Walton answer, for doth he not say—" Under this sycamore tree, with the sound of the clear river in our ears, with the odour of May flowers freshly around us after this gentle shower, and in the sight of these meadows, gold and silver, the overflowing of nature for the delectation of all quiet and contemplative anglers, we do well to sigh that our life is so much in walls, and so little here." Anon June, lusty June, bursts upon us in its sunshiny glory, in its verdant apparel, and with its coronal of flowers-its offering of fruits. He walketh the teeming earth like a magician, and plenty marketh the print of his footstep; he waveth his wand, and culture exhibits its bounties, and nature her liberality. He is a good friend to sportsmen, too, for he calleth them to pastimes which a British King is *proud to participate in, and which princes, equally with the people, approve and patronize. Not only on the green sward, but also on the green wave, does he command sports that invigorate, and relaxations that amuse. The Race-course, the Cricket-ground, the Archer's Circle, the Wrestler's Arena, the Pigeon-shooter's Enclosure, the Boatman's Course, and the Yacht Crew's World, alike produce evidences of his favor, and bear testimonies to his sway. But now cometh July, and with an equally beneficent cornucopia of gifts, the more valuable of which are these:

:

Beneath the sun, or, it may be, the showers of the coming month, then the all-influential sports of the turf will, with untiring vigour, be continued (our columns will, as usual, accurately record the results of the principal meetings); aquatic amusements, or rather, manly and tarlike struggles for fame, particularly among the members and craft of that useful and patriotic institution, the Royal Yacht Club: its rendezvous, Cowes Harbour, Isle of Wight, will equally claim attention and approbation. Add to these, Cricket, "noble game,' well might it be termed a and all those manly amusements, both in the environs of the Metropolis, and in the country, which strengthen the sinews, summon up the generous blood, and characterise the Englishman above the inhabitants of every other nation of the world.

July, too, is the month when the Sportsman's eye, and the Sportsman's vigilance, should be peculiarly directed to the protection of the young birds, and other creatures constituting game, or the objects of his after pursuit, in which latter the fox may be more particularly mentioned, inasmuch as the future supply for the noblest of all field sports, fox-hunting, will mainly depend upon the caution observed in protecting from insidious opponents (batter-fanciers), and plunderers by profession, those who steal foxes, and bring them to receiving-houses in town, for the shameful purpose of selling them to certain Hunts not well supplied with brushes of

their own.

ANGLING.-Though the trout has now become an exceeding dainty feeder, and the

salmon will not as eagerly as before come at the lure dropped on the waters of Scotland, or the streams of Wales (for they afford fishing to content an epicure), angling may still be actively pursued, and to skilful suitors will yield pleasure, profit, health, and satisfaction. The grayling now may be added to the list of fish which are in season, and they will rise now eagerly at a gaudy fly; yet, being a leather-mouthed fish, skill, when struck, will be requisite to ensure the captive into your landing-net. Trout are excellent now, and we should suppose, plentiful, for we have seldom noticed more abundant supplies than have beautified the sloping show-tables of our leading fishmonger's shops this summer. Dace, perch, bream, roach, and all the finny tribe that "Patient Runters on the peopled Thames" think it a triumph to capture, are now fair game; but give us our native, far off "Beauteous streams, that busy, long,

Filleth the flowery vales with song," and then let those who will, enjoy the dull monotony of watching the bobbing of a cork, as the strokes of the waterman ripple the wave; and of crying, "Here's one, here's one; I've got him, I've got him," and up cometh a three ounce weight roach, or a foolish minnow. Let us rather sing, after the manner of our great master

"The waters, the waters! how clearly they flow, And how softly and balmy the summer winds blow. There are joys in the chase when the red fox doth feeThere are joys on the turf when the fleet coursers beBut the waters, the waters! and their melody! The waters, the waters! o'ershadowed with leaves, And cool'd by the evening, and fann'd by the breeze! Be our sunset companions a down yonder lea, When the scenes of our childhood delighted we see; And sing, O, the waters, the waters for we!"

A TOUCH OF THE FANCY IN CHINA:
But COUNTRY or COLOUR, to us are the same,
Only anxious are we in preserving the game!

