364 
FIELD. 
THE 
AN B.XTHAOM)INARY INCIDENT OF A STEEPLECHASE AT LA MARCIIE, NEAR PARIS. 
Ln Jlnrclio is nn enclosed species of park, about eight miles from Paris, whero the Stooplecbascs 
mostly come off. Admission only being obtained by money, mid being undor tlio especial patronage 
of the Paris Jockoy Club, kcop it'vory Belcot. It is visited by the Emperor nnd Empress, and the elite 
of society. 
FREAKS AND FRISKS OF NATURE IN PRODUCING 
CELEBRATED RACERS. 
My remembrance of turf matters, and men connected 
with them, carries me over a space of time bordering upon 
half a century, for a long period of which 1 was a regular 
subscriber at the corner, as well as a regular frequenter 
of every influential race-meeting in England, and else- 
where. 1 conducted and arranged all the Racing matter 
for Mr. Pitman’s “Old Sporting Magazine,” until it be- 
came incorporated with the “ Sporting Review,” for which 
periodical 1 have written the sporting lives of the Duke 
of Cleveland, Lord George Bontinck, and William Scott, 
and a description of “Tattersall’s as it was, and as it is. ” 
1 simply mention these circumstances to show that I have 
been no idle observer of mattors connected with our na- 
tional pastime of horse-racing, nor inattentive to the 
strange coincidences which have occasionally manifested 
themselves flaring its progress of the last thirty years; 
and if the reader will follow mo over that lapse of time, 
he will discover a singularity, which, however strange it 
may appear, is no more strange than true. I think I can 
make it manifest, that during the past thirty years, there 
have been six animals foaled, who at three years old could 
“skin the lamb,” as the book-makers have it, nnd clean 
out all horses of their year, as well as those of any other 
year at Craven weights. And, odd ns it inav seem, the six 
animals possessing those superior qualities for racing 
haVo am, deem makes, anti have generally appeared 
about five years apart from each other. Suppose, 
for example's sake, we begin with the first of 
these celebrated, Bkkswino, foaled in 18311. I think no 
one will for an instant attempt to gainsay that, at. three 
years old, site was not capable of beating everything of 
iter year. This mare of speed, as well as endurance, was, 
after a certain interval, followed up by the Queen of 
Thumps, who won the Oaks and Saint Leger of the same 
year, and, had sho boon entered for it, would most un- 
doubtedly have won the Derby also. The next in my 
selection will be Alice IIawthohnk, nnd who is thpre 
living that can doubt her capabilities. To her I subjoin 
Lord George’s flyer, Cituoivix, who, if her understandings 
had not failed her, I have my doubtuigs if she would not 
ever have remained nn unbeaten mare, such as she went 
to the stud. Next in the progress of time appeared one 
yclept Nanct, an out and outer, and no mistake about it, 
until they ran her off her legs. To succeed Nancy and 
reach my climax, what do you think of my termagant 
Virago? ller double triumph outlie same day at Epsom, 
and giving seventeen pounds away to an entire animal of 
the same year, I think, ought to placo her in the category 
of wonders, whom 1 have before enumerated. I wish 
honest John had run her for the Newmarket Handicap ; 
she would have shown them where her tail grows, and 
have sacked the nine hundred which her absence gave 
Tommy Par the chance of picking up, but who to me 
appears long ago to have been pledged to an eleventh 
hours’ scratch. I sincerely hope she may give him a 
sound licking over Knavesmire on Tuesday next, although, 
from previous penalties, she will have to receive from 
Defiance only fourteen pounds instead of twenty-seven. 
These are the things to make a inangO straight if nothing 
else will. Goldfinch. 
THE WIND-UP OF CAPTAIN TAIT’S SEASON. 
The rlny after the Kilmarnock steeplechases, the harriers 
met at the sporting residence of Cairn Hill, whore jumping- 
powder and “ othor ct cctcras,” as they sny in Ireland, were 
doled out. They then trottod off to the open country, and 
had not gono fur when a young hound gave tongue without 
any apparent reason. “ I dou’t boliove a word of it — I 
don’t believe a word of it!” kept grunting out tho good- 
humoured master to the hare-brained hound, Barmaid, till 
finding that she was soon backed by the rest of tho pack, 
ho was too glad to believe that thore was something in it ; 
for away they went, like shot out of a shovel, shoving along 
at such a shindy witli u scent, ns to show that they wero 
sure of a stunner. 
