chase to a cur, and afterwards worried a flock of sheep, and after that another cur. But, though so untrained, there was good stuff in them, and they were the ancestors of his present pack, which were acknowledged to be good hounds. The past season was admitted to be one of the worst ever known; but his hounds had been out 108 days, and had killed 112 foxes. But, his lordship added, the formation of a pack of foxhounds was not solely confined to the sports of the field; there were a great many friendships formed and cemented in the hunting field, and charmingly interwoven with the other relations of life. After some further remarks, his lordship resumed his seat, and other toasts followed, the party sitting late.".

We shall be obliged to any friend who can favour us with a better-that is, a fuller-report of these experiences of a master of foxhounds.

We are happy, indeed, to say that "the chase" is looking much better since we last wrote. Our friends in the Albrighton country, for instance, have found a fresh master sooner than they might have expected. Mr. Shaw Helier comes to them with a high character from Lincolnshire; Mr. Greaves, of the Cottesmore, succeeding him in the latter county. Mr. Greaves would, in fact, have taken to the Albrighton had Mr. Helier refused it. The present arrangement, however, is considered by far the best for all parties. Mr. Helier brings his own hounds and horses; and the Albrighton were accordingly sold at Birmingham on the 25th of April-at too late a period for us to give the prices this month. The sale of Mr. Edward Corbet's horses, lately advertised there by Messrs. Bretherton, has been countermanded, that gentleman having agreed to go on again with the Shropshire. Captain Shedden too, we are glad to find, will continue in the New Forest; while the Ludlow will work on with Mr. Frederick Stubbs.

In the drawbacks consequent on the continuance of such harsh, ungenial weather, we hear of a great mortality amongst young unentered hounds, masters very generally having something to complain of in this respect; few, in fact, old or young, can do right well till we have the long expected change. In our obituary, we have to record the death of Sir John Shelley, conspicuous some years since as a man of fashion and a turfite; in the latter character he was long a confederate of Lord Jersey's, and in a very successful career reached the highest honours twice-winning the Derby in 1811 with the celebrated Phantom, and in 1824 with Cedric. Sir John, who died at Lonsdale House, Fulham, on the 28th of March, and in the 80th year of his age, is succeeded by his son, Mr. John Villiers Shelley-also a sportsman of some renown on the turf and with the trigger, as well as being an eminent agriculturist.

We see, by an advertisement, that the well known Willesden Paddocks come to the hammer on the 18th. Considering their eligible position, and the expense and judgment the late Mr. Edmund Tattersall employed in making them perfect, they ought to sell well. Turned to the best account, such a speculation must be a good one.

The Thames Match, on the 3rd, between Oxford and Cambridge, finished once more in favour of the former, who had it all their own way. Some say they were a little more careful in their preparation than the Cantabs. If so, it was all over the palmam qui meruit.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

We belong to the unpopular family of Telltruths, and would not flatter Apollo for his lyre."-ROB ROY,

The Wagner war wages warmly, the stage being an attic of confined dimensions (emblematic of law) in Lincoln's Inn, where the father's letters are listened to in lieu of the daughter's notes, but not with the same satisfaction,

66

and the be-wigged and richly-feed advocate acts as conductor, armed with a huge brief for a baton. "A clever man may talk on any subject." 66 Yes, and much nonsense too.". With this Johnsonian " refresher," let us (while the learned gentlemen are arguing) just take a glance at some remarks, which greatly strengthen the idea that clever men at times do more than talk nonsense. A writer in Blackwood, in discoursing on "Public Amusements," says much that is true, and a great deal that is not, the whole being seasoned with a plentiful sprinkling of "bosh." Surely he cannot be serious in declaring that a good example in upholding the drama is set by one noble personage, whom it is every Englishman's privilege to love, honour, and obey."" This excellent example consists in no less than five royal visits being paid to the PRINCESS'S to see a farrago of the grossest kind of melodrama, yclept " The Corsican Brothers"-a vile production, which very properly comes under the denunciation of the writer. The worst points of the drama, such as the ridiculous apparitions and the poverty of dialogue, he almost avoids, but in the strangest way dwells upon the ball being a "wilder scene of revelry and debauchery" than anything ever witnessed. He should have added "by him," as a matter of course he never saw " Azael” and twenty other spectacles not of antiquity. The burlesques of this at the HAYMARKET and the OLYMPIC tell greatly against his assertion that "Burlesque is contemptible." Is the "Invisible Prince" contemptible? The complete failure of the Easter entertainment at the Princess's, although by a clever man like Mr. Tom Taylor, at once negatives the wish that authors should leave fairy mythology as they find it. What can be more dull, insipid, and uninteresting than the fairy " Wittikind and his Brothers?" Before leaving Oxford-street we must deplore the unhappy circumstance of a theatre like the Princess's being devoted to melodrama, and that of the most vitiated kind too. With regard to the abilities of the actors, it is particularly unfair to throw away the talent for which many of the company are conspicuous. In the case of the manager it is different, for there can be no doubt that Mr. Charles Kean is more at home in this kind of drama than in any other work; but in the instance of Mr. Wigan and others it is the very reverse, as strikingly shown in " Love in a Maze."

