of nutritive matter, without any refuse, as shewn by chemical analysis, and is therefore peculiarly adapted to hunters and racers; and, by its use, a great addition may be made to their strength and powers of endurance, without danger of producing that over-excitement of the system which frequently arises from an inordinate quantity of oats. I mean, however, that the sago should be added to an ordinary quantity of corn, perhaps, two, three, or four pounds of sago a-day; but the experience of each particular case will speedily suggest the proper quantity to be used. I have tried this mode of feeding on my little horse, and find that he has acquired a very unusual degree of strength and spirit. As a drink for a horse, after a severe run or burst in the field, sago gruel, consisting of about a pound of jelly, completely dissolved in two or three gallons of warm water, is found to be superior to any other kind of drink. A PEEP INTO AYRSHIRE, AND INCIDENTAL NOTICES. BY OLD NORTH. Stirling, its Castle, and Race Conise-Prosperity of Canal Boat Travelling-Glasgow and its great Horse Fair The Clyde-Isle of Arran-Eglinton Castle-Bogside Race Course-Kilmarnock -Curious Custom at Ayr-Loch Doon, its fine Trout and Scenery-The Ayrshire Fox-hounds -Lord Kelburne's-Mr. Ramsay's, &c. "Fresh fields and pastures new." FRESH fields they were to me, and, as well as memory serves, they will prove so to the generality of the readers of this Work-an advantage of no small consideration relatively weighed, and of which I earnestly solicit the benefit. As to pastures, in that respect Ayrshire surpasses any other county in Scotland—a characteristic which, it need hardly be obsérved, is strongly connected with part of the subject matter "O'er the staked hedge, High bound resistless, and o'er the lawn, The motives which induced me to steer my course westward were two-fold-the primary one, in change of scene, travel, &c. "to seek for health unbought;" the secondary, that I had not observed it had occurred to any one to notice in the pages of this Work any of the interesting and appropriate features it was known to possess. As part of this trip lay through what is now set forth as "the land of Burns,” it may perhaps suggest itself to the reader that I am about to enlighten them with a lot of maudlin on this fertile topic. There is no such cause for nausea and alarm-and reason good, it is above my calibre, wide of the line-and I trust at least I shall prove no skirterand enough in all conscience has been said and sung anent it in all congregations. In periodical matters, one is necessarily restricted in space as well as pressed in point of time-considerations which, although they may not entitle to a favorable verdict, it is to be hoped will be considered as a make-weight. Without any further circumlo cution then Stirling is the first object which presents itself, and one of no mean interest it is, view it or consider it how one may. In point of scenery, if it be rivalled, it cannot be surpassed; and often as I view it, it never strikes my sight but what was said of Grongar Hill occurs to memory— "What a scene breaks on the view, Ever charming, ever new.” Its historical associations, as connected with those stalwart heroes, Wallace and Bruce, awaken the interest of even the most indifferent; and its sporting ones boast nearly as remote an antiquity, while, like the noble old pile itself, they still continue, although, as well as it, they have altered in their character and purposes under the magic hand of that busy juggler, Time. The King's Park at Stirling was the scene of those ancient games and sports which among the Scottish Monarchs no one delighted more to cherish or engage in than James the Fifththat Fitzjames, whose pursuits have been so ably worked upon and rendered familiar to all by the Bard of Abbotsford, when with a master hand and kindred spirit he swept the strings of that "Harp of the North, which, wildering long, had hung These sports, so beautifully described, fell mainly into abeyance, but still there was always a day of sports in the King's Park. More lately they came to be mixed up with races of some merit, but these again declined into yeomanry ones. In the few years preceding the present, they have progressed from such, through Hunters' Stakes, &c. until the meeting in August next presents a bill of fare by no means to be sneezed at. The Gold Cup of 100 sovs., added to a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, boasts twenty-two nominations, and enumerates such horses as The Doctor and Abraham Newland, third and second for the Leger of their years; Burletta and Zohrab, good runners; St. Martin, the nag wot beat Harkaway (quere); The Hydra, everlasting Olympic, Constantine, Bellona, &c. There are five good events for the first day; and on the second four, including the Glasgow Gold Cup of 100 guineas.