being dispensed with) are certainly greater than those of the flint system; but at the same time I must candidly confess that I am in some degree a convert to Col. Hawker's opinion, and in this much, that I think the flint guns, generally speaking, shoot stronger and make the longest shots. Let it not appear, however, that the Colonel's book alone has been the means of bringing me to this way of thinking, for I never saw it until lately. I have now shot with the detonator upwards of five years, and although nothing should induce me to return to the flint and steel, I have, from that period, had so many convincing proofs under my own eye of the actual advantages the latter have in carrying the shot steady, well divided, and strong, as leads me thus far to side with the old Flintites; nor can I imagine for one moment that any good sportsman would start such objections to the percussion principle as are mentioned by DETONATOR, in the third number. We must all, however, acknowledge ourselves much indebted to D. for the trouble he appears to have taken to give the thing a fair trial, and to communicate it pro bono. But let this one thing be considered, when we are comparing a detonator with a flint gun, that much depends (and I suspect the greatest part) on the goodness of the barrel, and not all on the manner in which the powder is ignited. For instance, a barrel of good substance, with its metal properly disposed of, and well bored, if a detonator, would undoubtedly undoubtedly beat a flint gun, with which less pains had been taken; and vice versa, the flint would shoot better than percussion. But were barrel first to be tried with a flint lock, and, after cleaning, with a percussion, the average then to be . a taken, as DETONATOR has laid down in his letter, I have little doubt that the result would be in favour of the old system. The following incident gave me first an idea of the goodness of flint and steel. A few years ago, when no gun was worth looking at that was not a detonator, I got a capital single one altered to that principle, promising myself every advantage over the dirty flint locks, but was soon convinced, by the trials I made with it, both before and after the alteration, that I had gained nothing by it in its shooting, but in other respects was satisfied with what more than counterbalanced its trivial loss of strength. I shall here take the liberty of quoting a paragraph from Col. Hawker's Work, pointing out to "DETONATOR," and all those to whom his opinions may appear unaccountable, the grounds upon which they are founded. 66 "It seems," says Col. H., a paradox, that a percussion gun should fire quicker, and yet not stronger than a flint gun; but most assuredly this is the case. It may, perhaps, in some measure be accounted for thus: gas flies instantaneously through the whole charge of powder, and puts it in motion with such rapidity, that one half of the powder is not ignited till the other half and the shot have made some progress up the barrel, and consequently there takes place (owing, perhaps, to the vacuum which is thus occasioned) a violent concussion or reaction, which, so far from giving strength to the shot, is rather inimical to projectile force, though it causes a severe strain on the barrel, and therefore shakes every other part of the gun." Before I conclude, I cannot help again saying that upon the whole I think detonators have such a decided advantage over the old flint and steel plan, that it is wonderful how any one, having once shot with the former, can revert to the latter. Such cases (as I hear from the best authority) are becoming very common now in England, which is still more surprising in such a land of mists, where there is the greatest difficulty in keeping the powder dry in the pan, particularly in trying the pheasant coverts in the morning. Sept. 27th. MATCH AGAINST TIME. SIR, I had the option of training up to the period of starting one month from the day on which our final preliminaries were adjusted, but my horses seldom require such labour to be bestowed upon them, more especially as at the time I speak of the Major Yours, RAMROD. General held undisputed sway in my stables, having no rival either there or in his master's affections. He was in tiptop trim, lots of bone, clean sinews, and unencumbered with too much flesh. In fact, he was just in such condition as a judge would like to buy a horse in. On the morning of the 11th April, 1829, weighing with saddle 12 stone and a half, I mounted the Major-General, and at the word "off," started at six o'clock to accomplish the most fatiguing ride I ever undertook. There are many who read your Sporting Collectane that may have seen the road between Mahabulishwar and Sattarah, and I feel assured they will not say I have taken undue advantage of the traveller's licence, in stating that it is replete with distressing dips, at least in number 100, some very deep, and either bank steep in the extreme. The Ghaut also, from its numerous angular turnings and steep descents, was a formidable antagonist, yet, with all these impediments, the Major-General Scrub accomplished the distance in two hours and three-quarters without being peculiarly distressed. There can be no mistake in the time, as it was taken and corrected by two watches, a friend starting two hours before myself with one, whilst I carried the other; about half way I picked up my friend, and we continued our way together until the termination of the task, when the two watches were exactly one quarter to nine. This trip has taught me how necessary it is to consider the nature of the road to be traversed in a bet of this nature, as I am convinced that there are few, if any, such small cattle as mine to be found on whose accomplishing SIR, such a task as mine I should be willing to stake my blunt. I am, however, open