66

66

66

Again we are lost in amaze to hear our contemporary aver that real water, real horses, and real elephants, have been banished from the stage." Now if he will only just engage a stall, or, as he would phrase it, a private box," at COVENT GARDEN some night when Joanna Wagner does not sing, and when the opera of 'I Martyri" is given, he will there behold in the second act the entrance of Signor Ronconi, as Severus the Proconsul, in a car drawn by "real horses." But this is only one instance, which is greatly surpassed in reality at the LYCEUM, where also the one noble personage" has also been to see "real horses," "real water," and "real"-not elephants, but a live donkey. All these stern realities are to be witnessed in the last novelty, entitled "A Chain of Events," in-sad to relate-eight acts, which occupy at, it may be reasonably inferred, a duration of time which would nearly, in these locomotive days, waft one to France itself, whither this piece comes from, and pity 'tis it ever did come; for, as it is, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews have worked up a bad material in a most wonderful way. Such scenery, even by Beverley himself, such dresses, and such appointments, never did mortal gaze upon. As for the shipwreck in the second act, it is frightfully real; the very audience shudder as they witness the appalling scene. On the other hand, they do not shudder at the dance in the seventh (prodigious number!) act, but look on with approving admiration at the "French school" of choregraphy, so appropriately introduced by the pretty girls of the market. Still, it must be admitted that, with all its luring aids, this is not the class of entertainment suitable to the Lyceum-a theatre we are accustomed to look to for the refined acting of Madame Vestris and Mr. Charles Mathews in "Delicate Ground," together with the pungent point of a burlesque from a Planchè pen, given effect to by the Misses St. George,

Lanza, Oliver, and Martindale, besides the colouring imparted to a clever picture by the dry humour of Mr. F. Matthews. No; "The Chain of Events" is a link, only with more polish, to the species of drama we have above taken exception to, and the sooner it is snapped the better for the management and the public.

Without stopping to notice the nonsense about the necessity of “the drama's returning to Protection," "thousands flying to the theatre for information," and military men, whom nature has bountifully supplied with hirsute appendages, taking parts in amateur theatricals, let us pass on to the delicious twaddle about the exquisite refinement of the audiences at the Haymarket. Our authority informs us that, in obedience to Royal command, the manager has refused admission to the Jezebels who nightly flocked there; for which act he is praised for his "noble and praiseworthy conduct.' “O Gemini!” does not the reader feel, with Buckstone, when he is convinced his twin brother is suffering from a similar malady, that a sneezing fit is coming on?

There is not a theatre in which these naughty dicky birds, the utter_aversion of our commentator, are to be seen, with the exception of Drury Lane; and that being a patent house, may be perhaps pardoned on the plea of "protection." On this principle then the manager of the notoriously worst couducted house in this respect, is to be commended because “purification" is one of the conditions of royal patronage. But there, with a most thorough unappreciation of this modern instance, we must hasten back to court; what our "learned friend" not yet concluded, then for a word or two on that which is passing around us.

No, no; at DRURY LANE there is nothing but worn-out operas, with Mr. Harrison in the place of Mr. Reeves-a sorry substitute, as empty houses significantly proclaim. In addition to treating the public to airs, on some occasions it may be Mr. Reeves has given himself some; but then that is no excuse for his being the daily subject of vulgar abuse in the bills of the establishment. The committee of management should counsel Mr. Bunn "to moderate the rancour of his tongue," and to cease promulgating calumny, slander, and misrepresentation.

Let him take a lesson from the MARIONETTES, look at their announcements, simple but yet true; no invective, no base inuendo, no evil speaking, everything comme il faut. From the imposing grandeur of the Easter entertainment Aladdin, to the rattling of the bones of ebony, all is decorous, proper, and well conducted. When to this already attractive exhibition of novelties is added a most correct and amusing version of "The Corsican Brothers," with decidedly proper actors, it is reasonable to predict an unexampled tide of success, which if it should turn the heads of the chief actors, will not be attended with the usual consequences.

Here all is gentle and aristocratic in that drawing-room of a theatre, THE ST. JAMES'S. Look at that gentlemanly actor M. Regnier, for it is the last opportunity, his engagement being at an end. The ease and finish with which he contrives to invest the character he portrays must be acknowledged to be astonishing. The support he has received from Madlle. Denain, Madlle. Marquet, and Mons. Lafont, speaks well for the management of Mr. Mitchell, whose "fresh arrivals" sufficiently betoken the spirit of enterprise which so eminently characterises his arrangements.

