tolerable philosophy for a day or two; but one night on going to bed the longing was irresistible, and he resolved to have just one pipe-not in his room, of course, and not out of window, for it was in winter time, but with his head well up the chimney. Never were stolen pleasures sweeter, and, like Columbus when he broke the egg, the R.A. congratulated himself on having made a very simple though very grand discovery. But, alas! the discovery was not confined to himself. An old and asthmatic nobleman slept either just above or below, and on the next morning" my lord" was found to be very ill. The chimney in his lordship's room had taken to smoking, and, like that in the apartment of the immortal Messrs. Box and Cox, to smoking very strong tobacco. Of course the strictest investigation was immediately instituted, when Mr. Cooper had to confess to the ingenious contrivance by which he had managed to gratify himself, and at the same time to nearly suffocate his noble friend.

Abraham Cooper died on Christmas eve, even as an octogenarian in harness. He very recently left Milman-street for Greenwich, like the old pensioner in Dibdin's song, "To bring up in life's rear," but he painted almost up to the day of his death, and there are some of his later subjects still in the graver's hands. He leaves two sons, also favourably known as artists; whilst amongst his pupils were the brothers Barraud, Corbet, and Woodward; and Herring also studied under him at one time. He was ever glad to see them all advancing, for Abraham Cooper was a guileless, pleasant gentleman, with little or no jealousy in his nature-fond of his art, and as fond of those pastimes to which his genius had gained him the introduction.

THE EARL CORRESPONDENCE.

The following letters which have appeared during the past month may be regarded as the conclusion of this very curious business :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,-On the 16th of June last a letter appeared in your columns from Admiral Rous, under the title of "Admiral Rous on the Turf," containing reflections upon me and my family.

I have now to request the favour of your giving publicity to a letter which has been addressed to me by the Admiral, withdrawing his former letter, and a copy of which I beg to enclose. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

Danebury, Stockbridge, Hants, Jan. 19.

JOHN DAY. "13, Berkeley-square, Jan. 18. "Sir,-As the legal proceedings pending between us have been stopped by you, I now withdraw my letter published in The Times newspaper on the 16th of June, and the fact of my having addressed a second letter to the Editor on the same day, requesting him not to insert the first, is a proof that I did not consider myself justified in desiring it to be published. "I am, sir, yours, "H. J. Rous.

66

To Mr. Day."

"The action is withdrawn, and the letter is withdrawn; but whether the action is withdrawn on condition of the letter being also withdrawn, or whether the letter is withdrawn on condition of the action being

withdrawn, and which withdrawal was first proposed and first accepted, and from which side the surrender was suggested, we at any rate know not. Very likely we shall hear that the sporting oracles congratulate themselves and their peculiar people on the good feeling displayed by all parties-on the necessity of avoiding public scandal-and the happy termination of this painful matter. But then we are not sporting people, and to our poor minds the termination of this queer business is just the most discreditable thing about it. To hush up such a case aggravates it. Brother, brother, we're both in the wrong,' may be a very amiable sentiment, and is a very convenient conclusion in this case. But the case is just one of those in which two wrongs certainly do not make one right."-The Saturday Review. [This is just what some of "the sporting oracles" are doing.]

HUNTING IN AUSTRALIA.

FROM THE LETTER OF A SQUATTER.

The troubles and difficulties which the emigrant at first encountered as he advanced step by step into the unknown forests and boundless plains of this vast country have now disappeared; the tracks of the bold and adventurous overlander, as he penetrated regions which had never before been trod by white man, have become well beaten roads. The richly grassed plains and forests are occupied by lowing herds and bleating flocks; the wretched miami, which hardly sheltered the squatter from the scorching rays of the sun or the pelting storm, has now given place to the snug cottage, surrounded by the neat garden, well stocked paddocks, stable, and other such signs of civilization. And the toilworn squatter, who in those days thought it no great hardship to drive his own dray to town, may now be seen seated upon his tandem, driving his spicy nags over the same road where once he was used to plod his slow team.

Much improvement has also taken place in our different breeds of cattle, sheep, and horses; the abundance and fattening qualities of our native grasses, and the healthy nature of our climate, seeming to be particularly adapted to their growth and increase.

