1831.] Reasons for Retirement. 185 



country. They little know how much they deceive themselves. The 

 Germans and Italians monopolize all taste to themselves ; they even 

 allow the French to have more musical genius than we possess. 



Then comes the retirement of the statesman from public life. These 

 retire from various causes. Some^ like well-bred dogs, who take to 

 their heels when they see preparations made effecting their retirement in 

 another way ; others, because their party hare lost their power, and 

 nothing is to be had from either one or the other ; throughout this class, 

 however, a hatred of retirement is especially observable. Some, indeed, 

 never do retire. 



In opposition to these, we may mention the unfortunate individual 

 who, in consequence of certain indiscretions, seeks a retirement in the 

 uncultivated prairies of New South Wales, in the company of kanga- 

 roos, and others, the natural inhabitants of that flourishing colony. 

 There he may ruralize for a few years, and afterwards become the pro- 

 prietor of some thousand acres of untilled land, or a breeder of stock, 

 which, however numerously they may multiply, he will find difficult to 

 catch. If his visions of agricultural improvement are not put to flight 

 by a shot from a bush-ranger, or a visit from the natives, he may, in 

 course of time, become a person of consequence, possessing the most 

 sovereign contempt for tread-mills, prisons, and police ; — an utilitarian 

 and a liberal; — hating all governments, and advocating the absolute 

 necessity of equality. Perhaps the colony may take advantage of some 

 lucky moment, and partly by his agency obtain its freedom ; he might 

 then become the absolute head of affairs, and when he dies, his name 

 may go down to posterity with those of Bolivar and Washington. 



We occasionally hear of the retire?nent of some nobleman, or man of 

 property, from the turf. Now, we do not believe that it is occasioned 

 by the individual having contracted a distaste for such sports, to seek 

 the quiet of a more tranquil life ; the cause is, more frequently, being 

 dished by the knowing ones — neglecting to hedge his bets, and being de- 

 clared a Icvanter at Tattersall's. For him, nature possesses but few 

 charms. The finest prospect appears but a vulgar landscape, unless it 

 offers an advantageous situation for a steeple-chase, or presents the ap- 

 pearance of some piece of ground which he thinks admirably adapted 

 for a race-course. For flowers he has little affection, unless as present- 

 ing an agreeable footing for a " daisy cutter;" — finds but little gratifi- 

 cation in books, with the exception of the Sporting Magazine, and his 

 own betting-book ; — continues to look at the heavy list of his unliqui- 

 dated del)ts of honour, with a rueful eye — damns every member of the 

 Jockey Club as a knave, and every unsatisfied claimant as a black-leg ; 

 — curses the Pilgrim fiUey for bolting off' the course, his brown mare 

 Impudence for shijing, and his colt Surejoot for slipping when witliin a 

 length of the winning-post. Mourns over his imhappy fate at being 

 obliged to part with his celebrated stud, although, by every horse in it, 

 he had been thousands out of pocket. Calls to mind how he was done 

 at the Doncaster, dished at the Derby, lost at the Leicester, cleaned out at 

 the Cheltenham, spooned at the Nottingham, and floored at the New- 

 market ; then, in a paroxysm of fury, burns his betting-book, and leaves 

 the country till his afl'airs have been put in order by his agent. 



When we have called frequently at the house of a friend of idle habits, 

 and the servant invariably answers our question with a " Not at home, 

 Sir," or, " Master's gone into the country ;" if an inquiry be instituted. 



