and the numerous Stakes closed this year, showed a striking 

 improvement in the value and character of the different 

 speculative races. 



There were two events, connected with this Season, which 

 it would scarcely be well to pass over altogether in silence. 

 The first was the lamentable suicide of Mr Berkeley Craven, 

 who conceiving himself to be ruined by the unexpected 

 result of the Derby, shot himself, on the same evening, 

 although, it is asserted, that had he awaited the event of 

 the Oaks, he would have been but a trifling loser. Under 

 the false impression, however, of disgrace, in not being able 

 to meet his creditors upon the settling day, he committed 

 the rash act here recorded. 



The other event to which we have alluded, was the ex- 

 traordinary luck wiiich enabled " Vates," a writer of bad 

 English, done into doggrel rhyme, to place the first and 

 second horses for the Derby as they actually came in, in a 

 prophetic rhapsody published the week before. To call 

 this the effect of judgment, would be far too absurd a 

 doctrine to be carried out in truth ; but that it was a most 

 extraordinary fact, as strange as true, is certain. " Vates" 

 is now looked up to as the King of the " Prophets," although 

 he has a host of followers, who, like himself, throw in for 

 the chances, but not as yet with like success. We fear 

 these soothsayers, were they obliged to back their own 

 opinions, would soon find out that they had very little 

 connection with the " profits," when making acquaintance 

 with our friends Bland, Crockford, and the rest, on a 

 settling day at the Corner. 



M 2 