Madlle. Cruvelli has appeared at HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE in "Norma," and "Il Barbiere;" in the former with considerable improvement on her last season's performance. In ballet there is an accession in Rosati, whose elasticity if possible is greater than ever :

At THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, in addition to the splendour of the spectacle, and the excellent singing of Madame Julienne and Signor Tam

berlik in "I Martyri," the operas of "Guglielmo Tell" and "Norma," have been given; in the latter Grisi has once more put forth those powers which proudly attest her supremacy,

By Jove, this Opera cause threatens to be as long and as profitable a suit to the lawyers as the Jarndyce case, for here is Mr. Buzfuz still speaking: thus if the singer is not to be, the men of law will be heard, and so still wages the Wagner war.

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

SALE OF BLOOD STOCK.-The stallion Cardinal Puff, for a large sum, to go to Austria; Mr. W. D. Holtby's Sisyphus to Mr. C. H. Holloway, of York; Mr. Harrison, of the Curragh, Thunder for 300, to the Marquis of Conyngham, who has also purchased the two-year-old Zulima colt of Lord Miltown. Some drafts from Mr. Angerstein's stud have also been sold during the month by Messrs. Tattersall, whose Mondays, however, have not lately displayed anything very attractive in the thorough-bred way.

Lord Lurgan retires from the turf after a short and not very successful taste of it. His things, including stallions, horses in training, steeplechasers, vans, saddles, bridles, and clothing, come to the hammer on the tenth. The determination to "cut it" appears most resolute. The catalogue numbers, amongst others, Rhesus, now in the stud, Cnæus, Tightwaist, and Captain Flash.

Hard Labour (late Ebor), and the once celebrated Bessy Bedlam, died during the month past.

Mr. Harrison's horses, King of Trumps, Sally Warfoot colt, Make Ready, and colt by Prince Caradoc out of Miss Julia Bennett, have left Shepherd's stables-not, it is said, in the best form, or under the most agreeable circumstances.

Captain Young, whose Derby bets had been scratched a short time previously, died early in the month, after a long illness.

The changes in our table of the odds nearly all trace to that surest of tests still-public running. The advance of Alcoran and Stockwell, and the hopeless decline of Lapidist and Barbarian, all go on their own individual merits, while the improvement in Little Harry has been much facilitated by the strength with which the stable opened. Augur, again, goes back very naturally from Daniel O'Rourke's exhibition in the "Two Thousand," coupled, it may be said, with a growing distaste for the horse himself. So far, in fact, the racing of the season tends more and more to make the Derby Hobbie Noble's. There is a strong suspicion yet, however, that want of rain is want of work; and the turn of the month-at least, to within the last few days-has been scarcely in his favour. Of Claverhouse we can speak with more confidence; he has never looked better in the ring than just now; and Orelio and Alfred the Great, though not much discussed, have also a promising look forward for the twenty-eighth. Beyond these, we have Kingston and Chief Baron Nicholson, both good-looking ones, the latter especially, and then a few outsiders, who never threatened less, whatever they may accomplish, than they do this year. If as good as he has been, nothing ought to stop the crack, as nothing so far in performance has ever been near him. You have a very in-and-out field, with a favourite who, at any rate, could not read better."

For the Chester Cup just on, the three or four at the head of the poll all have strong parties-Stilton, Nancy (said to be sure to win, and backed for an immense deal of money by her provincial friends), Merry Bird, Hothorpe,

and Hesse Homburg. The Indian Warrior, Ringleader, Joe Miller, and Poodle have also their " parties," though not in such force; while Scarecrow, the Confessor, and one or two more, are now quite out of the market. With the exception of High Sheriff, who has some" javelinos" who follow him still with undaunted fidelity, the mention of any other has been only occasional. Indeed, after all, we do not expect to find the field so large as was at first expected from the acceptance, or the race itself so open as this same cause would have led one to suppose.

LATEST BETTING.-THE DERBY: 8 to 1 agst. Hobbie Noble, 9 to 1 agst. Alcoran, 11 to 1 agst. Stockwell, 12 to 1 agst. Claverhouse, 13 to 1 agst. Alfred the Great, 15 to 1 each agst. Little Harry and Orelio, 22 to 1 agst. Kingston, 25 to 1 each agst. Chief Baron Nicholson and King of Trumps, 30 to 1 agst. Augur, 33 to 1 agst. Homebrewed, 50 to 1 agst. Missive, and 100 to 1 agst. Filius.

CHESTER CUP: 13 to 2 agst. Stilton, 12 to 1 agst. Grosvenor, 14 to 1 agst. Nancy, 15 to 1 agst. Hothorpe, 20 to 1 each against Lady Evelyn and Merry Bird, 30 to 1 agst. Hesse Homburgh, and 50 to 1 agst. Truth.