1179 
CONTENTS. 
Chronicle of the Week 1.17# 
Sport nnd Sportsmen I. 181 * 
Racing {•{!! 
Hunting 
Coursing *•"‘5 
Shooting • ** 
Cricket .8* 
Yachting » 
Rowing . 
Sportsman's Library 1,1*5 
laeld Sports and I’astimes 1 ,i*j 
Gardening 1.186 
The Fann 1 ■ * 
The Country House 1.1*9 
Poultry • 1.189 
Letter Ilag J. »® 
Parliament | . |,J 3 
Freemasonry 1.193 
Feuilleton 1.198 
Markets 1.290 
THE FIELD. 
Some changes having been math in the Editorial Departments 
jj UE . EU> ’ ali commun 'cati ons are requested to be 
addressed, m future, to “ the Editor of The Field, Office 
408, Strand." 
C hr fnli. 
NOTICE. 
With the first number of the new volume of The Field, 
and the new year, there will be presented to the Sub- 
scribers 
THE SPORTSMAN’S ALMANAC, 
AND 
tatttnj (fifeutlfiuait’s Culmltar ; 
the field, the garden, the farm, 
For the Year 1855. 
This Almanack will contain superb Engravings, from 
designs by Ansdell, Wilson, and others, with all the 
information useful for reference in the country house. 
N.B . — This will be given to all tvho are Subscribers to 
The Field for the year 1855. 
Advertisements for “ The Sportsman’s Almanack ” 
should be sent to The Field Office without delay to secure 
insertion. 
SATURDAY , DECEMBER 16, 1854. 
CHRONICLE OF TIIE WEEK. 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
RACING. 
TV Perth John Dory.— Tho vesala yueitio, relative to the Ladies' Plate 
nt Perth, appears to have excited considerable interest in sporting 
circles north of the Tweed; and a long process of litigation seems to 
he in view, instead of a ready acmilcseoneo with the decision of tho 
arbitrator, tho Hon. Admiral Howe, than whom no more fitter 
person could have been selected for tlio office. The facts appear to us 
simple in the extreme, and at Newmarket would have been decided in 
two minutes, and the result published in the Return List of the after- 
noon. In 1852 John Dory walked over, for tho Ladies’ Plate at Perth 
races. In 1853 he heat two others for it. In the present year he 
claims the same privilege that was accorded to him in 1852, the race 
being continued on for three years under the same conditions, llow, 
then, tho stewards can rofiise to deliver the Plate to Mr. Rcdfcrn, the 
owner of John Dory, we are utterly at a loss to imagine. For if they 
attached any sense to the clause of three horses being compelled to he 
entered for it, they should have started tho point at the race 
in 1852, when John Dory was alone, entered, and allowed 
to walk over for it. To expect that the honourable and gallant admiral 
would enter into an elaborate explanation of his decision is rather too 
much to expect in so simple a ease as the Perth Ladies’ Plate ; for his 
experience as a turfite, and his thorough knowledge of the laws of the 
turf, forbid such an idea for a moment being entertained. For the 
last twenty years he has been the recognised arbiter of all disputes nt 
Newmarket, and we feel satisfied that any jury would pay far more 
attention to his opinion than to the construction of the Perth Race 
Committee. Courts of law are not the places fur the settlement of 
turf disputes, which are much better settled out of doors ; nnd we sin- 
cerely recommend that body of gentlemen to nt oneo drop all litigation 
upon the subject of the Plate, by delivering it up nt once to Mr. 
Rcdfcrn, by which means all wraugling will cease, and greater 
encouragement given to trainers to bring their horses to the Perth 
Meeting of 1855. Otherwise wo arc apprehensive that the John Dory 
will prove an expensive fish to the committee, and be ouly enjoyed by 
the gentlemen of the long robe. 
Distance-post. — Tho starter’s decision is final. 
Abbot. — The horse should have been nt the post five minutes before the 
appointed time for the start. 
Ion. — Entered, but did not run. 
Pigskin. — Tho race you refer to is to bo found In tho second volumo of 
Tub Fiei.d. 
Q. It . — Tho horse died a short time hack. 
A. Q — Won by a length ; half a length between second and third. 
Doubtful . — The horse was scratched. 
It. A . — You lose. 
Pedro.— Tho bet is off. 
HUNTING. 
II II . — We refer you to our column of Hunting Appointments. 
Tnlhj.Uo . — Send us the account of tho run and it shall be inserted. 
Whip. — Tho defect may arise from imperfbet shoeing. 
CRICKET. 
Q —It would be out. 
A //.—No. Refer to the 23rd law of cricket, which you ought to be con- 
versant with. 
A’. — Forward the MS., which shall have our best consideration; and, if 
approved of, shall appear as you wish iu our columns. 
0. 1‘ —Not out. Why not posses* yourself with a cony of the rules, 
which you can obtain from It. Dark, at Lord's ground? 
A Subscriber , — Thanks for your communication. It has been reforrod to 
our Cricket Editor for consideration. 
■YACHTING. 