The following extract from a Journal of a voyage from Macao, &c., published by Mr. R. Phillips, shows that the science and honorable mode of conducting pugilism, are not unknown in China:-"Several of our people, being intoxicated, began to fight with one another in the square, which soon caused the place to be filled with natives as spectators. In our endeavours to get them without the gates, one of the natives struck Mr. Band then gave him a fair challenge to box; but, from his temerity, he soon got so sound a drubbing as to convince him how inferior a Hainanese is to a European in the noble art of self-defence. Although this man was thought a professor in that branch of the fine arts, yet I fancy this was the first, and will probably be the last, time he will venture upon a similar experiment. The poor fellow, however, fought toughly for about twenty minutes before he asked for quarters, and the surrounding multitude never once interfered in the contest, although they evinced great interest as to the result."

true Sportsman, even in Arrian's time, did not take out his dogs to destroy the hares, but for the sake of seeing the contest between them, and was glad if the hare escaped, which was never prevented, by disturbing any brake in which she might have concealed herself, after beating the greyhounds. They were also frequently taken alive from the dogs by the horsemen who closely followed them, and, after the greyhounds were taken up, were turned for future sport. They used to speak to their greyhounds whilst in the field, considering it a kind of encouragement to them to know that their master was a witness of the excellence of their running; but this speaking was recommended to be chiefly confined to the first course, lest, after being weakened by a second or third, they might by such encouragement, exert themselves beyond their strength, and hurt their insides, which was thought to be the destruction of many good dogs.

Those who had not the conveniency of hare-finders, went out commonly in a company on horseback, when they beat the likely ground, and, on starting a hare, the greyhounds were let loose after her: those who were more keen after the sport used to go on foot, and if any one accompanied them on horse-back, it was his business to follow the dogs during the course. It is singular, that after the lapse of so many centuries, the mode of beating for a hare in Coursing should be now exactly what it then was. The company were drawn up in a straight rank, either horse or footmen, and proceeded at certain distances from each other, in a direct line to a given point, and wheeling round, that they might not go over precisely the same track, they beat the ground regularly back. This practice is still continued. A person was appointed to take the command of the sport, if there were many dogs out; he gave orders that such and such dogs should be slipped, according as the hare took to the right or left, and these orders were punctually obeyed.

The Isle of Dogs, now converted to the first commercial purposes, derived its name from being the depôt of the spaniels and greyhounds of Edward III., and this spot was chosen, as lying contiguous to his sports of Woodcock shooting, and Coursing the Red Deer, in Waltham and the other Royal Forests in Essex, for the more convenient enjoyment of which, he generally resided in the Sporting season, at Greenwich.

In the days of ELIZABETH, when she was was not herself disposed to hunt, she was so stationed as to see the Coursing of Deer with greyhounds. At Cowdrey, in Sussex, the seat of Lord Montacute, A. D. 1591, one cay after dinner, the Queen saw from a turr. i, "sixteen bucks all having fayre lowe, pulled down with greyhounds in a launch or lawn."

In ancient times three several animals were Coursed with greyhounds, the Deer, the Fox, and the Hare. The two former are not prac

tised at present, but the Coursing of deer formerly was a recreation in high esteem, and was divided into two sorts, the Paddock and the Forest or Purlieu.

THE SWEET PLEASURES THAT COURSING
DOES YIELD.

Ye mortals whose boast is the sports of the field,
And know the sweet pleasures that coursing does yield,
'Tis yours to illustrate the greyhound's swift ran,
What cups he has gained, and what sweepstakes he's

won.

O'er Ashdown and Malton, how wind-like he flew!
And the loud shout of "bravo!" from all around drew,
With what triumph he bore off the trophies of bliss,
"On that day won the goblet, the couples on this i”
Pour puss! and thy life is indeed but a day,
When the eye-searching greyhound encounters your
way;

Thy tears show the dread of the danger bebind.
And tell but too plainly your death-doom is sign'd!
In vain is thy courage, thy daring and speed,
The fleet-footed greyhound condemns thee to bleed!
His mouth opens on you-his strength runs you down-

Thy death is his triumph-your life his renown!

Not RIVERS, whose dogs with the best of dogs vies,
And oft bore away both the matches and ties!
Not Rivers could save thee, when once his hounds

run

Your field-sport was over-thy breath of life done!

The Right Honorable George Pitt, Baron Rivers of Stratfieldsay, in Hampshire, who added fresh lustre to the name he bore, and to the family from whom he had the honor of being descended, died July 20th, 1828, at his house in Grosvenor-place, near Hyde Park Corner. His lordship was born September 19th, 1731, and succeeded his father, George, the late lord, in 1803. No man, probably, ever bred more largely, brought more capital greyhounds into the field, or was more successful in his various contests at Swaffham, Newmarket, &c. The names of all his lordship's greyhounds began with R., and before he came to the title with P. (the initial of Pitt, the family name).

Hare Park, contiguous to Newmarket, belonged to Lord Rivers, which he sold to Mr. John Gully, and to whom his lordship gave the preference amidst several competitors who were anxious to purchase the above Park. Mr. Gully took up his residence at Hare Park for two or three years, when circumstances called him to another part of the country, when he sold it to Sir Mark Wood, Bart. His lordship's mind not only soared above vulgar prejudices, but he was a very kind, liberal-hearted nobleman; also a great patron of the arts; also a thorough-bred sportsman; and he was not ashamed to own that he had a penchant towards the pursuits of the Fancy, in a national point of view.

The following card of admission to his lordship's Gallery of Pictures we have had in our possession for several years past-and as a proof of our assertion we now insert a copy of it:

"Mr. GARRARD, A. R. A., having prepared the Model of a BRITISH BOXER, LORD RIVERS has kindly permitted it to be put up for inspection in his Gallery.

"The Figure is somewhat larger than life, and exhibits the Boxer in the spirited, scientific, and combined action, both of guard and attack.

"Any Nobleman and Gentleman will be permitted to see the Model, at No. 10, Grosvenor Place, upon producing a Card of Admission from Mr. GARRARD, who presumes to hope that by subscription he may be enabled to cast this work in Bronze, to be presented by the Subscribers to the British Museum. "By order of the Committee,

Ticket of Admission. P. EGAN, Esq.

"G. GARRARD."

From 2 till 5. Not Transferable.

The greyhound, under the ancient name of gazehound (observed the late Major Topham), formed one of the earliest dogs of the chase; and from the very nature of his first appellation was intended only to run by sight. He was the original accompaniment of royalty in the sports of the field; and in lieu of fines and forfeitures due to the crown. King John was wont to accept of greyhounds; whether, when received as a tax, he was able to obtain those of a superior description, is not to be ascertained. But the dog of that day, which, under kings, was the concomitant of hawking, was long-haired, and somewhat resembling the one used by warrenners; and, in the oldest pictures now extant on the subject, the spaniel, and sometimes the pointer, accompanied the sportsman in what was at that period denominated coursing.

The greyhound then employed was probably larger than even the warren mongrel, resembling more the shaggy wolf dog of former times than any sporting dog of the present day. The Wolds of Yorkshire, which, like the Wealds of Kent, are a corruption of the word "Wilds," appear, from the dates of parish books, to have been infested with wolves later than any other part of England. In the entries at Flixton, Stackston, and Folkston, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, are still to be seen memoranda of payments made for the destruction of wolves, at a certain rate per head. They used to breed in the cars below, among the rushes, furze, and bogs, and in the night-time came up from their dens, and unless the sheep had been previously driven into the town, or the shepherds indefatigably vigilant, great numbers of them were destroyed; it being observed of all wild animals, that when they have opportunity to depredate, they prefer the blood to the flesh of the victim, of course commit much unnecessary carnage. From the wolves having so long remained in the parts just mentioned, it is not more than fifty years since many of the long-haired, curl-tailed greyhounds were to be traced, bred originally from the wolf-dog; and some of these, for a short distance, could run with surprising velocity. That a dog of this description should sufficiently gratify the coursing sentiment of that day, is by no means surprising; the uncultivated face of the country, covered with brakes, bushes, wood, and infi

nite obstacles, may readily account for it. In running their game they had to surmount these impediments, and to dart through thorn hedges (in that unimproved state) which covered eighteen or twenty feet in width, and frequently to kill their object of pursuit in the middle of them.

These dogs were accustomed to lie unhoused upon the cold ground, and to endure all hardships of indifferent food, and more indifferent usage; but when the owner, or protector, lived in the open air, unmindful of the elements, and regardless of the storm, it can create no surprise that the faithful dog should fare no better than his master. This, most likely, was the earliest stage of the gaze, or greyhound; wild in his aspect, erect in his ears, and shaggy in his coat; but even in that unimproved state they had many good points; as straight, firm legs; round, hard, fox-hound feet; were incredibly quick at catching view, and being instantaneously upon their legs, which modern sportsmen term "firing quickly."

In uniform progress with time, improvement proceeds also; during "the merry days of good Queen Bess," when maids of honor could breakfast upon beef, and ride a-gallop for a day together, the sports of the field were objects of due attention. It was then her majesty, divested of regal dignity, would condescend to see a brace of deer pulled down by greyhounds after dinner: and it was then that coursing began to assume a more regulated form, and to acquire a more universal degree of emulative estimation.

Instead of the wild man, with his wilder dogs, taking his solitary quest for game; the hourly enlightened sportsmen of that day began to form themselves into more friendly congeniality, and rules were adopted, by which a general confidence and mutual intercourse might be maintained. The Duke of Norfolk, who was the leading sportsman of that time, was powerfully solicited, and ultimately prevailed upon, to draw up a proper code of laws, which constitute the magna charta of the present day.

These rules, though established by a duke, and regulated by a queen, rendered the cours ing of that period but of a very sterile description. Pointers were used for the purpose of finding the game, and when any of these made a point, the greyhounds were uncoupled as a necessary prelude to the sport which was to ensue. The greyhounds, even at this time, deviated but little from the kind already described; rough and heavy, with strength enough to overcome any difficulty it might be necessary to break through. To found the æra of improved coursing, and for introducing greyhounds of superior form, and higher blood, was reserved for the late princely owner of Houghton. If the agricultural meetings in the most distant counties feel themselves gratefully justified in drinking, as their first toast, "The Memory of Mr. Bake

well," no true and consistent coursing meeting can ever omit to give, with equal enthusiasm, "The memory of the Earl of Orford."

