the deeper recesses of the forest, till at length one rending shout, and the quick and incessant firing, announced that they had come upon a herd of wild buffaloes.

After the lapse of a few minutes the whole herd rushed forth in one black, condensed, formidable body, some bleeding, others, though mortally wounded, yet struggling on in their last agonies till the death-pang overtook them, and, falling slowly on their knees, they sank majestically to rise no more. One, with bloodshot eyes and wrinkled front, stood alone on an elevated knoll, with lowering head and spreading horns, pawing up furiously the verdant turf: he was one who, long the favorite of the fickle female train, had been lately ejected from the herd by caprice, or some stronger rival: his spirit brooded over his wrongs, and he stood reckless, prepared desperately to charge any moving thing which should come within his reach: he had long been the terror of the surrounding country.

The cheering voice of Cambius urged the attack, and, circling round in rapid career, he discharged a shot, which only raised the skin and farther excited the fury of the buffalo, who rushed towards the bold horseman with senseless rage. The white foam flew over his head, and fell like snow-flakes upon his black skin; but the speed of Feridoon upon

SIR,

this occasion, and the prompt assistance of Hospitius and Shawzada, saved the life of Cambius: for while the buffalo, intent upon the destruction of the latter, continued his desperate course, they rode up and wounded him severely; and, at the same time, one of the stoutest elephants came up with Idem and Dubiosus to the support of their friends. The buffalo prepared for the encounter with determined energy: he lashed his tail, stamped up the ground, and the plain resounded with his deep bellowings, which seemed to invite the combat. The shrill trumpeting of the elephant answered the summons; while crowds of affrighted ryots, or cultivators, perched on adjacent trees, watched with alarm the progress of the contest. When the elephant approached within about fifty yards, the buffalo rushed on with a force and resolution which no language can adequately describe. Perforated with weighty balls, besmeared with blood, fire in his eye, and ebbing strength in his charge, he came on with his head down between his knees, struggled onward, and rushed upon his colossal foe. The shock staggered him; and, reeling backwards some paces, he stooped, stumbled forward, and fell dead at the feet of the elephant; who, scorning to insult a fallen enemy, stood unmoved over the proJAVELIN.

strate carcase.

THE late engraving of Velo

cipede (published by Ackermann, jun.) has given rise to

various and equally curious speculations, originating in the following super-eminent encomium

HE

upon that really capital racer of the present day, to wit, that " WAS EQUAL IF NOT SUPERIOR TO ECLIPSE." This, granting it has had the intended effect of raising the character of the stallion with one party, has also had the equal effect of exciting the smiles of the other namely, of those grey pates, always and by custom wondrous wise, and who aver, with all the confidence of veteran superiority, that no horse has since appeared upon the turf in any degree equal to Eclipse; whilst their opponents, at different periods, have brought forward competitors at least in their opinion equal, some of which have been honored with the usual characteristic" equal to any horse that has ever appeared," or, as in the case of Rockingham, "the best horse ever trained." With this party it is the custom to ejaculate a parliamentary "Oh!" whenever the name of Eclipse is quoted, with the addendum" these people are always talking about Eclipse and his wonderful per formances; but, for my part, I don't believe a word of it at all, as we have since had horses as fast and good, if not better, than Eclipse was!" Now, every man is, and ought to be, free to give his opinion, and of all others a proprietor, to whom a denial would be cruel indeed: but then, the appalling truth cannot be concealed opinion is but opinion still, and words are but wind; for, as Hudibras tells us,

"No argument like matter of fact is:" and though the same shrewd and witty writer says,

"He who's convinced against his will Is of the same opinion still;"

yet what will become of such a

a

not run till five years old, which, on account of the hands he was in, occasioned at the time various speculations. With some, he was amiss until his fourth year; with others, unmanageable; with third party, a chosen and destined kill-devil from his colthood, and therefore kept from work till his majority,that every support might be given to the prediction. The neighbouring course of Epsom being intended for his debut, he was there tried two miles previously to the Meeting, against one deemed a capital trial horse, which, at a much higher weight, he beat a monstrous distance, though pulled the whole course through. Notwithstanding all the secrecy the Michelham people could use, according to good old customshall we say privilege?-the approaching trial got wind, though the vigilant employés were somewhat at the latest, as the nags had just reached the finish when their kind visitors had reached the Downs. These last, however, were not disappointed; for they had the good fortune to chop upon an eye witness in the person of

an old woman, who described Eclipse plainly to them as at a vast distance before the other horse, which, in her phrase," was running to catch him." This important intelligence was known to those in the secret at Medley's in Round Court by four o'clock the same day.

