dragsmen or more obliging fellows out of any yard, not in Brighton alone, but the whole of London. I hope the proprietors intend to keep both sides on during the winter, as it will be a thousand pities to throw such artists out of regular employment; and, working alternate weeks, which, if one side is dropped, I suppose they will be obliged to do, is hardly sufficient (in winter) to make the pot boil, and not at all commensurate with the deserts of either one or the other. Your patience, Mr. Editor, I should think, must now be at an end. I beg your forgiveness for having trespassed on it so long, and conclude by giving you a list of coaches out of Brighton on the 1st October 1828, with the various hours at which they start for London, and the names of the dragsmen now at work. As a matter of reference it may hereafter be interesting, and I think you will find it perfectly correct. VIATOR, JUN. P. S. I must take an early opportunity of travelling with both Clary and Jordan on that first-rate coach The Comet; for, from every thing that I can learn of them, they are precisely the sort of artists that Bob Snow, for the sake of consistency, should have always about him. Hours. 6 A. M. Goodman's, Castle Square} 7 A. M. Royal Exchange... Bee-hive, ditto. Union. .52, East Street 9 A. M. New Dart...... 135, North Street, and 18, Royal George.......Blue Office.. Age Coronet. Times...... 2 P. M. Goodman's Office Dragsmen. Bob Snow, up and down. { Sam Goodman, up and down. (The Holmes and Son. Womack and Young Callow. Pickett and Egerton. Mr. Stevenson and Sheward. man. George Deere and Ned Pat tenden. (Rugeroh and J. Newman. (Houldsworth and Young 1 C. Newman. Mosely and Ellis. Ned Russell, up and down; sometimes W. Snow. Rocket........... .Blue Office............ Penny and Bramble. .10 P. M. Farley and Allen. N.B. An extra coach from 18, Castle Square, at 8 o'clock every Saturday morning, driven by William Snow. Your readers will observe a blank in the column of dragsmen opposite to the Hero and Royal Exchange. To speak the truth, I have never thought it worth my while to inquire the names of these "pair-horse" performers; but, I believe, that one Carter has something to do with the driving of the Hero, and Hayler's horse-keeper, perhaps, drives or drove the other. October 6, 1828. THE HERTFORDSHIRE HUNT. SIR, BE EING well aware how ready you are at all times to correct any errors which may appear in your respectable journal, I feel it a duty I owe to a gentleman towards whom I hold considerable respect and esteem, as well as to the public, particularly in your sphere, to recal the statement I made respecting the selling of hounds, said by me to be practised by Sampson Hanbury, Esq. the Master of the Hertfordshire Hunt. My words were, "that any man going into that kennel, and wanting ten couple of hounds, might have them of almost any breed, by paying for them." It would be useless to explain how I received such entirely erroneous impression, as I am now informed, by undoubted authority, I did; and having committed such a serious mistake, it behoves me to say that I must give the fullest contradiction to the statement-being quite satisfied that no temptation of money ever has, nor ever could have, induced Mr. Hanbury to part with a hound, not already drafted; and when so, he, as other gentlemen do, considers them the perquisite of the huntsman. EPSOM RACES. ANSTY. THE revival of the October Meeting under the most happy auspices, for which the public are indebted to the liberality and perseverance of Mr. Maberly, will be hailed with joy by every admirer of our noble and truly national diversion. Epsom, from its contiguity to the Metropolis, invariably draws thousands in every grade of life to gaze at the living picture gra exhibited on the healthful Downs. Independent of this addition to the pleasurable amusements of an industrious and increasing population-of itself a source of real tification to the patrons and originators of the plan the sterling benefits arising from an access of company, and the consequent circulation of cash, will not be lost sight of by the disciples and admirers of Cocker. From a thorough conviction of the advantages resulting from horse-racing, I trust every son of the Turf will join me in exclaiming Efflorescat! When races were first held at Epsom, it is not necessary now to inquire. According to John Cheny, the Turf Historian, who commenced the publication of the Calendars in 1727, it appears that in that year eleven plates or prizes were run for in May and July, the first of which, a purse of sixty guineas, give-and-take, was won by Lord Tankerville's b. h. Harlequin beating two others. A Gold Cup, value 50gs., two-mile-heats, for which eleven started, four only placed, was also gained by a brown colt belonging to the same Nobleman. The remainder consisted of purses of the respective values of 40, 30, and 20gs. each. In the same year, too, there were races at Wimbledon; and a Match on Banstead Downs, between two geldings belonging to