object of my former communication was to speak justly; my present, to refute unfounded arguments: but I can assure Mr. Wilkinson, that I have more gratification in giving praise than

censure; and I shall be most happy, on some future occasion, to reverse the position he has obliged me to take.

A Member of the Burton Hunt, Lew Down, Oct. 15, 1831.

Arrived here, Mr. Editor, as I gave you reason to expect, on the Saturday, two days previously to the races, in order to see the horses, the lions, and new aspirants to turf honours. Among the former I found an increase of numbers, generally in good health, and as good-looking, I should think, as horses ever were in any age or nation, and can now do as much for any purpose they were wisely intended as they ever could; so much so, as still to excite our wonder and admiration. The great lion, the turf-so well begun and continued for years by Lord Lowther, and finished by the Duke of Richmond-is quite perfect, if we except a small ridge or hill running across the course by the Bushes. This ought to be removed, as it often enables a horse to win by accident instead of merit, so much depending on how he meets or leaves it in his stride. Besides, the sensation to jockeys must be very often particularly disagreeeable, unless occasionally to those who make use of it as a trick. The town is progressively improving: those buildings in any state of forwardness in the spring are now complete; those began far advanced; and those contemplated going on rapidly--particularly the Jockey Club Rooms, they being already fit for the purposes they

have been so liberally and splendidly restored. The Rooms themselves seem to give universal satisfaction to this most respectable body. About the screen towards the street, at which they are now at work, there is a diversity of opinion--some thinking, that, as the Jockey Club is so perfect, it does not need a screen at all; others, that as it is so near it, a very slight one would do: but a heavy one, which some think this is, is out of all character. If my opinion were asked, I should say it was not heavy, but in very good taste, and did great credit to Messrs. Day and Martin, the architects; finishing my reply with a remark I learnt in Yorkshire, that "bairns and fewls should ne'er see half done things." From some cause or causes there seems no new candidate for Fortune's favours on the Turf; and, what is worse, all the old ones are absent hopes and fears about the Reform Bill solely occupying the mind of man, and totally abstracting it from every other consideration.

The list for MONDAY had five races-sufficient in number, but poor in quality, with one exception:-The first of course was the Trial Stakes of 10 sovs. each, for all ages, beginning with threeyear-olds, Across the Flat, six subscribers, and five started-the

F

pace pretty good, indeed too good for Spaniel, a great favorite with many from having won the Derby, though he never did much on the Flat; and when they came to the Bushes it was evident that the speed of Camarine was quite sufficient to destroy all his game qualities. The Judge placed Sir Mark Wood's Camarine first, a length, steadily rode by Chapple; Spaniel, by Pavis, second; the rest beat a long way-Juryman, once a judge, having tried many a young one, and in the end got lagg'd" himself.

Sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, h. ft. Ditch Mile--two only came to the post. Many thought Sir M. Wood's Galatine must win, because his Camarine won the last race. This is a mode of reasoning I could never understand: besides, he was giving six pounds to a thing, though moderate, as good as himself: Boyce, on Lochinvar, could go and win whenever he pleased, which Robinson's excellences, greatly exerted as they were, could not prevent.

Lord Chesterfield's Titania, with Connolly (a pretty mare and a pretty jockey), beat with the greatest ease all the way the Duke of Richmond's Ciudad Rodrigo, the colt giving five pounds: but if the former had given two, it would have been more business-like. The match was for 100 sovs., Across the Flat; Pavis rode the grey, and very well, only that he used his whip after his hopes had fled.

The Grand Duke Michael Stakes of 50 sovs. each, all the money-colts 8st. 71b., fillies 8st. 3lb. Across the Flat. To this there were 24 subs.; so that, deducting his own expenses and stake, the winner pockets a good

thousand guineas. Nine started, with little or no trouble, and came well together for some time. The first that shewed anything like arrogance was White Boy by Blacklock, but this must have been on sufferance, for at the finish he was hid in the crowd. Blunder and Bohemian were the greatest favorites; and Blunder, with Jem Robinson's fine riding, did get to be a respectable second at last, if his company had been but a little better. Great shouting for Lord Orford, the winner, his Lordship having had about eleven engagements in the Spring, and lost them all. Connolly was the fortunate rider of the fortunate Medora colt.