Shortly afterwards the May Meeting at Epsom took place, and Eclipse was entered for the Fifty Pound Plate with horses, that had never won 301., matches excepted. Four, little worth naming, started against him-4 to 1 on Eclipse. In the second heat Eclipse distanced them all, though Oakley, the most powerful rider on the turf in those days, according to his orders pulled his horse throughout the last mile with all his strength.

In the same year Eclipse, a five-year-old, won everything in a canter for which he ran-Fifties or King's Plates-with generally 10, sometimes 20, to 100 to 1 upon him, frequently distancing his competitors.

In April 1770, at Newmarket, he was matched against Bucephalus by Regulus, 8st. 7lb. each, when Wildman staked on Eclipse 600gs. to 400gs., and Bucephalus was thought of so highly that the betting was only 6 to 4 on Eclipse. This race was the most remarkable of any which Eclipse ran, as the only one in which there was the slightest appearance of equality in his opponent-unless it may be supposed that Eclipse was then in one of his quiet and indolent humours, since he subsequently distanced far superior horses. However, the Northcountry-horse ran his course through like a good and true son of old Regulus, thereby nearly

breaking his heart, since he was never afterwards able to regain his original form, though several times tried at Newmarket.

During this his second and last year upon the turf, Eclipse continued his most extraordinary career, winning Plates, King's Plates, and Subscriptions, seldom or never admitted to the last without a high premium, with odds upon him from 10 to 100 to his proprietors, for the sake of getting bets, being frequently under the necessity of backing him to distance instead of beating his horses, until he came to his grand performance, beating in a canter those capital runners Bellario and Tortoise, before which he was above a distance at the end of the first two miles.

Previously, in running for the King's Plate at York, 6 and 7 to 4 were betted that he distanced Mr. Strode's Pensioner, which it appeared he did without exertion, and merely in going at his rate. It was said that O'Kelly gained 25,0001. by this matchless horse; but, taking every item into the account, his gains must have been far more considerable. Nature having endowed Eclipse with the universal tool, no wonder that he was so capital a workman. He possessed speed, activity, stride, ability to carry weight, strength of wind, and the power of endurance, as near to that perfection of which we can form any idea; and had he ever been matched a single quarter of a mile with a flyer, he would no doubt have been found a troublesome customer. His temper, though capricious, was never vicious, nor ever interfered with the interest of his proprietor; and

it was remarked as a curious fact, that, although he so often in a race ran away with his jockey, he never forgot to stop at the ending post. All this, to be sure, is splendid; but let it be remembered-which by the bye is not always to be remembered in cases of encomium-actual facts and grounds have been previously stated, and, if they can be fairly controverted, be it so.

I have mentioned old Jack Medley's Coffee-house in Round Court, Strand, which, as all things change, now requires a forty years' recollection. It was, in the midIdle and towards the end of the last century, the chief betting house of its class in the metropolis, when Dennis O'Kelly, Dick England, Irish Tetherington, Vauxhall Clarke, and Hull, were lords of the ascendant-an honorable squad, to whom, in all probability, the honour apper tained of despatching their emissaries to watch Eclipse's trial.

Come we now, like the old Duchess of Marlborough, to the "other side of the question," on the part of our swift-footed cotemporary, VELOCIPEDE. His first start was at Catterick in April 1827, where he won the Yearling Stakes for rising twoyear-olds, 20 sovs. each, one mile, 7 subs. Five started, two only placed. Won in a canter.

