fly's CANADA TIME. 



199 



eleven miles instead of fourteen, in any one hour— she would 

 have beaten them both, Fann j Jenks by five minutes and Fanny 

 Murray by tAventy-six minutes. 



One would much like to know whether there was any bet on 

 this performance, and on the particulars, and whether money 

 changed hands on it. For if not, I should conclude that the two 

 hours' stoppage were calculated, by some unknown process of re- 

 tardation. Since it is not conceivable, that on a hilly road, in a 

 sleigh and on snow, which are ascertained impediments to' rate 

 of going, this mare could have beaten time, so marvellouslv be- 

 yond all record, as by two full hours in ten, or left two such mares 

 as Fanny Jenks and Fanny Murray, at whose performance the 

 world is still wondering, such a marvellous distance as twenty 

 miles in a hundred, travelling fourteen miles to their ten. 



I find the performance recorded in the Turf Register of the 

 year, and therefore give it place here, though questioning greatly 

 its correctness. In fact, I am of opinion that a Sporting Eeview 

 should follow the plan adopted by " Bell's Life in London," of 

 never recording any sporting performance, unless proper proof 

 is adduced that the performance was admitted, by the payment 

 of a bet by the losers, who are presumed not to pay over their 

 money without being satisfied that they have lost it." Hundreds 

 of feats of walking, shooting and riding are daily recorded in 

 American journals, which never had any existence except in the 

 imaginations of their vaunted performers. 



And what is worse, pedigrees of horses are published, such 

 as those of Flora Temple, and of Kemble Jackson, in Porter's 

 Spirit of the Times, in which there is scarcely a word of truth or 

 even of verisimilitude. Fortunately, they are so ludicrously in- 

 correct and stupid, that they can do little harm, and deceive no 

 one, who knows what a pedigree is. One only wonders how 

 they should have escaped the watchful eye of the experienced 

 editor. ^ Turf registers, however, and stud books, have no right 

 to^ publish pedigrees on owner's or other interested person's ijyse 

 dixit They are bound either to require evidence, widely dili'er- 

 ent from affidavits of recollection by the oldest inhabitant, or to 

 verify the pedigrees produced, by examination of the authentic 

 books, and so to publish none which cannot show the stamp. 



Had Edgar followed this plan, the number of his imported 



