before, and behind him. All this time we could hear that the hunt was all but over; and that, notwithstanding Hardy's prognostic, Speaker would soon be chopping the poor 'Shonach na lis.' The only happy man was Quighy. The Englishman was beat anyhow, and Lord Edward had it all to himself. Alas! I little dreamed of the unhappy

secret of his interest in Lord Edward.

"At last the captain got over. I followed with Quighy by my side, and we dashed on after his lordship who had fully a hundred yards start of us. The dogs were within a perch of reynard, and the day seemed unquestionably his, when suddenly at a mere watercut, his horse unaccountably stumbled and fell. He was up in a moment, but his horse was apparently disabled by the fall. He urged him on in vain; Clarke came down like a flash, and with a loud halloo, flew over without even a look at his discomfited rival.

"Bad fortune to your Saxon face,' shouted Quighy, mad with vexation. 'Oh tundher an ages, what's to done at all at all? Sure his not goin' to bate us in the end.'

"We were down upon him as he spoke. I dismounted quickly as lightning, altered the stirrups in a moment, and almost without a word forced Lord Edward, who was quite as excited as myself, to mount in my place.

"Glory to you, Misther George,' shouted Quighy, who could hardly believe his 'Don't refuse him, eyes. my lord.'

666

Only, let him out my lord,' cried I, as away they went, "he is the freshest horse in the field.'

"It was a glorious sight, and I never had as much pleasure in riding in first to the death, as on that day in watching poor Lord Edward's triumph. Before they left the field Rory had passed his rival with ease, and my ears still ring with the loud Whoosh! Fitzgerald for ever!' with which the delighted Quighy cleared, in his train, the fence which proved fatal to the ambitious hopes of Captain Clarke. They all soon swept by me, and I saw but little more; but the fox led them fully another mile, and was only killed at the foot of the fort of Ratoath, the ancient place of refuge which had given him his name. "It was a run of fully nineteen Irish miles.

"Ah, boys," said the veteran, as he closed his reminiscence, “these were the days of Irish sporting. Poor Yellow Tom, We shall ne'er look upon his like again.""

BOSTON AND FASHION.

THE MOST SPORTING RACE ON RECORD.

In that crack sporting light of the New World, "The Spirit of the Times," of the 6th of November, appeared the following

CHALLENGE.

"In the Four Mile Race recently run over the Camden and Philadelphia Course, Boston was distanced by John Blount and Fashion in the first heat-Blount winning the heat in 7 min. 42 sec. The second heat was won by Fashion in 7 min. 48 sec.-Blount breaking down.

"We, the undersigned, now propose to run Boston against Fashion, a match, Four Mile heats, over the Union Course, Long Island, agreeably to the rules of the said course, in Spring 1842, or any day during the month of May, for TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A SIDE;* one half or one fourth forfeit, as may be most agreable to the friends of Fashion. The forfeit to be deposited (in New-York money) in any bank in the city, and the day for the race to be named, when the match shall be closed. The challenge shall remain open during the month of November.

New-York, Astor House, Nov. 5, 1841.

WM. R. JOHNSON,
JAMES LONG."

This spirited challenge tells its own tale. Boston's owners attributing his defeat to temporary circumstances, are desirous of testing the correctness of their opinions. He not only would not run on that day, but he was so much amiss that he could not. He was 2 min. 10 sec. in performing the first mile. His trainer, old Arthur Taylor, strenuously recommended his owners not to start him, and Mr. Long, instead of backing him with his usual spirit, did not, on this occasion, risk a dollar on the race.

On the 30th of November, Boston's challenge was accepted by the friends of Fashion; the forfeit, 5000 dollars,+ placed in the hands of Mr. J. Prescott Hall, the President of the New York Jockey Club;and Tuesday, the 10th of May, the day named for the race to come off.

As this race will bring together the two acknowledged cracks of the New World, to run for a sum hitherto unequalled in the annals of matching; I have thought that a brief account of their points, performances, &c. would not be deemed uninteresting.‡

The annexed Portrait of Boston is engraved from a Picture by H.'de Lattre, generally considered to be one of the best animal painters in the United States.

Boston is a chesnut horse, with white hind legs and a white nose. He is very strongly formed, showing more power than blood, with a prodigious depth of chest, and very powerful loins, thighs, and hocks. He is a good fifteen hands and a half in height; short-limbed, but rather flat-barrelled. His form is very ugly, his neck and head being ill-shaped and awkwardly set on, and his hips high and ragged, whilst he very naturally shows many signs of the severe work which he has undergone.

Boston was bred in 1833 by the late John Wickham, Esq., at Richmond, in Virginia, and was got by Timoleon, out of Robin Brown's dam, by Ball's Florizel mare, by imported Alderman, out of a mare by imported Clock fast. At two years old, Boston was sold by Mr. Wickham to Mr. Rives, of Virginia, for 800 dollars, and in May, 1839, he again changed hands, having been sold for 12,500 dollars to Mr. James Long, and Col. W. R. Johnson, known among his countrymen by the soubriquet of the "Napoleon of the Turf."

Boston has started thirty-six times, winning thirty-three races, and losing three, and he has twice received forfeit. His winnings amount to 49,500 dollars (a large sum, where such small stakes are generally run for). Of the races which he won, twenty-six were at four mile heats, and seven at three mile heats. His fastest four mile heat was performed at five years old, in 7 min, 40 sec., and his fastest three mile heat at five years old, in 5 min. 36 sec., his fastest four mile race (two heats) at six years old, in 14 min. 53 sec., and his fastest three mile race of two heats, at four years old, in 11 min. 42 sec.

Boston runs now under the great disadvantage of having been put to the stud in the spring of 1841, when he had forty-two mares at 100 dollars each. In justice to his fair fame too it should be stated, that he was prevented from starting for several large purses for Four Mile heats, by being in the same stable with Atalanta, Lady Clifden, Argyle, and Mary Blount. His owners too, from a dislike to spoil sport, have often kept him in his stable when the mere declaration of his starting would have frightened his rivals from the field, and secured him the stakes.

FASHION was bred in 1837, by W. Gibson, Esq. of Madison, New Jersey, and was got by imported Trustee (brother to Mündig) out of Bonnets-o'-blue, by Sir Charles, out of Reality, by Sir Archy, from whom her pedigree extends back through the imported horses, Medley, Centinel, Janus, Monkey, Silvereye, and Spanker, to an imported Spanish mare.

Fashion is a rich chesnut, with a white ring above her left hindfoot, and a white star in her face. She is about fifteen hands and a half high, with a light head and neck, good legs, a good shoulder, and a roomy chest, which after all is perhaps the principal matter in four mile heats.