In the next month he won at York a Sweepstakes of 30gs. each, 21 subs., T.Y.C. Even betting and 5 to 4 on Velocipede. Run in one minute nine seconds, and won easy.

At Doncaster in the following September, he was beat easily half a length by Bessy Bedlam, in a Sweepstakes, 26 subs., 20 Sovs. each, T.Y.C. Three only

started. Three to one on Veloci pede.

At York Spring Meeting, May 1828, he won the St. Leger Stakes of 25 sovs. each, last mile and three quarters, seven subscribers: -2 to 1 on Velocipede. Won easily by seventy or eighty yards.-It was said, that, soon after starting, Velocipede "shewed some disposition to get out of the course," but Scott, his jockey, judiciously reclaimed him. His next and I believe his last race was for the Great St. Leger at Doncaster in September 1828, 80 subscribers, 25 sovs. each, of whom nineteen of their horses started, The Colonel and Velocipede the favorites. The race was won easily by The Colonel, Velocipede coming in third.

If I have omitted any of the great achievements of this speedy runner I crave pardon both of him and his proprietor, referring omissions, if any such there be, to some more industrious gleaner. However, I must not omit the exalted character of the horse exhibited in a publication of acknowledged character in the case, universally known as the Sporting Magazine: for example; the Number for June 1828, p. 181, in which the writer declaims in the following glowing language on Velocipede:-" He possesses the Blacklock stride in all its power-he is certainly a second Eclipse-the horse that beats such running as his this day must be a second Childers!" Bien! On this ground of opinion the writer very generously assigns the splendid reward of victory in the approaching St. Leger at Doncaster to his second Childers. Fate, or fortune, or superior ability, however, deter

mined otherwise, investing The Colonel with the laurel of fame and victory, and his proprietor with somewhat at least fully as But a manufacturer of second Eclipses and Childerses is, like old Sam Chifney, never at a loss in case of disappointment-condition, defect of condition, is the never-failing salvo! I also, had I certain grounds to go upon, could go farther than I yet have done in the behalf of our second Eclipse. The reader may have marked my Italics on the race in which Bessy Bedlam beat Velocipede. Tace is Latin for acandle. The suspicion that Bessy was poisoned for the race at Doncaster is horrible, and not the less so on account of its probability. The New Drop groans for a sweepstakes of these infernal miscreants-they and their masters, be the latter who they may, would stand a damned bad chance were it in my power to peach.

"Now to conclude," though I am without a surplice. Old ECLIPSE, the inferior, defying condition, travel, change of water, diet, and management, after having beat all the capitals of the

South, proceeded to the North, and actually exceeded his former out-and-out doings in the South. VELOCIPEDE, his equal, if not superior, never beat one single capital horse of his day, probably not one good third-rater-plenty of capital leather-platers, I freely acknowledge; and his reputation was very discreetly protected by "not trusting him in the South." I know nothing of him but by report; from which I judge he was one of the speediest horses of his time, and that speed was his best: and as comparisons I find are the ton in this affair, I take leave to make mine; and it shall be with a horse that I knew in the paddock sucking his dam, and afterwards on the course:I refer to O'Kelly's Young Eclipse, between which horse and Velocipede there seems to be much analogy of character in regard to speed, stride, temper, and racing repute.

But-a pull, a pull! alas, I have forgotten the sage monition of my old and revered master, Voltaire" Wo to him who overlays and overproves his argument!" PHILO-TURF.

SIR,

THOUGH I fear I am too late

for this month, meglio tardi che mai !-I met Mr. Horlock's, as I proposed in my last, at Corsham, Wilts; and, as if to falsify what I before related, we had a most business-like thing from Pickwick Lodge through Bitson, across to Coldhorne Park, through Luckenham Grove, Norwood, to a copse close to Marsh

field-wood, where we killed. We afterwards returned to Coldhorne Park, where we had left four or five couple of hounds, and found them still running their fox. I remained an hour and a half without our giving an account of him: I afterwards heard he did not break, nor was he killed.

Saturday, the 22d-the Duke of Beaufort's, at Dyrham Park.