The pace was “ pumping,” and pretty “ purling" thero 
was, to be sure (tbree down at t ho third fonco); for away 
thoy wont, seventeen minutes without a check, over a fino 
fair fencing grass country with biggish jumps, when a con- 
venient check, in a bit of plough, let soino of tho pumpers 
got into their places ; when away thoy went again at a 
rollicking, rattling rate, over tho shoulder of Craigy Hill, 
by the old castle walls, giving tonguo most tunefully, on the 
good scent-holding grass lunds in tho fino cropping climato 
of Ayr, ivhon tho hounds enme to a check in the bottom, 
which bothered them u bit, till a hare was viowed hurrying 
over tho hill, which soon satisfied the streamers, after as 
pretty a thing of live and thirty minutes as one could wish 
to soe. “ Wiioo-Woop” of 'Hi. 
Bridge of Allan, Scotland. 
Mr. Drake’s Hunt. — T he above gentleman has just 
concluded a first-rate season with his hounds. Though 
they were idle for upwards of two months, on account of 
the 1 rost, they killed no less than 34j brace of foxes. 
Stratton Audloy House will be forthwith arranged as a 
hunting-box for the honoured gentleman. 
IMPROMPTU. 
NOTHING LIKE KNOWING THE COUNTRY. 
Huntsman , — (To officer going abroad — “ I’loaso bo so good, 
sir, ns givo my respects to innstcr Ilarry.” 
Officer . — “ Oh! but my brother is in the West Indies, and I’ni 
going to tho East.” 
Huntsman . — “Mayluvp you’ll moot at t’ cover Bido all tho same, 
sir. 
“ BEAUFORT HUNT.” 
Wo call tho attention of our readers to tho disposal of 
the well known and highly interesting picture of the 
Beaufort Hunt; full particulars will be found among 
our advertisements. The picture is rendered highly valu- 
able, as being a memorial of the late Duke of Beaufort, 
"hose portrait it contains, as well as that of the present 
Duke, with likenesses of most of the members of the hunt 
and other patrons of English sport. As a painting it is 
highly to be commended, the animals being in the very best 
style of the late Win. Burrand, and the portraits arc by his 
surviving brother, whose works arc so well known. The 
engraving given t<> subscribers is calculated to suit nil 
tastes, and likely to be a general favourite. 
WRITTEN ON TUB NEWMARKET HEATH. 
Oh I Tommy Parr, Oh ! Tommy l’nrr, 
In racing you have sciouco, 
When Wcnthcrgngo 
Was oil tho rage, 
You bade the ring DEFIANCE. 
You have an nnimnl can run, 
But then thero’s no reliance; 
The doily tricks 
You on us fix, 
Bids honesty defiance. 
No Martin Jonathan nnd Co.’s 
Shall share my fond alliance ; 
To scratch or pull 
1’Jl be no gull, 
But hurl at them defiance. 
The following are tho coursing- fixtures for next season 
PLACE. COUNTY. JUDGE. TIME OF MEETING. 
OCTOBER. 
Market Weighton .. 
Yorkshire Mr. A. Bennett . 
...17 
Caledonian (Open) . . 
Lanark 
...19 
NOVEMBER. 
Caledonian St. Leger 
Lauurk 
DECEMBER. 
Caledonian (Open).. 
MARCH, 1855. 
Lanark 
WAR-OFFICE, April 21. 
2nd Regiment of Life Guards — Ensign Lord Ernest M’Donneli 
Vane, from the 57th Foot, to be Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant, by pur 
chase, vice Honourable C. S. B. Hanburry, promoted, April 21 . 
Royal Regiment of Horse Guards — Captain Richard Henry Richard 
Howard Vysc, to be Major, by purchase, with the rank of Lieutenant 
Colonel In tho Army, vice Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel the Honourable 
Horace Pitt, who retires; Lieutenant Francis Howard Vyse to be 
Captain, by purchase, vice Trelawney, who retires; Lieutenant Duncan 
James Baillic to be Captain, by purchase, vice Vyse; Cornet the 
Honourable John Baptiste Joseph Dormer, to be Lieutenant, by pur 
chase, vice Vyse; Comet John Inglis Jones to be Lieutenant, by n» r ’ 
chase, vice Baillic, April 21. 
