PROSPECTS OF THE H. H. COUNTRY. BY WILDBOY. All foxhunters will be delighted to hear, that the “noble science" looks up in this once-favoured country. There is a good report of foxes here, where every farmer is their friend, and a general disposition to support the new master, who has undertaken and entered upon bis office in a spirited and business-like way, with fifty couple of hunting hounds, of undeniable blood, bone, and symmetry; and from the kennel management which appears to be bestowed upon them, we venture to predict that an unusual number of noses will garnish the kennel-door at the end of the present season. Among the bitch pack are some models of perfection: they remind one of the “Flying Ladies" in point of personal beauty; and the dog pack looks workmanlike and fashionable in every respect. Any one who was acquainted with the “Cheshire' will distinguish at a glance the judicious handiwork of Joe Maiden flourishing in the H. 7. kennel; and he, as a breeder of hounds, was haud ulli secundus, inferior to none in England. If the scent serve, and the line of country be favourable, they must fly; and, as for the horses, "They'll have flcet steeds that follow, quoth young Lochinvar.” We understand that a new kennel will be built in a more convenient situation, which will certainly be a great advantage, as the present one is anything but central for the country. We doubt not, from the esprit de corps that prevails throughout the country, but that sport will be insured. We have been favoured with a list of the hounds, which we beg to subjoin : LIST OF THE H. II. IIOUNDS.-OCTOBER, 1845. HUNTING HOUNDS. }Juniper.. Six years. Seven years. AGE. Naves. SIRES. Dams. His Clara Constance The Surrey Dimple Dreadful Mr. C. Craven's Songstress Woodbine. Vanquish Rosebud Pastime Vengeance Z Five years. Vexer ... Five yrs. years. Four AGE. NAMES. SIRES. Days. Damsel Dreadful Rarity Mr. Long's Harmony. From the Badsworth Handmaid Mr. Long's Crafty Damsel Jewess Rosebud Woodbine His Pamela From Lord Gifford Wildair... Racer Favourite.: } Sir A. Chichester’s Pantaloon Sir W. Carew's Whalebone Sir A. Chichester's Niobe Niobe ... Admiral.. Three years. His Syren Woldsman: } Woodman .... Rambler... Rosebud Woodbine Rosamond Harmony Daphne Their Palatine Duke of Rutland's Rarity Mr. Codrington's Pastime Their Volatile Lord Hawke's Conqueror.. Cheshire Posey Lord Fitzwilliam's Justice., Mr. Codrington's Pleasant Their Beauty Two years. man Garnish .... Hermit.... Two years. . Woful.....? Wellington Age. NAMES. DAMS. Duke of Rutland's Famous Sir Tatton Syke's Champion Cheshire Vixen Lord Fitzwilliain's Roman.. Hon Newton Fellowes' Wary His Monody Their Gadfly His Halcyon Handmaid Cruel Hopeful ? Joyful Daphne Clara S Merry Lass. Cheshire Matchless Their Rarity Their Cheerful Their Adelaide Their Elegant Their Careless Semptress Woodbine Victory Handmaid Clara Rakish Merry Lass Rally One year. } Hambledon Falstaff Jason ...... Dreadful. TOTAL NUMBER FOR 1845. Hunting Hounds 50 couple Young Hounds 11 couple Stud Hounds I couple Total 62 couple. .. “ ENGLISH PASTIMES.” THE AMUSEMENTS OF THE HUMBLER CLASSES." STEPNEY FAIR. BY LORD WILLIAM LENNOX. “ Now the fair is at its full." -Song. The easterly winds, usually so prevalent at this season, had given way to balmy airs from the south-west; and Easter Monday, to the delight of thousands, was a day of brilliancy and splendour. My newspaper had informed me that Stepney Fair was about to be revived; and, as I have ever felt the deepest interest in the sports of the people, I was anxious to witness the restoration of this once far. famed place of amusement. The fair-day of the good old times was a period to which the humbler classes looked forward as one of relaxation from servitude and labour. It was a time devoted to pleasure-taking, present-making, flirtation, and innocent recreation. Latterly the march of improvement (!) has made such rapid strides, that politics, cheap publications (many of most questionable morality), gin-palaces, and beer-shops have swallowed up the hours formerly devoted to English sports and pastimes. With every wish to increase, not diminish, the real comforts of the labouring classes, with every desire to see their minds stored with useful learning, we must protest against the introduction of the modern private class of alehouses, and the dissemination of publications which not only too often circulate principles of insubordination and contempt of authority, but which diffuse the worst of poisons, by the open avowal of infidelity. As for the beershops, they have been universally denounced from the bench. Let any person but enter one, and he will find the outside notice" Licensed to be drunk upon the premises”—practically illustrated within. Anxious to witness this holiday festival, I enveloped myself in a pea-jacket, and proceeded on foot through the busy streets that led me to Whitechapel. No sooner had I entered this “flesh market" as, from the number of butchers' shops, it would be called in Edinburgh-than I imagined that the fair had already commenced, for, upon the north-side of the pavement appeared numerous booths, and every small nook was filled with some exhibition. From the huge advertisements that graced the shop-windows--announcing “Great fall in prices,” “Sir Robert Peel's tariff,” “ Reduction of sugar, glass," "coffee,” &c. - one would have imagined that we were living in the days of Elizabeth, when a turkey might be purchased for eighteenpence, and meat and other eatables at equally low prices. A shoemaker announced Wellington boots at eighteen and sixpence, 1 and all along of Sir Robert Peel's tariff ; a tailor (not Moses) advertised clothes at an extraordinary cheap rate, for the same financial reason. His advertisement was unique: it talked of coats which would fascinate the most fastidious of heiresses--of waistcoats that would convert a bumpkin into a Brummell, a drayman into a D'Orsay-of green “cut-aways" that would transform an unswerving pedestrian into a confirmed equestrian--of cloaks that would confer upon a clerk the dignity of the don -- of Mackintosh capes that, sheltering the wearer from the weather, formed a portable cab by day, and an operatic umbrella by night. Then we saw advertised tariff sugar, tariff tea, tariff cheese (American produce), and tariff clocks. The Tower Hamlets, of which Whitechapel forms a no inconsiderable part, ought, in gratitude, to return two supporters of Sir Robert Peel's government to Parliament, for, according to their advertisements, the very greatest benefit has been conferred upon the public by the worthy baronet's tariff. Whilst ruminating over the tariff question and the prospects of PRACTITIONER. his residence, Spring Gardens.” COVENT GARDEN," and addressed to the landowners and farmers of England, the following copies of testimonials, which we transcribe from the advertisement, would be equally applicable to the political chiropodist : “ FROM THE MARQUIS OF The League have extracted my corn from every foot (of land) with extraordinary skill. (Signed) * * *." “ FROM THE RIGHT Hon. THE EARL OF "I certify that the League have effectually removed all my corn with great dexterity. (Signed) " FROM THE Right Hon. LORD * *. “I have to state that the League have completely annihilated some corns which have been hereditary in my family for many years, and that they have shown that skill and knowledge which have procured them so very deserved a reputation. (Signed * *.! " FROM SQUIRE * * * * * " The League have got rid of all my corn : I have not an acre (query, by printer's devil, acher ?) left. (Signed) *." In addition to the above authenticated testimonials, and to many thousand more in the possession of the League, they can confidently give references to the first practitioners of the highest standing in the corn market.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |