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"Last Landed" salmon makes your mouth water to look at it. A Mr. W. Davis, too, has some dead game that suggest dinner time; and Mr. Armfield as pleasing a little picture as we have seen for some time in this class, called "The Larder ”—his otters and wolves we do not covet so much; nor Mr. J. D. Francis' "War in India," with its wonderfully terrible state of confusion-" which is the lion and which is the tiger, Mr. Showman?" More to our taste comes the calm "philosophy" of Mr. Huggins' donkeys-this artist sketches rather than finishes, but what he does he does well. We wish we could say as much of Mr. Laker and his deer-stalkers, who, when they found themselves in one of the best rooms of the Royal Acaddmy, must have felt like the apples in the dumplings, and wondered how the devil they got there? Still the stalkers are kept in very good countenance by two extraordinary compositions just beneath them-right on the line in fact-acknowledged to be by S. A. Hart, R.A. These are two heads the size of life, that might have been portraits, only thank heaven such men were never yet known. No, they owe their being to the brilliant fancy of the Royal Academician, who in one scene shows us "the Student preparing for Honours," a miserable-looking wretch, without a gleam of intellect or inspiration to recommend him, who has simply read himself black in the face. In the other, of course, we have the contrast-" the Idler preparing to be Plucked "-rattling a team over to Woodstock, or larking a screw across Shotover, perhaps? Not a bit of it. Observe Mr. Hart's fine moral. To ensure honours, you must read yourself into a jaundice, and lose all relish for life. To be plucked you must wear a fine waistcoat, such as a carpenter might on Sunday, have a gold watch-chain, and be able to smoke a cigar and drink a glass of claret with it. Heinous offences! fearful course of life! and thrice honoured hanging committee, who could give two such disgraceful, disgusting-looking things two of the best places in your rooms.

Messrs. Lee and Sidney Cooper still continue to work with as much mutual advantage as ever on their rural scenes; while Shayer, Willis, and others, do a great deal single-handed for similar subjects. The productions of these gentlemen abound in most of our show-rooms; though an established favourite of ours in the New Water Colour-Mr. Harrison Weir-does not this season reach his average strength. As it is he has two or three very attractive little pictures; and we regret to hear illness alone has prevented him multiplying them. In fact, were it not for the aid of Mr. Laporte, the New Water Colour would be hardly in our line : this gentleman, however, furnishes us with some animal painting that we regret we have not space here to dwell on. For general arrangement, as well as artistic treatment, his "James returning from Hounslow" is worthy of especial notice. For neat hacks and clever chargers we can always depend on him.

RACING ADVENTURES.

BY CECIL.

Varieties of opinions-Country pursuits-Epsom races in former days-The change -Chance against judgment-Phosphorus-Increase of betting with the million -Rise and progress-Lotteries-Effect of betting-Analogy between lotteries and racing sweepstakes-Ancient manner of losing a race-A supposititious case of fraud-Remedy for the suppression of betting-offices-Distinction between the higher and lower classes-Acts of fraud in commission bettingDaniel Dawson's offence-Origin of some prevailing customs-Causes of the increase of racing-Reaction-Epsom and Ascot-Change of character-A suggestion for the improvement of race meetings.

"Marvellous fantasies excite men's brains-strange conceptions pervade the human mind "-exclaimed an old friend to me, after an apparently studious revery, as he sat enjoying the perfumes of his havannah; "no two men think alike on all subjects, though they may agree on many." He then ran through a series of events touching the social condition of the country, the policy of Lord Derby's administration, conjecturing what measures weuld be adopted on certain exigencies-all of which are foreign to these pages, if I except agriculture with reference to its connection with sporting pursuits; on this ho expatiated voluminously, maintaining, with perfect truth, that if the immoderate preservation of hares and rabits is prejudicial to the farmer's crops of grain, the presence of a kindly-disposed wealthy landowner on his paternal estates during the cheerless months of winter more than compensates for the damage done by game, unless in arable districts, where it is preserved to a most inordinate and destructive extent. The numerous arguments which he brought forward have been so frequently expressed that it is needless to repeat them. Presently, his conversation was directed to the existing condition of racing affairs, contrasting it with that of former times, strongly maintaining that delinquencies are not more numerous comparatively with the increase of racing, a subject upon which my friend is in a position to form tolerably just conclusions.