Having started with the intention of giving you a description of our hunting, I fear you will begin to think I am rather long in hitting off the scent. I am sure it will be gratifying to you as a lover of the chase to know that even in this distant part of the world we have not allowed our sporting propensities to lie dormant, and have been able to cultivate that love for hunting which exists in the heart of every Englishman. Such sports are congenial to the feelings and inclinations of most of our neighbours, among whom I could enumerate many keen sportsmen and excellent riders, who will top a post-and-rail fence with as cool a head and steady a hand as any man who ever rode to hounds at home. Our native woods, where stillness once reigned, unless disturbed by the wild shout of the savage in pursuit of the kangaroo and the emu, now echo to the tallyho of our eager sportsmen and the music of our lively pack, as they press on in the pursuit of the native dog. The

native dog of Australia is a large and powerful animal resembling a sheep dog, with a fine brush, sharp ears, and pointed head; possessing a share of the boldness and ferocity of the wolf, combined with the cunning and much of the speed of the fox, affording excellent sport to our hounds s; as many of us can testify, who have seen our pack sweeping along over the open plains upon a burning scent for ten miles, before we viewed the varmint. Our pack, which was only formed two years ago, is kept up by subscription; and out of twenty couple which we now have in the kennel, about twelve are usually hunted. We have many hounds of good blood; and a few are imported, being derived from some of the favourite kennels at home. Some of the small hounds and those not possessing sufficient speed have already been drafted, and I feel assured, from the popularity of fox-hunting in the colony, that our colonial hounds will in a few years undergo a still greater improvement.

Our hunting begins about April and continues till September, when the heavy rains generally put a period to our sport. The Mount Rouse hounds have shown some excellent sport under their gallant master, R. Clarke, Esq., a real enthusiast in the chase, who, riding fifteen stone upon his favourite horse The Don, is always to be found in his place cheering them on to their work. The country around the river Hopkins will be remembered by many as having afforded some excellent runs. Out of fifteen meets which the hounds had there last year, only one day proved a blank. Riding through the bush may appear, to one unacquainted with our country, as easy as cantering over a grassy lawn at home; but we can only say that the pace hounds go at on the plains will try the mettle of the best horses; and our forests, strewn with large trunks of fallen trees, dead timber, and intersected occasionally by a yawning gully, present sufficient obstacles to make even the fearless horseman ride with care and judgment, or he may find himself, as we have seen more than one of our friends, torn off his horse's back or suspended like the golden fleece to the branch of a tree. As in all warm climates where the ground is hard and the scent except in moist weather rises with the dew, we are obliged in order to ensure success to be mounted and off at early dawn, which style of hunting is found to be best adapted to this country. If you can allow your thoughts to stray so far, which is a considerable stretch of imagination, transport yourself to this distant part of the world, and in the interior of a well finished comfortable-looking hut, you will find twenty or thirty young sportsmen who have assembled at a friend's station to meet the hounds; the day is already far advanced, and the usual topics of conversation among sporting men pass away the time; they descant upon the various merits of horses, hounds &c., or the chance of finding some wellknown fox (as in our sporting phraseology we call them), whose predatory habits have induced him to prowl around the neighbouring sheep-folds, disturbing the nightly vigils of the shepherd. Whilst some are looking after boots, breeches, and such toggery, or lounging about the cool of the evening enjoying the soothing wind, others are engaged in the agreeable duty of seeing their nags fed and housed in stalls or under sheds, which in our temperate climate is sufficient covering for horses that are perhaps not clothed nor in the highest condition. Among these there are some very likely looking tits, and a connoisseur will at once see, by the appearance of breeding, well-formed wither, muscular

hind quarters, dilated nostril, and prominent eye, that our Australian nags are not to be despised: their endurance is well known to be surprising, journeys of fifty and sixty miles upon grass-fed horses being continued for days without any inconvenience to the animal. There have been some large exportations from the Sydney country to India for the cavarly. Mr. Apperly, whose excellent judgment in horse-flesh is well known, selected those; but it is the prevailing opinion here that his standard of height was above the average of our best horses.

