290 
Cotheratoue colt, after taking n Doncaster journey, ex pressly 
to get a beating und n 51bs. allowance, was also among the 
absentees. Crown Pigeon was rather gaudy, but quite the 
most racing, lengthy animal of the lot. Ili* noble owner 
superintended Ids saddling with no little anxiety, but ho 
quite belied his Jook when Mr. ilibburd got them under 
weigh. Alas J hus gone off in her looks; and Student is 
not unlike him, but still a very bad edition of SUlIimliournc. 
In tbo Pylchclcy Stakes, Census did not seem one whit the 
worse for his Warwick exertions. Ho has been sold every 
other day on an uveruge since tho Tuesday of that meeting, 
and now he produced £220 net to the Race Fund, noarly 
every bidding beluga It) guinea one. Anteverta wn> quite tbo 
next best out of llio eleven, and seems a remarkably useful 
mare. Among tlie Queen's Flute horse*, Slioravogm- struck 
us os being rather lighter than usual, und certainly Jtutaplun 
Imd a dull lack-lustre look, wliicli hardly foreboded so eusy 
a victory. A milo from homo thoro was nearly 100 yards 
between tbo leaders and the whipper-in, as Lord John and 
King Allred seemed to bo racing each other’s beads off, but 
the hill made them both compound, os it bus hundreds of 
belter horses in its lime, and wbcu'llotoplun “ came,” he 
just ran passed them as ho liked. 
The racing on Thursday was again very hollow, and 
Pclion and Ephesus were noth among tho unfortunates 
in the twenty-eight lor the Silencer’s Plate, but the latter, 
although ho seemed very dull, got wonderfully through 
Ins horses. Snowdon Dunhill, and Prime Minister n< v r 
looked better, though the legs of the latter were very 
queer. Wei ham is neatish, but without much size and 
substance. Ilex was never in nicor form, and once well 
up the hill, ho put Raokapelt, who was pretty strongly 
pricked, at complete defiance, Mr. Stanley, who we 
observe has adopted “pea-green ” so us not to clash with 
the “cherry " banner of bis old confederate, wisely kept 
Veteran in his stable. Tho Flatterer looked pounds 
hotter than ho did at Doncaster, and came lluby over 
everything from end to end. He is ns clean-hocked, long- 
pnsterned, and fine-quartered a horse as one would desire 
to see, and very well grown into the bargain. Lowvat 
was a level blood-like animal, hut not very lug, and 
Titormus both low, lengthy, and stout-built to a degree. 
Cineos was not in tho town for the Dclapre Stakc.-Cand 
hence Orestes had only three things to meet, two of 
which could hardly gallop loot enough to keep themselves 
warm. 
Hy the death of the Duke of Portland, the Jockey Club has 
lost a third member within a very short time. It is 
however, many years since lie left his favourite “flood- 
meadows ” for Ills old racing haunts, and wo think it must 
be quite twelve since we have seen a horse mounted in his 
colours on tho turf. The last, if our memory serves us, 
was Wolbeck, w ho won the Newmarket Stakes. Although 
lie lived witlun 15 miles of Doncaster, we do not find his 
name once mentioned either in the racing annals of herself 
or York, and having won the Derby once on Tiresias, “ ai 
the first lime of asking,” he never ran for it again. Clift 
" the tremendous titinUhoiv ” wm i.l- w.,.i..?.. 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
I • , V. “ “f," 1 ". V-llll, 
the tremendous punisher, was liiB jockey on that 
occasion, as well as several others, and had a £50 
pension from liis Grace, when lie retired from the saddle. 
Jle was essentially a Newmarket sportsman, but the 
short distances, and the two-year-old courses of the 
present, day, never jumped with his fancy, and hence the 
Portland Handicap, over thrcumiles of the Beacon Course 
was constituted in his honour, and appropriately carried 
off one year by Venison, who was just the stout style of 
horse lie especially delighted to honour. Unfortunately 
this race has long since dropped through, while the absurd 
Challenge W hip and throe miles £50 Plate, lor two-year 
ulus, &c., remain*. As his sun Lord Geo. Bent nick's tastes 
for the turf grew stronger and stronger, lies Grace gra- 
dually drew off from it, and the world was muc h amused 
with John Days confession, that 1m “ had never been 
so put through the sieve ” in his life, as he was by him, 
when he wished to learn how this “Mr. Bowo, thJ Don- 
caster publican,” was able to keep Grey Monies, mid so 
many other horses. Shortly after this conversation, Lord 
George dropped his incog., and stood confessed before the 
world as the real owner of the stud ; although he never 
forgot lus ‘Turf lavern ’’nominator. 
Tim racing world is not very full of reports just at 
present. It is, however, pretty certain, ns we hinted at 
ho time, that the Dervish r. Acrobat spin of Monday 
fortnight is a pure legend, ami that the latter's position 
m the market will soon “harden” again. lie will very 
probably bo visible m the First Spring, where lm i's 
matched over the Rowley Mill, 600 li.f., against Lord 
Glasgow s 1 hysalis colt— a very nice animal, of the Ted- 
dnigton style, and of whom both his lordship and I'Aiison 
fond ' p . Lord Exeter and llarlock have 
still higher hopes o Phaeton, and expect him to make 
another btockwell bit on the 2,000 guineas day. If 
their measure be correct, all the Derby hopes of the 
Newmarket men will vest him, as they have really 
nothing else, -although it has become a proverb against 
them, that li they have a eood thing, they never fail to 
he ignorant ot it It would seem that Ruby presents no 
ears tor Lord Exeter now, and the cvor-talkutivc “man 
n the street says that he is all wrong, with planters on 
lus legs and a worse temper than ever. lie, also states 
that Autocrat, is going on very well, and that Omoo is 
greatly improved, and likely to give Nat tho chance of a 
winning Oaks mount at last. \ 
Epsom does not promise at present to be a very great 
fr. nf , ?.? 0,n ‘ of fieIds - Melbourne has no 
penalty, which will greatly thin the two-year-old stake 
StakM 8 ! 11,1 C V U,K J Submban > w, id the Metropolitan 
Stake , are open o n degree. In tlm latter, we Sannot 
If rv W* th ? D ™ S T ,neans il in earnest, and on 
very good grounds, with Lmdrick, who is rarely well in 
Jonathan Martin is certain to be at a very short price be- 
fore starting, as all “ the hook-men ” have been taking 
such sad liberties with him. UUmg 
NOTES FROM MELTON MOWBRAY.— No. IX. 
To the Editor of “ Tnu Field.” 
Sir,— Y ou must udmit that I have not troubled your 
columns unnecessarily during the last three weeks, and there- 
Jre thero is some consolation in the fact, that nobodv can 
find fault with the orticlo (I wish it hod been otherwise) 
because the reason may ho found in the fact, that hunting 
*r'| dU .- ^ I ,,e ' vl,ole of «h« lust month, been at a complete 
stand still ; bard ground lias Ueterrod a man from working 
a g.,od stud ol horses, while cold, harsh winds have had the 
effect of destroying all vestiges of ecent. The Quorn and 
Hoi voir hounds have nearly dono for the season, except an 
odd day once a week, when tbo masters would much rutlier 
ilicv did not go ou^at all— therefore tlicrr. is no spirit in the 
tiling — enthusiasm is out of the question ; and gentlemen 
arc lingering about hern like fish out of water. This is the 
worst finish to the season ever known ; and on all hands the 
closing sceno of Croxton Park Races will be gladly wel- 
comed. On tills account Jt is highly probable this may be 
the lust record of events hero for tbo present, unless anv- 
tlilng should occur more than common. If the few notes, 
therefore, which have been hastily thrown together from time 
to time have given offence to any one, It has not been done 
wilfully ; and if, on the otbor band, any of your readers have 
taken an interest in the runs and records of the sport of 
J.eieeMcrihlro, and have been giutified by their perusul, I 
shall have ailuincd my object. Should time and circum- 
stances permit, perhaps next season we may make anolher 
attempt. 
Tuesday, the 21st, provcd'to bo ono of the most extra- 
nidlnnry days ever known, and competent authorities have 
no hesitation in asserting that it was even superior to the 
celebrated Billesdou Coplow day in Mr. Meyncll’s time, or 
lo tho mil from Ashby Pastures, recorded by Nimrod in 
"Tho Chaco;” and, indeed, when tlm whole extent ol 
country traversed over in an hour and a half is taken into 
consideration, it docs almost scorn fabulous to eiato that mu 
fax could have lived so far. Tho meet was at I, amide 
Abbey; the field was not numerous at all, because of tho 
dryness of tho ground. Tilton wood was drawn, and this 
gallant fox immediately went away for Halstead, leaving 
Tilton village on the right; lie bore strniglit to S It effing ton 
Hall; leaving Mint also on the right, be went to Itolleston, 
und through tbo plantations, pointing his bead for u few 
seconds towards Alloxton ; bo then leaned to tbo right over 
t l.e best line of country in tlm world for Shangton 
Holt, which he did not enter; then on to Illston-on- 
the-IliJ] and Norton Gorsc, tho pace almost raciim, and 
many of them shook off. Mr. Lloyd was here, leading 
on The Folon — he then went straight as an arrow bv 
Burton Overy, and on to Glen dorse, running bang through 
which, be pointed to Wislow IJouso, and leaving that on 
tlm right he went to Flcckney, and straight away to Coun- 
testhorpo, doubling then again and bearing fur Shearsby 
Inn. lie was lost for the simple roiison that the bounds 
could go no further; they were without u huntsman the la.-t 
four miles, and for a long way the fox was on ono side of a 
fence, and tho hounds on tho other, mid they had not 
strength left to go over, nor could they get through. The dis- 
tance, according to the Ordnance map, is about 25 miles. 
