Newmarket in the Olden Time. 75 



when the Essex hounds ran their slot. The incidents 

 of the visit are thus handled in his journal : 



"July 3rd, arrived at Newmarket 6 P.M., where The Ram, wide 

 opening its ravenous maw, stood to receive us. We regale ourselves, 

 after an expeditious journey, upon a comfortable cup of tea, and then 

 take a walk to the race-course, as far as the stands. By the way we 

 observe Centaurea calcitrapa plentifully. At some distance we see the 

 Devil's Dyke, and terrified with the prospect, retreat with hasty steps 

 to supper. Soham cheese very fine. July 4th. On going into the quad- 

 rangle of this magnificent inn, I observed a post-chaise, with episcopal 

 insignia ; it belonged to our worthy diocesan. On the panel of the 

 chaise-door I took a new Empis" 



Having thus violated the sanctuary of a Bishop's 

 carriage, and stowed their victim in the specimen- 

 box, they seem to have taken a detour of two or three 

 days, during which they slew a Tabanis bovinus, 

 which had bitten the gig horse till it was covered 

 with blood. Their next Newmarket entry is as 

 follows : 



" July 6th. Left Cambridge early. A little before eight we reach 

 the Devil's Dyke : we dismount to look for insects, and find in vast 

 abundance the Scarabceus ruricola of Fabricius, and the Scarabczus 

 variabilis of Mainham. This unexpected success acted as a cordial and 

 reviver to our spirits. Once more enter The Ram, and here breakfast ; 

 and after settling our new colony of Scarabcei in their boxes, set off 

 again for Barton Mills." 



We carefully copied these quaint remarks into our 

 pocket-book ! and our reflections on them, as we 

 strolled home, were on this wise : First, we thought 

 what a mercy it was these sages were not challenged 

 for touts, and how very little the trainers would have 

 believed in them and their mild explanations. Again, 

 we felt not a little nettled that they should have 

 passed through Newmarket when George the Third 

 was king, and yet handed nothing down to posterity 

 but a few enthusiastic reflections on its inns and its 

 insects, Alas ! they wot not, poor harmless souls ! 

 of the high-bred sportsmen and the sound-lunged 

 steeds, who had so often terrified their Scarafazi, as 

 they galloped over that Heath, which is not without 