Mr. Grisewood and Mr. Marratt, four mile heats, 20gs. each; won by the former at three heats. In 1728, the Epsom Meetings were held in May and November; and races also took place in March at Carshalton, and in September at Croydon. In 1729 the sport was limited to five prizes, run for in May; but in the year 1730, there were three meetings, commencing on the first Tuesday in May, the first Tuesday in July, and the first Tuesday in Sep tember. ""Tis always a rule at this place," says Mr. Cheny," that horses, &c. starting for any prizes are to be at the subscribers' stables in the town of Epsom full fourteen days before the day of running for the first prize of the Meeting." In 1731 and 1732, two Meetings were held in each year; in 1733, one only; from 1734 to 1737, two; from 1738 to 1750, one; in 1751, two; from 1752 to 1765, one Meeting annually, exclusive of matches and bye races occasionally. June 2d, 1764, His Majesty George III. accompanied by the Queen, honored Epsom races with their presence, attended by a party of Burgoyne's (16th Regiment) Light Horse. In 1766, there was a second Meeting, which lasted two days, one race only being run each day. The October Meetings were continued till 1789, from which time the sports at Epsom have been restricted to the splendid assemblage in the Spring, when the allattractive Derby and Oaks are decided. I may add, that independent of the regular races, a few matches, &c. were run in July, October, and November 1794. In October 1795, there were two days of amusement provided; and in 1821, the Surrey Hunters had a Meeting in May. The sports of the resumed October Meeting appropriately commenced, on Thursday 9th inst., with the METROPOLITAN STAKES, of ten sovs. each, with 50 added from the Racing Fund, Derby Course, for horses of all ages, twoyear-olds excepted; to contend for which eleven were brought to the post. About one o'clock, on the signal being given, off they went in gallant style, Mr. John Day's Busk, with Chapel on his back, running in first, and Lord Mountcharles's Coronet, rode by Oliver, second. From the extraordinary way in which several of the horses came in, it was clear that all was not right. A false start! a false start! now assailed the ear; but it is needless, Mr. Editor, to attempt the description of a scene, which the readers of your excellent Magazine can more correctly picture in their own minds. On investigation it was proved to have been a false start; and Mr. Maberly, with that promptitude which marks his character, ordered the horses back, and the actual start took place. In the second race Mr. Hiard's Profile, jockeyed by J. Day, took the lead; followed by Coronet, Mr. Scaith's Vulcan, and Busk; the remainder not amiss either in place or pace, till they neared the distance, when they gave way; and the hint was also soon after taken by Busk. Vulcan and Coronet now went to work, narrowly looked after by Profile: the three ran in most beautifully; Vulcan, rode by Conolly, winning by a head only; Coronet, second; Profile, third; and Busk, fourth. The Judge, however, placed the first two only. The Epsom Stakes of ten sovs. each, with 25 added, six subscribers, three quarters of a mile, afforded a rich treat. John Day, on Mr. Ramsbottom's Sister to Noureddin, won the prize in high style, by a head only, beating Mr. Coleman's Whisk, rode by Arthur Pavis, who boldly contested every inch of the ground to the finish: a brown filly, by Nicolo, belonging to Mr. Maberly, stuck close to their heels throughout; two others started. For the Burgundy Stakes of five sovs. each, with 25 added, twomile heats, nine started. Sir L. Glyn's Upas took the lead, followed by Mr. Bacon's Dandelion and Mr. L. Charlton's Constantine by Comus. At some distance from the goal, Upas, feeling the effect of the poison-the pace I mean-declined giving the Court any farther trouble, suffering judgment to go by default, as the lawyers say. It was now "Who shall?" between the two; Constantine, however, winning by a neck only. On coming to the post the second time, the field was reduced to four: as a cat plays with a mouse, so did Constantine with Dandelion, allowing him to make the running to the distance, when he came out, and won in a canter by several lengths. A free Handicap of 25 sovs. each, 10 forfeit, with 25 added from the Fund, two miles, was next run for, and won, after a most interesting race, by Mr. Sadler's Tears, 5 yrs old, 8st. 7lb, beating Capt. Westenra's Conrad, 4 yrs old, 7st. 12lb. about half a length. Mr. Day's Maldonia, 5 yrs old, carrying 7st. 71b. took the lead, but was unable to maintain it long enough. At going off Mr. Clark's Scipio bolted. After the race, an altercation took place about the start, which some alleged to be false; but it was clearly shewn to have been perfectly correct. I must not omit the mile match for a hundred, in which Lord Mountcharles's colt by Blacklock, 3 yrs old, 7st. 7lb., beat Mr. Cosby's Charnwood, aged, 9st. 4lb. ; and a close run race it was till near the distance, when