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The demand for Shootings in this quarter are greatly on the rise. I know a Highland Laird who gets more money for his grouse this season than the yearly rental of his whole estate. I must now conclude this hurried epistle; and at this early period of the season you cannot expect a full account of what has been done in the far North; but we anticipate great things and good weather, and will keep an ear open to what will be going forward, so that in another month we may send you up a line on the great doings in the North.

Grampians, August 19, 1839.

FIRELOCK.

P. S. Since writing the above, I have met Mr. George Paterson the younger, of Castle Huntly, who tells me that his father's moors were never in better order as to game. He (Mr. George), who is only a youth, bagged 45 brace upon the 13th, and in four days shooting the father and son have bagged upwards of 300 brace of birds. Mr. Paterson also tells me that he finds a great many young birds, but as there are plenty of them they can make a choice.

Lord Glenlyon killed upon the 12th, in Atholl, 62 brace, and two harts in the Atholl Forest.

HUNTING IN BOGOTA, SOUTH AMERICA.

THE two Plates which form the embellishments of the present Number are from drawings kindly furnished by WILLIAM TURNER, Esq., Her Majesty's Minister at New Granada-the "Hunting" engraved by G. PATERSON, and "Preparing to go out" by SCOTT.-According to Humboldt, Bogotá, or, as it was called till lately, Santa Fé de Bogotá, was the capital of the Spanish Vice-royalty of New Granada up to 1811; then, to 1819, of the Republic of Cundinamarca; afterwards of the Republic of Columbia; and, since its dissolution in 1831, the metropolis of the new Republic of New Granada. The town is situated at the foot of two lofty and rocky mountains, Montserrat and Guadaloupe, which belong to the high range that, running nearly from north to south, separate the affluents of the Rio de la Magdalena from those of the Orinoco. Bogotá is slightly elevated above an extensive plain, which lies to the west of it, and which measures above fifty miles from south to north, and more than half as much in the other direction. This plain, which is surrounded by mountains that rise to a considerable height, is nearly 8646 feet above the level of the sea, and the river Bogotá, or Funza, from which the town derives its name, winds through its centre at the distance of nine or ten miles from the town. The inhabitants are mild, polite, and cheerful. Their principal out-door amusements are cock and bull-fights and the chase of the deer. The hunters are by no means nice as to the class of dog used for the latter sport, but prefer those of English breed. Their motto is, "Catch by dog if you can," and they give a decided preference to this method; but they are by no means particular: they will lasso it if near enough, or shoot it with a rifle, which is usually carried by one or two of the party. The "Hunting" plate represents two Sportsmen advancing against the deer from opposite quarters—a circumstance by no means uncommon,

VOL. XIX.-SECOND SERIES.-No. 113.

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as all advantages are considered fair in New Granada. The deer are generally about the same size as in England, though some are considerably larger, but far inferior as venison: they are sufficiently fleshy, but lack fat, the gourmand's sine qua non. Indeed they are seldom obtained without being so greatly torn by the dogs as to render them unfit for an epicure's table, and the carcases are frequently given to the canines in order to keep them keen. The Orijones, or farmers, are extremely attached to this sport, and are remarkable for the daring with which they ride down steep hills, and which to unpractised riders appears most dangerous. Their horses are small and active, and all have breechings in addition to the crupper, and frequently breastings, to prevent the saddle from moving when ascending or descending moun

tains. The eyes of young horses are blinded to keep them quiet whilst saddling. In front of the saddle they carry coginetes (similar to our holtsters), to hold provisions, brandy, &c., and some of the hunters have a painted horn slung behind their backs to carry an additional quantum of eau de vie. They wear a striped or colored roana, or mantle, and in wet seasons a second lined with caoutchouc to keep out the rain; their samarras, or overalls, are of tiger or dog-skin, waterproof; and their hats covered with oil-skin. The stirrup is of copper or iron, thoroughly sheltering the foot, similar to that used by English ladies, and their spurs are large, with enormous rowels. They are very expert in throwing the lasso, which, when not in hand, is coiled, and fastened to the side of the saddle. Our artists have done ample justice to the drawings, which are accurate presentments of the sport and its followers.

