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into my nag, I spun away for Mr. Newton's, thinking the devil himself must be in it if I had no better luck there. I had long determined on seeing this pack, which are otter hounds, a species of dog now almost extinct. Here I was more fortunate, and, on presenting myself at Millaton House, was immediately and most obligingly ushered to the kennel.

The pack was full in numbers, etitering to the field twenty couples. Mr. Newton told me he had kept hounds two-and-twenty years, consequently must have acquired great experience in breeding for this his favorite diversion. The origin of the blood is from His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, and another famous sportsman in that line of hunting, old John Haydon. I expected to have seen a deeper and a larger-bodied dog, and lower in the leg than I found; but from frequent crossings, they are rather finer and lighter in their frames than formerly, which their owner considers more desirable. They have the stamp in a general degree of the old bluemottled Sotheron; the heavy eye, deep-seated in the head, big, heavy, falling chaps, short wide noses, large pendant ears, with great bone and long bushy sterns, rather rough in their hair, and altogether quite a different mould from our modern fox-hound. They shewed the hard knocking they had been accustomed to most plainly, for many of them were sadly scarred. The otter is a tremendous pincher, and his pursuers so completely game, that the conflict is generally desperate. The country Mr. Newton hunts is perhaps one of the best for this game in England, having so many wellsheltered streams running through his neighbourhood, and over the desolate valleys of Dartmoor, where the harbouring is excellent. He told me he had slain twenty otters in a season, which may be considered good work: for though this animal does not travel so fast as the fox, yet he acts so craftily, and dodges so much in the water and on its borders, that it takes some time to finish him. It is wonderful

how far the otter will travel in the course of a night. Mr. Newton informed me he had trailed his game many miles inland ere he drove him from his couch. The scent is prodigiously strong, which causes the hounds to stick closely and eagerly to their prey. It is no uncommon thing for hounds to follow an otter merrily many hours after he has left his home: for being a slow-moving animal, the scent hangs very warmly, and, when bolted, he will frequently keep you at a fair canter, and, if pursued inland, will fight bravely, sticking to life with astonishing obstinacy, and never yielding it till he has well punished his adversary. These hounds are so thoroughly bred and trained to this warfare that they will often, when running a fox on the banks of a stream where the otter has been, leave reynard to his fate, and pursue the otter in defiance of all the cramming and scourging that can be administered.

There were many pretty puppies in kennel. Mr. N. told me, if good for anything, they at once take to their game on entering the lake; but if they hung fire, they were immediately drafted: he never waited to see what time would do-such half-and

half sort of animals not suiting him at all. I perceived three couple of regular looking rough terriers, small, and of the right stamp, which are a very necessary appendage to an otter pack. The season for hunting is from April to September; so that a pack that will draw on a fox affords amusement throughout the year.

Few dogs go through such hard and determined work as the otter hound; and from his constant immersions in the stream, in hot and cold blood, combined with his hard fighting, his life is necessarily shorter than that of any other dog. I was much gratified by a sight of this pack; and, had Mr. Newton been in better health, should have been delighted to have accompanied them to the river.

Before I quit the subject, allow me to inform one of your Correspondents of last month (WILL CARELESS), that he misunderstood what I said in a formerletter with respect to Mr. Newton's

hounds" having scoured the country the previous day." I must exonerate Mr. Newton from the remotest suspicion of being a man likely to trench on a neighbour's country; but confess, that in the hurry of writing, the term I used was a wrong one, and likely to convey such an idea. The fact, as I believe it, was, that Mr. Newton had brought his fox over the line of country in which we were; but, the scent being bad, the hounds hung in the coverts which we then drew, so that the varmint there must have been disturbed, and fled to other coverts, for we had abundant proofs that reynard was no stranger in the Hayne plantations.

I have said but little on the otter, considering I have already monopolised more than my share of your valuable pages; I shall therefore hold hard for the present, and forward you at some future time a distinct article on that animal, and its haunts.

My TOUR TO THE WEST COUNTREE is now finished. To me it has been most interesting, and I trust I may hope not completely devoid of interest to my readers: for though Devon and Cornwall cannot, as hunting countries,

SIR,

rank with the fashionable Leicestershire, they can boast of men, who, for bravery, bold riding, and high lineage, need not stoop to any. It will be thought my letters might have been shorter: true, they are something of the longest, but forgive me, for

"I must own,

If I have any fault, it is digression, Leaving my people to proceed alone, While I soliloquize beyond expression." I am indeed like a child, who cannot walk steadily on, but must for ever be flying off after some butterfly, or flower, or something which makes a halt both in the journey and the story.