But to return to our friends. As soon as the coming morn has ushered in the grey streaks of day, our active sportsman is up and bustling; boots, spurs, &c, are soon donned, his horse mounted, and, before daylight appears, he is ready for the sport; and now the merry little pack burst from the kennel, to enliven the scene. "Hoick together, Merryman; hoick! Gaylad; get away there Prompter!" as they are severally rated by the whip, to check their impetuosity. As we trot merrily along, the glowing rays of the sun peeping above the horizon, the sparkling dew, the cool and refreshing morning air, and the beautiful undulating country before us would gladden the heart of the most indifferent to such a scene; the hounds look well; their sleek and clean coats, their lively and active appearance speak well in favour of their condition. "Now gentlemen, hold hard!" as they spread out along the banks of the creek, with feathered sterns and keen movements, pretty sure indications that the varmint has not been long gone, "Hark to him there! yoicks have at him!" as old Prompters well known tongue draws the attention of every one. "Tally-ho! gone away!" hardly gives us time to gather up our reins and settle ourselves in our saddles, as the pack drawing together dash up the bank, making the hills echo again with their music. Our pulses beat high, as our eager steeds clash on through timber and bound over grassy flats, we feel as if the biggest stone wall in all Ireland would not stop us; when suddenly we find ourselves on the banks of a deep gully or an awkward-looking water-course. We hold hard for a moment, but a touch of the Brummegems soon carry us past such obstacles, and again we find ourselves alongside the pack, as they sweep on, making straight for the flat top hill; the pace increases as the scent warms, and now they settle down to their work in real style. Nine miles have we stuck to them without a check; with careful hand and steady seat we husband the powers of our still willing horses; the fiery and pulling ones have now become more manageable, and evince no disinclination to the steel; when "T-a-ll-y-ho! t-a-ll-y-ho" resounds from a dozen of voices, as at last we view a noble dog topping the hill before us: his trailing brush and unsteady gait tell us that he cannot hold out much longer. Every one presses forward, as the hounds push on with renewed vigour; old Towler is alongside of him; and now he dashes at him, regardless of the ugly set of teeth which he shows to his foes; however, his strength and stoutness are soon over-matched, as the greedy pack rush upon him; when one long and lond "Whoohoop!" finishes our brilliant morning work.

My description of a run with our pack falls so far short of what it ought to be, that I hope you will allow your imagination to portray a more lively scene than my pen will describe. I understand the hounds are to be hunted by John Cox, Esq., for the ensuing season, who is also a warm advocate of the chase and I am sure will show good sport.

I have mentioned the Mount Rouse hounds in particular, the district hunted over by those hounds being only a very small portion of the Port Philip country: there are besides these several excellent packs. One of the first packs formed, were the Geelong hounds, established by C. Sladen, Esq., of Geelong, who hunted them for three seasons. Mr. Sladen deserves much credit for the trouble and pains he took in forming and keeping them, and the style in which they were hunted with the assistance of his whip Perks. This pack has now fallen into the hands of J. Ferrers, Esq.,of Mount Mercer, in whose praise I cannot speak too highly as a master of hounds. Mount Mercer and the neighbourhood is a beautiful country to hunt over, and having many sporting men within reach of this kennel the meets are well attended.

I must also mention an excellent pack of powerful well-bred hounds kept by Thomas Pyke, Esq., in the Bunniyong district. Mr. Pyke is a thorough sportsman, has his hounds always in good order, and the speed at which they go across the country will make a man look well to his horses' condition before he attempts to live with them. A subscription pack have also been established in the Wannori country, which were regularly hunted this last season by Frank Henty, Esq.

But my theme, like our native dog, being exhausted must come to a finish; and although I fear you will not derive so much pleasure from my description of a run as we did in the reality, still I hope it has interested you in our sport.

Mount Rouse, Port Philip.

MY FIRST HIPPOPOTAMUS.

BY CAPTAIN B

R.N., F.R.G.S.

I have always been fond of field-sports, and I shall, I believe, continue to be so until my dying day. Never shall I forget the extreme delight with which I accompanied my father on my first 1st of September, or the pride and exultation with which I saw my first brace of birds fall to my gun. I have killed all kinds of game, large and small, since then; but never-no, not even when I killed my first tigerhave I experienced the delicious joy of that moment.

Some years ago, when commanding one of her Majesty's cruisers on the west coast of Africa, I had the important duty of conducting an expedition up the River Niger; and it was while thus employed I killed my first Behemoth. We had been lying for some time off the town of Angama, concluding and perfecting divers treaties with the sable monarch of that town, whereby Europeans were to be allowed to trade in the river; and one afternoon a native hunter came on board, and informed me, through Appah, my interpreter, that he had discovered a spot where hippopotami fed. This was glorious news, as the Surgeon and I had long desired "to pot one of these unwieldy brutes; for, although we had often taken snap shots at them as they slowly "broke water to breathe, yet hitherto we had never had an opportunity of attacking one on shore. Our preparations were soon made; and, shortly before sunset, the Doctor and I, attended by the