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS.

"Right past the stand and round the hill

They sweep like arrows swift;

Now Nicholson begins to flog,

And Templeman to lift;

Edwards is waiting for a dash

With keen and wary eye:

The Chair is past-the race is won,

Hurrah for Tommy Lye !"-Lancashire Ballad.

"DANG it that lad rides weel; he bends his back," was an observation we once heard applied by an honest farmer to a young lad, who, standing up in his stirrups with a red handkerchief round his head, jacket sleeves turned inside out, and clogs to match, was giving an old leather-plater its canter previous to the start for a saddle at some village races in the North. Leaving, however, the village ale-house and the road-side course, we shall proceed to give a slight sketch of the heroes, who (according to the honest yeoman's sole idea of jockeyship) bend the back and flourish the whip on the Northern Turf.

We shall take our cue from the Author of the Lancashire Ballad, and as there TOMMY has had the precedence given him, we shall award him the same place here. Of the Northern Turf he may certainly be styled the Patriarch, not perhaps on account of his age, although the

grey hairs which stray from beneath his jockey-cap seem to plead guilty to fifty summers, but because he has ridden, and, we may add, won nearly double the races of any man in the North. With all the advantages, however, of years of experience, we are far from pronouncing him a very accomplished jockey. His judgment of pace is first-rate, but he lacks that great essential, strength of hand, and if his horse requires to be punched much during the race, or to be lifted along at last, he is unable to struggle in his saddle with such powerful men as Templeman, Darling, and Harry Edwards. His great maxim in riding is to "take the lead," and, what is more, in four out of ten races he contrives to "keep it." Engagements accumulate upon him without end, comprehending almost every Racing Meeting in England. His masters are, the Duke of Cleveland, Lord Eglinton, and Lord Stanley, and last season alone he deported thirty-five Stakes in the escritoire at Eglinton Castle. Besides riding for these masters, his other engagements are so numerable, that, by way of illustration, we may add, that at the last Newcastle Meeting he rode fourteen races out of the fifteen! In height he is about five feet two inches, and rides 6st. 8lb. easily.

In speaking of DARLING, we should not say he was a very elegant, but emphatically a very powerful jockey. His nerve and strength of hand are immense, and were displayed in a very eminent degree at the last Chester Meeting, where he won the Trades' Cup on Cardinal Puff, beating a Field of seventeen, to the astonishment and discomfiture of the "knowing ones." His riding is very much in the Chifney style, as he invariably prefers waiting till near the finish, and then makes a desperate rush, which has often proved successful. He won the St. Leger in 1833 on Rockingham, and since then has had his share of the good things, particularly on his everlasting gelding, Isaac. The Marquises of Exeter and Westminster and Sir Richard Berkeley are his masters, and we believe Mr. Mostyn may be added to the list.

Samuel seems an indigenous name among jockeys: we have just mentioned the Samuels Chifney and Darling-Day and Rogers own to the same title, and, though last not least, we have SAMUEL TEMPLE MAN. In speaking of him we should say that he was a very superior jockey, cool-headed, and a very fine finisher of a race. To his full possession of this latter quality every one will testify who saw him win the race for the Manchester Cup in 1838, when he brought up Catherina about ten yards from the Chair, though apparently dead beat, and won his race by the most splendid tact by a bare nose. He may be said in college phrase to have taken his degree of M. A. this year on Bloomsbury, with the odds 40 to 1 against him. He is taller than the generality of jockeys, and has a very excellent seat. His masters are, Sir Thomas Stanley, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Meiklam. Of late he has sustained a great loss in the death of the Duke of Leeds, who was long his principal employer. He seldom goes South, and then perhaps only to ride at Epsom.

The "Macready," however, of the North, in our opinion, is HARRY EDWARDS, as his elegant seat, his general cut and air, and, above all, his nerve and science, entitle him to rank among the best of his Southern brethren. His great plan in riding a race appears to lie a good second till near the distance, where he invariably challenges his

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