-an

A Match for 200 sovs. each, Ditch In, between the Duke of Portland's Amphiaraus and Sir M. Wood's Captain Arthur-a old grudge ever since Saint Nicholas and the Devil came from the North to play their pranks at Newmarket. At that time it was thought by many on both sides that each was second; and being a difficult race to decide, in consequence of some nefarious practices, this race was made; and to shew still how near these horses are together, at 130 yards from home no Judge, however good, could have named the winner: here Robinson, by the use of his old dodge, gained half a length for Captain Arthur, which John Day could not retrieve, though he, by good riding, in turn came up to a neck at the post.

TUESDAY had two runs only on the list: the first a match of 200 sovs., between Mr. Thornhill's Pouch Box-and it would be difficult for a man to get into a worse box than backing him-and the Duke of Rutland's Truffle

After this a Committee of Taste was held on the screen of the Jockey Club Rooms at least to that part of it where the Legs are admitted, and where the betting, paying, and receiving is principally transacted. It was decided that the most beautiful part of it should be knocked down, fearing, without seeing, that it would be too dark-but do not men choose darkness rather than light?" Besides, how

soon

should it be otherwise when done by DAY and MARTIN!

WEDNESDAY a good day's sport, plenty of horses out, a great increase of company, and no lack of spirit in betting.-The first was a Match between Lord Chesterfield's Kittums, 8st. 7lb., and General Grosvenor's Kitty Fisher, for 100 sovs. Connolly was an easy winner on the former. John Day cut but a poor figure with Kitty. The good General, however, gave us one of his kind-hearted laughs, no doubt at the idea of the Kitty Fisher formerly being run after by every body, while the Kitty Fisher of the present day seems doomed to be a humble follower.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, T.Y.C.-Nine started

and two paid. It was rather a good race: they came well together, and at the height of the running shewed pretty good handicapping. Mr. Peel's Lochinvar won by a length, steadily and well rode by Natty, the boy who deserved great praise on former occasions. Edgar Pavis equally distinguished himself on Mr. Day's Barabbas. "Now Barabbas was a robber:" he, however, shewed some good running, and got second; the Lioness well

up.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs. each, for two-year-olds, T.Y.C. Col. Peel's Non Compos (what a name to give in such a family!) seemed to possess the greatest pretensions, as they complimented him with the highest weight: Mr. S. Day's Gratis, however, was the winner. Great shouting for Middleton- this being almost the first of the family (a large one) that has done anything towards giving honour to the name. Edgar Pavis rode Gratis (but no doubt handsomely paid) exceedingly well; this riding would soon equal his brother, if he could but equal him in the scale. Captain Byng's Dryad was second. Seven started, and it was altogether a pretty good race.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three year olds and upwards, D.M.-another boon to bettors - had nine subscribers, and eight started. It was, however, of no great use to them, there being too many of a trade here, as in other places. It was a close race, but not pretty to the eye-some scrambling, and now and then an unavoidable jostle, more perhaps attributable to the pace than any fault in men or horses. Mr. Cooke's Cloudesley

shovelled in first very nicely, well handled by Wright; Lord Mountcharles's Carwell, second-but, unceremoniously running against Ipsala, her prospects good at the time, was the cause of a match between them for the next day. Newmarket St. Leger (a name borrowed from the North) of 25 sovs. each, run or no run. Ten out of the seventeen got out of their troubles by paying all the money without a start; and the seven that did had nothing else but troubles, except Sir M. Wood's Camarine, the winner. She won in something less than a canter, by four lengths, rode by Chapple; Oxygen second, by John Day; Clansman (Robinson) still two lengths farther back; and the rest -Scipio, Caleb, Bohemian, and Blunder-were found the same afternoon, not having sustained the least injury, nor done much good. It seems Scipio made play the first quarter of a mile, which was not good enough for Oxygen; she then took it up to the Duke's Stand, when Camarine made a finish of it as above described; thus beating the winner of the Oaks, and the winner of the Derby two days before. What a pity the winner of the Doncaster Great St. Leger was not here, that her week's work might have been complete!