-The Stewards are, the Provost of Stirling, Duke of Montrose, Sir William Scott, Sir James Boswell, and J. Merry and W. Stirling, Esqrs. But although his name is not in the present list of Stewards, there is no one who has effected so much, or could have done more, for the cause of all sports, and other matters of more public import, though connected therewith, than Mr. Ramsay, of Barnton and Sauchie. I have lived long enough in the neighbouring county to recollect when there was no conveyance between Edinburgh and Stirling but the mail: Mr. Ramsay took that matter in hand, started the "Tally-ho," and, encouraging it both in purse and person on the bench, laid the foundation of subsequent intercourse. As I visited my old acquaintance Scott, who still hunts the Stirling and Linlithgow at Laurieston, I shall have more to say on this subject subsequently. Glasgow, commercial monster, was the next point in the run, and although there are coaches enough to afford even a choice, I had been so much pleased with the canal mode of conveyance some four years ago, when away to the southward on a similar expedition, that I booked for that. A pair-horse coach, and a slow coach it is, takes you about ten miles to Wynford on the great canal which unites the Firths of Clyde and Forth. I found the mode of procedure as good, the horses quite above the common for power, action, and figure generally. The system is admirable, and were they limited, like the stages, to anything like a decent number either in cabin or steerage, I should still hold the same opinion I then expressed of its eligibility. Then we had room in reason: in the present instance, all I can justly compare it to is a pig-ship from the north of Ireland-and it was marvellously uncomfortable. The drove were of all sexes and sizes, and the young squeakers in such force that would have rejoiced the heart of a Commissioner of the New Zealand Emigrant Society. I am quite of Falstaff's opinion-" shall I not enjoy mine ease in mine inn?" so I had taken the precaution to inquire for a comfortable one at Glasgow, namely, the Eagle, in Maxwell Street. It is most commodiously situated, as, while it is in a quiet street, off the gangways, it leads way immediately into them both. Eating and drinking are very good things, gainsay it who may, tee-totaller or twaddler; but they are not just subjects to expatiate on: he must be of brevet rank, however, in Dr. Kitchener's own who will not find himself quite at home in the Eagle, and au prix juste. Glasgow itself in our line offers but little it has constant horsemarkets, but in arranging for the start I had wholly forgotten its Whitsun Monday Fair for horses--one of the greatest in Scotland; and it was with some vexation that I learnt from a commercial gentleman at the Eagle, that the great mart of the preceding day had been one of the best ever known, and one of the finest sights he had witnessed. On my way home, however, I foregathered with an old hand, who in his time has had much to do with these fairs, and is a judge; and my regret was considerably lessened by his assuring me, that, although there were as many horses shewn as he recollected, there were not a dozen barely beyond mediocrity. I conclude my travelling friend, good easy man, had mistaken quantity for quality— "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." Glasgow is truly a splendid place. I cannot imagine anything more spiritedly commercial in its whole grand length and appearance than Argyle Street and the Trongate : in fact, the whole New Town or Towns are good; and with all its steam and turmoil, it would be pleasant too, would they but only water their streets, which they have abundant means of doing. I was rather angrily assured by a Native, to whom I made the remark, that they did so; but both going and coming I had abundant proof, olfactory and oculate, that if they did, the periods must be, like the showers of the present season, as angel's visits, "few and far between." The hospitality of the wealthy denizens of Glasgow is proverbial, and has been handed to us by high Sporting authorityColonel Hawker-who says of them, that "when he was quartered 4 there, nothing could exceed the excellence of their punch but their hospitality in dispensing it." Where these millionaires, and especially their womankind, who are generally well appointed, do congregate or exercise, I could not understand: I saw none such in the streets or in carriages it is the most exclusively business-marked place I ever set foot in. No doubt they have their villas and places of retreat on the Clyde but the season, hardly at the best begun, was particularly late, and could not as yet have produced so obvious an effect. Not having been in this vast emporium some years, I had expected much (through steamers' impulse) of the Bromielaw, the quay whence they all depart. I was sadly disappointed: it is mean and inconvenient. They talk of some splendid docks, &c. (just below) commencing, which will make it worthy of the rest of Glasgow. The Exchange and its vicinity are very fine its old Cathedral is an object of much interest, and, with a spirit worthy of successful industry, they are gathering large funds to restore and perpetuate it in true taste. My plan was to steam down the Clyde to Ardrossan, a bathing place and rising sea-port, which-like Troon, some miles below itowes its rise and prosperity to the exertions of a Nobleman, the grandfather of the present prime-of-life Earl of Eglinton. Troon boasts the fostering care of the Duke of Portland. The late Earl called Ardrossan into existence, and the name