Conolly on the colt let loose, leaving George Dockeray, on the Son of Filho da Puta, about a length behind. So endeth the first chapter. SECOND DAY, FRIDAY, OCT. 10: General Grosvenor's Icarus won the Maiden Stakes of five sovs. each, with 25 added, mile heats, with the condition that the winner be sold for 100 sovs. if demanded. As there were three heats, with your permission, good Mr. Editor, a few words on each. First Heat-The maids and bachelors, five in number, started in a body, politely and gracefully, and kept nearly head to head till within about twenty lengths from home, when Icarus, rode by Oliver in grand style, and Mr. Berkeley's bl. filly Iirey, with Chapple as jockey, came in front; the latter winning by a neck a well contested heat. The riders of Icarus, Mr. Messer's Chew Bacon (Blogg), and Mr. Gould's ch. f. by Soothsayer, could not stop their horses till they reached Epsom, when Icarus slipped, and threw Oliver, who fortunately escaped without injury, and proceeded forthwith to weigh. Second Heat.-Icarus and Wirey again made the run at the same point. In this struggle for the mastery, Wirey was beat by a good length. On Oliver's presenting himself at the scale, an objection was raised by the trainer of Wirey, who insisted, that, as the rider of Icarus had been dismounted before he returned to the winningpost the first heat, he was not entitled to start for the second. The objection, however, was over-ruled: if valid, it ought to have been made before or at the time of the jockey being weighed, as in cases of foul riding. Third Heat.-Mr. Messer's Chew Bacon took the lead this time, followed by Icarus, who let loose at the distance, and beat Chew Bacon in good style by a length. Mr. B. Bond's ch. m. Mirage, rode by Macdonald, started, but she was nowhere. The Ewell Stakes of 10 sovs. each, with 25 added, the winner to be sold for 300, &c. Derby Course, five subscribers, was wou, to use the old expression, literally in a canter, by Mr. Brown's Bhurtpore beating Noureddin, Charnwood, and Palfrey. Mr. Ramsbottom's bay filly, Sister to Noureddin, rode by John Day, won the Sweepstakes for three-year-olds, beating in a handsome way, about half a length, Mr. Cockburn's ch. c. Sir Richard, under the guidance of Dick Wetherell, and Mr. L. Charlton's Macassar, who, in spite of the efforts of Farlow, made a bolt at the turn, and actually went some distance on the road before he could be stopped. The Hunters' Stakes, by way of a wind-up to two very pleasant days of really good sport, yielded amusement not at all inferior to the interest excited by the competition for stakes of larger magnitude. Five horses started; Mr. De Burgh's ch. g. old Sunshine bore off the prize, at two heats, gaining the first by half a length, and the second with but little trouble either to himself or his rider, Dockeray. Of the general arrangements, it is sufficient to say that they were in unison with the regulations in troduced by Mr. Maberly in May last; in fact, that they were admirable in every department. The course, which used to be the worst kept of any in the kingdom, now presents a model worthy of imitation. Hence the happy result in selecting a gentleman to discharge the important duties of the office, multifarious se they are, in whose person the suaviter in modo, fortiter in re, are so eminently blended. Having pronounced the sport to be very good, let me add, that the turf was in fine condition, the weather fine, and a great deal of fine company assembled: it was, I assure you, a fine affair throughout. THE SHADE OF CHENY, October 15, 1828. SIR, AQUATICS. I Was not a little surprised at read ing in your Number for the present month, a letter signed A WATERMAN, animadverting in no overcivil terms on my account of the rowing match between "the Oxonians and the Londoners." In replying to some of your Correspondent's observations, I shall not lower myself so much, either in my own estimation or the opinion of your readers, as to use language on a par with that which he has been pleased to pen; though, upon a moment's reflection, I do not know that I should be warranted in expecting a more elegant strain of phraseology from an individual styling himself A WATERMAN. He does not scruple, and in the most unqualified manner, to accuse me-first, of ignorance of the subject on which I wrote; secondly, of misrepresentation; and thirdly, of giving utterance, through the medium of my pen, to falsehoods. Now, Sir, did I think it worth my while to humour your Correspondent, I could bring forward numberless witnesses to prove the correctness (with the exception of one solitary instance) of the details to which he alludes. If A WATERMAN will take the trou ble to refer to my account, he will find that I stated in most distinct terms that "a message came from the Christ Church men to Mr. Slater, &c. &c. :" customary share either of common so that every person possessing the sense or common understanding-(two qualifications by the bye with which I cannot accuse A WATERMAN of being |