might have been spared to a good old age. With the exception of sudden cold, or chill, I am quite convinced that all inflammatory complaints in horses proceed from three causes only, independent of epizootic contagion-namely, breathing foul air, over-excitement of the vascular system by high food and work, and want of attention to the natural secretions, among which I include sweating. Thus, the head is as likely to be injured as the foot, and the foot as the head; for the whole mass of blood is brought into a feverish state. Now we cannot always be physicking (for strong and stimulating purgatives often induce rather than check these evils), so my favorite system of alteratives must be had recourse to. "The opposition of a few," says Mr. Hinds (speaking of alteratives)," is no obstacle to this commendation of an obscure but safe and certain class of medicines;" and, as far as my experience has goue, I am free to admit, that in hunters' stable I have been more indebted to alterative medicines than to that universal catholicon, physic; which, though at times it is indispensable, bas ruined, blinded, and destroyed thousands upon thousands of good horses! I am not aware that I have any thing to add to this part of my subject, which, with the others I have treated of, I shall now bring to a close. I make no doubt but I shall be severely commented upon for presuming to offer an opinion, so directly in opposition to the highest authority, on the comparative harmlessness of iron horseshoes; but my experience fully justifies every word I have said. That iron shoes improperly applied alter the form of feet, and are one of the many causes of foot lame ness, I should be a blockhead to deny; but for once the cause is to be traced to them, it is to be traced fifty times to other sources, Theory, I admit, points the finger straight to the shoe: practice and experience of all kinds of horses, and all kinds of work to which they are applied, as clearly direct us to the whole vascular system; and it all ends in this :-Keep your horses poor; use them gently; shoe them ill, or shoe them well; and they will be sound in their feet, without either physic or care. Feed your horses highly; ride or drive them hard; shoe them as well as they can be shod; and one fourth part of them will sooner or later be lame in their feet, with physic and care. As connected with the health and condition of hunters, I shall offer a remark or two on the character and practice of the veterinary surgeons of the present day. I make no apology to them for venturing to state the result of my experience in the stable, aided by the observations of others, which I have committed to paper from time to time because the generality of the Profession are men of education, and, as such, superior to low prejudices. Their individual practice assures them of the fact, that observations founded upon extensive experience are the surest guide to truth in every science, and far more likely to benefit mankind than the most refined theories, however plausibly displayed. NIMROD. P.S. My late tour on the Continent has confirmed the truth of many of my assertions on the comparatively harmless influence of shoeing, which I shall not cit noticing when speaking of foreign customs. PRESENT GAME SEASON. You will favour, Sir, an occasional Correspondent from a sporting country (Berks), where game is considered abundant, by the insertion of the following notes on the season, touching the breed of partridges, pheasants, &c. The passion of the sportsman, unlike most other passions, seems never to cloy; and hence we observe even the aged veteran exhibit in his sports all the ardour and anticipation of youth. Rain is always injurious to the incubation of partridges. When it happens to descend much from the middle of May to the end of June, or the second week in July, the destruction of nests formed in the bottom of ditches is inevitable: if an overflow of the rivers or brooks takes place, the mischief becomes general and extensive nor indeed is the injurious effect of wet weather confined to the period of incubation, as the young birds immediately after hatching are equally liable to suffer. Such was the case this season, more so than has happened for many years. We need not feel surprised at finding so few coreys in the neighbourhood of low wampy situations: fortunately a larger quantity than usual was left from last year's abundance for the purpose of procreation. A more un welcome sight cannot be presented to the eye of a shooter in the beginning of the season, than a barren pair; and these were found often during the first day-in fact one half of the birds killed by me were old ones. I was perfectly aware, from the uncommon wetness of the summer, as well as from indubitable proofs, that game would not be abundant in all situations; and, swarming as my neighbourhood does with poachers of all descriptions, I knew from sad experience that I could not calculate upon much sport, even on the first day of the season. My brother sportsmen are well aware that within these few years poaching has improved, or rather that the nocturnal depredator in the field has kept pace with the science of sporting; and that, prior to the first of September, whole coveys are netted and forwarded to those who traffic in these unlawful commodities. To prevent the depredations of those prowling vagabonds, at least as far as relates to the partridge, bushing the fields where they are likely to juck or sleep, is the best and only plan that can with certainty annoy these myrmidons, and protect the birds. Í need not explain the method, as it is so simple: it fully prevents the drag-net, and renders driving tedious and uncertain. In a country where it is not generally practised, it is well for such sportsmen who are fond of the fowling piece to disturb the coveys in the dusk of the evening, when they have collected together for the Right; they will continue in a state of alarm for some time, and rarely collect again till the dawn of morning. Thus a little trouble will foil the poacher. I accordingly commenced running my dogs over the ground as soon as the corn was out of the way, driving up the birds every evening, and scattering them in all directions, till the Saturday prior to the first; and thus prevented any of three coreys near my cottage from falling into the fangs of the sportsman's greatest enemy, while some of my neighbours, who did not practise this precaution, complain of having missed several coveys. The first of September was remarkable for (the sportsman's term is) bad scent-the previous three weeks dry weather; and the unfavorable point of the compass, North East-though the greater part of the morning there was not sufficient wind to move the aspen leaf. Now although a slight wind is highly favorable to pointers, yet I have seen them perform very well when scarcely a breeze has been perceptible; but the bestnosed dogs cannot recognise the scent under an unfavorable atmospheric influence. Various causes may produce an atmosphere unfavorable to