THE HAMPTON COURT STUD. 
643 
We take some shame to ourselves for not having long ago no- 
ticed a course of lectures which Mr. Gabriel delivered at Devon- 
port to the leading sportsmen of that neighbourhood, on the 
natural history, structure, and pathology of the horse ; and also 
other lectures by him on natural history, anatomy human and 
comparative, and phrenology, delivered at the Plymouth Insti- 
tution. 
Those with whom we have to do will equally despise the mere 
book-learned practitioner, and him who has no farther pretension 
to the use of the horse than certain break-neck and blackguard 
propensities ; but by a union like this, of sterling scientific ac- 
quirements, with a love of the horse — a sportsman’s love of him — 
the character and estimation of our profession will be materially 
advanced. 
Y. 
THE HAMPTON COURT STUD. 
The sale and the dispersion of the contents of this noble es- 
tablishment took place on the 25th of last month. It was natural 
that the announcement and the approach of such an event should 
produce considerable excitement in the sporting world. Some 
animals of inferior worth had been creeping into this establish- 
ment ; but there were others that more than redeemed it in the 
estimation of horsemen, and rendered it worthy of that country 
in which the powers and qualities of the horse had been most 
fully developed. There was also something pleasing to the na- 
tional feeling when the royal name was connected with the breed- 
ing of the horse. It gave a powerful sanction to those inclina- 
tions and habits which were forming a part of the national cha- 
racter ; and it was a guarantee that, although the horse was sup- 
posed to be, and was actually deteriorating among us, at least so 
far as his stoutness was concerned, he would ever, like the British 
name and the British flag, take the lead among the nations of 
Europe. 
The letter or remonstrance of tjie Jockey Club did it the highest 
honour. The dissolution of such a stud was a matter that came 
home to their business and bosoms ; and we could have forgiven 
them (the real state of the establishment not being then generally 
known) if they had used somewhat stronger language : but that 
the affairs of this establishment should be mingled with the poli- 
tical dissensions that unhappily prevail, was highly disgraceful. 
When it was satisfactorily explained to the public that this was 
a case in which Her Majesty’s ministers could not interfere — 
that the executors of William IV had no option but to sell — and 
that as several interests were concerned, they plainly adopted the 