For several years he and I were in the habit of attending the Epsom meetings together, and during the week occupied rooms in the vicinity, to which we usually sojourned about the Friday or Saturday previously, that we might have an opportunity of personally scrutinizing and passing our judgment on the action and condition of the respective candidates for public favour, which, in those days, had arrived at their temporary quarters, and took their exercise on the Epsom, Leatherhead, or Mickleham Downs. A more animating scene could not be imagined. The beauties of the surrounding country, at that season of the year when nature had just provided a new mantle of verdant foliage, was in itself an attraction sufficient to enliven the senses till the various strings made their appearance, in each of which were found one or more competitors for the forthcoming great event. The various rumours afloat touching favourites, however much or little credit they might deserve, served to increase the excitement; while owners of horses, trainers, jockeys, bettors, and touts, were anxiously watching

every stride as the horses took their gallops. But the present customs of racing have completely changed these affairs. The horses do not quit their home stables till the day or two before they run, all their work having been previously performed. To them and their trainers it is a great accommodation to be able to move from place to place by rail, yet it has deprived the public, who feel an interest in such matters, of much gratification. Even on the Sunday morning prior to the Derby scarcely a horse will be seen in the neighbourhood, unless it be an outsider or two that may happen to be trained on those downs. To this cause may in a great measure be attributed the host of touts which has so formidably sprung up within a few years. As to the amount of reliance to be placed on their information, that is very hypothetical. If they could do what they profess-invariably select winners-they would very soon enrich themselves; but their nature is too generous for that, they would rather place fortunes within the grasp of strangers. A betting man may, however, sometimes know too much; and Dame Fortune, with all her capricious vagaries, is occasionally a kind friend, a fact that was fully exemplified on one occasion when my friend and I were enjoying our visit to Epsom. We were on the downs betimes in the morning, anxious to see every horse that was engaged in the forthcoming struggle; but a certain gentleman was there before us, and happened to see Phosphorus pull up lame. Being a man of industrious propensities he lost no opportunity of turning his knowledge to account, and, feeling convinced the horse would not run, backed another outsider against him with me for two hundred, and was very anxious to make it five. Having myself backed the horse which he selected at long odds early in the year it was a lucky hedge for me. In the course

of the morning it was rumoured that Phosphorus was hors de combat ; and as my friend and I were discussing onr matutinal meal, and proposing to share some bets which we had made, we were unable to negotiate them because he declined to participate with me in the bad bet I had made about Phosphorus. Great was my satisfaction and surprise when I met George Edwards, in riding costume, on the morning of the race, just emerging from Leatherhead, en route to the downs, when, upon enquiry, he informed me what he was going to perform upon; and still more complete my satisfaction when Phosphorus was declared to have defeated the great Caravan.

Reminding my friend of the aforesaid occurrence, who had now taken up the running pretty strongly on his favourite topic, and having imbibed just enough whiskey toddy to render him communicative of his thoughts, he observed-"I can relate a few anecdotes calculated to prove that this is not the only age when rascally devices are practised. My memory, which is not the best, affords me a great number of events, both private and public, quite as bad, or even worse, than those we now experience or hear of. They ought not to have been so frequent, because there were not nearly so many race meetings; and, as to the number of persons who now speculate on horse racing, they must have increased a hundred fold. Twenty years ago if the country shopkeeper, saddler, tailor, bootmaker, or man of any other craft, was known to make a bet, the first time the commercial traveller came round for fresh orders and cash, some kind neighbour, following an occupation in which their interests clashed, was sure to impeach the offence, and then farewell to credit; and if any of the aforesaid worthies thought of attending a race,