This is nn occasion when wo shall ho justified in departing 
from a general rule, omi’stule, dial tho first flight consisted 
of Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Ainsworth. Mr. Wood, Colonel Campbell, 
Mr. T. Hoy$0ck, Cuptnin Hawkesley, Hon. H. Coventry! 
Lord Gardiner, &c ; all wore, however, dead beat, und it 
was with considerable difficulty tho bounds could be got to 
Leicester, whore a special train was chartered, uml bounds 
horses, and gentlemen vvero curried along the Syston and 
Petcrbnro’ line, tho Meltoniuus being dropped on route, ami 
the others taken on to OuUlmm. 
Tho sumo bounds met at Tilton-wood on Saturday, the 
2r>lh, and not llio least doubt exists but that they found the 
very yainefox again, for ho went over exactly tho sumo line of 
country, and gave them an excellent run, until lio got to 
HUton-on-thc-IIill, whero lm was headed by a shepherd’s 
dog, and run Into Norton Gor*e, from which place a fresh 
lox went away, and a most excellent day’s sport ended by 
bis being lost at Somerby, a distance of twelve miles ut tlm 
least. 
Monday, the 27th. — The Bclvoir hounds met at Stonesbv 
at 12 o’clock. Although they killed two foxes, and had ‘a 
lair gallop for Hu! far House, there wus nothing particularly 
worth recording ; neither has there been since tho Quoin 
have for some days past cut tlm matter altogether ; und us 
there is now no hope or prospect of a change of any kind 
tlmro is no other el.unco than to make tlm hesl of u bud ser- 
mon, by bringing the whole to a conclusion. Sumo other 
subjects might have been touched upon, but circumstances 
have dictated tho propriety of silence. 
There w as u report of a change in tho Cottesmore country 
but I believo nothing decisive has been coma to resnectine 
the future M. F. there; they are to meet ut Little Dulbv 
next Tuesday morning, at nine o’clock, for a finish. 
Tlm readers of “ Tun Field ” are of course aware that 
Croxtnn Park Meeting commences on Tuesday. This is 
one of tlm aristocratic gatherings of “ M.-rrio England ” 
and will well repay a visit. The semm of nction Ties six 
miles from Melton station, on tho Midland line • eight 
miles from Grantliuin, on tho Great Northern; and 
about the same distance from BottesCord, on tlm Boston 
und Amhot gate line. Conveyances will be found in gient 
plenty at any of these places, and the scenery to and from 
Mm eon rso is very fine indeed. Every facility will bo 
afforded by tlm various railway companies, and 'no doubt 
from tlm entries, somo good sport may bo anticipated* 
It will be tho sixteenth year of tlm Gruuhy liundieHp,— tho 
first being won by Mr. Foster’s Combat. Munv impiovo- 
nicnls have been made lately, both in tlm course' and about 
tlm stand and belting enclosure. This year the telegraph 
is to be used, and all moans will bo ensured to render tlm 
meeting one of a popular churacter. 
With best wishes for your success, and many thanks for 
your attention, 
I am yours, &e. 
Melton Mowbray, 29//i March, 1854 . L’i.llasalis. 
ny, ErcuU Hvulli— holf-paM 10. 1 
> .—Monday , Clay luingcr ; Tliuisday. Klllurton— hair-pout 
sv s. Ml!.— gniimLijr (il.i* day), Wodlram; Tuesday t. 
it s Army, Derm ; Friday , Holm- Colt— II. ^ ** 10 
Vu\ry 
rUA HOUNDS. 
iw’ an n Island.— M onday, Limerick; Wednesday, Sklltela»h • 
rlday, Tho Tllnck Lion— ]]. " ' 
F- B — hii u r!p«f iS l,c Hu,r Moo,,, s ““ ,ians: Fridaj '- 
O ah tii’s, Slit — Wednesday, Locks Farm 0. 