to a bet with any one who deems the Major-General's a common performance, or who would wish to pluck his honours from his noble brow. Yours sincerely, FEARLESS. Malcolm Peth, 5th Dec., 1829. TRIAL OF TURBITH'S MINERAL IN DISTEMPER. I took an opportunity a few months ago of trying, on an Arab bitch, the Turbith's mineral, so strongly recommended by F. H. in one of the numbers of your Magazine as a cure for the above disorder, and if you think this short account will be acceptable to any of your readers you are at liberty to publish it. The case was not a desperate one, but I adhered, nevertheless, to the instructions laid down in the book, and dosed her as for a full-grown dog, she being about eighteen months old. In less than one hour from the time the physic was taken, a violent purging and vomiting of a bright greenish colour commenced, which. continued the greater part of the day, reducing her to a dreadful state of weakness. The other doses were given in due order without producing the the latter effect, her secretions in appearance much the same. The cure was certainly decisive, but judging from the state of debility in which she remained for two months after, caused, I am convinced, solely by the power of the medicine, I am of opinion that the quantity of Turbiths is too great, and therefore beg to caution those who may be tempted to try this remedy to recollect that our little Arabs have not the stamina of English greyhounds; that the mineral should therefore be used according to the inveteracy of the case, the age, constitution, and size of the dog. Yours, &c., September 29th. CANIS AMICUS. HUZZA! FOR A HUNTING MORNING. Awake up, up, and away to the wood, Where the grizzly sounder's sleeping, Where the panther prowls, and the wild wolf howls, And the dun deer watch is keeping ; Yes, awake, and away; all your dreamings dismiss, And Oh, who'd the glorious chase forsake, O'er the mountain top, thro' the thorny brake, Then awake and away, all your dreamings dismiss, There never was ground of such promise as this, Tho' the Bowl may yield some joy to the heart, Yet it never can rival the sounder's start, Or the crash of the grey boar breaking. Then awake and away, all your dreamings dismiss, There never was ground of such promise as this, Tho' some still swear no charm can vie With beauty's glance and tone, Yet give ME the flash of the Boar's brown eye, And the roar of his dying groan! Then awake and away, all your dreamings dismiss, And away with all snobbish adorning, There never was ground of such promise as this, Then Huzza! for a hunting morning. LIST OF GAME KILLED IN THE DECCAN BY A PARTY the arrangements made that the amusements will be in the very first style. From the wording of the Whim Purse, difference of opinion arose as to the way the weights were to be arranged. It had been given out that each horse was first to be weighed according to his height, then according to his age, both to be added together, and divided by two; and as the terms of the race placed the weight for age first, it was so decided by the The three-year-old's weight for age would The aged horse's weight for age.. stewards; but I contend that such a mode is not a correct Whim, which is weight for age, and weight for inches; that is to say, a horse is to carry weight for age, agreeably to a fixed standard, and either adds or takes off 7lbs. for every inch either above or below the standard for height. To prove the incorrectness of the other plan, let us take two horses, one a three-year-old, the other aged, and both exactly 14 hands high. be 7st. 4lbs. 9st. 5lbs. 8st. 7lbs. Thus there would only be a difference of 1st. Olbs. 8oz. old and the aged horse. A Whim is, I fancy, exploded in England; the Racing Calendar for the last four years having even omitted the explanation of the term, and it is a race very rarely run on this side of India; but as it is still kept up at some courses on your side, I should be glad if any of your sporting readers can throw some light on the subject. There is another point that I should like to see argued by those who can decide the question. I have heard it asserted, and that by old sportsmen, that when there is a race, the terms of which specify that the winner is to be sold for a certain sum, the purchaser has nothing to do with his subsequent engagements. I have always maintained that the purchaser takes the horse with all his engagements, and I think the rule published at page 221 of the Racing Calendar for 1828 bears me fully out. At page 221, Sporting Magazine for January, 1828, is the following paragraph: "The Duke of Grafton's Turcoman, winning *The English Sporting Magazine is here alluded to.-ED. 15st. 11lbs. divided by 2 makes 7st. 12lbs. 8oz. 17st. 12lbs. divided by 2 makes 8st. 13lbs. between the three-year. the £50 plate the last three. M. of the B. C. proved that he had stoutness in him, by which he has won all his races, and that had he been well all the year he would have had a better day than he had for the Derby. The claimer at 300 gs. with his engagements, has got a very cheap horse, for the stake he is in next Craven Meeting of one hundred each; all the money he, if well on the day, is, I should think, sure of winning." Whilst on racing subjects, I would notice one, upon which I have heard various opinions, and many bets laid, though not decided. It is, suppose two horses belonging to the same owner start for a sweepstakes or subscription, is the owner obliged to declare which he intends winning with if he can? There is no rule of the Jockey Club of this kind, even in their new code; but I have observed so many instances, when races have been described in the public papers, and in the Sporting Magazine, where two horses started belonging to one person, in which the horse was so specified, that I am inclined to |