certain; and it is strongly suspected that they have been "murdered." The hounds having declined to rend his jacket, reynard was hung up on a tree, and left to wither in the wind. This is really too bad: in order to lull Mr. Drake into quiet, it seems that the noble lord, well knowing that there were no foxes in his domain, on the day before the hounds were to draw his cover, procured three from London, and they were brought down by coach, caged up in a wooden box, duly directed for the "Farmer's Friend;" but the effluvia not being very pleasant, the olfactory organs of some of the passengers, were disturbed, and the intended secret "blown." For on arriving at Deakins's, at Bicester, the passengers, and one old lady in particular, little dreaming of the information she was imparting to some genuine follower of the chase, expressed in the warmest manner her gratification at the removal of the nuisance, and thanking her stars that the box with its contents were removed from the coach to the outhouse or wood of the malt-loving Marquis. I shall return to this subject in my next communication.

He

Our meet yesterday, 22d of November, at Bicester windmill, produced a very large field, as usual. We found a brace of foxes at Grave-hill, and ran one a ring in direction of Bucknell; crossing and re-crossing the Langford Brook, about twenty of the field partook of the chilling element, in their ardour to pursue the pleasing pastime of following the fox. returned to the wood and was lost: but another was found at Cotmore, and we had a pretty run through Stoke Little and Great Woods to Ardley, and through the Bucknell Coppices, and returned to Cotmore, where, at five o'clock, he again broke cover in a pitiable condition, five minutes would have settled his hash, but the darkness saved his life-not being able to see a fence, it was thought quite time to stop the hounds.

ESAU.

MANGO AND THE NEWMARKET ST. LEGER.

THOUGH "Craven's" assumed "Liberty of Prophesying" with respect to future, and his incorrect assertions with respect to past sporting events, have been more than once noticed in our pages, that "smart and successful dramatic author" has continued his airy flights in the regions of imagination, as regardless of our admonitions as the unreclaimed Kestrel is heedless of the voice of the falconer. Mr. Greville has, however, brought him to a check; and his despicable shuffling, when charged with propagating-to use Mr. Greville's words-"a false and malicious libel," proves that he is gifted with a double tongue as well as with second sight. He insinuates a charge against Mr. Greville, of causing to be propagated an exaggerated report of Mango's lameness, for a fraudulent purpose, and when challenged by that gentleman to prove

the truth of his statement, attempts to explain away the obvious meaning of his own words, by the following piece of arrant quibbling. The part which we print in italics is an excellent specimen of the writer's usual style of empty mouthing, in which it is vain to search for a glimmering of sense. Does Craven not perceive that his "most distinct statements," in this instance, can only be received in evidence of his own equivocation, and can by no means affect the previous inferences drawn by others, from the obvious meaning of the objectionable passages? "How an offensive interpretation, as regards the proprietor [of the Old Sporting Magazine]," says the double-tongued Prophet, can be drawn from the notice of the fluctuation in the odds upon Mango, for the Newmarket Leger, which appeared in "The Sporting Magazine" for the present month (November), it is not for me to suggest; but I do most distinctly state that, neither directly nor by inference, can such intention attach to my allusion to it." In order that our readers may judge for themselves of Craven's intention, we give the following passages from the Old Sporting Magazine of 1st November :

"This evening, Tuesday, 3rd October, it was universally current that Mango had broken down, and a guinea to a shilling was the course of exchange about him for the morrow's Leger. At a late hour there was a report that he had been out after dusk upon the Heath, but the result of it, supposing the fact to have been as stated, was kept for the service of all whom it might concern. inquiries at the Rooms, the answer was that he was not scratched for his Wednesday's engagement."

Το

"It was announced that Mango would go for the Leger, but, among the select, this seemed to have been anticipated, and made no change in their looks or books; but very different was the case with those who had backed the Field at a poney to a pound. Something, intended to be received as an explanation of the impression sent abroad of that horse's having broken down, was given out; but I must be permitted to say that it was the lamest part of the whole business in my estimate. The explanation was to the effect, that the trainer, Mr. Dilly (Mango is not now in the hands of Mr. Prince), who first pronounced the case a breakdown (that is to say, a violent, generally a fatal muscular injury), presently discovered that it was merely a bruise of the foot, or some trifle of the kind. When this discovery was effected is not stated; but at whatever time it was so providentially made, no notice of the circumstance was issued to the public till it could no longer be kept, and when it was no longer useful to conceal it. Whether any hopes existed or not that the bruise might allow the horse to start, surely it would have been as courteous to have stated that it merely was a bruise that confined him to his stable, and not a break-down, that precluded the possibility of his crossing the threshold of its door." The italics in this extract are Craven's own.

