66

Wednesday, big with the fate of columns of prophecy, besides matter more sterling, dawned auspiciously-albeit the night, at the Roomshad set suspiciously some half dozen hours before. Of course, this reference is to business. If any one has any concern about the occasion in a holiday character, it is as well to say at once that, soon after noon, down came as pitiless a pelting as ever inaugurated Chiswick Flower Show. The early forenoon of course drew the cognoscenti to the exercise ground. The influence of this visit was to fright the backers of Songtress from their propriety of demeanour, and back she went in the betting. Some said-indeed swore, that she had a leg"; and the general impression was that her chance, if ever she had one, was "out." So, as aforesaid, down she tumbled in the odds. Whether as the genial consequence of breakfast, or some more potent spell, before noon up she rushed to the head of the poll, or at all events to a dead heat for the premiership with Stockwell; and thus it was when the move was made for the scene of action. That the style of northern stable diplomacy may be distinctly understood, it is proper to state that at this moment, as little had transpired as to how the Whitewall policy would be "mounted," there, on the threshold of the issue, as "when Nutwith won the Leger in the year of -," &c., &c.

In melancholy mood, the myriads about this time-that is to say, at mid-day-took their departure from the town. Those who patronized the Grand Stand-if they had the best of it in respect of their outward tabernacles--fared infinitely worse in the item of atmosphere. It was a dreadful place, that's a fact; and when you come to pack dry people and clean people with damp people and dirty people, as compactly as herrings are stowed away in barrels, such a result comes within a sufficiently obvious natural rule. Upon a principle which prescribes olives as antecedents to wine, probably, the sports opened with a Match between a brace of two-year-olds, wherein one carried 22lbs. less than the other, and was beaten in a canter. It's a painful duty to report that the loser belonged to-Lord Glasgow. And now came the tug of war-the last convulsive throes of the odds. What though the rain rained, and the mud multiplied exceedingly, even as the feet of the restless masses by whom it was kneaded, little were they heeded. These wanted to get on-those to get off-all to do something speculation had got St. Vitus's dance. It is cruel to keep you in suspense as to the marshalling of the gallant array. As the story-books of our babyhood used to introduce their pictures (how much the most interesting portion of their contents!), "see, here it is":

THE ST. LEGER STAKES of 25 sovs. each, for three-year-olds; colts 8st. 7lb., fillies 8st. 2lb. ; the second to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes; the winner to pay 100 sovs. towards the expenses, 25 for the judge, and 25 for the starter; St. Leger Course; 116 subs.

.......Norman 1

Lord Exeter's ch. c. Stockwell, by The Baron Duke of Richmond's br. c. Harbinger, by Touchstone......Flatman 2 Mr. Bowes's ch. c. Daniel O'Rourke, by Irish Birdcatcher..F. Butler 3 Mr. Pedley's b. or br. f. Trousseau, by Gameboy........Templeman 4 Mr. J. Scott's b. f. Songstress, by Irish Birdcatcher .......A. Day 5 Mr. Duncombe's ch. c. Alfred the Great, by Orlando ......Basham 6 Betting: 7 to 4 agst. Stockwell, 5 to 2 agst. Daniel O'Rourke, 3 to 1 agst. Songstress, 7 to 1 agst. Harbinger, and 10 to 1 agst. Trousseau.

So you see the murder is out..." Butler rides Daniel; the mare ain't meant."...Thus deduced Down-i'-the mouth; thus moralized the many,

O! it was sad times for York.

"in the hole." Some said that Songstress was sold: some swore that they-themselves-were sold: and that there was nothing like it in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Then ensued the cruel prologue, the preliminary canter. Fond fools! how they argued against their convictions! how they hoped against their hope! That Songstress was as "safe as a sausage,' was admitted nem. con., but "the lot" was "all right." There were thousands upon that ground who had backed the winner of the Oaks to win "T'Leger," at 6 to 4! Half-a-dozen with jockeys on their backs are not difficult to get off. The start was as good as it could be, and little else remains to tell. As to what led over the hill, what matter? all was sufferance, Alfred the Great being permitted to lead as far as it was convenient. Down the fall from the mile-post the pace was certainly good-very good, they said. Well, here Harbinger is at Alfred's the horse's-heels, with Stockwell "handy," and the others toiling in the rear. The sweep round the Red House turn disposed of Alfred, and it looked like a race between Harbinger and Stockwell. But that illusion was soon over, Lord Exeter's colt coming clean away, striding home by himself, and winning as he pleased by half-a-dozen lengths. Songstress was beaten off-last, it will be seen, but one-and "boots" had no "bellows" to finish with. It was a cheering thing, the acclaim that greeted the triumph of prisca fides. Lord Exeter has ever stood foremost among the worthies of the English turf since he shed honour upon it by his countenance. It is such men that preserve for it still a share of popular patronage and esteem: I mean such patronage and approval as do it credit, and it is to such that it may still look for deliverance from the dangers that beset it. He has accepted the stewardship of these races, vacant by the expiration of Lord Derby's term of service: it is a good omen for Doncaster....

