I. VIGNETTE TITLE PAGE-THE HIPPODROME.II. WILD DUCKS. WILD DUCKS. Engraved by I. WESTLEY from a Picture by COLLIN, THE Wild Duck has been so often described in our pages, and is besides so generally known both to the Sportsman and the gourmand, that it is unnecessary further to particularise its habits, weight, or plumage. Wild Ducks inhabit Europe, Asia, and America, in summer frequenting the lakes and marshes of the North, and in autumn migrating southward in large bodies, and spreading themselves over the lakes and marshes of more temperate latitudes. Considerable numbers return northward in spring, but many straggling pairs, as well as former colonists, stay in this country to rear their young, which become natives, and remain throughout the year in the marshy tracts of the British Isles. Large flocks visit Egypt in November after the overflowing of the Nile. In an opposite direction of the globe, the VOL. XVI.-SECOND SERIES.-No. 96. 3 E lakes in the Orkneys form one of their great resorts in winter; and when the lakes happen to be frozen, they betake themselves to the shores of the islands. In these districts they may be seen in great multitudes, and on the report of a gun they rise like clouds. They are also known to abound in the lake of Zirknitz in Carniola, where they are often swallowed entire by the huge snakes which frequent that remarkable piece of water. In England, they abound most in the fens of Lincolnshire, where prodigious numbers are annually taken in the decoys. Particular spots in the fens are let to the fowlers at a rent from £5 to £30 a-year; and Pennant mentions a season in which 31,200 birds were captured in ten stations near Wainfleet; adding, that "the numbers taken in the decoys make them so cheap on the spot, that the decoy-men would be glad to contract to deliver the ducks at Boston for years at 10d. the couple."--When the rail-roads come into full operation, Londoners may expect to partake of this luxury of the table at a moderate outlay, instead of the exorbitant charge now made by the metropolitan poulterers. THE TURF. 66 WELCOME as the opening of the Racing Season is upon each of its returning anniversaries, after a winter more than commonly adverse to the cause of Rural Sports its advent is peculiarly grateful. Slowly but steadily progressing, the Turf was never in a condition more full of promise than we now find it. Everywhere something is being done to forward its interests: either new Meetings are springing up, or the old ones are remodelled and improved. In another place some observations are offered upon the recent changes in the Leger. The alteration of the Derby Day from Thursday to Wednesday is a very judicious one: many now will attend both the great races, that were either not disposed to encounter two consecutive days of exertion and fatigue, or prevented by other causes from being able to devote so much undivided time to their pleasures. Epsom will, no doubt, benefit by the new arrangement, and infinitely more would its inhabitants be profited sua si bona norint:" the feud between the Committee and the Lord of the Manor seems destined to exist as long as Banstead Downs shall endure. The preliminaries of the Ascot Meeting are settled, not without grumblings on the part of the sutlers. A year or two ago a purveyor of gingerbread nuts pointed out to me the spot of earth which he rented on account of his merchandise at a sum for the four days that would have been no bargain for the fee-simple: if the recent lettings have been upon the like scale, really I don't see how we are to feel much surprise at the discontent. Your lolly-pop dealer has a rent to pay, as well as being expected to give his customers something having the appearance of sugar-plums; whereas the thimble-man is utterly exempted of all charges, notwithstanding the extent required of him is to satisfy such as lay out their money at his counter as to where the pea is not. But while I look at what is being done with reference to the season upon which we have just entered at a distance, I must by no means pass without notice that which is at our doors. Last year, as much 기 within reach of the inhabitants of London as Hyde Park, was opened the most complete Racing Establishment in Europe. With every appliance necessary for perfection, the Hippodrome, however, in its first season was subject to many drawbacks. The present year will, I trust, see it protected by legislative enactment against a very unworthy local opposition. That and a judicious direction are alone required to ensure for it a career of success due to its promoter, and equally to be desired by the public, so mainly profited by such a place of resort. As this establishment is the only one extant of its kind, it is purely experimental, and, costly and tasteful as it is, it would be a cruel sacrifice to permit it to be jeopardied by any oversight in the management of its details. As far as one of the objects for which it was designed is concerned, viewing it as a resort for those who desire to practise the different kinds of equestrian exercises, the conduct of it may be committed to the usual description of servants, under the superintendence of those who will enforce civility and attention: but the racing department will require far more than this, if it be desired to place it upon a footing with the first-class courses. Not only must the materiel offered be attractive, but the manner of its regulation unexceptionable. "Non satis est pulchra esse poemata, dulcia sunto." As Horace counselled the Poet, even so do I advise Mr. Whyte, your care be