about ten years old, only made 6 gs.; and the hammer fell over Hopmarket, the only one of Cerito's stock that has shown much running, for 20 gs. Perceptible and Magpie Duggan, each fetched that price among "the running dogs," and the sapling bitch by Larriston out of Hopmarket headed the poll at 21 gs. This high-bred litter, which was whelped April 30th, 1857, consisted of four dogs and two bitches, four black and two fawn, and the average price was 17 gs. The old bitch was put to Wigan on the 1st of January, and this season alone she has divided one cup and run up for two others. Wiltshire and Newmarket ground is alike to her, and but for the "without reserve" notice, we should fancy she is bought in.

We

Hunting and racing find no exponents in the British Institution; the latter subject must wait for the "Derby Day" picture in the Academy (for which we trust that the twin Jemmies, Donkey and Black, have duly sat to Mr. Frith), when it will, if report speaks true, have a rare innings. We do, however, hear that it may not be ready by then. The scene is laid on the top of the hill, which is always so rich with character. Some say that Mr. Jacob Bell has given 3,000 gs. for it, others that the copyright has been sold for 2,000 gs., and so on. hope, too, that Mr. Farquharson and Treadwell may be there, to keep it in countenance. Herring does not exhibit, in "The British," and Harry Hall merely sends a small, but spirited, oil sketch, representing a butcher's boy on his white-faced brown screw, trying it on with a mail-cart, whose driver looks down with supreme indifference as his chesnut outsteps him, and makes him break into a canter. In addition to his "Twa Dogs, &c.," Landseer has some deer, and little groups of deer are dotted up and down the room-some in snow-storms, and some not. Horlor has one of his pretty shooting ponies, with a brace of setters, and some dead game; and Earl occupies a right-and-left position over one of the fire-places with a spaniel's head bearing a rabbit, and two pointers' heads; we like, however, his black-and-white spaniel's head better than either. There are two groups of dead game very so-and-so, and a fat live cock-pheasant, who looks plump at you, with all the gravity and dignity of an owl at twilight. We only saw one greyhound, and he, with sickle thighs that would honour a Bedlamite, figured in a PreRaphaelite picture, by a very feeble imitator of Holman Hunt. It is called the Message of Mercy," or something to that effect, and the idea really and truly is this: A nun is suddenly possessed with a wish to go coursing. To judge from the ground, it is the height of summer; but what of that? She accordingly gets the fawn-coloured conventgreyhound in a chain, and, with sword unsheathed, and held bolt upright, à la Justice, in her pale right hand, marches forth to look for a hare, quite heedless of the words "TRESPASS" affixed to the bole of a neighbouring tree. Another sister, with a fillet round her head, pursues her, lays her hand deprecatingly on the greyhound's chain, and, from the repentant face of the first sister, we are left to conclude that the prayer is answered, and that she will neither "See how " nor run any hare through on its form with her sword to-day. Mr. G. J. Leslie must have supped on pork chops the entire winter, or how else could such a dream of convent coursing have got into his brain? This, be it remembered, is high art!

164

HOBBIE NOBLE :

A PRIZE THOROUGH-BRED STALLION.

ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY J. F. HERRING, JUN,

BY CASTOR.

Hobbie Noble, bred by Lord John Scott in 1849, is by Pantaloon, out of Phryne, by Touchstone, her dam Decoy, by Filho-da-PutaFinesse, by Peruvian.

Pantaloon, by Castrel, out of Idalia, by Peruvian, was the sire of many good runners, including Satirist, a winner of the St. Leger, and Ghuznee, a winner of the Oaks.

Phryne, bred by Lord Westminster in 1840, ran half-a-dozen times or so with no great success. She was purchased, on his Lordship's

decease, by Lord John Scott, in whose stud she still continues. Her first foal, in 1846, was Elthiron, an own brother to Hobbie Noble; in 1847, Windhound, also by Pantaloon; in 1848, Miserrima, by the same horse; and The Reiver, another own brother, in 1850. Since then she has thrown Rambling Katie (in 1852) and Blanche of Middlebie (in 1855) to Melbourne, and Katherine Logie (in 1853) to the Flying Dutchman. The turfite will remember there is scarcely one of these but has a high character, and Windhound is just now looking especially well as a stallion. Phryne was barren in 1851, '54, '56, and again in 1857.

"

Hobbie Noble is in colour a bright bay, with a great deal of power and style about him; in fact, by far the best-looking nag that ever yet took the Royal Agricultural Society's premium for a hunter-stallion. He is a particularly well-topped horse, with a good neck and shoulder, capital back and barrel, strong quarters, but rather light thighs. Taken altogether, he is a remarkably fine animal, with a somewhat wicked head, and not, we fancy, to be trifled with. The family, in fact, are not famous for the best of tempers, and his own brother, The Reiver,. was one of the most savage horses ever stripped.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1851, Hobbie Noble, then two years old, made his first appearance at Ascot Heath, where, in Lord John's colours, and ridden by Whitehouse, he won the New Stakes of 10 sovs. each, &c., colts 8st. 7lb., fillies 8st. 3lb., T.Y.C., beating Mr. Drinkald's Grey Tommy (2), Colonel Peel's Kingston (3), Lord Eglinton's Anchises, Lord Exeter's Ilex, Lord Exeter's Lens, Mr. Haysham's Domino, Mr. Hughes' Sophistry, Major Martyn's Lady Isabel, Lord Palmerston's Buckthorn, Mr. Payne's Glenluce, and Mr. Whieldon's Benita. 6 to 5 on Hobbie Noble, who won by a length.

Habbic Nobler.

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for which tr

At Newmarket July Meeting, ridden by Whitehouse, he won the July Stakes of 50 sovs. each, &c., 8st. 71b. each, new T.Y.C., beating Lord Eglinton's Claverhouse (2), Colonel Peel's Livermere (3), Colonel Anson's Bull's-eye (4), and Sir J. Hawley's Songster. 9 to 4 on Hobbie Noble, who won by two lengths.

These performances, coupled with his good looks, were sufficient not only to make Hobbie Noble first favourite for the Derby, but to bring an offer of no less than six thousand guineas for him. This was accepted by Lord John Scott, and the crack, who never appeared again until the day, ran for the Derby of 1852 in Mr. Merry's yellow jacket. He started at 4 to 1 against him, and, ridden by W. Sharpe, finished fourth in the race-Mr. Bowes' Daniel O'Rourke first, Mr. Bradshaw's Barbarian second, and Mr. Dorrien's Chief Baron Nicholson third: twenty-three others also ran. Hobbie Noble was beaten a head for third, and a length from the winner.

At Ascot, he walked over for the Albany Stakes of 50 sovs. each, &c., new mile, Mr. Greville's Frantic saving his stake.

At the same Meeting, ridden by Charlton, he ran third for the Emperor's Plate, weight for age, two miles and a-half, won by Mr. Farrance's Joe Miller, 3 yrs.-Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor, 4 yrs., second: six others also ran. 9 to 2 against Hobbie Noble, who was beaten a length for second, and three lengths from the winner.

At Goodwood, ridden by Knott, and carrying 7st. 4lb., he ran fourth for the Cup, two miles and a-half, won by Mr. Morris's Kingston, 3 yrs., 7st. 4lb.; Mr. Howard's Little Harry, 3 yrs., 6st. 131b., second; and Mr. Stanley's Teddington, 4 yrs., 9st. 3lb., third: seven others also ran. 6 to 1 against Hobbie Noble, who finished a bad fourth.

At Doncaster, ridden by Marlow, he beat the Duke of Richmond's Harbinger, 3 yrs., at even weights, for the Don Stakes: a mile. 6 to 4 on Hobbie Noble, who won by a neck.

At Newmarket First October Meeting, ridden by Marlow, he won a Triennial Produce Stakes of 10 sovs. each, colts 8st. 7lb., fillies 8st. 4lb., A.F., beating Mr. Greville's Adine (2), Mr. Bowes' Daniel O'Rourke (3), Duke of Bedford's Hesperus, Lord Ribblesdale's Lapidist, and Sir R. Pigot's Father Thames. 5 to 4 on Hobbie Noble, who won by two lengths.

At the Newmarket Houghton Meeting, ridden by Pettit, and carrying 7st. 11lb., he ran second to Lord Bruce's Knight of the Shire, 3 yrs., 6st. 21b., for the Cambridgeshire Stakes: a mile and a distance. Lord Wilton's Lady Evelyn, 6 yrs., 8st. 81b., was third, and twenty-eight others were not placed. 8 to 1 against Hobbie Noble, who gave weight to everything in the race, and finished within two lengths of the winner. At Epsom Autumn Meeting, ridden by Marlow, and carrying 8st. 3lb., he was not placed for the autumn Handicap, a mile and a-half, won by Mr. Copeland's Candlewick, 5 yrs., 6st. 12lb.: five others also 5 to 2 against Hobbie Noble.

ran.

In 1853, at Epsom Spring Meeting, Hobbie Noble, ridden by W. Day, was not placed for the Trial Stakes: a mile. Won by Mr. Howard's Lascelles: eight others also ran. 6 to 4 against Hobbie Noble.

At Ascot, ridden by Marlow, and carrying 8st. 10lb., he was not