2‘tak —The tonnage was raised to eight tons, and not ten tons, as has 
been erroneously stated. 
Suffolk . — We have been on hoard tho Novice, your commodore's schooner. 
She is not a clipper ; hut for comfort wo will back her against any 
vessel of her tonnage iu any club. 
POULTRY. 
Quill . — Indian oorn is an excellent fbod for fowls. 
Cochin.— Cochin-china hens will lay at a time when others will not. 
F. G — The best food will, in the end, he found tho cheapest. 
Itanium,— Dampness should be guurdod against. 
bfest-JIgg,— Fit up convenient boxes, filled with hay. 
U. X. Y .— You cannot have a handsomer fowl than the black Spanish. 
Pharos.— Ho doubt of it. On this head the Judges at Cambridge were 
wroug. 
Johnson. — You cannot do hotter than give them a little soot and butter. 
It is almost an exploded reeipo, hut uoue the worse for that. 
Nonrich . — See a letter from Mr. Baker on the subject in our columns of 
to-day. 
MASONIC. 
O. /’. — Wo have received tho Masonic Mirror, and want of space alone 
lias prevented our reviewing the second number of this excellent work 
up to the present time. Next week, however, we shall hope to do the 
amende . 
G. T. — Yes; the murdered Mr Moore was a freemason of high standing, 
and it is our intention next week to say something of the masonic 
career of our unfortunate brother. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
T. F . — Much obliged. The matter will he attended to. 
F- D . — The Turkish oke is equal to 2| lbs. English. 
Quasi tor. — Tho manufacture and sale of gunpowder is regulated by seve- 
ral statutes. Ours is supposed to he composed of 70 parts of nitre, 0 
sulphur, 15 charcoal : hut what the Russian powder is made of wc cau- 
not say. 
P ARLIAMENT was re-opened by lier Majesty 
in person on Tuesday last, having been summoned 
especially for the despatch of urgent business con- 
nected with the prosecution of the great war in which 
we are now engaged. Her Majesty’s Speech upon 
the occasion will be found elsewhere. 
Although the Opposition have very judiciously 
consented to waive all mere party warfare against 
the Ministry, certain explanations have been required 
and given with regard to the past conduct of the war. 
In making these explanations, the Duke of New- 
castle admitted some errors and denied others. lie 
urged, and with justice, that there never yet was a 
war in which errors had not been committed, and 
more especially at the outset ; hut the tendency of 
his argument was to show that less avoidable errors 
had been committed than at the commencement of 
any former war. In some respects the defence of the 
Duke of Newcastle must be pronounced to be a 
failure ; especially when he attempted to defend the 
organisation of the medical corps, and the inefficiency 
of hospital supplies for the use of the wounded. In- 
controvertible facts are not to he overcome by official 
statements, and the evidence in support of these 
charges is too complete to he upset by the unsup- 
ported statements of the Duke of Newcastle. 
The testimony borne on all sides to the heroic con- 
duct of our troops will be gratifying to those gallant 
hearts. The Queen, the Ministers, and the Opposi- 
tion, had all their tribute of eloquent praise for the 
heroes of the Alma and the Inkerman. 
The first measure laid by the Government before 
the House is a hill to enable the militia regiments to 
volunteer for service in the colonics. This will have 
the effect of freeing the various regiments of the line 
now employed in garrison, and enabling them to pro- 
ceed to the seat of war. For the present it is con- 
templated only to treat the Mediterranean garrison 
in this manner ; hut there can be no doubt that the 
operation will subsequently extend to Canada and 
other distant colonies. This bill is now in committee 
in the Commons, and will probably pass into a law 
without opposition. 
Another measure proposed by Government is a 
bill to enable her Majesty to raise and drill in this 
country a legion of foreign troops, not exceeding 
15,000. In introducing the hill, the Duke of New- 
castle explained that the Government was following 
the precedent afforded by the levy of the German 
Legion in 180G. He further said that he was unable 
to state as yet what particular foreigners would be 
enlisted ; but that, after the hill had been passed, lie 
should at once communicate with the Governments 
of the various countries in which he proposed to levy 
the auxiliaries. A violent opposition to this measure, 
headed by Lords Derby and Ellenborough, has mani- 
fested itself in the Ilous# of Lords. Lord Derby 
pointed out the obvious distinction to be drawn 
between levies among the enemies of the power 
against which we are at war, and among mercenary 
neutrals, and characterised it as a humiliating con- 
fession, that, with more than 20,000,000 of popula- 
tion, we arc unable to send an army of 50,000 men 
without drawing away the troops from our garrisons 
abroad, and placing ourselves in humiliating reliance 
upon foreign mercenaries. When this measure was 
first announced, it was hoped that Government had 
resolved upon levying a Polish legion, which would 
have been a measure acceptable to the country. The 
bill, such as it is, has gone into committee, where 
Lords Derby and Ellenborough have pledged them- 
selves to oppose it vigorously. 
Public attention is now intently fixed upon the 
coming disclosures as to the treaty with Austria. 