The evaporation of such excitement leaves all that follows-at least, for a space as flavourless as Byron's "last glass of champagne," the dregs of the flask. Let us grace our recapitulation of the day's details by their brevity. To the St. Leger succeeded The Municipal Stakes of 200 sovereigns each, half forfeit, for two-year-olds. There were eight nominations, and half of them went; albeit they laid 5 to 4 that one won, and that one Hannibal. They were right this time, and Frank Butler did ride the winner. The Queen's Plate, with seven competitors, Cariboo, with 5 to 2 on him, "won in a canter by six lengths." What an afternoon of canters ! "When sorrows come, they come not single spies." The Doncaster Plate, Truth, with 2 to 1 against her, won in a team of eleven; Lambton, with 7 to 4 on him, did the same by the closing event, a Sweepstakes of 10 sovereigns each, for two and threeyear-olds, eight runners-and so ended an anniversary not to be noted with a white stone, in the calendars of the fielders.

After a storm comes a calm," is one of those ancient saws whose logic succumbs before modern experience. Thursday, for instance, did not wear so halcyon an appearance at the Rooms as the roar and turmoil of its predecessor might lead one to expect, upon the authority of the proverb. The disciples of the Whitewall faith were more than disconsolate; they lifted up their voices and-made a shindy. If it did them any good it would be cruel to begrudge them so innocuous a revenge. The "settling," on the whole, was quiet and satisfactory-so

say the organs of the ring-and their record, of course, is true. The list was moderately good, consisting of five races and a walk over, no one fancying to meet Stockwell for the Foal Stakes. For the opening Handicap eight raced, Charity, the favourite, winning in a canter. Mr. Merry's Valour found favour at the commencement of business at 2 to 1, and receded in popular esteem before it finished to 100 to 1. The name of the lad who rode her was Knott, and why not? The Scarborough Stakes was run a match between Allegro and Phantom-2 to 1 on the former, who won as he pleased. The Eglinton Stakes was the feature of the card. Of the entries-48 in amount-nine came to the post; 2 to 1 against Exact, 9 to 4 Pelion, 5 to 2 Vindex, 6 to 1 Stilton, and 10 to 1 Longbow. Vindex carried 7st. 7lbs., 11lbs. over the weight without penalty for winning. Moreover he made mischief before he would settle to his task, and lots of time, to say nothing of a slice of chance, was lost. The start was not a good one. One of the earliest hors de combat was the favourite; the finish, between Pelion and Longbow, was a brilliant bit, the former just beating the "roarer by a head; Exact was an indifferent third; Vindex was "nowhere." The Cleveland Handicap came off a quartet, Brawn being backed against the other three. The winner, cleverly, was Evadne. A Sweepstakes, 10 sovereigns each, for two-year-olds, was the last event in the list. Eight went, with 5 to 4 on The Queen. After a bad start, Lambton won in a canter by two lengths.

"The end crowns all"-a good old hopeful saying, and, on the occasion to which we would here apply it, an eminently true one. The last was by many degrees the best day of the four. The attendance was befitting the object of the rendezvous, and the racing had a good deal of the ancient legitimate character. The appointment-as usual on the final day, here and elsewhere--was for an early hour, the sport opening with the Park Hill Stakes, called among the profession the Northern Oaks. This three-year-old filly race had twenty-four nominations, and a quartet at the post. Of these they laid 6 to 4 on Bird on the Wing, 3 to 1 against Hirsuta, and 7 to 2 Sally; and the running followed suit, for the favourite took the lead, kept it, and won in a canter. The Don Stakes-also for three-year-olds-with five subscriptions, was run a match between Hobbie Noble-ill-omened courser!-with 6 to 4 on him also, and Harbinger. It was a race, the favourite having waited to the Stand, where he made his effort, and passed the chair a neck in advance of his adversary. The Nursery Plate, for two-year-olds, mustered one-and-twenty runners. The betting ranged over the moiety of the lot, beginning at 6 and finishing with 10 to 1. Corybantes, one of the 6 to 1 division, was an easy winner. The next event was the Doncaster Cup. A field of a sound sporting sort was telegraphed, at the subjoined prices :-Kingston, 5 to 4 against him; ditto Teddington. 6 to 4; and 10 to 1 apiece about Caracara, Newminster, and Truth. One of Mr. Morris's pair, Hungerford, set away with the running for the other, Kingston; at least, so it was said. And thus it is the fashion to reason-or, more properly to speak-to deduce; but by what hypothesis I am not capable of explaining. The office of a jockey should seem to be to win the race he is engaged in, the most logical means towards such an end being to get his horse over the distance to be done in the shortest time possible. This one animal will do by saving him

