SIR

The excellence of the preceding year giving promise of future success, and the noisy prophecies of the "gentlemen who knows everything, that some were to be there who had never begrudged their last sleeve-button on a "maggot race," had already caused the daily routine of business to rise to an alarming height when it wanted yet many days of the second Dhoolia Meeting. Nor did the event prove that the Cabinet had chaffed of matters with which they were altogether unacquainted, for certes, the pickings of the last year had not failed to magnetize a few who avowedly live" from hand to mouth," and are perpetually on the lay out for a glimpse of sunshine. But these again had forgotten to remember that experience, like a good oculist, seldom fails to improves men's darkened vision, and they were therefore not a little in the cellar to perceive, an awkward clause or two, cut, dried, and prepared for the prevention of mischief and the provision of all marplots to fair sport. No harvesting; none of your scraping in half stakes; not a rap to be earned at walk, no-not a stiver; and, what made matters worse than all, a likely few, ready to sport a toe at a gallop.

At the sister station the heavens had bottled up to within a month of the time of running, when, unable longer to contain themselves, they dispensed their favours at "no allowance." And thus the great Malligaum stables, being perplexed by the slushy, soapy, and uncomfortable state of the ground, were driven par necessité to the "Highways;" but, as is usual on these occasions, they turned out an unprofitable spec to all parties,

saving the blacksmith and the ironmonger, and, inconvenient though it certainly was, such lawless practices were speedily put a stop to. At the great emporium, however, all was as it should bethe course in prime order; not quite so dry as a brickbat, but just dry enough to be useful; and no pains or expense were spared to give things a dash of "the ornamental." Under these circumstances, then, it is not so very marvellous, after all, if some people did look a little funny, as they ventured the last "feel at the legs of their live lumber, and then turned their heads towards DнOOLIA.

Others there were with a happy contempt for despondency, who scoffed at all minor difficulties, and, trusting to luck and discrimination to embark their "little savings" in speculation, and had already made a fortune by a raffle ticket or a still more judicious dabble in a lottery; whilst some of the least ambitious had an eye only to a swap, and trusted to the market for their pickings. But not a soul forgot his china book, for this little article is as essential to an aspirant to turf honours as sulphate of silver or oil of brimstone to the completion of the mysterious chimea.

Matters were in this state, when the 8th of November dawned on a motley group of purple-nosed-frost, bitten gentry, who had been for the preceding two hours in and about the stand, quietly "sucking" mocha and other "tasty lap," and denouncing the officious wakefulness of their domestics.

The Maiden Sweepstakes, one two miles heat, 8m. 7s., had but four subscribers, and "Landscape," who was the favourite at great

odds, turning out " a rumper," was drawn. The Dwarf was too indisposed with gout to make his début in public, and left the Prince and the Bridegroom to settle matters in their own way. The former of these ran sole monarch to the distance post, and secured to himself many staunch supporters; but the knowing ones were in the wrong box for onceBridegroom usurped the lead, won easy in 4m. 30s., and floored the Royalists.

Rough Robin, Lady Jane, Ruby, and Brownlock, ridden by their respective owners, were in the lists for the Welter Stakes, 11st., one mile, and took four heats to settle their disputes. In the first, Rough Robin and Brownlock went off at a score; the Lady sporting her leg to the distance gallanted by the Ruby. At the half mile post Brownlock headed, and Rough Robin dropped like a shot, when loud cries of "Get out of my track, get out of my track," extended faint hopes to Ruby's friends that he might yet prove himself the gem; but the dream was a transitory one, and Rough Robin cantered in. Second heat, Rough Robin off at a score, Brownlock and Ruby all nowhere, but striving for the lead. Robin had it, and the Lady was not far behind him. Third heat, Robin went away as before, the rest in a lump; at the half mile Lady Jane headed and won easy. The fourth in like manner. Time 2m. 12s., 2m. 12s., 2m. 15s., 2m. 18s.

On Wednesday, the 10th, the Prince (carrying 9st. 4lbs.) toddled off with the Give and Take in two stupid heats. Cyrus (8st. 7lbs.), his only competitor, came to the post with a screw loose, and had never even the shadow of a chance. South America to an Havannah cigar.

Mr. Smith's grey pony, who

shall be nameless, had the twofold satisfaction of capotting Piquet and showing out Mr. Snooke's Bustard (who made a noise at the preceding meeting) in two heats for the Galloway Plate, 8m. 7s., one and a half miles. It was never satisfactorily determined whether Bustard shaved his distance close intentionally, or because he could not help it, but he looked vastly like a dirty old Monmouth-street Boot alongside of a new Hoby, and had scarcely one-sixth of an inch to swear by. No time taken, and no wonder; sights like these are not always to be

seen.

The Asseer Plate, weight for age and inches, one three mile heat, was most lazily and uninterestingly contested by the Prince, the Bridegroom, and Mr. Smith's grey pony, on the third day of the meeting. The former picked his road, and shook his tail in his companions' faces; 6m. 40s.