The responsible advisers of her Majesty made her 
declare, iu her Speech, that “ iu conjunction with 
the Emperor of the French, she had concluded a 
treaty of alliance with the Emperor of Austria, from 
which she anticipated important advantages to the 
common cause." When called upon for an explana- 
tion, Lord John Russell said that Austria “ had not 
even yet gone the length of saying that it before the 
end of the year peace were not made with Russia she 
would be a belligerent;” but that she had agreed 
“ that before the end of the year she would take into 
further consideration what steps she would be pre- 
pared to take with respect to terms of peace with 
Russia.” If this really he the terms of the treaty, 
the country will feel inclined to agree with Mr. 
Disraeli, when he said : — “I say, for one, no Austrian 
assistance — no four points, no secret article ; but let 
France and England together solve this great ques- 
tion, and establish and secure the civilisation of 
Europe.” There certainly is nothing in the past 
conduct of the Court of Austria calculated to inspire 
confidence, but the reverse. She is chargeable with 
vacillation, with double-dealing, and with having 
been the cause of freeing the large reinforcements 
which have been poured into the Crimea. Can wc, 
therefore, submit to make this power tho arbiter of 
peace and war 1 
In answer to a question put by Mr. Milner Gibson, 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that it 
was not the intention of the Government to propose 
the repeal of the newspaper stamp during the present 
special session. A pledge was, however, given, to 
give the subject “ the best consideration ” of tho 
Government as soon as possible after the Christinas 
adjournment. 
The news from the Crimea this week has been very 
meagre. Up to the 29th ult. the weather was wet 
and stormy. The camp was reported to he a sea of 
mud, and many men and officers had succumbed to 
the effects of the weather. The Russian fire against 
the French position was very violent, and incessant 
sorties had been made, which were vigorously 
repulsed by the French. Intelligence received vid 
Marseilles states that General Canrobcrt had decided 
that a great battle should be fought on tho 2nd of 
December, and that a general assault was con- 
sidered as very near. This, however, is doubtful. It 
is also stated that, on the 23rd, the English sur- 
prised and spiked sixteen guns. Fresli siege works 
were being thrown up, and the defences of the camp 
were oompletcd. Reinforcements, both French and 
English, were arriving very fast, and large quantities 
of ammunition, and also necessaries for the winter 
encampment, had been received. Omar Pasha, with 
35,000 men, was moving towards Varna, for em- 
barkation to the Crimea. It is thought that tho 
destination of this force is the strait of Porekop, there 
to prevent ingress or egress of Russian troops into or 
out of the Crimea. 
The Duke of Cambridge was at Constantinople, 
on his way back to England. The army have to 
deplore the loss of Lieutenant Thistlethwayte, who 
died, at Constantinople, from the effects of fatigue. 
This promising young officer had distinguished him- 
self greatly at the Alma and at Inkerman. Lieu- 
tenant Tryn, of the Rifle Brigade, one of the best 
shots in the army, had been killed by a bullet 
through his brain. The example of Lord George 
Paget, who returned uninjured from the Crimea, is 
reported to have had a bad effect upon the officers ; 
and Lord Raglan has been obliged to issue a General 
Order forbidding the departure of any officer from 
the camp without the previous inspection of a 
medical board. It has also been announced that 
Lord George Paget is to return to tho Crimea 
without delay. 
Some apprehension has been expressed at the 
contingency of Sir Richard England’s succeeding 
Lord Raglan in the command of the forces. The 
Times adduces quotations from “ Kaye’s History of 
the War in Afghanistan,” to prove the incompetency 
of that officer to fulfil any post of command. 
The most energetic efforts aro being made at 
home to despatch reinforcements, provisions, am- 
munition, and clothing, to the Crimea. 
On Wednesday morning, the Wildfire sailed from 
Liverpool, with railway plant and thirty “navvies,” 
in the employ of Messrs. Brassey, Peto, and Betts, on 
board. The Duke of Newcastle states that the object 
is to construct a complete railroad, with stationary 
engines, for the conveyance of guns and material 
from Balaklava to the trenches, lie also states, that 
when the contractors accepted the task, they insisted 
upon having it distinctly understood that they were 
not to derive one farthing of profit by the transac- 
tion — a fact very much to the credit of their 
patriotism. 
Lord John Russell’s unsatisfactory, and, it is to bo 
hoped, inaccurate account, of the Austrian treaty 
exercised a depressing influence over both the French 
and English funds. In Paris, it gave rise to great 
dissatisfaction. 
Marylebonc is yet unrepresented. The nomina- 
tion of candidates is fixed for Monday. Lord 
Ebrington and Mr. Jacob Bell occupy the field, the 
former being the favourite. 
A public meeting lias been convened by the Mayor 
of Manchester, on Monday next, with a view of ex- 
pressing the opinion of the public there upon the 
conduct of their representative, Mr. Bright, with 
reference to the war. At a meeting of the Bible 
Society, held at Rochdale last week, Mr. Bright 
suddenly appeared, and announced the discovery ot 
