In the yachting world the great feature has been the re-appearance of the celebrated "America" at Ryde, though not with that success which attended her last season's performances. She was fairly beaten by The Arrow" (improved upon for the occasion), although it is but fair to add "the crack" did not seem to go quite so pleasantly as when handled by her own people. There is little doubt, though, but we may find many after a time to walk away from ber. Another variety of sport just about to begin promises to do so with every encouragement for its followers. Our friend Hawthorne's paper will show that the prospects of the grouse-shooter have seldom been better either for the number or growth of the birds. We cannot do better, however, than let this report speak for itself. THE FARMER'S FRIEND.-We are almost afraid the following was not made enough of during the late elections. It might have simplified matters materially, and brought Protectionist and Free-trader together on the best of terms. A man that hunts a country ought to represent it; no one can know it so well or do more for it. The Yorkshire Ga-. zette, from which we borrow the estimate, has, we trust, forwarded a copy to Mr. Cobden : "In Yorkshire there are ten packs of foxhounds, one pack of staghounds, and five or six of harriers, equal in all to 13 or 14 packs of foxhounds. Thirteen packs of foxhounds, of 50 couples each, or 1,800 hounds, consume annually 200 tons of oatmeal, at a cost of £2,600, besides the carcases of 2,000 dead horses, worth nothing if no hounds were kept. There are at least 1,000 hunting men in Yorkshire, keeping on an average four horses each; 4,000 will cost them £200,000 at £50 each, and their keep £50 per annum cach, making £200,000 more; 4,000 horses employ 2,000 men as grooms (generally the offspring of the labouring population), and consume annually 40,000 qrs. of oats, 2,000 qrs. of beaus, and 8,000 tons of hay and grass. Every tradesman is also benefited by hunting tailors, shoemakers, saddlers, blacksmiths, druggists, veterinary surgeons, &c. fox hunting were given up, where would the farmer find a market for the above produce, or for a well-bred horse of four or five years old? while the money circulated in the country by fox hunting would be spent in the metropolis or on the continent. Foxes are the farmer's best friends, and they ought to use every exertion to preserve them, and prevent them being stolen to be sent to where masters of hounds are unsportsmanlike enough to purchase them, no matter whence they come." Another provincial friend, the Gloucester Chronicle, gives us a new reading of shot at a pigeon and killed a crow: "As the coachman of J. W. Empson, Esq., of Ripple Hall, near Tewkesbury, was walking round the fishpool of that gentleman, with a gun in his hand, he heard a noise in the rushes, and thinking it was caused by rats, he fired in the direction from which the noise proceeded. On walking up to the spot to bag his game, he found that he had killed eleven very fine tench." PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS. "We belong to the unpopular family of Tell-truths, and would not flatter Apollo for his lyre." ROB ROY. The raging of a heat by many degrees exceeding the highest temperature of the clime where mosquitos sting and nabobs curse, has had a visible effect on all amusements save those of an al fresco class. Added to this, the premature close of the season, the elections, and incidental causes, may be said to have had considerable influence in diminishing the attendance at the various places of entertainment. With these unmistakeable shortenings it is not to be wondered at that the business of the season has been at many houses brought to a termination, and at others a speedy conclusion is about to be consummated. Foremost amongst the latter stands HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, the subscription having only three or four nights to run. It is true there will be an after-season at reduced prices, when the Sontag will contribute the brilliancy of her matchless genius. But how will the subscribers appreciate this rather late arrival? What with the present, and the promise of the future, the committee is determined to make the best use of a brief time. Not only has an engagement been made with Madame Charton-whose voice, by the way, is not of sufficient compass for so vast an area as that which now calls forth her vocal powers-but preparations are being made for the production of the Prince of Saxe Coburg's new opera, Casilda." Besides, there has been a charming addition to the ballet, in the shape of "La Bouquetiere," the chief repre sentatives being Guy Stephan, Louise Fleurry, Esper, Rosa, Lamoreux, and Allegrini, all of whom make the heart gay with their fascinating poses. As for the dresses and decorations, never has the eye been so pleased as with the exceeding taste displayed in all the accessories of the scene. 66 Enterprise also is being exhibited at THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, where the directors, in carrying out their praiseworthy determination to afford their subscribers as rich and varied entertainment as possible, are bent upon following up the great work of Spohr, by bringing forward Mons. Jullien's new opera in the course of a few nights. In addition to "Faust," with the agreeable presence of its composer, wielding the baton in all the glory which is ever associated with art, "Anna Bolena" has been given, boasting of the great powers of Grisi and Mario, which have also been exercised in the " Prophète,' "Les Huguenots," and "I Puritani," strongly exemplifying the zealous and indefatigable spirit which actuates the ruling powers of COVENT GArden. Whilst in most instances houses are being closed, there is an exception in the patent theatre, DRURY LANE having just been opened by Mr. Sheridan Smith, who comes forward to canvass public support for tragedy. This may appear impolitic at such a time, when the thermometer plainly points to the dissolving views that common humanity must, in the natural course of events, be favoured with. With it all, however, the theatre is ventilated, and, moreover, presents a cool appearance, which there is no denying is of itself alluring in these hissing-hot moments. Mr. Smith's principal actor is an importation from the United States, in the person of Mr. Buchanan, whose Hamlet, albeit it