7th Light Dragoons— Lieutenant Charles Crawford Fraser lo bn 
Captain, by purchase, vice the Duke of Beaufort, promoted, by purchase 
to on Unattached Majority ; Cornet Musgravc Dyne Brisco to be Lieu.’ 
tenant, by purchase, vice Fraser, April 21. 
13th Light Dragoons— Assistant Surgeon Lancelot Armstrong 
from the Staff, to be asslstant-Sugcon, vice Dumbreck, who exchanges’ 
April 21. 
10th Light Dragoons— Cornet Walter Barrett Leonard has been per 
mitted to retire from the service by tlic sale of his commission, April 
21 . 
1st or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards— Ensign and Licuteuant 
Frederick Charles Kcppcl to be Adjutant, vice Ralph Bradford, who 
resigns the Adjutancy only, April 21. 
2nd Regiment of Foot— Henry Pync Hiffernan, Gent., to be Ensign 
by purchase, vice Laurie, appointed the 4tli Foot, April 21. 
4th Foot— Ensign John Wimburn Laurie, from the* 2nd Foot, to be 
Ensign, vice Winter, who retires April 21. 
12tli Foot— Sergeant-Major Robert Laver to be Quartermaster 
vice Cowell, appointed to the Depot Battalion at Parkhunt, April 21 ’ 
16th Foot— Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel William Cockcll, to he Lien, 
tenant, without purchase, vice Luxmore, who retires upon full-pa. 
Captain Alexander Munro, to be Major, without purchase, vice Cockin' 
Lieutenant John Octavius Chichester, to be Captain, without purchase,' 
vice Munro; Ensign John King Kendall, to he Lieutenant, without 
purchase, vice Chichester; Gentleman Cadet William Henry Carter, 
from the Royal Military College, to be Ensign; without purchase, vico 
Kendall, April 21. 
19th Foot— Quartermaster Serjeant Thomas Palmer to be Quarter, 
master, vice Hendry, appointed to tho Depot Battalion at Winchester, 
April 21. 
20th Foot— Thomas Wright, Gent., to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice 
Howard, promoted on the Staff, April 21. 
26th Foot— Lieutenant William Edward Wallace, to be Captain, by 
purchase, vice Cameron, who retires, April 21. 
43rd Foot— Lieutenant-Colonel James Brown, from the 94th Foot, 
to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Phillips, who exchanges, Feb. 21. 
57th Foot— George Mitchell, Gent., to bo Ensign, by purchase, vico 
Lord Ernest MDonncll Vane, promoted in the Ifpd Life Guards, April, 
21 . 
60th Foot — Ensign Charles Frederick Wheeler Cuffeto be Lieutenant, 
by purchase, vice Bowles, who retires; Charles James Thornton Dues- 
bnry, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Caffe, April 21. 
84th Foot— Lieutenant Robert Hyde Page, from half-pay 76th Foot, 
to be Lieutenant, vice Campbell Barber Browne, appointed to the 30th 
Foot, April 21. 
91th Foot— Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Newton Phillips, from 43rd 
Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Brown, who exchanges, April 21. 
Depot Battalion at Winchester— Brevet-Lieutenant-Coloncl William 
Slater, from half-pay unattached, to be Major, April 21. 
“Depot Battalion of Tcmplcmorc— Major Henry George Hart, from 
lialf-pay unattached, to be Major, April 21. 
Unattached.— Captain Henry Duke of Beaufort, from the 7th Light 
Dragoons, to be Major, by purchase, April 21. 
Hospital Staff.— Assistant-Surgeon William Dumbreck, from tho 
13th Light Dragoons, to be Assistant-Surgeon to the Forces, vico 
Armstrong, who exchanges, April 21. 
Brevet.— Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Dive Townsliend, of the Depot 
Battalion at Templemoro, to be Colonel in the Aimy; Lieutenant- 
Colonel William Fergusson Beatson, of the East India Company's 
Service, to have the local rank of Colonel, while employed in tho 
Turkish dominions, April 21. 
Memorandum Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel George Lister Lister 
Kaye has been permitted to retire from the army by tho 6nle of his 
commission, he being about to become a settler ln Canada, April 21.— 
The Christian names of Staff-Surgeon, First Class, Tclfer, aro John 
Thomson, and not John Thomas, as stated in the Gazelle of March 28. 
OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, April 19. 
Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners— Captain Frederick Augustus 
Yorke to be Brigrde-Major, vice Walpole, promoted; Second Captain 
FitzRoy Molyneux Henry Somerset to be Adjutunt, vice Ord, promoted, 
Feb. 17. 
COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORD LIEUTENANTS. 
County of Merionetli — Henry Richardson, Esq., late of the 2nd Dra- 
goon Guards, to be Deputy Lieutenant, March 25. 
County Palatine of Lancaster— Montague Joseph Fieldcn, Esq., to 
be Deputy Lieutenant, April 3. 
County of Gloucester— Richard Wyatt, Esq., to be L'eputy-Lleutenant, 
April 20. 
Northamptonshire Regiment of Militia— William l’ercival to bo En- 
sign and Surgeon’s Mate, vice Georgo Gates, resigned, April 15. 
Royal Berks Militia— Henry Abigail Ellis, Gent., to bo Ensign, 
April 13. 
Royal Monmouthshire Militia- John Lawrence, Gent., to bo Ensign, 
April 18. 
2nd Regiment of the Royal Surrey Militia— William St. James Ball, 
Esq., to be Lieutenant, April 4. 
2nd or Edmonton Royal Rifle Regiment of Middlesex Militia— Charles 
William Hamilton Sotbeby, Esq., lute Captain 60th Royal Rifles, to lie 
Major, vice Griffiths, who retires, retaining his rank, April 12. 
ISSUE OF £6,000,000 OF EXCHEQUER BONDS. 
CITY, Friday Evening. 
A notice has been sent down to the Bank of England tins afternoon, 
Inviting tenders for .£6, 000,000 of Exchequer Bonds, to bear interest 
at tho rate of 3J per cent., and redeemable in May 1858, 1859, and 
1860, by equal amounts of £2,000,000. No tender to be for less than 
£1,000, and tho tenders may be made In Exchequer Bills at par, or if 
money be offered, £100 Is. will have to be paid for every £100 bond. 
The instalments arc to be payable May 8, June 9, July 11, Sept. 8 nest, 
by 10, 30, 20, and 20 per cent, respectively, and the remainder on October 
17. The instalments may be paid curlier if desired, and will bear 
Interest accordingly from the date of payment. Tenders to bo sent to 
the Bank before May 2. The highest tenders will be taken. The 
Bonds will be issued In sums of £100, £200, £500, and £1,000. It is 
not intended to apply to Parliament this session for any further issue 
of Exchequer Bonds boyond tho six millions. 
From the above it appears Government is resolved to be prepared 
to meet any demand for paying off its Exchequer Bills In June, «hcn 
they fall due, and may be below par ; but the project must not bo 
regarded as a new loan, one security being substituted for another. 
The project is good In itself, hut will disappoint thoso capitalists and 
speculators who desire to profit by loans urlsing out of tho necessities 
of the Government. 
Three Appropriate Degrees of Comparison.— 
Knave, Tyrant, Czar. — Ligier, the French tragedian, will 
debut shortly at the Odcon at Paris in anew piece by 
Dishomme and Sauvage, entitled, “ La Servaute du Roi.” 
Alboni is all the rage at Paris; she has been performing 
in “ II Barbierc” mid “ Donna del Lago,” and is rehearsing 
“ Beatrice di Tenda.” 
“Une Rencontre dans lc Danube,” an opera; “Redder 
pour mieux sauter,” a proverb; “A la recherche d’nn 
Million, "a vaudeville; “ Les Russes pient pour eux memes, 
a comedy (a failure); “ Ne touchez pas h la Hache,” a 
vaudeville; and “ Un Lovelace mnlgr6 Iui,” a vaudeville,— 
have been produced during the week at Puris. Industry 
must prosper. 
Herrings. — “The lovers of fish” may be glad to learn 
what a bloater is, a mystery' which I endeavoured to unravel 
when lately on the Norfolk coast. A bloater, I was informed, 
is a large plump herring (as we say a bloated toad), anu 
the genuine claimants of the title fall by their own weigh t 
from the meshes of the net. The origin of the simile— “ A 3 
dead as a herring” — may not be generally known. This h*h 
dies immediately upon its removal from the native element 
(strange to say) from want of air ; for swimming near the surface 
it requires much, and the gills, when dry, cannot perform their 
function. — Notes and Queries. 
St. George’s Hall, at Liverpool, one of the -finest structure* 
iu the world, has not cost more than the sum wasted on the 
ventilation of the Houses of Parliament. Yes, £250,000 — a sun 1 
that would have built ten noble parish churches, or 250 schools- 
or stored 250 free libraries. 