THURSDAY-the last day of the first week--fair sport, fine weather, and the company twice as numerous as at the beginning. The match between Carwell and Ipsala, in consequence of the former not steering clear the day before, was the first to come off. It is somewhat singular that Carwell should win by two lengths--Ipsala carrying seven pounds less, and no interruption, as on the day

before-making it out that the more she carries and the worse she is used, the better she runs. She was the favorite of course, and some money lost.

The Cockboat Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h.ft., for two-year-olds; colts, 8st. 5lb., fillies 8st. 3lb., T.Y.C.Five started, and eight paid forfeit, making altogether a pretty little stakes of 450 sovs. Colonel Peel's Archibald won it cleverly, well rode by Boyce. I think I spoke of the good looks and promise of this colt at Ascot, and see no reason now to alter that

opinion. Lord Mountcharles's Bassetlaw, by Catton, was second, and Connolly did all that could be done with such a subject: the other three could discover nothing but their own inferiority.

The King's Plate of 100gs., the Round Course.-Two four-yearold mares came to the post. The entry shews a scarcity of such things, or an indifference about public money. Robinson made play, harmless play—such, no doubt, as suited his purpose-on Bustle. Arnull followed on Schumla, to the corner of the plantation, and then tried to go up, which he found he could with ease; tried again 200 yards from home, and had still the power; again at the post, and made a dead heat of it, and would have won, no doubt, if he had made one run only for the whole, as he did the next heat, and won cleverly.

sailor's

Captain Rous's Crutch (an appropriate name for a horse) beat Mr. Mills's White Boy, between the heats for the King's Plate. This was but a lame affair, and thus the First October Meeting ended.

Norfolk, October 7, 1831.

THE SECOND MEETING.

MANY anticipated that this would be a great meeting, in consequence of the first being a limited one, occasioned by the unpopular proceedings in the House of Lords, and the unhappily agitated state of the country; and this, unfortunately, being still unsettled, the company, notwithstanding the fine weather and long confinement in the Great City, came in but slowly. When, however, they came to shew on the Heath, there was an increase of at least 100 per cent. on the first day of the first meeting; but things altogether looked very sedate, if not downright sulky the betting dull, and almost every horse, unless his owner thought he was sure to win, paid forfeit on his different engagements: for instance, we had six races set down for the first day, but two only of them were run :—

The first, a Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each; colts 8st. 7lb., fillies 8st. 3lb., T.Y.C. (Two Year old Course.) This, to which there were six subscribers, and five started, was won by a neck by General Grosvenor's Kitty Fisher, well jockeyed by John Day. The good General himself won a match but two days before, by taking to himself a wife; so that his seasons of delight follow closely upon each other. A Middleton colt of Lord Jersey's was second -Robinson, with all his skill, dexterity, great practice, and good fortune, could not get him an inch forwarder, though he was the favorite against the field.

The Garden Stakes of 100 sovs. each, T. M. M. (Two Middle Miles.) This is not only a great prize, but a great event also in Turf History, having generally

some of the best horses in England in it. There were nine subscribers this year, and seven started, making not only a most beautiful, but a perfectly true-run race-John Day on Lucetta, although the highest weight (still a favorable one), made first running for a considerable time, when Captain Arthur and two or three others came up, keeping the same game alive to within 100 yards of home, when Robinson, on Variation, took a gentle pull, and suffered three of the others not only to head him, but to go rather in advance to within thirty yards, when he made one of those spirited exertions wherein he has only one rival, and won by a length-Arnull on Augustus second, Captain Arthur third, and Lucetta fourth.

Oxygen walked over for a Stakes of 25 sovs. each; and Lord Jersey's Cobweb colt paid forfeit to Galantine; as did Earwig to Lord Chesterfield's Titania.

TUESDAY we had six races on the list, but two of them (matches) chose to pay half the money rather than the whole. The first that shewed anything like sport was a match between Captain Byng's Dryad, 8st. 6lb., and Sir R. K. Dick's Miss Mary Ann, 8st. 4lb., T.Y.C., for 50 sovs. Dryad won by a neck, delightfully rode by Pavis, with the odds 5 to 4 against him. Poor Miss Mary Ann got sadly punished by Robinson, for not only not doing what she really could, and well, but for running away from her task, commonly called, except in Ladies boarding schools, bolting!

Fifty Pounds for two-year-olds colts 8st. 4lb., fillies 8st. 2lb.the same course (First Class). Ten started, and ran straight and well