bears the impression of the performer's intelligence and artistic knowlege, is not Shakspeare's. The sudden fits and starts, the violent contrasts, the drawling elaboration, the twisting and turning of sentences, the conversion of words of three syllables into those of six, and in the same proportion, are not to be looked upon as the characteristics of genius, but rather as the too palpable results of the trickeries of art. That an actor should descend to the practices of a bad school, is to be deplored, especially as ample evidence is here afforded in the advice to the players that it does not proceed from sheer ignorance. The other characters were filled in an uneven manner some well sustained, and others indifferently. Amongst the former may be classed the Queen of Mrs. Ternan, the best personation of the night; and the Ophelia of Miss Huddart-who would, by the bye, confer great benefit by imparting a little of her gentleness to her brother Laertes, mistakingly represented by Mr. Belton. In other respects the tragedy may be said to be well placed on the stage, the scenery and general appointments being in proper taste and keeping. Of the out-door amusements, the HIPPODROME and CREMORNE GARDENS continue to derive the advantages resulting from propitious weather. The chariot races at the Hippodrome have received additional eclât, both as regards an accession of steeds and an impetus given by the fair charioteers, who, by their skill, courage, and general tactics, almost throw Phaeton into the shade. At Cremorne everything and everybody may be seen, and that is not a small declaration, but one which thousands who reach these gardens "by rail and by boat for fourpence" will readily and cheerily confirm. STATE OF THE ODDS, &c. SALE OF BLOOD STOCK By Messrs. Tattersall, at Hyde Park, on Monday, July 5. The following yearlings from the Royal Paddocks, Hampton Court: GS. Bay Colt by Orlando out of Distaffina, sister to Lady Evelyn (to Mr. Payne).. 270 225 Chesnut Yearling Colt by Sir Tatton Sykes, dam Miss Margrave, by Lanercost 150 Bay Colt by Alarm out of Monstrosity (Ugly Buck's dam), (into John Day's stable) 73 Bay Colt by Alarm, dam by The Colonel out of Mary Ann (John Day's stable) 51 Bay Filly by Alarm, dam (foaled in 1843) by Elis out of Antler's dam On Monday, July 12, by the same firm, the Honourable R. Watsons's yearlings, as under : Paris, brother to France (into T. Taylor's stable) ...... 20 GS. 310 67 160 On Monday, July 19, the following, the property of Lord Ribblesdale: Hardinge, by Sir Hercules out of Hester, by Camel, five years old GS. 97 31 25 His lordship has also sold Kingston to Mr. Morris for 2000 gs. On the same day, Monday, the 19th, Lord Clifden's yearlings, eleven in all, were offered, but only one, Glenstrae, by Touchstone out of Glenlui, parted with. He goes into the Danebury stable at 300 gs. On Monday, the 26th, the only attractive lot in the catalogue was the celebrated stud-horse Epirus, who was knocked down to Mr. Hall, of Neasdon, for 580 gs., the same gentleman who bought The Libel at the Willesden sale a few weeks back. During the Liverpool-race week the following roughish lots were sold by Messrs. Lucas :~ Le Belward, three years old Dairymaid, aged, with a filly foal by Brother to Riddlesworth Cusworth, two years old.. GS. 25 48 4 5 42 30 15 Ch. g. by The Lord Mayor. Ch. m. by The Provost And at Newmarket, on Tuesday, the 13th, by Messrs. Swan, of This last lot has been the subject of a very pretty action at Cambridge, involving the question of ownership, and reintroducing us to the affairs of Mr. Carew and his friend Mr. Ford, with Captain Little, Mr. Magenis, and others more or less interested in the proceedings. It is astonishing what a complicated business a gentleman may make of his winding-up. The Honourab'e Sidney Herbert is announced as another seceder from the turf; and his stud, including the stallion Sir Hercules, are on sale by private contract. Mr. Saxon's horses have left E. Parr's stable, and will now be trained by Abrahams, the jockey, somewhere in Delamere Forest. It will take a clever man to beat Mr. Parr's preparations. Strong efforts are being made to revive Redditch and Huntingdon Races, Colonel Peel being called on to rescue the latter. The Derby for 1854 has closed 226 nominations, and the Oaks with 159. For 1853 they reached respectively 200 and 146. At the annual general meeting of the Jockey Club, held on Wednesday in the July Meeting, Mr. Payne, now an honorary member, was appointed a member of the Bentinck Fund Committee in the place of the Duke of Richmond, who retires by rotation. The committee for the ensuing year consists of the Marquis of Exeter, the Hon. General Anson, and J. M. Stanley, Esq., stewards of the Jockey Club; the Earl of Eglinton, the Earl of Zetland, the Duke of Rut land, and George Payne, Esq. The formation of the Private Trial Course, at Newmarket, is now actively progressing, Mr. Simpson, the contractor, having upwards of eighty men at work on it. At the late York Assizes, Shepherd, the trainer, brought an action against Mr. Harrison for defamation of character. It may be remembered that in the spring of this year Mr. Harrison removed his horses -including the Derby colt, King of Trumps-from Shepherd's stable at a moment's notice. It further appears that on this occasion the defendant made use of very strong language, which, at the trial, he admitted he had no just grounds for uttering. The libel being so withdrawn, and Shepherd's character vindicated, a verdict was taken, by consent, for forty shillings. The action altogether went off in a far more reputable manner than many of our turf issues of late. With the mouth also closes the Goodwood week, and so makes a dead letter of the Cup and Stake betting. In fact, the ring, like true men of business, are becoming more and more inclined to take what is ready; and, with so many tempting trifles before them, it is no wonder they neglect the standing dishes "to follow." We don't know that we have a word more to say about the St. Leger than that it seems to rest entirely between the Epsom winners, with the mare for choice; while for the Derby of next year The Reiver of course heads the poll at something like 12 to 1 against him, Orestes at 15 to 1, Vanderdecken at 20 to 1, Cineas at 23 to 1, and the Friar at 33 to 1. Of course, the Goodwood running will ring the changes on this. |