unless one which took place at their own town, their credit and their customers forsook them simultaneously. But what is their position in the present year of grace? No sooner does the agent for dealings in soap enter the shop of the village grocer, than he inquires of his customer what he fancies for the Chester Cup, the Two Thousand, the Derby, or any other important event; and, if it be the winter season, some steeplechase is introduced to fill up the hiatus. These speculations being arranged, he can condescend to take orders for the house which he represents. The shop-boy, while weighing out the plums, listens to the conversation, and is forcibly impressed with the effect of weight on hearing that subject eloquently discussed, as thus- What chance could Nancy, a four years old mare with 9st. 1lb., have against a son of the honest Venison, three years old, with 4st. 10lbs., over a distance of ground exceeding two miles?' Of the effects of weight he soon becomes convinced; his next embassy to deliver goods, he calculates the number of pounds each parcel weighs, times himself on his journey, and discovers that he can return home much quicker and with less exertion without his load. His thoughts are now on racing deeds intent. He has heard some one say he knew such a horse would win ; but as the sage individual never explained that his knowledge did not come to him till after the race, the shop-boy is deceived with an impression that he can as readily discover so valuable a secret as other persons; then, seeing attractive advertisements from persons kindly undertaking to give information, the youth consults with companions equally desirous to become rich as himself, and they club together to obtain the important office. The next affair is to back the animal which is certain to win ; that can be accomplished by forwarding a post-office order, or stamps, to an advertising betting-office in London, when the thing is done, and the deluded youths are done with equal facility. Precisely similar inducements to gamble were afforded by lotteries, but they did not extend so profusely through the provincial districts, therefore were more harmless, and the legislature, finding the morals of the people were injured, suppressed those speculations; now, seeing that betting on horse racing is equally injurious to morality, it is quite as necessary to restrain the evil. Scarcely a week passes but we have accounts of some miserable being putting an end to his existence, some defalcations by men holding responsible and lucrative engagements, of servants robbing their masters, in consequence of the facilities afforded to betting speculations. The origin is readily traced. Gambling with dice, which had acquired a dangerous footing, was, like the lotteries, suppressed. The proprietors of the gaming houses then devised and substituted. sweeps or lotteries to be decided by racing events, and they were allowed to continue till the inconvenience was manifest which inculcated a taste for racing speculations. Their analogy to the ancient lotteries was sufficient to authorise the suppression of these specious attractions. Unable to play that game with impunity, the originators opened shops for similar purposes in the broad glare of day, with brazen fronts, simply avoiding judicial interference by a slight change of tactics. Intrinsically where is the difference between an event, upon which money is dependent, being decided by one horse beating others, the cast of a die, or a number being withdrawn from a box? With all other opportunities of gambling prohibited, and racing most unaccountably thrown open to feed that passion, it is by no means extraordinary

that every individual, possessed with an appetite for speculation, should resort to that which alone affords him food; neither is it surprising, when so many individuals are concerned in it, that it should be productive of so much moral harm. Thousands of those who now bet on races know no more about the horses than the hazard player did of the animal which produced the bone wherewith the dice were made. Their opinions are formed from the knowledge of others, and their speculations or investments regulated by reports. Thus opportunities are afforded to unscrupulous persons, by getting up horses as favourites for races on which there is a heavy amount of betting, of collecting (for it cannot be termed winning) considerable sums of money without ever intending to try to win the race. But such practices were adopted more than fifty years ago. There is an authenticated fact at York, in the year 1718, of a rider throwing himself off intentionally to avoid winning when past the distance post. There were high odds betted on the horse which he was riding; nothing, therefore, but a tempting offer could have induced a man to commit so rash, hazardous, and barefaced an act. In 1728 a horse was drawn after running the first heat for a plate in consequence of a match having been made. Thus there is a very early precedent for a practice which cannot escape censure at any period, and these examples testify that means were adopted in the early days of racing to avoid winning with as much audacity as at the present time. Such things are now accomplished with a more masterly and gentle hand. There are laws provided for the suppression of fraud which are practically applicable to such cases. We will suppose an exampleAn owner of a horse engaged in any race upon which there is a vast amount of betting, which, according to custom, is considered p. p.-or even if the observance of that rule were done away with, bets would, by mutual agreement when made, be always subservient to that understanding the aforesaid owner having determined not to start his horses, but, by direct and indirect means, leads persons to the belief that it is his intention to try to win, sets an agent or agents to bet against the horse, and by so doing defrauds persons of their cash. On sufficient proof the parties so conspiring are liable to an indictment for fraud; and a somewhat similar precedent has not long since taken place.

"The rules of racing affect persons who are absolutely engaged in that occupation as owners of horses; but there are many of them still very defective, although they have been amended and revised on many occasions. Our ancestors found it expedient to pass several laws on the subject of horse-racing, all of which are repealed; there is consequently no tribunal but the Jockey Club, who, unfortunately, have not the power of examining witnesses on oath; or, in fact, of compelling any persons to give evidence. Important facts, therefore, in many instances cannot be proved. The acknowledged rules of betting can only be held in force by members of Tattersall's and the Rooms at Newmarket, extending them likewise to frequenters of Epsom, Ascot, Goodwood, York, Doncaster, and other influential meetings, where any person guilty of infractions can, on complaint and proof, be excluded; but the bettinghouses have opened a new arena for the devices of defaulters and others of unscrupulous character. In that respect they are seriously injurious to the welfare of racing; but if they could be confined to respectable persons, and those persons acknowledged members of Tattersall's, they would be no more objectionable than betting at the Corner or on the

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