the olfactory organs of the dog. Beckford says, "that difference of soil occasions difference of scent;" and Somervile," the air or atmosphere is the ruling principle of scent;" though it is very well known that scent lies much better on rich pasture land than on poorer ground, or a fallow field. On the first of September I lost a brace of birds owing to the badness or insufficiency of the scent. Though the birds appeared to be completely killed (not merely winged), and fell within thirty yards of me, yet the dogs were unable to find them. When winged or wounded, birds are difficult to recover. The best method is to leave the field where they fall for a few hours, and return again; the dogs are then much more likely to hit upon them; it is rarely but the birds will move, unless completely disabled. I crossed the same field in the afternoon, and recovered the lost brace. The day so long looked forward to with such anxiety, will be an agreeable disappointment to my brother sportsmen, as the report had gone forth that partridges and game generally would be very scarce; but in this great game district there is a very fine breed. The following morning, 2d Sep tember, I mounted my pony and rode about seven miles distant, to a district well stocked with game, and, though considered as a preserve, is nevertheless open to me. Here again the season had not operated to the destruction of the partridge. I met with good sport; with an exception to last season, better than I hitherto recollect; though I must admit it is surrounded with strict preserves-add to which a favorite spot for game. I think the breed of hares is far better than last year in this district; I do not remember to have met with them more numerous; though I did not kill one, nor was I desirous so to do, as I can seldom bring myself to consider this animal a proper object for the fowling piece, when it affords such excellent diversion either with greyhounds or harriers. With regard to the pheasant, they will be found to have bred well. These birds generally choose to place their nests in stronger coverts, or better sheltered situations, than partridges; so they are more secure from wet, and consequently their eggs are less liable to sustain injury from it. Foxes likewise, in this district, have bred well. These interesting animals, in two of_the coverts in the hunt of Sir John Cope, Bart. have shewn themselves more numerous than usual; and if any sportsman in that hunt has influence with the proprietors of Bucklebury and Wasing, so as to insure a positive promise that the gamekeepers on those two noble domains shall protect them, Sir John and his friends would not have to complain of blank days when their crack-pack comes into this neighbourhood. Ashridge Woods, so prized for a sure find, are in the hands of a thorough sports WHEN this article shall be presented to our friends, the season for the enjoyment of this noble game will be over; and had not the last important match of the year excited a remarkably strong interest with every one at tached to the diversion, we should scarcely have ventured to devote our columns to another record. But as the field of action has been in something like a new world for bats and stumps, we have thought it our duty towards all our sport ing admirers to obtain the fullest possible account of the play; and we have to thank an amateur friend at Doncaster for the detail. Mr. Woolhouse, of Darnel, near Sheffield, has taken great pains to establish a Club there, and has been indefatigable in his exertions to create a taste for the game in the brawny youths of the North. His father before him began this novelty; and, at a considerable expense, formed a piece of land into a most beautiful ground, in a very commanding and picturesque situation. By degrees the son has succeeded in giving zest to the taste, and has trained a number of young men to a standard' of considerable skill. This has been attained by having many of the first performers from the South to instruct them; and after a few years' perseverance they are become somewhat notorious. Novelty has imposing charms we all know; and emulation, when once enkindled in the breasts of ardent youth, particularly in the sphere of sporting climates, does not want much fanning to spread its influence. It is not surprising, then, to find that great part of Yorkshire, Nottingham, Leicester, with many of their neighbours, have been warmed with the in spiring impulse; and, following good example, have severally got cricket grounds, cricket clubs, and cricket players. Even Doncaster has caught the flame; and though never till now could boast but one grand climax of notoriety, the race ground can in this day exhibit 150 gentlemen in the highest walk of life, who have associated in a club for the manly exercise. Woolhouse has naturally a working spirit; and this spirit has be got (how, the secrets of Nature disclose not) a bouncing ambition; and he has somehow contrived to inoculate the distemper, without any softening remedy, into the blood of most of his friends. Many matches have been played with sweeping success this season, between the fore-named counties; and many of the players have shewn themselves in conspicuous deeds. Woolhouse, though far from wanting the keenness of Northern judgment, now began to be, as it were, besotted with glory; and as most men do, when they are once overcharged, see things in expanded vision, he fancied the Northern Lights were at one flash This sudden march of daring soon reached the high blood at Lord's; and, though at a moment when the sun was setting at an early hour, and sports in shortened days once more engaged the flying time, there was one warm-hearted man (no idler at cricket) who could feel the electric spark, and in spunky humour, for the honour of Marylebone and its helpmates, dashed at the offer, without even a counsellor at hand. Mr. Parry, a fine player himself, cast his eyes around; and, having had many specimens of capabilities on his own soil, he was not much at a loss to find, ready and willing to his call LILLYWHITE, JEM BROADBridge, VOL. XXII. N. S.-No. 133. runs To particularize the hands of each individual would swell our pages beyond our limits: we must, therefore, be more general. England went in first, and scored 178 -the bulk of which were got by Pilch and Beagley. In this hands several were unsuccessfulwe won't say unlucky, because we think the term misapplied to the game. It is uncertain in all its ramifications, and, with the most skilful knowledge, will at times bring the best players to a level with inferiority. Pilch played inimitably, and Beagley was in his highest keeping. Marsden's bowling was excellent throughout, and continued with unabated spirit. Shilton did also well; but he and all the changes were beat down, and then the scorers became fully employed. The great hopes of the match rested upon Marsden: he had the Thursday before an immense hands at Nottingham; and this elated his friends so much as to make them believe that he was perfectly invinci◄ 3 I |
