Sir Henry Bishop is delivering a course of lectures on music at THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, and it should be stated that considerable effect is given to the subject matter by the very able assistance of the fair singers engaged, in giving expression to the examples discoursed upon. The directors of this well-conducted gallery of science and amusement have provided a fund of entertainment for their holiday visitors.

THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS, in Suffolk-street, offers its annual exhibition, which shall in due course receive that attention to which its merits fully entitle it.

STATE OF THE ODDS,

A dull month's history-at any rate on the majority of those events we write the record of the passing clouds of various steeple-chase and Spring trial meetings taking the immediate interest out of, without, as is generally the case, having any material effect on the grander doings that are to follow hereafter. The most attractive just now "has its claims allowed" entirely on this same fashion of reasoning-that is to say, of being first due-the Northamptonshire to wit; for which, after a deal of coquetting during the month between Osterley and Harriott, the mare promising well at one time to be the better horse, the lead reads now vice versa. Change, however, may be looked for hourly about this season; and the Duke of Bedford's nag, Mahratta, who has been coming in great force lately, looks not unlike for first favourite at starting. Ballinafad's Leamington victory has hardly given him that lift, so far, previous symptoms would have led one to suppose; and the cripple, Belus, in great favour at the commencement of the Ides of March, has that fashionable epidemic, a bad cough, now laid on to the list of his infirmities. By comparison with other longer-established and more-talked of affairs, speculation on the Northamptonshire Stakes may be registered good, though not great-" leastways," as the lads say, not at "The Corner."

The beautifully less" we have to make up on the Metropolitan and Newmarket handicaps is all accounted for in the very " Cheerful" feeling we spoke of last month. Perhaps there never was an instance of any handicap-race being so thoroughly "nipped in the bud" as the Metropolitan has this year. For our own part we cannot still help fancying the stable just now a little wild; and though, as they tell you, it may be all the world to an oyster, we wouldn't " cap on" any of our friends at the two-to-one, or double the money if that's all, for an outright investment. Where, if it be only for the sake of asking the question, might we inquire, do they get the line from for making the Epsom handicap and its illustrious successor so safe as they are said to be? There is no such dangerous companion as an over-sanguine man; and we do fancy the Goodwood stable shows a few premonitory symptoms of

this as we are assured-so happily a failing of humanity. We may be wrong; but in any case we would wish it to be clearly understood that we imply nothing more in our dissent to the "whole hog" cry for Cheerful, or the promises and vows made for Ghillie Callum-As in præsenti, we merely don't follow the fashion as obediently as is our usual

custom.

The Chester Cup scarcely requires any comment from us; "the empty show" declaring of itself the little, very little done on itquantum mutatus ab illo, i'faith. The most highly-seasoned bit of gossip connected with it announced the speedy scratching of Fugleman and The Whim colt, from those first entitled to back their opinion having been anticipated in the market. So far this has not yet been proceeded to; though both, as a consequence, have gone back. Mr. Payne's mare, it will be observed, has not a bet registered about her during the month-Miss Ann so enjoying an acmè of eminence that her immediate friends do all in their power to support; and, be it remembered, their's is not a bad lead to follow when they mean going. What, too, with the Merry-go-round here, and the Cheerful strains elsewhere afforded them, surely the worshipful company of legs ought to dance to the liveliest, if not perhaps always to the genteelest of tunes," Since this was written, the last Thursday introduces Glauca again as fresh as ever, and "recovers" Belus in time for Northampton,

With the people," on the universal-suffrage showing, we should return Bolingbroke now as good a favourite for the Derby as ever he was; though, as we have already alluded to, Ghillie Callum has as determined perhaps, rather than numerically powerful a party. Beyond this pair, with The Nigger still in awkward attendance, Pitsford, Mildew, and Clincher appear remarkably healthy; the last-named getting a turn from the Warwick Trial "mistake," and the first-mentioned going to rectify his autumn mistake in the same way they once did with Cossack. The call for other horses found in our table has been by no means continued, and leaves them generally with very "as-you-where" sort of

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We should be glad if any of our Subscribers could inform us of a Pack
of Foxhounds to be disposed of, and to whom we could refer our
enquirer for the particulars. All communications to be addressed
to THE EDITOR, 24, Norfolk Street, Strand.

EMBELLISHMENTS.

66 HERE COME THE HOUNDS."

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY W

AND

"THE SHADY SIDE.

ENGRAVED BY J. WESTLEY, FROM A PAINTING BY

CONTENTS.

BARRAUD.

WILLIAMS.

Page.

357

SEASON WITH THE MOUNT WALTON HOUNDS.-BY STOCK-

WHIP.

SPORTING INCIDENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD (FROM THE MS.

Life of the HON. PERCY HAMILTON).-COMMUNICATED

TO AND Edited by LORD WILLIAM LENNOX

"HERE COME THE HOUNDS"

THE FINE ARTS

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS

STATE OF THE ODDS

THE COURSING CALENDAR

364

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17-36

14 T NEWMKT. SCND SPRING MEET.S 7 40 15 W

16 T SHREWSBURY RACES

RACES IN MAY.