“PRAY, WHAT IS A CENTLEMAN WITHOUT HIS RECREATIONS?” 
Vol. IV. — No. 95.] Saturday, October 21, 1854. [With Supplement, Price 6</. 
CONTENTS. 
Racing — Turf Talk — Full Reports of Warwick and Leamington 
October Meeting — Richmond Races — Curragh October Meeting. — 
Programmes : Houghton Newmarket — Worcester Autumnal Meet- 
ing — York August Meeting — Epsom August Meeting — Worcester 
Steeplechase — Cowbridge Hunt — Maze October — Turflana, 
Ooursino, Hunting, Sporting, Sporting Miscellany — Yachtxno, &c. 
News op the Week — Opera Glass — Metropolis. — Pro’tncial. 
THE FIELD OF WAR: Battle of the Alma — Thank# to the 
Troop# — Advanco from the Kntcha to Belbck — Skirmish at 
Kutor Mekenkia — Arrival at Sebastopol — Sebastopol on tho 9th of 
October — Escape of MenschikofT — Volunteers to Storm tho Breach 
— Sebastopol entered — Official List of Killed and Wounded — Letters 
from the Army in the Crimea — Tho Woundod at Constantinople. 
&c. &c. &c. 
ILLUSTRATION NEXT WEEK. 
Toe Rival Pets. Drawn by T, H. Wilson. 
TUS?F_JAL5*. 
"Tho chosen sport of a great and a freo people." 
Oub Sailor Kino. 
(from a correspondent.) 
npHE Bories of Queen's Plates for the present year were 
JL finished at Stirling last week. Of the thirty-five that 
were contested in England and Scotland, Rataplan has won 
nine ; Sharavogue, five ; Kingston, four ; Domino, three ; Epami- 
nondas, two ; and The Hermit, Wild Huntsman, Aribba, 
Black Swan, Adine, Exact, Hungerford, Khadidjali, The 
Skinner, St. Spiro, Defiance, and Hunca Munca, one each. 
Eighty-three years back there were only nineteen of these 
Royal Plates run for in England and Scotland, thirteen of 
which were contested in heats at four miles each, a trio at 
three-mile-heats, a couple at two-mile-heats, and one at four 
miles only. 
The Marquis of Exeter, if we are to judge from the 
iheavy reserved prices set upon the different animals 
comprising his lordship’s stud, and the several in- 
effectual auction Bales he has had, is very loath to 
secede from the turf. Only two of the noble marquis's 
stock, Margarette and Stockdove, were disposed of last week 
by the Messrs. Tattersall. No advance was made upon 
£3,500 for Stockwell ; but Strood was sold privately to 
Mr. Howard, who afterwards disposed of him to Lord 
Maidstone. The exact price did not transpire, but the figure 
was certainly a very high one. Pocahontas, who also be- 
longs to Lord Exeter, has proved herself quite equal to 
Phryne as a blood mare, having thrown Stockwell, Rataplan, 
King Tom, and Strood, in succession. The first-mentioned 
of this quartette was purchased by. the marquis for 300 gs. 
when a yearling ; Rataplan was bought lost year for 650 ga., 
and £3,000 were refused for him last week ; and Baron 
Rothschilds gave £2,000 for King Tom when two years old. 
Of these three one has enrolled himself among the St. Leger 
conquerors ; the second was fourth for the Derby and third 
in the St. Leger ; and the other, after running second for tho 
recent Derby, was made first favourite for the great event 
at Doncaster, but unfortunately broke down. Stock- 
well's fever, caused by close feet-paring, has de- 
prived us of a sight of him for eighteen months, till he 
floored the odds on tho unlucky Kingston last week. We 
presume a harem is shortly to be formed for him, also. 
Rataplan, undoubtedly, has turned out the most sound aud 
useful member of the family after all, although Stockwell 
won his owner twelve races out of nineteen, and £10,198, of 
which £9,998 was netted in 1852, for he never won either 
in his second or fourth year. His younger brother, 
Rataplan, though he has only amassed £4,848, has already 
won twenty-two races out of thirty-seven. Mr. T. Parr 
hired him this seasqa for, it is said, £1,200 ; and has started 
twenty-eight times, winning £3,748 with him, and suffering 
defeat in ten instances. King Tom, the half-brother (being by 
Harkaway, instead of by the Baron), has shown in four races 
only, winning twice, and realising £1,170. Strood, who is 
by Chatham (the sire of Woolwich), has not yet given us an 
insight into his capabilities ; but roport Hpeaka highly of his 
Derby chance ; and, judging from liis build and affinity, ho 
is not unlikely to add another laurel to the wreath of tho 
valuable dam, who herself claims descent from Glencoe, tho 
Two Thousand Guinea and Ascot Gold Cup champion of 
1834-35. 
The vacancy about to bo created by the secession of Lord 
Exeter, Mr. Greville, and others, will not bo so strongly felt 
as was at first feared ; for, independent of tho strong support 
to be given by Lord Londesborough and Sir J. Boswell, it is 
whispered that the Emperor Napoleon is likely to patronise 
us, and that Lord Henry Seymour is about forming an exten- 