I must now make many apologies to the Gentlemen whose naines I have taken liberties with, and return my warmest thanks to those who so hospitably received the stranger and sojourner in their land; assuring them that hospitality will ever be remembered with gratitude. I beg at the same time to inform all my friends I have arrived safe in town, have sent my horses to grass, mean to be a very steady man till next season, and remain in the mean time their obedient servant, GILBERT FORESTER,

HOLDERNESS HUNT RACES.

IT T is not owing to idleness that I so rarely give you the trouble of deciphering my scrawl, for I have, I assure you, been more than once tempted to inflict an epistle: but as often as I took my 66 grey goose quill" in hand, I distinctly heard a voice, "Hold hard, EBOR! See you not every department-the racing, hunting, shooting, anecdotary, steeple chase, and angling-pre-occupied by the able pens of OBSERVATOR, YOUNG FORESTER, GILBERT FORESTER, DEVONIAN, RINGWOOD, QUARTOGENA RIAN, JAVELIN, OULD DRAGOON, SLASHING HARRY, HALCYON, &c. &c.? Submissive to the warning I drew in my horns, hid my diminished head, and though strong in prose, in mercy spared. Now, however, that

* The York and Ainsty fox-hounds

the scarlet is doffed for the fisher's fustian, the percussion-gun consigned to its case, the hunter to his paddock, and the pointer to his summer's walk, these Leviathans of sporting literature will, I fear, be less punctual in their correspondence, and leave ample space for the minnows to sport. After this apology for bestowing my tediousness on your readers, I dash at once in medias res.

"Confound this stifling dust and sweltering sun! no more field-music from our Ainsty orchestra *!" was the breakfast salutation of an old friend with whom I had been staying in the neighbourhood of York. My only response was, "I am off to-morrow to cannie Carlisle to whip the trout streams.". "Pooh! 'let that have had splendid sport this season.

flee stick to the wa!' come with me to Beverley, and see Billy R-win the Gold Cup at the Holderness Hunt Races." Far too good-natured to negative a proposal that chimed in with my own inclinations, I found myself on the 5th of April at Beverley Race Course gazing at the Farmers' nags as they came in for the Trial Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 10 added by the Hunt-two milesweight for age.

Mr. Witty's b. m. Circe, by St. Patrick, 4 yrs, 11st. 4lb.

Mr. Smith's gr. m. Brenda, by Minos, aged, 12st. 7ib.....

Mr. Lee's b. m. Cuyp, Sister to Roué, by Reveller......

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Two others not placed. Six to 4 agst Brenda, 3 to 1 agst Cuyp, and 7 to 2 agst Circe. Won by a neck—the pace fairish. The winner a pretty mare for a light weight; but as a hunter give me the grey.

The second prize was the Gold Cup, value 150 sovs. by a subscription of 10 sovs. each, for horses not thorough bred that had been regularly hunted with any fox-hounds in Yorkshire. No horse in or from a trainer's stable, or that has been ridden to hounds by a servant, to be allowed to start. To be ridden by gentlemen, Members of the Holderness Hunt-once round

and a distance-about a mile and a half-weight for age.

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Mr. H. Hudson's br. h. Forester, by
Spectre, aged, 12st. (Mr. Jackson)
Mr. G. Thompson's b. m. Prosody, by
Dr. Syntax, aged, 12st. (Owner)...... 2
Mr. Maxwell's b. g. Clarion, by The
Main, 5 yrs, list. 61b. (Captain Wil-
liams)...

