TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

THE Editor regrets that it is utterly out of his power to return answers individually to all those who honour him with their communications. He trusts that this will be accepted as a general apology, and an assurance that a silence, which may have appeared a neglect, was alone the result of sheer necessity.

The work on fly-fishing, in seven hundred folios, is declined with thanks. Should it ever see the light, and produce effects at all commensurate with its pretension, woe! woe! to "the painted populace" of the waters. Never more,

"The trout and salmon

Shall play backgammon."

The preference accorded to "The Sporting Review," by the author of "The Oakleigh Shooting Code," is properly estimated, but the offer is declined. The appearance of a lengthened composition, in parts, would not suit the system intended for general adoption in its literary arrangements.

Our excellent Leicestershire friend, "private and confidential," (may it not so be written?) shall hear from us the hour that the fiends of ink cease tormenting anent this awful first Number.

The letter from " near Southampton," shall receive a similar notice. The writer should have addressed it to the editor, not the publisher.

We have received a note signed "Amicus," not the first we have seen similarly subscribed, and in the same characters. The writer need not have taken such trouble to assist our contempt of him. The base credit, however, which he takes to himself as having been the means of breaking up a literary connexion is not to be placed to his score. For the instruction of one who was weak enough to deem well of this "stabber in the dark," we transcribe the closing sentence of his epistle now before us :-"Poor old fool, a precious kettle of fish she has made of it at last."-Faugh!

The pamphlet sent us upon the "Bearing Rein," has been reviewed by Nimrod. The article will appear in our next number.

We could find no room for the mass of coursing matter which we have received. Hereafter, during the season, that sport will form a part of our materiel,-but, of necessity, in an epitomized form.

The Editor's best thanks for the polite letter of " C. B.—,” he will avail himself of the very kind offer.

EMBELLISHENTS FOR JANUARY.

THE STUDENT.

THIS Engraving, by PARR, is from a Painting by KIDD, which constituted one of the gems of a late Exhibition of the Royal Academy.

To George Morant, Esq., the distinguished patron of the Fine Arts, from whose valuable collection the Editor was permitted to select this elegant morceau, he begs to tender his very grateful acknowledg

ments.

THE GREAT ST. LEGER FIELD IN 1838,

WITH A PORTRAIT OF DON JOHN,

Engraved by J. R. Scort, after an oil Painting, executed expressly for this Work by J. F. HERRING.

We do not think it necessary to introduce this specimen of the Fine Arts with any elaborate allusion. The only observation we volunteer, is that given in reply to a question proposed by a friend who saw the proof upon our table.-"How is it that you give a Don John at this late season?-all the other Sporting Periodicals have published his portrait months ago."—" It is for that very reason that we do give it," was our reply. That he was the best of his year, and much the best, there cannot be a question. We leave the Calendar to detail his performances: his pedigree is as follows:

He was bred by Mr. Garforth, and was sold when a foal to Mr. Ridsdale, for 100 guineas. At the sale of that gentleman's stud he passed into Lord Chesterfield's hands (being then a yearling, we believe), for 140 guineas. He is by Tramp or Waverley, out of a Comus mare, (bred in 1820 or 1821 by Mr. Garforth), her dam Marciana, by Stamford, out of Marcia, by Coriander -Faith by Pacelot-Atalanta by Mathem-Lass of the Mill by OronookoSister to Clarke's Lass of the Mill, by Traveller-Miss Makeless, &c.

The latter horse is known to be his sire.

PREFATORY ADDRESS.

"It is our opening day!"-Glee.

FROM the earliest ages to the hour in which we write, there has existed, among all the nations of the earth, a faith in the agency of omens for good or evil. Let those quarrel with the theory who will, we confess ever to have had a bias towards the creed, and, under its influence, hail, as a thrice happy prognostic, the fortune which led us, in the chance-medley of composition, to trace the first words written in this book." It is our opening day"-Glee! May the association bring forth genial fruits of promise! Joy and gladness shall be the honest theme of these pages, gleaned and treated in the healthy spirit that sees the Creator well pleased at the happiness of the creature; that understands aright the glorious design which, while it hath ordained that man shall win his bread by the sweat of his brow, hath also, for a free-will offering "shed a perfume on the violet.'

66

Wherefore is it that the serious is so prone to become the ascetic? The world, trust us, would not be the worse did the ethics of Sterne mingle more liberally with the philosophy of its morals. Doubtless it is a solemn duty that we take heed how we offend, ordering aright our deeds, words,-thoughts; still is it a belief from which our reason can ill recede, that, to our errors of judgment, the sins of the head, and not the heart, the accusing Spirit will bear unwilling testimony-the recording Angel drop a tear and blot them out for ever!" Call this, if you will, convenient logic, it is that which the book of nature assuredly teaches. Read it with a right mind, and the purposes of life will ever be found best discharged by the working of that system which most promotes a light and cheerful spirit. nature there is nothing melancholy." The elixir of existence is distilled from happiness and delight: joy is the great first principle of creation, not for thy service alone, vain "lord of all," but alike extended to the meanest link in the vast chain of being!

"Is it for thee the lark ascends and sings?

Joy tunes his voice,-joy elevates his wings:
"Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat?
"Loves of his own, and raptures swell the note."

"In

The deduction which "points our moral" pleads eloquently the cause of works written professedly for amusement. Such is the character of the periodical which now first solicits the public favour. Its object, we have essayed to shew, is not only legi