to harmonise your numbers." "let I had but one opportunity of witnessing the racing at the Hippodrome, and I am forced in candour to say it exhibited a system, or rather the absence of one, that could ensure nothing but a failure. Much was said of the want of horses, but the cause was not understood. The fact is, I had felt from the first a strong interest in the welfare of the speculation, and lost no opportunity of canvassing for its success. I soon found that there would be difficulties thrown in the way of such as might wish to send their horses, because all the leading jockeys had refused to ride there. My opinion had been asked by many of them, and after what I had seen on the 19th of July, the third Meeting, it was not competent to me to give such an account as might serve it. Mr. Whyte has been very liberal, and his spirited conduct will have its reward, if he only use the discretion so essential to such an undertaking. There is a set by no means interested in any change that may turn his bounty from the channel intended for it: it would make a nice little annuity, to be drawn without more than a pleasant morning's ride. I trust the season upon which we have entered has better things in store: he has my best wishes, and shall have my cordial assistance in the quarters most likely to promote his object. With the commencement of legitimate racing will end the career of its spurious scion, the Steeple Chase, a consummation devoutly to be wished. More destruction has been done upon the horse since its popularity in this country than, previous to its introduction, the annals of all our Rural Sports put together could furnish examples of. It is a revived sample of the cruelty of an age far behind the present in refinement, and certainly little accordant with the spirit of the era in which it has re-appeared. The Prize Ring has ceased to be a gentleman's pursuit. I trust the Steeple Chase will speedily be subjected to a similar abandonment. During the winter many reports of retirement from the Turf have been in circulation. It has been said for some time, without contradic-, tion, that Lord George Bentinck and Mr. Greville are about to leave it, the former at the conclusion of the season, the latter immediately. Lord Suffield and Mr. Bond are also named among those who are about to give up their studs. As the Noble Lord has five nominations in next year's Derby it seems unlikely. Mr. Bond has not one for either Derby or Oaks, although for the former race in the present year he has nine, and eight for the latter. All, however, is not to be placed to the account of loss. The Duke of Richmond has been making large and promising additions to his racing establishment, which will, from what I learn, be the first upon our Turf in another year. So it ought to be: no man has such racing pretention as the founder of such a Meeting as Goodwood: he has deserved success, I trust he may attain it. A glance at the subscriptions to the Great Stakes reveals here and there a new name-new at least to the Turf, with enough of sporting fame attached to warrant the belief that what is given under such hands will be well performed. Thus in the Derby for 1839 there are two nominations prefaced Thomas Assheton Smith*, and one in the Oaks, and, as the burden of the ballad says, "there's no mistake in that." Mr. Bowes begins to shew with a strength worthy his name-one subscription for the coming Derby-five for 1839. It is this accession of small studs, and the steady progression of such as have been long established, that sufficiently demonstrates the popularity of the Turf. The Duke of Grafton, Lord Lichfield, Lord Chesterfield +, Lord Albemarle, Mr. Thornhill, Mr. Walker, Lord Westminster, and that class of Racing patronage, all looks well for the time to come. While all is so full of promise in the stable department, I hope efforts may not be wanting to regulate other and most essential details upon an equally satisfactory principle. Foremost among the needful stands the exchequer. The Racing World is Colonel Peel's debtor for the line he adopted in the affair of the Somersetshire Stakes at Bath. If in all similar cases a like course was pursued, we should have a much more healthy system of finance pervading the Provincial Meetings. It would be as well it were made public what has been done with John Day touching the last Brighton Stakes, or rather the £200 added by the Town-subauditur "to be." Next in importance, indeed equal with it, is the despotic power vested in the Stewards by the articles common to all country races. I will never cease to raise my voice against this most inconvenient absurd system till it is reformed altogether. Very frequently gentlemen selected to fill those offices, from circumstances of local influence or station, are entirely ignorant of the usages of the Turf: occasionally they have a smattering which is still worse: "A little learning is a dangerous thing." I have seen so many decisions, grossly, indecently unjust, that I must be excused speaking strongly whenever I allude to this matter. Not to individualise, I will thus put it generally. As often as a dispute arising out of the rules of racing shall occur, let parties complaining state their wish that a reference may be had to the opinion of the Jockey Club. That reference can only be submitted *Mr. Assheton Smith has also two nominations in the approaching Derby. It is reported since the above was written, that Lord Chesterfield is about to give up the Turf, succeeding Mr. Payne in the Pytchley country, and having purchased Mr. Errington's hounds. |