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Mr. Bell's b. g. Roseberry, by MacOrville, aged; Mr. Maxwell's br. g. Ringerly; and Mr. Ramsden's b. h. Nautilus, by Wanderer out of a Sister to St. Leger, 4 yrs, not placed. Nautilus, owing to his blood (about nineteen-twentieths thorough-bred), and the confident declarations of his

owner that the Cup was in his pocket,

had been for some time first favorite. The moment, however, he cantered up the course, I felt convinced that he could never win: in fact, a more wooden goer I never cast eyes on. Small hopes for the West Riding,

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eh!" was my immediate exclamation to my York friend. A shrug of the shoulders, with something between a smile and a sigh, was his answer. Bets, 13 to 8 agst Prosody, 2 to 1 agst Forester, 7 to 2 agst Nautilus, 4 to 1 agst Roseberry, and 7 to 1 agst Clarion. Forester led at a tremendous pace, was never headed, and won very easy by three lengths. Prosody made a desperate rush at the distance-post, but Forester would never let her come up; she was about twenty yards before Clarion. Nautilus was last. Roseberry, a very pretty horse, belonging to Mr. Bell of Thirsk, was much fancied by the North Riding party; the hill, however, and 12st. were too much for him. The winner is a large powerful horse, giving evident tokens

of the cocktail in his build. Mr. Hudson, I was informed, refused 400gs. for him last year, after winning the two Gold Cups at these IIunt Racesa long price for a cocktail with only ought to have brought out a better speone sound eye! By the bye, 150 sovs. cimen of London plate than this Cup, which appeared a heavy ugly concern, fitter to hold XX than to brim over with the sparkling juice of Bordeaux.

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The third race- the Hunters' Trial, seven sovs. each, 14st.-once round-eight subs.-brought out four powerful nags.

Mr. H. Hudson's br. h. Pluto (Captain Davidson)..

Mr. E. Smith's ch. h. Cruiser, by Comus (Owner)

Mr. Dyson's br. h. Prometheus, by President.

Mr. F. Worsley's br. h. by Young Filho (Owner)

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Pluto, a large vicious horse, won by above a length. There was about a head between Cruiser and Prometheus; and Mr. Worsley was only three parts of a length in the rear:and 3 to 1 agst Mr. Worsley's. 6 to 4 agst Cruiser, 7 to 4 agst Pluto,

The last race for the day was The
Convivial, of seven sovs. 11st. 7lb.
each-once round-eight subs.
Capt. Williams's ch. h. Sangrado, by
Ardrossan (Owner).

Mr. Darley's ch. h. (Owner)
Mr. Wainmain's Bonby, by Bellero-
phon (Mr. Renard)

Mr. G. Thompson's ch. h. Dog Bob
(Owner)

Sangrado, an old acquaintance of mine at Heaton Park (if I mistake not), won in a canter. Bets, 7 to 4 on him.

After the races we adjourned to the ordinary, where a capital dinner, turtle, salmon, and turbot, &c. with excellent wine, cheered the inner man, and primed us for the ball. The Assembly Room, a handsome oblong apartment, was crowded when we entered, and my optics were dazzled with a blaze of beauty, far out-shining any I ever witnessed in a provincial town. At half-past twelve the supper room was thrown open: in a few minutes the waiters found their post no sinecure: the long corks were flying in all directions; and we returned with redoubled vigour to frisk it on the light fantastic toe till three o'clock, when, in prudent consideration to the fatigues of the morrow, we broke up, wishing

To all and each a fair good night, And rosy dreams, and slumbers light. My blood, I own, was too fevered for the blessings of this last line.

On Friday, as I cantered up the race-course, the scene was even more animated than on the previous dayvehicles of every description, from the patrician barouche to the humble tax cart; equestrians" thick as the leaves in Vallambrosa;" opposite to the stand a line of booths belonging to the different publicans of Beverley, shewing ample store of viands and cordials for the natives." But why describe what every one of your readers has no doubt seen a hundred times—that truly national spectacle, an English race-course? Suffice it to say, that all wore a gay and joyous look, as the course was cleared for the Holderness Stakes of five sovs. for horses not thorough-bred, weight for age-two miles-ten subs.

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agst Middletonian, 7 to 1 agst Presody, 4 to 1 agst Clarion, 5 to 1 agst Circe, and 8 to 1 agst Mr. Dyson. Won very easily.-Prosody, a mere pony in appearance, is extremely fast, and very strong, or she could never have struggled through with 12st. 3lb. on her back. Her owner seemed a general favorite, if I may judge from the cheering as he passed the winning post, which lasted several minutes.

The Swelter Cup, value 120 sovs. by 12 subscribers, for horses regularly hunted with the Holderness, Sir T. Sykes, or Mr. Hill's fox-hounds, and bona fide property of the subscribers three months before starting, 11st. each-once round.-Winner to be sold for 300 if claimed, &c.

Mr. Hudson's br. h. Forester by Spectre
(Capt. Davidson)...