ItBYTiiBor, Loan Redesdalf.’*.— M onday, Loutl.lairn Lod-e- w , 
nesday, Cornl.ury Purk; Friday, RlnRwood Oats— liBlr.pMi in ’ 
Ingram s, Mil Mr.VNEi.r,.-Naiurdoy (this day), Bagol’s Pul L 
—quarter lo 11. e QrK Lodgo 
Ledbury. — M onday, Neivart Wood— Thursday, Sappy nri,i..„ n 
Xi:w Forest, Mb. Theobald's.— Tuesday, buck land • 'ti, 
Dunbrldtie; Saturday, Bolderwood-ll. “’ Tl 'u«day, 
Pytchlev.— M onday, Rockingham; Saturday, Oundle Wood-q UarU!r 
SirnorsHtRK.— Tuesday, Lonedon— half-past 10. 
Staffordshire, Noam.-The Three Crowns, Stoke rn-ir 
Friday, P real I Heolli-holf-past 10. ’ " ear Stor >- : 
ITVKflTOX.- — * ”• 
Trelawwy 
Duller^ , , 
Warwickshire.— T uesday, Ool'dlcoic j Thursday, At cester— quarter lo 
WARwmKsmitB, Xoirrir.— Saturday (this day), Tilo Hill— q Uar i cr 
Wheatland.— T uesday, Wcnloek— half-past 10. 
Wjibblb's, Mil— W ednesday, Painter Ln.l; Friday, Dulmarshe Court 
Woodovis,— M ondny. Jump; Thursday, Horse-bridge— half-past lo 
Worcestershire. — M onday, Croorne Party Wood: WpIi„„Ji 
C row h' ; Friday, Shakcnhursl— half-past 10. liy ’ 
WvNN'a, Sir W.W.— Monday, Lea Dridgo; Wednesday, Chirk Paeiu 
Snlni-day, Llanforda— half-past 10. rxLaslIc. 
York and Ainsi y, — T uesday, IticcaU— II, 
SCOTLAND. 
FOX HOUNDS. 
Bdcclbucii’o, Dukk of.— M onday, Headsliaw; Wednesday Fdcer 
stone Goie; Thursday, Eckford ; Sjlurduy, Cowden Knowo^_H " 
Wemyss’o, I^ihd.— Monday, Mlllfield Hill; Wednesday, Polwar'n . 
Friday, I.intliiw; Sntiirdny, Mindruin Mill— half-past 10. ' 
Lanarksdirk and IIknprewsuiiif..— ' T uesday, No win n Ins Houtn- 
Saturday, lllaekwood ; Tuesday, II, Hillend ; Saturday, 15 cieu. i,’ 
earn— quarter io II. ’ e "' 
IRHLAN D. 
STAG HOUNDS. 
Ward Union, Co. Dublin,— S aturday (this day), Flnlhouse: Wed- 
nesday, Seven-niilu-stoiic, Ashbouine-roaJ ; Saturday ’ 
House— 1. 
FOX HOUNDS. 
Carlow 
Frida. 
TiFPEnARV. Tuesday, South Lodge Gate; Saturday, Qrallngh Casllo 
Wexford.— T uesday, Cnrrigmennon J Friday, Tinlern — 11. 
DARHIEIiS. 
Wicklow.— M onday, ICIlpoolGate; Friday, Giant's Grave— II. 
ADDITIONAL FIXTURES. 
[Received loo late for Insertion in our First Edition.] 
. STAG HOUNDS. 
HERWAJES'nr ,s . — Tuesday, lieiiconsfield; Friday, New Lodge lialf- 
FOX HOUNDS. 
UEAurom's, Duke op.— M onday, Wrnxall ; Wednesday, Newark Park • 
Thursday, Link Hill; Saturday, Hullavington— half-pnst 10. * 
CoTTESMouj: — Monday, Burle) -on-ihe-U ill ; Tuesilnv, Lillie Dulbv— 
i) ; Tlmr-dny, Grlinsthorpe; Sulurdny, Tilton Wood— li. 
Durham County. — T uesday, Lunehesler; Friday, Oldin Gran-e— 
half-past 10 
Holdehness. -Wednesday, Sunderland wick; Tliuisday, Lowlhoruu 
Lodge— quarter to II. 1 
H * IL— Moudny.Candover Village; Thursday, Hartley Church— quarter 
Lowndes's, Mu. Selby. — T uesday, Elmwood Hall. 
Oakli.v — Monday, Deer Park, Yardley Chase; Thursday, Easton 
Mood; Pniiiiduv, Du ngee Corner— quarter to II. 
