tinguished those prolific agents of fun, frolic, and mirth. The tricks, transformations, and passing allusions are ingenious and well directed. Everybody has been lugubriously holding forth on the prevailing epidemic. Not so with Mr. Maddox, who has found a sure friend in the influenza. To this raging complaint he has been enabled to attribute his want of success, and thus for a time to close his doors. Now don't for half a moment suppose that inclination prompts us to remonstrate with the manager of THE PRINCESS's for adopting such a wise and salutary course. Our love for the public is far too great to allow us at any time to offer any opposition to the shutting of the portals of the Oxford-street Theatre. But this we will declare, that the manager in question would not have trespassed so much on the grounds of probability had he, with a candour to which alas! be it said he is a scrupulous stranger, declared that failures of most undeniable and unmistakeable character had determined him to pursue the wisest policy that had ever characterized his management-that of closing the doors. Had he fairly stated this, the task-unpleasant one albeit would not be ours of mentioning the real and positive cause of an unpleasant result. In the first place the " eminent tragedian" proved a failure; in the second place the Misses Cushman's engagement was a failure. the third place the re-appearance of that "gifted vocalist," Madame Anna Thillon, was hailed by "enthusiastic and crowded audiences". in the bills merely-so that was a failure. The consequence was the "early closing." So much for the past. A word for the future. Give thine ear, Mr. Maddox-we will give advice. Instead of attempting— and vilely attempting, too-" tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical, scene indivisible, or poem unlimited," learn to engage a proper company for opera, or a proper company for comedy; in either case provide a good and efficient corps, but do not thrust the same performer into tragedy, comedy, opera, and farce-it is not comme il faut. Take our good counsel, or for ever keep your mouth and your doors shut!

In

Planché, it appears, well sustains his reputation as king of burlesque in "The Golden Branch" wielded by Madame Vestris at THE LYCEUM, and of which we will, " please the pigs," treat in our next.

Madam Warton's "Lady Godiva," at the WALHALLA, can be witnessed without involving the disagreeable compulsion of being "sent to Coventry."

The CASINOS at this season find no difficulty in meeting with copious streams of those addicted to polkas and sherry-cobblers.

The POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION opens the new year with wonders of science that are beheld with a degree of delight, greatly enhanced by the refreshing crumbs of useful information picked up at this valuable granary.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE MOORS.-CLOSE OF THE SEASON.-With the 10th of December ended the legal time for shooting grouse, black-game, and ptarmigan. We usually are enabled at the end of each shooting season to give the returns of many sporting parties. This year neither in quantity nor quality has the grouse been equal to last season. Disease thinned the coveys, and their food appears to have suffered injury from the blighting frosts of last spring; in consequence, the birds resorted in great flocks to corn-fields, as a substitute for their natural food-the tender green shoots and flowers of the heather. Roe-deer appear to be increasing in numbers; we never remember to have seen so many beautiful large heads. Red-deer, on the contrary, although as numerous as usual, did not generally carry such size of antlers as we have noticed in former years; nor did the velvet strip from their antlers till late, the finest head we saw having its horns covered so late as the first week in September. John Hay Mackenzie, Esq.; T. M. Goodlake, Esq.; Mr. Oliver; Mr. Bateson; T. Garde, Esq.; S. M. Boulderson, Esq.; Mr. Hadwin; W. Boyd, Esq.; and C. M. Campbell, Esq., are of the number who have had the luck to secure the finest antlered heads. Of general shooting we have heard the following:-At Balnagown, Sir Hyde Parder, Mr. Wigram, and friends, shot 800 brace of grouse, and 2 red-deer. The Messrs. Buxton, Lochalsh, 600 brace, and 4 red-deer. At Langwell, in Ross-shire, J. Robertson, Esq., and R. Christie, Esq., bagged 1,110 of the usual varieties, besides a good take of salmon. On the Dallas Moors, the Messrs. Gubbins, Mr. Wilmot, and Mr. Ellis, shot 420 brace of grouse, 150 brace partridges, 35 hares, 30 brace wild fowl, 2 roe-deer, and 25 head of black game. From the Phoiness Moors, C. Martin, Esq., and friends, had 750 brace of grouse. The Kinrara party, 700 brace. At Invereshie, the sport at grouse and red-deer excellent; of the latter, a score of good stags fell to the stalkers' rifles. From Ledgowan, J. Cridland, Esq., and Mr. Gardiner, bagged 1,300 head of game; including 1,000 head of grouse. On the Ord Moors, the Messrs. Pryor and Mr. Freeman shot 1,640 head, principally grouse and black game, with 2 roe. From Carr Bridge, the list of game killed is as follows:-1,639 head of grouse, 130 black game, 86 snipe, 47 wild-duck, 6 woodcock, 117 partridges, 135 hares, 8 rabbits, 6 roe and 4 red deer. From Guisachan Hills, S. Steers, Esq., and Mr. Peel shot 500 brace of grouse, 5 stags, and 1 hind. Mr. St. John and friends, at Ardgour, had 500 brace of grouse and 7 stags. The Loch Eilt shootings yielded 900 brace. At Duchallie, Mr. Wainman and Mr. Bill counted 350 brace of grouse and black game, 15 roe, and 6 red deer. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Garde had good