If, according to his own explanation, the "smart dramatic author's" reports are of so vague a character; and if, neither directly nor by inference, an intention of insinuating that Mr. Greville, either by himself or others, encouraged a report of Mango's having broken down, can "attach to his allusion to it," we beg to suggest to the "Prophet" the propriety of prefixing the indefinite article to his usual signature:

NO. LXXXVOL. XIII.

3 E

"A CRAVEN," though a feigned name would be expressive of a real character.

"Thou wear a lion's hide! doff it, for shame,

And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs."

Having expressed ourselves as freely respecting the "Prophet" as he has expressed himself respecting the owner of Mango, we throw aside our own cudgel-a sapling of English oak, hard and heavy, but without a twist, and having no lead at the end-and try a single bout with Craven, at his own puny weapons-foils, with the button on. "How an offensive interpretation can be drawn from our remarks on CRAVEN, it is not for us to suggest; but we do most distinctly state, that neither directly nor by inference, can any intention of questioning his talents or veracity attach to our observations." We leave, however, others to draw an inference for themselves.-" Per Hercle !"'-as Craven said when he broke Priscian's head, in one of his late bouts with the old Grammarian" A hit, a very palpable hit."

In order to put our readers in possession of the whole case, we give at length the following letters.

"SIR, Buckenham, Nov. 5th, 1837. "I have just seen in the last number of The Sporting Magazine,' under the head of First October Meeting,' a statement with regard to my horse Mango, the object of which is to create an impression that Mango having met with a slight accident, I (or my trainer) had endeavoured to make it believed that the horse had broke down, in order to convert such erroneous notion to my peeuniary advantage. I, therefore, request you will supply me with the name of the person who writes under the signature of Craven,' and I shall at once acquaint you with my object in requiring this information. It is my intention to submit the article in question to my brother stewards, and to invite Craven' to prove before them the truth of the statement he has thought fit to make. When it shall have been shown (as it assuredly will) that it is utterly untrue from beginning to end, I shall ask their concurrence in having him warned off the course at Newmarket, in order to mark in the most public manner their reprobation of this false and malicious libel. You will be pleased to address your reply to Gunton, Norwich.

Let me,

I am, Sir, &c., "To the Editor of The Sporting Magazine. C. C. GREVILLE." "SIR, Sporting Magazine Office, Nov. 6th, 1837. "A note addressed by you to the Editor of The Sporting Magazine,' has just been handed to me. It is not customary for proprietors of periodicals to give up the names of their contributors; therefore, your request not being complied with in the present instance is no mark of individual discourtesy. however, disclaim all desire to shield myself from the consequences of any statement I put forth, under the protection of the anonymous character in which it appears. Had you sought my name, for the purpose of claiming a personal explanation, or holding me personally liable to you for that which you might construe into offence, you would not have had to complain of any want of alacrity in being supplied with it. But you have declared your intention to submit to the Stewards of the Jockey Club, in their public capacity, a paragraph emanating from me as a public writer-in that relation I shall deal with it. How an offensive interpretation, as regards the proprietor, can be drawn from the notice of the fluctuation in the odds upon Mango, for the Newmarket Leger,

which appeared in The Sporting Magazine' for the present month, it is not for me to suggest; but I do most distinctly state that, neither directly nor by inference, can such intention attach to my allusion to it. What statement am I called upon to prove or support? Where is there a sentence in the account of the First October Meeting to the effect that Mr. Greville or his trainer 'had endeavoured to make it believed that the horse had broke down, in order to convert such erroneous notion to his, Mr. Greville's pecuniary advantage?' Sir, that I have written to that purpose I deny-and also the right of any individual to impute such motives to me.

“That it was current at Newmarket that Mango had broken down, and that 20 to 1 were the odds against him for the Leger there, on the evening preceding the race, I have stated-and so did every journal in the kingdom; further, that I expressed astonishment that a trainer should not be able to decide between what is called a break-down, 'generally a fatal muscular injury,' and a mere bruise; and also that, with the knowledge of the reports in circulation, did he know that his horse suffered only from a slight accident,' it would have been more courteous to have so stated, instead of, as the papers of the day had it, 'keeping his own counsel,' is true. In what way does this affix to you any sinister object?

"Here I would close this very unpleasant correspondence, but that there remains a part of your note which I cannot pass in silence.

