represent about half of the answers to turf
correspondents, they form a healthy commentary
upon the advertisements, and a corroborative
testimony to the character of the financial
agents we recently saw pursuing their vocation
"Against the Grain."

Gleaning information in regular and methodical
order, I next carefully digest a leading
article devoted to the comparative success
of well-known jockeys during the past year.
Minute statistics as to the number of races—
they are spoken of as " contests," and the tone
of the writer is that of a field-officer awarding
praise, encouragement, and admonition to his
generals after a series of engagements which
have affected the destinies of the world—are
given, and logical deductions drawn. The
great Landem is as usual at the top of the poll.
Recognised and appreciated in his profession
for consummate skill and undeviating honesty,
the continuance of Landem's proud pre-eminence
is, I read, an article of faith with the entire
sporting community. Lord Palmerston's return
for Tiverton, and Sir Robert Peel's for
Tainworth, are, on the principle of arguing from
small things to great, alluded to as illustrating
the firmness of Landem's tenure. Out of the
four hundred and fourteen races run in the last
twelvemonth by this jockey without guile, he
won one hundred and forty-two, was second in
eighty-six, and third in forty-five, which fully
justifies my paper in crediting him with "a
splendid average." James Grinsure comes
next in rank, the figures being given with the
same reverential exactitude as in the case of
Landem. So with many other jockeys, their
professional doings of the year are recorded, and
commented on with the care and ability their
position and importance demand. After
congratulations have been bestowed with
discrimination, the men being named in order, and
priority given to success, we have commiseration
upon the once great Baldloft, and the
formerly eminent Galloner. It is greatly to be
regretted that the brilliant Galloner should have
been "tied down to such an unfortunate cap
and jacket as the ' primrose,' " for Mr. Railer's
stable is, as every one knows, " so out of form
as to be barely able to secure a plate." As for
poor Baldloft, he is spoken of as " out of the
hunt," and we mourn over his sad decline, partly
owing, we hint, to unjust suspicions, and the
inglorious running of an Epsom favourite.
Bells, another great man, whose past reputation
is his most formidable rival, has struggled
nobly against the adverse circumstances of
"increasing weight" in himself, and " indifferent
form" in his employer's stable; and we learn
with satisfaction, which is none the less fervent
for its being founded on a blind faith in our
instructor, that " the list of winning jockeys
provides interesting and suggestive matter for
contemplation"—a conclusion which few readers
will be disposed to deny.

That the gentleman-rider question is settled
at last, will be a source of congratulation to every
well-regulated mind. We learn all about it at
page two. Divers people have ridden races as
amateurs, when it has been well known that
they acted professionally, and grave scandals
have arisen in consequence. This may be
inferred from a letter taking exception to a previous
leading article, in which the writer's character
as a gentleman-rider was seriously impugned,
and wherein a missing snaffle-bridle, "short
weight at the scale," and, "it is not true,"
play leading but confusing parts. That the
gentleman in question threatens legal proceedings,
and that the editor, in a pithy note, hopes,
sardonically, that the explanations vouchsafed
will be satisfactory to the public, furnish some
slight clue to the matter at issue, and make
us see that the rule that for the future all
gentlemen-riders shall be members of one of a list of
clubs, or be proposed and seconded by members
of the same, is judicious and advisable. In
another case we learn that the objection to Mr.
Plant as to his not being a gentleman, has been
withdrawn, and his right to ride Brown Shoes
in that character fully admitted.

Passing now to the Autumn Notes and the
Close of the Season, " it is satisfactory to know"
—I don't in the least understand why, but I
accept the statement with unabated confidence—
"that there will henceforth be some cessation of
the plating that has been rampant during a great
part of the season, and which invariably flourishes
like a deadly upas-tree under the auspices of" a
gentleman named. That the year 1865 " has
been essentially one of ' scratchings,' ' ropings,'
and ' milkings, " is clearly a matter for national
regret, and we turn with a sigh of relief to
another portion of the Notes. That Sir Tiger
is "a little deficient in his truth of symmetry,"
especially "in the sinking of his back," is told with
the tender delicacy the subject demands; while
the profound truth, " there never was a horse
without some fault," and the prophecy, " it will
take a clinker to beat him at Epsom," are both
calculated to assuage his owner's grief at Sir
Tiger's deficiency.

Two columns and a half of small print give
me the concluding history of Shrewsbury November
meeting; and after reading how " the talent
thought the weights admirably adjusted," and
"stood Birchrod a cast off;" how the followers
of Mrs. Bray got "a facer;" how Mr. Bray
became a hot favourite; and how the
bookmakers had in one race all the best of it—I
note the weights for Croydon Steeple-chase, and
make my mouth water covetously, by reading
that a mathematician will forward for thirteen
stamps scientific rules for " winning, hedging,
and getting on." Hunting comprises a long
list of coming meets, and full particulars of a
recent one, whereat the Heir to the Crown was
present " on his splendid chesnut," and actually
spoke, as you or I would, without being rude
—the report says " chatted affably"—and where
the first fox was killed in the open without
affording a run, but where a second one " ran
a ring, making twice for its old haunt, where it
was killed," the royal party, including the
Princess, being " all up to witness the usual form
gone through on such occasions"—hunting, as
you see, meets with ample mention from my