sport at Glendee; having bagged 500 brace of grouse, 2 roe-deer, and 6 red-deer. On Glenfintaig, A. Smith, Esq., and Captain Shawe, shot 250 brace of grouse, 27 brace of black game, 6 brace ptarmigan, 6 brace partridges, 45 hares, 45 couple of snipe, and 7 brace woodcock. At Upper Killin and Foyers, D. C. Majoribanks, Esq., Lord Pomfret, Mr. Broadhurst, and Mr. Clowes had excellent shooting; their returns

being-1,565 brace of grouse, 575 head of other game, and 6 red-deer. -Inverness Courier.

As a sequitur to the above synopsis, we may add that an Anti-Game Law Association is about to be formed at Edinburgh.

MORPETH COURSING CLUB.-The members of this club have come to the unanimous resolution of compressing their numerous meetings, and only to hold two during the season, in order to give to each a more important character; by which, with the facility of railway communication direct to Morpeth, numerous and highly-respectable meetings are confidently anticipated. The arrangement of the field will be under the direction of that true sportsman, John Angus, Esq., Whitefield. Mr. Braithwaite will officiate as secretary; and the decisions will be left to the unerring judgment of Mr. Nightingale.

ROYAL DEE YACHT CLUB.-The following letter has been received by the secretary of this rising club :—

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Admiralty, 19th November, 1847. “SIR,—Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 17th inst., I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith warrants for the vessels belonging to the Royal Dee Yacht Club named in the margin, authorizing them to wear the blue ensign of Her Majesty's Fleet, with the distinguishing marks of the club thereon.

"William Ayrton, Esq., Chester."

"I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) "H. G. WARD.

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

Mr. Meiklam retires from the turf. His stud, including Trueboy, Aristotle, Lightning, Godfrey, Poynton, Fancy Boy, and other wellknown names, came under Tattersall's hammer, at York, on the first.

Mr. Pedley has sold Pink Bonnet to Mr. Carr, of Heslington, and Mr. Copeland Arthur and the Prime Warden to the French government.

By the "book" Calendar just out, four hundred and forty-two thorough-bred colt-foals and four hundred and thirty-five fillies were dropped during the past year in Great Britain. This list is a most important addition to Messrs Weatherby's work, and one to which there can be no opposition."

