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it sent Mr. Herring to his easel-one good out of all this evil. Edwin Landseer can paint a horse in his holiday suit better than any man alive (or dead): Francis Grant can do the same by the hunter "with his harness on"-cavaliered and caparisoned for the field; but no man can, or ever could, draw a race-horse in action like Herring. Those who had the fortune to see his Preparation for the start for the Derby in Plenipo's year, must remember it as a fine conception and execution-but it was in repose: those who have viewed his "Start for the Memorable Derby of 1844," have seen the most admirable racing picture in existence-indeed in existence, for it is alive. That noble composition he disposed of for no ignoble price, to the Messrs. Fores, the printsellers, of Piccadilly. Those gentlemen gave three hundred guineas for it, and have caused it to be engraved and produced in colours-a fac simile of the original-in a manner every way worthy of it. Coloured prints I have long held as the opprobrium of sporting art; and, turning from their orange gentlemen, bright pink horses, and sky-blue dogs, sighed to think

"To this complexion they had come at last."

But it is not so with this splendid engraving: every tint and hue is strictly copied after the painter, and the result is the nearest approach to an oil painting that man's ingenuity and genius have yet effected. The subject is, the first rush of the twenty-nine horses that started from post just as the flag has fallen. Those who know the site and scene can imagine the fair expanse of downs sweeping towards the stand, covered with vast multitudes, all hurrying to witness the end that crowns (or deposes) all. The moment chosen by the artist I have said is that in which the field, to use the professional phrase, has "jumped off." Leander leads, with the Ugly Buck on his quarters; Orlando (in his very form as he lives) third, and with all the possession and ease of experience in his style and carriage, Running Rein fourth. It would be impossible to individualize the whole group: it may be enough to say, that it is both characteristically and artistically a fitting representation of our great national sportRacing. It has been seen by all the leading patrons of the turf, and by the majority of those whose horses are given in it, and they have pronounced it excellent, and the portraits finished likenesses. If I may be permitted to offer my humble tribute, I can truly say that my admiration of it was mingled with astonishment, for I had never hoped "to look upon it's like.”

CRAVEN.

STATE OF THE ODDS, &c.

"Those who run may read," and those who read the running of the last month will be able to account in a very great degree for the important changes to be found in our Derby List. Even as we write, these are still increasing, with perhaps a yet more decided effect; a

fact which, with the full justice bestowed on the Craven Meeting in another part of the number, must of a necessity cause our remarks in this place to be brief. The principal events run off, both at Newmarket and Bath, have been wonderfully in favour of the Danebury string; an amount of success, indeed, we fancy scarcely contemplated by the party themselves. Honest John, at least so we are told, said a short time since, that if ever he won the Derby, it would be with a horse standing at 40-1; a consummation which, if we take the present state of the market as the test, does not promise much chance of coming to anything this season. We, however, have but now stronger faith in him than usual; and, despite the high favour enjoyed by Weatherbit, and the recent doings of Winchelsea and Worthless, still incline, if in proper trim, to our old favourite, " Old England"-a horse that we named months since as worth backing. The day after the race for the Two Thousand will say much more for Idas's claim to the premiership, than we can the day before it; not that but, under any circumstances, we consider him far more worthy of being first favourite than Alarm, whose" private view" on the Heath has not done much for him. Of the fall of the Cobweb colt, the yea and nay opinions abroad concerning Kedger and a whole host of less presuming candidates, we must reluctantly leave to their own proper spokesmen; observing, in conclusion, that the only eyesore now apparent to a fine fair-play race for the Derby, is the disputed qualification of Ironmaster-a matter of which, strange to say, there appears to be no immediate hope of settling.

The close advent of the race for the Chester Cup has considerably lessened the number of claimants who threaten to work wonders thereon; not one-half of the names in our table are now mentioned, and but a half-dozen or so of this remainder that are really in demand. Cataract, Obscurity, Ratan, and Auld Ireland, we may put down as the "particulars ;" and Semiseria (in a high state of health and hope), Winesour, and Fitzallen, as in good odour, and open to a turn of still farther improvement. Almost the whole of the season's business on this annually increasing object of attention has, up to this moment, we rejoice to say, been "highly respectable;" and that bit of a drawback the Zononi query, Mr. Parry has, with a spirit we cannot too greatly commend, determined to bring to an issue by entering the horse for something or other in this, the Newmarket First Spring Meeting. Touching the other affair in which this illstarred animal's name or alias is still mixed up, the defendant, Mr. Glen, after obtaining the order to pump friend Levi, has thought better of it, and paid the amount of claim and costs over to Mr. Wood's solicitor. Poor Mr. Wood, after all, we begin to think, did'nt know near so much as his bottle-holders.

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5 T Malmesbury Fair.

6F Henley-on-Thames Regatta. 7 S Oxford Term begins.

8Third Sunday after Trinity.

9M Swallowfield Fair.

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10 TASCOT RACES. Banbury Fair.
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12 T ASCOT CUP DAY.

13 F Ross Fair.

14 S Aylesbury Fair.

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19 T CRICK. M. CC.v.Under-graduates r 3 4414 rises
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21 S The Longest Day.

22 Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
23 M NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE RACES.
24 T THAMES GRAND REGATTA.
25 W BIBURY CLUB RACES.
26 T STOCKBRIDGE RACES.
27 F Taunton Fair.

28 S Coronation of Queen Victoria.

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29 S Sirth Sunday after Trinity.

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