Continued front. 83 



TWENTIETH WEEK, Makch 8th to 13th. 



It is only vis iucrtUe that compels iiie use iiiy pen this 

 week. The poor creatures of my fancy still eat the 

 bread of idleness, and I hardly know which are most 

 worthy of our compassion — the animals or their masters. 

 My almanac already tells me that fox-hunting has 

 ceased, although the custom of modern sportmen has 

 carried it furtively, but successfully, a little further into 

 the budding month of April. Still there is really very 

 little left to us of its i)remier qualite, and the dregs of 

 the season look as far off being tasted as they did a 

 fortnight ago. Even the poor birds have long ceased to 

 whisper their thoughts of spring, and are dying of cold 

 and want. All animal nature is struggling to counteract 

 the severity of an unexampled winter and spring com- 

 bined, which even human nature only can endure with 

 pain. Postponements are the order of the day — every- 

 thing is being adjourned to a more convenient season. 

 Steeplechasing, as well as hunting and coursing, has 

 gone to the wall. We grumbled at losing the Grand 

 National Hunt Steeplechases this year for our new 

 course at Shrew^sbury. Now, the boot is on the other 

 leg ; and we thank our luck at having been spared the 

 disappointment which is the lot of Yorkshire Maltou. 

 Bangor Steeplechases are fixed for April the 2nd, and 

 the stakes close on the 22nd inst. Already sales of 

 hunting studs are advertised apace. I see there is to be 

 an important one at Whitchurch this week, and that 

 Mr. Etches will have an unusually choice lot to offer, 

 hunters from the studs of Captains Cook, Kennedy, and 

 Cotton, as w^ell as from those of Messrs. Horton, Wynne, 

 Eyton, Masefield, Glynn, Drake, Peele Ethelston, the 

 late Eandolph Caldecott, the artist, and others. Here 

 there will be some bargains to be picked up for those 

 who have faith in the future, and. pockets not quite 

 empty. It is a grand time for setting our houses in 

 order. 



As I notified shortly last week, the Shropshire have 

 not lost sight of their opportunity, and I hear on all 

 sides of the gratitude which the south country feels at 

 the generous way in which Mr. Lonsdale has come 



F2 