Mr. R. Bower's b. h. Ferdinand, by
Cervantes (Sir T. Sykes)

Mr. G. Thompson's ch. h. The Farrier,
by Bellerophon (Owner)

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Mr. Maxwell's br. h. Dr. Russell, by Sir Christopher; gr. h. Lycastes, by Minos; and another, not placed. Bets, 7 to 4 on Forester, 3 to 1 agst Ferdinand, 5 to 1 agst Lycastes, 5 to 1 agst Dr. Russell.-Forester, as before, led a strong pace, till ascending the hill, where Dr. Russell challenged him, and run well up for about two hundred yards, but soon fell off again. Capt. Davidson then made sure of winning, and was letting Ferdinand creep up, till warned by the shouts of some one near the ropes: he immediately shot away again, was never collared, and won easy by nearly two lengths. Some fancy that Sir Tatton threw away the race by not pressing forward earlier, since his horse was thorough-bred, with amazing power, and Forester is well known to dislike being headed. Here, perhaps, a chance was lost: and as the Baronet rode Ferdinand for this Cup last year in the same style, a waiting race, and pulling hard all the way, and was beat cleverly by Forester then, it would have been better policy to have changed his tactics. Still I think Forester could have given him 5lb. and won, as Captain D. had the race evidently in hand all the way. The Farrier, a tall, bony chesnut, had

been hunted hard to the end of the season, as his owner never expected to win with him, and was very thin: he nevertheless ran up a good third to Ferdinand: the others were a long way behind. Lycastes, second last year at Malton for the Welham Cup (to Ainderby, one of the best cocktails in England), has great speed, but is a roarer; of course fourteen stone and the hill gruelled him, and sent him in last. Poor old Dr. Russell, once a capital horse as ever was saddled for a half-bred Stake, looked terribly shattered. He is now eleven years old, and has done an immensity of work. After beating a field of twelve at his debut at the H. Hunt in 1827, he was sold on the spot for 200 guineas. On his next appearance, in 1829, he won both his races: in 1830 he won the light weight Gold Cup, and next day ran an excellent horse for the Swelter, although third, not being beat above three parts of a length. Last year he was second to Forester for the light Cup, and third next day for the Swelter Cup. Mr. Maxwell (a fifteen stone and half weight in his pumps) has ridden him very hard to the Holderness hounds during the last five seasons, and of course his sun is now set: and yet 'faith 'tis pity such a trump should ever fail! Mr. Bower claimed Forester, but let Mr. Hudson have him back, and has matched Ferdinand against him, I believe, for the Malton Races. If all right, Forester must beat him. I had rather see Tommy Tickle meet the Son of Spectre. Meltonians may smile at the notion of a provincial beating the far-famed Billesdon Coplow horse. All I say is, look to his past running. As a fiveyear-old, in 1830, he was beat half a head for the Holderness Swelter Cup by Laurestinus, an aged thoroughbred-Dr. Russell third: Prosody by Prime Minister (a noted racer), Lucifer (another thorough-bred) by Minos, and several others, nowhere. This must be owned a great perfermance for a five-year-old cocktail, at even weights (14st.), against aged racers. Last year he won both the

Gold Cups at the Holderness Hunt: ditto, this year. In his only other race, when beat at the Beverley June Races by Roué and little Prosody, he was notoriously amiss. To crown all, he is as good a hunter as a heavy weight need desire to lay leg across. But hark back to the course for the Hunters' Handicap, once round: Mr. F. Worsley's br. h. by Young Filho, 13st. 71b. (Owner). Mr. E. Smith'sch. h. Cruiser, by Comus, 13st. 121b. (Owner)... Mr. Dyson's br. h. Prometheus, by President, 13st. 111b.......................

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Mr. Darley's ch. h. 11st. 9lb. Mr. Thompson's ch. Dog Bob, Ilst.3lb.. 3 Bonby drawn: six to 4 on the winner-very easy indeed-no allowance could have brought them together.

The last race was the Silver Punch Bowl, value 25 sovs., with 25 in specie given by the Hunt for halfbred nags bona fide the property of farmers resident in the H. Hunt-to be ridden by farmers or members of the H. H.: to pay one sov. entrance. The horses to start for this must have run the first day in the Farmers' Trial, and are handicapped that night a good plan, as ensuring an additional

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