the 9th of the following month. March 11th gave a good hunting run of two hours and thirty minutes; but this was excelled on the 13th. The meet was Hillingdon hit off on Uxbridge Common, made straight across the country through Swakeleys to Bowyer's Wood; over the light land to Ruislip Great Wood, and Eastcot, pointing for Harrow, but hesitated: headed short back to Swakeley's, and on to Hillingdon Park, skirting Hayes, taking the left to Dawley Wall; then tacked about, made over the railroad to Harlington and Cranford Bridge, and took at Hanworth-the distance considerable, and time four hours and a half. The run on the 18th was more distressing, three hours and fifteen minutes, close to it every inch. ON APRIL FOOL'S DAY uncarted at Salthill; soon caught.-Tried a second, which gave fifty minutes quick, and took at Fullmer. On the 3rd two deer were again uncarted: the second away from Ickenham Marsh to Swakeley's, Denham, and Troy Mill; then to the left to Chalfont Park, and took at Gerrard's Cross Common, in one hour and fifty-four minutes. The private run from Uxington Farm (Elmore's) on the 15th was a clipper after the first ten minutes. We will conclude our remarks with the "finish" ON EASTER MONDAY, on which day, as before stated, the fixture was Ascot. It had every appearance of a race-day: the assemblage on the Heath was unusually large, and the Queen with her visitors and suite, including H. R. H. the Duchess of Kent, Prince Ernest, Lady A. M. Dawson, Lady Charlemont, the Ladies Eleanora and Constance Paget, the Hon. Misses Anson and Pitt, &c. &c., occupied the lower floor of the Grand Stand, the roof being appropriated to the use of the public. Prince Albert joined the Hunt, and prior to starting partook of nuncheon at the residence of Mr. Davis. The Field, when the hounds were laid on, may be fairly estimated at 800. The scent on the Heath was bad, and the dogs did not get in tune until their arrival at the Old Mile Post, when they made off sharpish to Captain Scott's, away thence to Hatchet Lane and Ascot Place, direct to Winkfield Church; then took short to the left to Winkfield Row, and Warfield Park, by the Horse Shoes, leaving Lady Malcomb's on the left, to Hawthorn Hill, Fifield Lane, and Hollyport Green, and away to Bray; crossed the River to Mile House, over the railroad to Burnham, and took near Dropmore, in two hours and fifty-five minutes, over a good fencing country-quick at times. There were lots of Macadamizers, but the Prince, although unhorsed and slightly injured on his way to the Heath, rode boldly, and took his fences well. About one half of the Field were up at the "take." AN ABSTRACT TABLE of the Doings of the QUEEN'S HOUNDS in the Season 1839-40, including the Appointments, Places of Take, Time, &c. 8 Hillingdon.. 0 30 The deer killed. 1 10 A severe run; a second deer. 20 A splendid run. 11 Ascot.............. Hatchet Lane.. .. .. .. .. .. .............. 1 30 A poor run. 13 Wexham Heath.... Troy Mill, near Harefield ...... 145 Slow hunting; ground heavy, 14 Cumberland Lodge.. Sawyer's Gate..................................... 20 Hard work. A third deer, not taken till the following day. 20 Farnham Common.... Cookham .................................... 0 40 Quick. 23 Gerrard's Cross ...... Hinning's Farm, near Chalfont... .............................. 26 Winkfield Church .... Down Place.... ................... 27 Stoke Green.......... Langley, 2 15 A deep country. Heston .............................. 1 35 A large field; very quick, 12 Beaconsfield.... ......... Fullmer ................ 20 Ringing run. 13 Fern Cottage. ......... Windsor Great Park 14 Iver Heath........... 130 A good run. 145 First 40 min. very fast; a stiff [country. 1 0 Pretty run,witnessed by the Queen. Tokenham Murish.... Gerrard's Cross Common, 1 54 Second deer; first 40 min. un 18 Thorpe Green........ Long Walk, Windsor.... 115 Indifferent. The following twenty couple were the pack picked out for the grand day, Easter Monday : At the present time it is calculated there are in the whole, including young and old, seventy-two couple at the kennel, which are shortly to be drafted down to forty-seven. The brood bitches in the straw are, Dairymaid (by Galloper out of Darling) with four; Levity (from Lord Portman's) with four; and Ornament (by Mr. Osbaldeston's Ranton out of Lord Yarborough's Notable) with four, particularly fine. The brood bitches in addition are, Boundless, Ladybird, Nimble, Dahlia, Nancy, and Dulcimer. The Establishment on the finishing day appeared in splendid new livery, and Prince Albert presented Mr. Davis with a massive pair of silver candlesticks. The oldest servant in the service is Preston the feeder, who has held his situation 52 years. One feature in the Hunt must not be forgotten-the celebrated Little Paddy, who has hunted barefooted with the pack for thirteen years, scarcely missing a day, and usually well up at the take: like many others of his unfortunate countrymen, he neither knows where he first saw the peep of day nor the county of his birth. He is a surprising pedestrian, and a short time since beat the Ascot Shepherd in an eightmile race at Slough, which distance he covered in forty-five minutes. He was then matched against Drinkwater to run eighteen miles, but his backers, from some unaccountable reason, forfeited the first deposit: but of course as these transactions are generally made right, it cannot be presumed that Paddy was too honest for a sell! Paddy depends for subsistence on the liberality of the Hunt. |