"Since my connection with the turf, in my present capacity*, it has ever been the view of my humble efforts to uphold its interests, and to do honour to its legitimate supporters. The latter has been done in no servile spirit. I have given my opinion that a trainer is expected to know the difference between a bruise and a break down; and, therefore, the Stewards of the Jockey Club are to be invited to warn me off the course.' Sir, did my tenure of permission to go on the heath at Newmarket depend upon my withholding from the public such observations as I deem suitable to the purpose with which I visit it, I should consider the privilege a reproach. I have disclaimed the meaning that you desire to attach to my allusion to your horse and the late Newmarket Leger; and I conclude with the hope that in the zeal of a public writer, I many never compromise my truth or my courtesy.

"To the Hon. C. C. Greville. "SIR,

6

"I am, &c.,

"CRAVEN."

Gunton, Nov. 9th, 1837.

As you decline to give up your real name, I am compelled to reply to your letter in that which you have assumed. I charged you with casting a foul and unanswerable imputation upon me, and instead of having the decency to atone for so doing, you make a half-shuffling, half-blustering attempt to evade the accusation. In answer to your question, Where is there a sentence in the account of the First October Meeting to the effect that Mr. Greville or his trainer had endeavoured to make it believed that the horse had broke down, in order to convert such erroneous notion to his pecuniary advantage?' I quote the following passage, upon which nothing but the merest quibbling can pretend to put any other construction-It was announced that Mango would go for the Leger; but, among the select, this seemed to have been anticipated, and made no change in their looks or books. Something intended to be received as an explanation of the impression sent abroad of that horse having broke down was given out; but I must be permitted to say that it was the lamest part of the whole business in my estimate. The explanation was to the effect that the trainer, Mr. Dilly, who first pronounced the case a break down, presently discovered that it was merely a bruise of the foot, or some trifle of the kind. When this discovery was effected is not stated; but at whatever time it was so providentially made, no notice of the circumstance was issued to the public, till it could no longer be kept, and when it was no longer useful to conceal it." The only excuse (as far as I am concerned) * In what other capacity was the "Prophet" ever connected with it? ED. N. S. M.

that you could possibly urge for this gross misstatement would be, that you were not present at the events which you pretend to describe as an eye-witness; for, if you really were at Newmarket, you must have known of your own knowledge that there was not a syllable of truth in any one of the facts of your narrative. You must have known that it was not universally current on Tuesday evening that Mango had broken down; but, on the contrary, that on Monday everybody at Newmarket was aware of the exact state of the case, and aware also that I had repeatedly said, that I could not decide till Wednesday morning whether he would start for the St. Leger or not. You must have known that there was no 'report that the horse had been out after dusk—the fact of which was kept for all whom it might concern;' and it was your business to know (since you profess to instruct the public in these matters) that the horse walked down to the course on Tuesday, while the races were running, and gallopped on the course as soon as they were over. It is not true that Mr. Dilly ever pronounced the case a break down.' It is not true that any such 'impression' was ever sent abroad;' and equally untrue that any 'attempt at explanation' ever took place on the subject; and you must have known that there never was any course of exchange' of a pony to a pound;' nor any betting at all till the morning of the race, after it was declared that Mango would start. If, therefore, you were not present, you have been guilty of a gross imposition on the public; and, if you were not present, you have wilfully and deliberately published a malicious libel on me. On the horns of this dilemma I shall leave you; and have only to add, that as you do not choose to reveal your name, I must endeavour to find it out by some other means; and, if I succeed in so doing, I shall adopt the course of which I have already apprised you. I am, &c.

"To Craven.

6

C. C. GREVILLE."

Upon this affair, the Editor of Bell's Life in London,-in which journal the letters first appeared on the 19th November-makes the following remarks:

"In reference to the above correspondence, we can take upon ourselves to assert that nothing occurred at Newmarket which could warrant the offensive insinuations contained in the statement complained of by Mr. Greville. We have consulted several persons who were present, and every one agrees with us that the horse was known to be lame, and that although some, ever ready to make the most of things, aggravated his lameness into a break-down, no such report emanated from the stable or any party connected with it, nor was any attempt made to take advantage of it. It is true that 2 to 1 was quoted against him on the evening preceding the race, but it was a nominal price-there was no betting-no desire to bet. It was not until Wednesday morning that, acting on the opinion of Mr. Barrow, the veterinary surgeon, it was decided to run, nor was it till then that any business was done on the race. We repeat, nothing took place which could by possibility prejudice the public, or justify the imputations conveyed in the statement published in the 'Sporting Magazine."

A letter, written by Craven, in answer to those remarks, appeared in the Times of Monday, 20th November; and loving fair-play-though we may occasionally hit hard-and,

"Never counting him a man

Who strikes below the knee,"

we give the following extract from it:-"In observing upon a correspondence, given at length, between Mr. Greville and myself, the Editor (of Bell's Life in London) states that the odds upon Mr. Greville's horse Mango, for the Newmarket St. Leger, never exceeded 2 to 1, and that