It is the distinguishing trait of genius to be enthusiastically bold, and daringly courageous. Nothing in art or science, nothing in mental, or even in manual labour, was ever achieved, of superior excellence, without that ardent zeal, that impetuous sense of eager avidity which, to the cold, inanimate, and unimpassioned, bears the appearance, and sometimes the unqualified accusation of insanity. When a monarch of this country once received the news of a most heroic action maintained against one of his own fleets, and seemed considerably chagrined at the result, the then Lord of the Admiralty endeavoured to qualify and soften down the matter, by assuring the king that "the commander of the enemy's fleet was mad.". -"Mad! would he were mad enough to bite one of my admirals."

Lord Orford had absolutely a phrenetic furor of this kind, in anything he found himself disposed to undertake; it was a predominant trait in his character never to do any thing by halves, and coursing was his most prevalent passion beyond every other pleasurable consideration. In consequence of his most extensive property, and his extra-influence as lord-lieutenant of the county, he not only interested numbers of opulent neighbours in the diversion, but, from the extent of his connexions, could command such an immensity of private quarters for his young greyhounds, and of making such occasional selections from which, that few, if any, beside himself, could possess.

There were times when he was known to have fifty brace of greyhounds; and as it was a fixed rule never to part from a single whelp till he had a fair and substantial trial of his speed, he had evident chances (beyond almost any other individual) of having, amongst so great a number, a collection of very superior dogs but, so intent was he upon this peculiar object of attainment, that he went still farther in every possible direction to obtain perfection, and introduced every experimental cross from the English lurcher to the Italian greyhound. He had strongly indulged an idea of a successful cross with the bull-dog, which he could never be divested of, and after having persevered (in opposition to every opinion) most patiently for seven removes, he found himself in possession of the best greyhounds ever yet known; giving the small ear, the rat-tail, and the skin almost without hair, together with that innate courage which the high-bred greyhound should possess, retaining which instinctively, he would rather die than relinquish the chase.

One defect only this cross is admitted to have, which the poacher would rather know to be a truth, than the fair sportsman would come willingly forward to demonstrate. To the former it is a fact pretty well known, that no dog has the sense of smelling in a more

exquisite degree than the bull-dog; and, as they run mute, they, under certain crosses, best answer the midnight purposes of the poacher, in driving hares to the wire or net. Greyhounds bred from this cross have therefore some tendency to run by the nose, which, if not immediately checked by the master, they will continue for miles, and become very destructive to the game in the neighbourhood where they are kept, if not under confinement or restraint.

In a short space of time after Lord Orford's decease, his greyhounds (with various other sporting appurtenances) came under the ham mer of the auctioneer. Colonel Thornton, of Yorkshire, who had passed much of his early life with Lord Orford, and had been an active associate with him in his hawking establishments, was the purchaser of Czarina, Jupiter, and some of his best dogs, giving from thirty to fifty guineas each. It was by this circumstance the select blood of the Norfolk dogs was transferred to Yorkshire; and thence a fair trial was obtained how the fleetest greyhounds that had ever been seen on the sands of Norfolk could run over the Wolds of Yorkshire.

Old Jupiter, when produced by Colonel Thornton in that county, presented to the eye of either the sportsman or the painter, as gallant and true a picture of the perfect greyhound as ever was submitted to judicious inspection. He was a dog of great size, with a very long and taper head, deep in the chest, strong in the loins, with a skin exceedingly soft and pliable, ears small, and a tail as fine as whip-cord. From this uniformity of make and shape, a cross was much sought after by members of the different coursing meetings in the northern districts, and it was universally admitted that the breed in Yorkshire was considerably improved by the Norfolk acquisition.

Notwithstanding these dogs were amongst the best Lord Orford had ever bred from his experimental crosses, and were the boast of the greatest coursers the south of England ever knew; yet, when they came to be started against the hares of the High Wolds, they did not altogether support the high character they had previously obtained. This was more par ticularly demonstrated when the hares turned short on the hill sides, where the greyhounds, unable to stop themselves, frequently rolled like barrels from the top to the bottom, while the hare went away at her leisure, and heard no more of them; it was, however, unanimously agreed by all the sportsmen present, that they ran with a great deal of energetic exertion, and always at the hare; that though beaten, they did not give it in, or exhibit any symptom of lurching, or waiting to kill.

In the low flat countries below the Wolds they were more successful; such gentlemen, therefore, as had been witnesses of the Norfolk, as well as the Berkshire coursing, and saw how the best dogs of the south were beaten