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THE FRENCH TURF.-" The whole of M. Aumont's racing stud was, some weeks since, brought to the hammer in Paris. Just as the sale was about to commence, the auctioneer received a notice from the President of the Jockey Club, pointing out certain animals he was about to submit for sale, as unqualified. This denunciation of disqualification by such an authority, announced by the auctioneer, had its effect upon the sale of the animals: no one looked at them."-Bell's Life. This charge of disqualification implied that the horses were not bred in France, and consequently seldom capable of running in that country, it being a leading condition in nearly all the great stakes that horses must be home-bred and reared. M. Aumont, one of the most fortunate of Parisian turfites, has long been a "marked man," though it has been impossible hitherto to bring any proof against him; and certainly this last act of the Jockey Club reads as yet more like might than right.

his own horse. If the words "to him" were added, there would be much truth in it; but without these two additional words, I beg leave to give it as an opinion that a very considerable number of owners know nothing at all about the value of their horse. Selling, or making the attempt to sell, will tell them the truth; buying does not even afford a hint on the subject.

Now, let us take the thing in a diametrically opposite point of view, and we shall see where the owner is the best judge of his horse.

We will suppose a man has more hunters than he wants, and wishes to diminish the number; of course his wish would be to sell those that he, for some reason or other, liked the least; but rather than keep them all, he determines to sell any (say) three of them-a sensible resolve enough if a man is not one of great wealth, and happens to be one of those who are tolerable hands at making hunters. The man of wealth has no occasion to part with anything that he likes. The man who is not a horseman and judge of horses never should part with one that carries him to his satisfaction: the man who is always should, if he gets his price; for, only give him spring, speed, and stamina, he can make a hunter as a carpenter can make a table if he gets the proper wood. We suppose the person wanting to sell to be one of these, and a gentleman looking at his horses who is one of the sort who could eat his dinner very well on the table when made; but if the table was wanting, so far as his own ability of making one goes ; would be reduced to taking his soup on his knees. He may be a very clever man, probably more so than the other, but not a carpenter (of hunters).

On looking at the supposed horses on sale our buyer sees a goodlooking brown horse, about his cut as to size and strength-asks his character. The owner, as a gentleman, gives a true one.

"He is a very fair horse indeed, an excellent hunter in any country but one like mine, a remarkably fine fencer, and very handy, but not so fast as I could wish here; his price-£150.”

Our buyer candidly says that, only hunting occasionally, he does not wish to give quite so much.

In the next stall he sees a particularly splendid grey, who looks a fortune: he looks at him, but modestly says

"I am afraid I need not ask any questions about him; he is beyond my mark."

"Yes you may," replies the owner, good-naturedly smiling, "so far as price goes; I ask £100 for him. I tell you fairly he is one of the few horses I have had that I could not make a hunter of. He cannot live a distance with hounds if the pace is good; and he is so nervous, that he becomes quite confused where the fences are big. He would be a delightful horse with harriers; but as Elmore is coming to look at my horses, he will buy him for harness."

A stall or two off, he sees a plain large bay horse, with rather a large, long head, a little low in the crest, with wide, bony, and somewhat ragged hips, a meanish tail, and, moreover, not seeming particularly amiable as to temper in the stable. Our buyer does not much relish the looks, but wishing to be well carried, and at a lowish figure, he says

66

Would that horse carry me?"

He here observes a certain laconie side-sme on the the groom -a kind of smile as if in acciation of ene "I have no hesitation in saving." request in or you or any other man in any country and VIL ON? INVOL "What do you expect for him?

"Four hundred!”

Of course, this was a floorer.

66

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Now," said the owner, if avut JETT NE je to p to you, I think I can put one at your you in all respects; it is this chesnut - HE a friend of mine. He has three films INT say, would be objectionable to you in the course is particularly pleasant to ride. Art bult 231 23. fair pace, and will go on t

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say in Surrey he would be perform: L

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next day the friend me He at le

they saw what each other was 11 & Thomsent,

"Take him into those mere sul de die

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was all that evild be wet for

made his report, and resonteret mm by 3 1 promisel he would not; tur i W 19. country" stili jarred the wong sunet v buying a horse on a frente tra aut pendence abad kulun um deg brook-jumper. Trae, there were Us We hunted. He want que no fa 5 1349 0 seemed like patog ty v.2 mmeling