South wold, Mr. Cook’s.— M onday, Bimvell Park; Thursday, Fallelbr 
Mill— It. 1 
Somerset Subscription.—^ T uesday, Ualcigl.’s Cross ; Saturday. Tim- 
bei'scombu Villugu— half-past 10. 
Southdown. — Monday, Langley Toll Oate— quarter lo 11. 
Sinnington, — T hursday, Heimsley— half^nst 10. 
Vine. — M ondny, Wortlng House— half-past 10. 
HAnniEis. 
Brookside.— M onday, Newmarket Hill; Thursday, Telscombe Tyc— 
lialf-pust 10. 
8COTL1 N D. 
haurfbIis. 
Taft’s, Mr. A. D.— Wednesday, Ciilrnliift— half-past II. 
I R E L A N D. 
FOX HOUNDS. 
Meath.— M onday, Itosmead; Wednesday, Crossdruni ; Saturdov. Bal- 
bnter Bridge— 1 1. 
Wblvowt Club.— M onday, Chapel Rye Hill, near Monivea-12. 
The ICit.d.vmf. Hounds will not hunt asaln this season, in conse- 
quence of the accident which occurred to William Kennedy, Esn„ the 
master. * ’ 
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. 
(Weather Per hitting.) 
FOX HOUNDS. 
Chi,,in ^ n 
KS™i U |t' d",>. H Ighcross— <|uarter to 11. 
Gate • Friduv Itrnmf U ' ’ I? *L 0,> ' Voo< * ’ " ‘dnesday, Alwoodley 
ha^^past 10. 
Down 
’ednesduy, 
Last Bun of the V. W. II.— On Saturday Mr. Vil- 
lebois' hounds met at Cirencester lo finish tho season. Tlm 
Squire threw open his house lo every ono who chose to par- 
take ol 1 1 is hospitality, he having ordered a sumptuous 
luncheon to be prepared for the occasion. It is needless to 
add, that numbers took advnntagc of the opportunity pre- 
sented them of paying n parting visit to him, as master of 
the V.W.1I. On his health being proposed, it was eusy to 
perceive how thoroughly ho lmd gained the respect of all 
parlies connected with the county* Tho neighbouring hunts 
sent forth their representatives on the occasion— tlm Duke 
of Beaufort’s, Lord FitzhardingoV, the Old Berkshire, and 
tlm II ey llirop — and seldom has the town of Cirencester wit- 
nessed so gay a scene. After some time had been spent in 
doing justice to I ho luncheon, tlm hounds moved from tlm 
front of Mr. Villebois’ house up tho Market-place, to Tay- 
lor’s Gorsc. Had a regiment of soldiers marched up the 
street, the crowd of lookers-on could not have been greater. 
Every window and door wasoccupied, and tho horsemen filled 
tlm street from one end to tho other. Such a field has seldom 
been seen wiih the V.W . H « Taylor’s Gorse was drawn 
blank, also some small coverts at Ashton Keynes; Cerney 
^ ick produced a fox, which broke away at once; but un- 
fortunately met an old man und u donkey-cart in the road, 
Irom which cumo he headed back, and into covert, and was 
killed. Tlm hounds then proceeded to draw Driffield. In 
taking leave of Mr. Villebois os u master of hounds, Ihe 
county must own that they never could have met with a 
man who would have devoted so much time, money, and 
trouble lo further the noble diversion of fox-liunling as he lias 
done for tlm last five seasons. The liberal way in which bo 
bus done everything, his unbounded hospitality, and his real 
love of the animal’ hound, caused him to be deservedly 
popular as on M.F.II. throughout the limits of Ihe hunt; 
with the farmers he has been a great favourite, and lie lias 
done all in his power to bring keepers, and others in this 
department, to be friendly lo the hunt, and ho has suc- 
ceeded. There are few hunts in better order than the 
Vale of White Horse, and I know it was with a heavy heart 
that Mr. Villebois rode up tlm town of Cirencester with bis 
hounds on Saturday last, to draw for a fox, for the last time, 
in one of the best foxhunting counties in England. (I 
know of no better county than the V.W.IL) Lord Ports- 
mouth has purchased Mr. Villebois’ hounds, and they are 
now in his lordship’s possession. Lord Gifford succeeds 
Mr. Villebois in ihe county — a good exchange for his present 
Lad-scenting heart-breaking county, Herefordshire. A public 
diuucr is to bo given to Mr. Villebois at Cirencester about 
the third week in April, os a mark of esteem und regard. 
K. 