will be familiar to all Sportsmen, as he named after it his celebrated colt by John Bull out of Sister to Miss Whip by Volunteer, who was never beaten or paid forfeit in twenty-two encounters, and who was the sire of Jack Spigot (Leger winner), Bee's-wing's dam, &c. and Arcot Lass, the mistake in publishing the banns of whose temporary nuptials has caused sich a shindy about the late Derby. In pursuance of such intention I shipped at 9 A. M. on board the fine large new steamer Ayrshire Lass, and, as another smaller (the Dennistoun) was to follow at twelve, in false fleeting hopes that the live cargo might be in the bounds of endurance. The day was beautiful, the numbers under par, and all as smoothly as a marriage bell, when, just as we neared St. Govan's, a sweet village on the left bank of the river with a beautiful church, the Lass lost or broke one of her keysI suppose it was the key of the coal hole-no matter; one of her engines was rendered useless, and we had to claw with the other "bock again to Glasgow just in time to ship bag and baggage into the smaller steamer, which had quite enough of her own. Gods above! what had I done to suffer such an infliction! the dose of the canal boat, in even a bitterer cup. Sich a transmigration! "sich a gitting up stairs !" sich a profusion of mammas in all their most interesting situations! and sich a muster of innocents, babes, and sucklings! Sich a display of maternity in all its minutest and sedulous cares! sich a lugging out of leather bottles on the part of the mammas! and the eternal calls on their more devotional services in arranging the petites choses of their tender and helpless offspring! It required all the milk of human kindness one was master of not to wish oneself a second Herod, and annihilate the innocents at one fell swoop. Heaven forbid I should unnecessarily turn up my nose at the pleasures of the people! the reverse. "We'd be all fine fellows if we could," was a favorite Quite aphorism of an old Irish Squire I once well knew, and there is pith in it; but I do seriously say, that, under favor of the Fates, I fervently hope I may not soon again, if ever, undergo what I did for the first three hours under a scorching sun, and not a breath of wind in that ill-destined steamer. By the time we reached Killpatrick-which is so named, we may surmise, because the Natives will have it St. Paddy was born there— the settings down had given us elbow room, and to enjoy the scenery which was now beautifully developing. With respect to this same birth-place Doctors differ, for what says or sings the ould song"The Saint himself to take his drop, He surely was quite willing; Sure his mudther kipt a shebeen shop Much doubtless might be adduced on both sides. The authorities are much about upon par; but Killpatrick has many old remains, and is delightfully situated, so the varmint-killing Saint might have chosen a worse place to be born in. There is opposite this, on the Renfrewshire shore, a most beautiful country residence, the property of the Blantyre Family. Here the Firth shews itself, and the singular and stupendous rock of Dumbarton and its Castle are seen to great advantage. Further down, on the Killpatrick or Dumbartonshire side, is the smaller rock of Dunglass, on which are the remains of a Roman Fort, the termination of a wall which extended from the Castle of Dumbarton. Hence, without in the slightest degree interfering with this, a simple but massive pillar has been erected to the memory of Herry Bell, who first perfected steam navigation in our Islands on the Clyde, and a more appropriate spot could not have been chosen. As the numerous steamers of all sizes and from all parts smoke along to and fro, defying the old Tyrant's Time and Tide, who were wont to wait for no man, and for whom now no man waits, they offer up a homage to his abilities as great as frail humanity is, even posthumously, well capable of receiving. A steam load of Glasgovians-none, as I could perceive, of the higher grades- -were flitting for the summer season, furniture and all-not even excepting the kitchen grate, which the post-boys of former days used to hold the only exception to the curse of the family-coach-to the various places on the Clyde; and at Port Glasgow our detention was considerable. However on the main disagreeable, here good came out of evil; for it afforded me an opportunity of getting a look-I regret it was no more-at that paragon of steamers, the "British Queen." Being on a slip close by the river, her whole build is disclosed to you; and so beautiful and frigate-built is her model that you can scarcely - persuade yourself she can be of tonnage and dimensions so stupendous. All I could arrive at was a closer view, standing by the slip she is raised on to get in her machinery, &c. (she was built at Limehouse) nearly under her, and then you are aware of her vastness. I recollect in the Cove of Cork, many years ago, having the same impression produced by the Tonant, 80, and from similar causes. I was in company with a naval officer, and he had some difficulty in making me believe she was any more than a first-class frigate until we neared her.-Every thing that British ingenuity can devise is in active operation to render |