The Pony Plate, one mile heats, catch weights, concluded this day's sport, and more "flash was pattered" and more business done on it than on any of its precursors. Thistle, Bantam, and Pet, late My Aunt, had met on a former occasion, but with different success. First heat won easy by Thistle, Bantam saving distance, which, together with his known bottom, procured him many backers. But chaffing won't always win, as was proved by Thistle having all his own way, though with a bad start.

gone quite quick enough, and was brought to the whip to win. Brownlock saved distance. The second heat, Brownlock and Marksman rated it well together for a mile, when the former gave in and cantered home, the Bridegroom not in the way. Marksman's jockey was elegant, and evinced a perfect acquaintance with his craft, though some supposed he had waited a little too long in the first heat. George Barwick was one of that opinion, and was observed to be very busy with his legs.

Rough Robin, Pantagruel, and Ragamuffin came to the scratch for the Hack Plate, 10st., one and a half mile heats. Gentlemen up. The winner to be sold

for 400 Rupees; it did not therefore require the aid of two eyes to define what Ragamuffin, the veriest prince of scrubs was driving at. Unexpectedly, however, Pantagruel came down with "the dust" for a post entrance, and took Rough Robin away at such a pace, that "the beggar" vanished behind the distance. This may in some measure, perhaps, be attributed to the inexperience of the jock, for riding is one thing, and horsemanship another. Three greater brutes never started.

On the last day of the meeting, the Winners' Plate, a forced Handicap, two miles; and the Beaten Plate, half mile heats, were worked off. For the former, the Prince and Marksman from one stable, and the Bridegroom and Lady Jane from another. The Prince jumped off at score, and reached home some lengths ahead; Marksman held hard to the Bridegroom, and Lady Jane bringing up the rear. Some of the Johnny raws who had just enough of wit

to perceive that Marksman was not allowed to win were highly incensed, and vented their indignation in loud cries of "Shame, shame!" accompanied with groans, hisses, and expectorations.

The Beaten was hardly deserving the name of a race; it is true that Brownlock, carrying 10st. 7lbs., beat the three-cornered brute Pantagruel, who served Ragamuffin so coarse on a former occasion; but what of that, Panty could not "hold a candle to him."

On the second day of meeting, Mr. Smith's the Count took the conceit out of a chestnut pony got by a Musquito, out of the Barbary Ape, a perfect nondescript, with a head like the gable end of the Damaun cathedral, and not a vestige of a tail. On the following day, the Count beat Mr. Rawson's Robinson Crusoe, the epitome of a Teetotum; and on the 15th Mr. Rawson's Pet, late My Aunt. The Count wheedled My Aunt into a match, and she lived with him a short time; but, gay deceiver like, he first showed his tail, and then ran away and left her.

The second Dhoolia meeting concluded with a match for four miles between a G. C. pony, Tom, and Mr. Snooke's Soapsuds. Tom started with positive orders not to allow his opponent to head him more than half a mile; but Soapsuds lathered away, and at the end of two miles compelled Tom to leave off business. Master Charles held the ticker till it wanted only three minutes of the quarter, when his patience failed him, and he shut up shop too.

May the third meeting surpass its predecessors.

SCARLET.

SIR,

If the following production of miseries, or miserable production, is worthy of a corner in your Magazine, it is at your service.

Accidents will happen in the best regulated families, so they will in the best regulated sports, and variety is pleasing, they say; and as these misfortunes evidently add to the variety, ergo, according to Cocker, they must also contribute to the pleasure of the sport. Not that I mean to say a broken neck, or collar bone even, would be very pleasing to a sporting cove, or any other cove: God forbid ! but those little mishaps and crosses with which a sporting life is so fraught cannot but add to the amusement and conviviality of the party. I have, therefore, endeavoured to commit a few of them to paper, and should they be wholly uninteresting to the older classes of your sporting readers, whose day has gone by, to them it may be amusing to call to mind the fun of which they were once partakers. That class who are now at the zenith of the sport may turn over these leaves as containing nothing but commonplace circumstances, which they see every day; but those whose lot it never has been, or ever will be, to follow the mighty boar "o'er hill and dale, through brier and bramble," will, I have little doubt, find them both amusing and instructive.

Miseries.

Arriving at your ground, sharp set, and elated with all the pleasing anticipations of a hearty breakfast and a good day's sport, previous to the former pleasing pastime you leave the party to

take a look at your cattle, and to your horror find the favourite of the stud, through the negli gence of your Ghorawalla, has got a thorn in his leg, which is swollen like a pudding, and renders him unfit for hunting for some days.

In a contested spear, coming to a patch of jungle which the pig goes through, but which at the same time is not ridable, you turn on one side and your adversary (if I may use the expression) on the other, the hog turns with him, you are thrown out, and before you can make up your lost ground, the job is done.

Getting your game on a small midan, after a long split over the hills, your only prospect in front another awfully steep one, expecting to skiver him every second, you cram in the rowels, and at last have the inexpressible satisfaction to see him ascend the hill within a spear's length of you, and find your nag so distressed that he has not a go in him.

Reaching over (rather too eagerly) to give a tremendous poke, one of your stirrup leathers breaks, your spear finds it has no chance with the stones, and a friend not a hundred miles off saves you a great deal of trouble and exertion, by allowing his weapon to bury itself in something softer.After a short run finding your horse minus a shoe, no nalbund within a day's journey of the place.

By some unlucky chance getting a spill, your horse absconds, and you are compelled to walk a matter of four or five miles in the heat of the sun. Perceiving a formidable-looking animal in the distance, a council of war is held, and the majority give it in favour of a large duca; the spurs are