SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NIMROD'S occupation's gone. The days of high fences, broad ditches, and deep country, are passing away. Hunting, like every- thing else, is to be "taken easily." Sir Roger de Coverley, in his old days, rode a-hare-hunting on an easy pad-nag : the veteran sportsmen of our day may carry their comforts further. A picture exhibited some years ago, of an "enthusiast" in angling, trolling for perch in a tub of water while under the influence of the gout, was at that time accounted an egregious burlesque. GEORGIA CRDIKSHANK thought he bad made a hit, t'other day, by repre- senting a drawing-room party skating quadrilles on patent ice.- GEORGE'S conceit, however, was scarcely published before an ad- vertisement of an apartment floored with patent ice, warmed by Arnot t's stoves, and hung with paper representing winter scenery, for the accommodation of amateurs in skating, appeared in the papers. And now the Queen has thrown the " enthusiast " into the shade, by setting the example of hunting the deer in her carriage. The Court-chronicler at Windsor informs us that there was a private meeting of the Royal Buckhounds on Wednesday last : Prince ALBERT, "who sported the scarlet, rode by the side of her Ma- jesty's carriage." .The stag, as in duty bound, "went away," was "headed round," "doubled," "wade towards," and was "taken."; And all the while "her Majesty, in her carriage, traversed the Park in various directions, and had an excellent view of the whole run. Not only were the whole comprising the field' in at the take, but her Majesty also, who arrived at the Lodge the very moment of the capture." We have read of a courtier who said that his prince had learned to ride well because horses did not know how to flatter. What progress horses may have made since that time is uncertain, but stags seem to have learned the pleasing art. After the chase, the well-bred stag "was brought to her Majesty's car- riage by the keepers, for the Queen's inspection ; the Prince, Lord Rosslyn' and the members of the Court, forming a circle." It is not said what further honour awaits the presentee at this extempore levee ; but we believe at present there is a Garter vacant. Now is the time for all who have a knack at similes and contrasts, to make use of Queen ELIZABETH, who rode on horseback on state occa- sions, whereas her successor goes a-hunting in her carriage. What- ever their success, they can scarcely fall short of the reverend per- petrator of a recent ode, who,.weighed down apparently by the grim epithet "dread Queen," could find no better object where- unto to liken his Sovereign than the Tower of London.
Previous page