in the first half of the way, and “ rushing" him the rest; another requires "to be made use of" all through: one goes easiest behind his horses; another requires that they should be clattering at his heels. to make him give his speed. But theories must wear themselves out: the next generation will have its own hobby. Well, be that as it may, all this time Hungerford is going a "buster." leading them round the Leger starting post turn, and up the hill, wild-geese ways. Down the mile post fall they took closer order, and at the Red House the two "cracks" began to creep to the front. At the distance they were tied together, and stride for stride they passed the Stand and the chair, Kingston winning by a neck. It was a brilliant finish, for Kingston and Teddington can gallop, and Marson and Flatman can ride. From the start to the ultimate point Nancy brought up the rear. Had the Cup winner been in the St. Leger, it would have been an accountable anniversary of that great stake. Two or three rows having cleared the social atmosphere, the Doncaster Stakes were mounted. The nominations were eighty, the runners were—two. These were Longbow (3 to 1 on him) and Alfred the Great. Won, in a waiting race, by the favourite, in a canter. Lerrywheat won the Town Plate, easily...........And thus the curtain descends. With facilities of access multiplied almost beyond calculation, with a positive raging mania for racing, as at present understood and practised, it needs no adventitious aids of description to convey the conditions of the antique popular Yorkshire tryst. It was head quarters, locally and phrenologically, for the sporting circles of the United Kingdom-Bull and Pat, Sawney and Taffy. How it fares with the Olympic spirit in our own great metropolis is journalized daily in the reports of the civil and criminal tribunals. With such appliances and means, behold the climax of fair Doncaster during her revels of 1852. Study her status about the hour of midnight at the Rooms. Look upon this picture it is no counterfeit presentment, but the identity, as he lives, of "a finished gentleman from top to toe"that is, a peer of the British realm. Now look upon this:" a true type of the Macaire school-the proper apotheosis of a rascal: that is a member of the British ring. "Arcades ambo:" they take counsel together they canvass the merits of men and horses. My lord knows what won't go to Newmarket: he lays a "monkey" against it with the leg. He pencils the odds; he clasps his little golden-cyphered volume; and, turning on his heel, whispers a baronet of the Conqueror's series"What a horrid villain that is that I have been betting with about the Cesarewitch!" So runs the world away. Fellows of infinite wit assure you that "it's all right." They tell you that the turf always was queer, from the time of the-never mind the exact epoch-and that it will always be so. There certainly is no sign of a change-at these presents.

66

The latter portion of September was embarrassed with a mighty multitude of meetings, to which it would be impossible to make even the most epitomised reference here. I therefore crave leave to grace my conclusion with a Times' leader of that date. It shall be its own advocate and mine: I quote it, as a witness whose testimony none may dispute; and to its evidence I submit the cause which I have so long and so earnestly pleaded in these columns.......

"At the Middlesex Sessions this week THOMAS SCOTT, a gentleman's

butler, was indicted for robbing his master, Mr. MATTHEW FORSTER, of plate to the value of £200 and upwards. To this charge he pleaded GUILTY,' alleging that horse-racing and betting-houses had brought him to the dock: that he had been sometimes worth £1,000 and sometimes not a penny; and that if he had had a few days he could have set himself right again. His master deposed that the prisoner had lived in his service fifteen or sixteen years, with a good character; and besought the indulgence of the Court for him, not only on this ground, but 'because he thought that until those nurseries of crime and dens of vice, the betting-houses, were put down, we were not justified in acting harshly to their unfortunate victims.' Mr. WITHAM considered that this was no excuse,' and that everyone who went to a betting-house ought to be ashamed of himself.' However, in deference to the prosecutor's recommendation, he looked leniently on the matter, and recorded 'twelve months with hard labour,' as the sentence of the Court. Without discriminating very rigorously between the several principles here exemplified, we can close at once with one of Mr. Forster's observations, that these betting-houses ought to be put down.'

6

"To the summary action, indeed, of the legislature in this respect, we can only conceive one honest objection, and that is, that it is unwise to interfere with private dealings, and unjust to circumscribe the poorer classes in a license which is permitted to their superiors. Noblemen and gentlemen go to Newmarket and Doncaster, enjoy the spectacle, stake their money, and satisfy their cravings for excitement or gain. Poorer men cannot leave their work or their abodes; but if they can snatch a little pleasure from a practice which brings the amusement to their own doors, why should they not do so? Perhaps they sometimes get into difficulties in consequence, and when a man is in difficulties he is driven to hard thoughts to get out of them: but gentlemen run just the same risks, and we do not hear of Epsom or Ascot being put down because some 'well-known character' has come to a shocking end. This we take to be about all that any honest person would have to say for the system of betting-houses.

"As all such argument is based on the assumed interests of the poorer classes themselves, we can very quickly dispose of it. It is simply preposterous to describe as beneficial to any class of people a system which this very class charges with bringing them to ruin. That betting-houses have undermined the probity, and ruined the prospects of hundreds of persons in places of trust, we learn from their own mouths. The complaint did not originally proceed from proprietors: it was put on record week after week by some wretched victim of the system. No person objected to betting-houses till their results became manifest in the police-courts. A practice, which notoriously and by confession seduces into crime those who have been proof against all other temptations of their position, must necessarily stand condemned by its own effects. What do these advocates of the classes poorer when a master leaves valuable property in the way of a servant, and thus puts sin within his reach? They say that the master is the true culprit, for that the servant has been deprived of the protection against temptation, to which he was fully entitled. To what protection, then, is he entitled in the case before us? And how can those who thus argue maintain the defensibility of establishments, in which temptation is

say