unfortunately for themselves, posal that "he must see any

as Surtees, who was very tenacious of any plan he had formed, at once started the 'New Sporting Magazine,' and worked indefatigably to make it a success. He spent money liberally but judiciously, and the initial expenses were, of course, heavy. He enlisted the best contributors he could procure, whether amateur or professional, for in all things Surtees had a genuine contempt for the second-rate and the spurious. With his usual shrewdness he observes that "a sporting work differs materially from one of general literature in its matter. With the former, amateur contributors are generally the best; with the latter an amateur is not considered worth his salt." He took a great deal of trouble to secure the best contributors, and quite successfully detached the cleverest men, both writers, artists, and engravers, from the staff of the Old Sporting Magazine.' Mark Lemon, Colonel Peter Hawker, Tom Hood, Dashwood, and Hamilton Reynolds were all early contributors to the new and brilliant periodical; and, since nothing succeeds like success, even the great Nimrod expressed his willingness to join them. Surtees was in reality most anxious to enlist him, but knowing the great man's high value for his own productions, he proceeded with caution, and made no overtures; he even had the nerve to reply to Nimrod's condescending pro

article before he could promise insertion." Nimrod relapsed into a dignified silence, and "there followed a break in our communication with him." Nimrod-better known to fame in his character or caricature as Pomponious Ego-would have liked well enough to resume his former relations with the Old Sporting Magazine,'" but its proprietors had found him too expensive an attrac tion, and we can hardly wonder when we learn that he had had £9000 from them in six years, although he complained that he had lost £1500 by the connection, and made an appeal to the sporting world in general "to subscribe to defray the heavy expense he had been at in the tours." The sporting world responded with the liberal sum of £1200. Nimrod, having thoroughly aired his pecuniary grievances in the press, and apparently suffering nothing from the loss of dignity incurred, must have felt nevertheless an inkling that his palmy days were over, however impressively he might reiterate his own claim to distinction above all writers on sport, and declare that "consciousness of merit is inseparable from the possession of it." A position very difficult to dispute !

But Surtees' view of the case was rather different. He reflected that

"With a taste for touring myself, and with the experience of the Old Magazine' before our eyes, we were not likely to

alf- He speaks for himself, so canne, didly, clearly, and at such inrose ordinate length, that words of

ours would be wasteful as well me as inadequate. He has charmed, uite cheered, and instructed three the generations of sportsmen, and n a there is no reason whatever his that bis benefits should not be self bestowed on the generations ter. yet to come. But it is quite tor possible that his long and close ga- companionship was a purer and enjoyment to his creator than

in to any of his more distant woreed shippers. Jorrocks went everyrise where with Surtees for a space of to years, while he hunted with ten the old familiar Surrey Hounds uld whenever press of work kept the him in London, or while he om made his frequent and long

projected hunting tours to all ally parts-to Northamptonshire, eer. Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Dorsetim, shire, and Leamington. It was ar- the life in which they both ght. revelled; and as Mr Cuming Eect remarks of Surtees

col

"His doings during the suming mer are reflected in those of Mr Jorrocks: trips by coach ace to Brighton and to other seaside resorts; by sailing-vessel the or steamer from the Thames; rk, trips to Cheltenham and (once m- at least) to Newmarket; occaMr sional runs over to Paris, and and coaching journeys with no the special aim."

ort- But this way of life, conase- genial, strenuous, successful as re- it was, did not last many years. who In 1831 Robert Surtees, then Mr twenty-eight, lost his elder rtal brother, Anthony Surtees, who ak. died of smallpox at Malta

while on a journey to the East, and Robert in consequence became heir to the family property. From this time forward his headquarters were at Hamsterley, and not in London. He continued to edit the 'New Sporting Magazine' until the end of 1836. The issue for December of that year contains his farewell to his readers, but he retained an interest in the magazine for some years longer. His attention was naturally required for other things now, for matters agricultural, social, and political.

In 1837 he contested the borough of Gateshead in the Conservative interest, but under rather unfortunate conditions, as he was late in the field, and through a complication of personal dislikes, many Conservative votes had already been promised to the second Liberal candidate. He lost the election, and made no second attempt to enter Parliament, though repeatedly invited to do so in the course of the next ten years. In his election address, his principles are defined as follows:

"I am a decided Friend to Improvement in every Shape and Way-a Reformer of proved Abuses in Church and State-an Advocate for the fullest Measure of Civil and Religious Liberty that is compatible with Security of Property and the Maintenance of a National Religion-for Retrenchment and Economy in every Department of the Public Service for the extension of

Commerce, the Reduction of Taxation, particularly of those that press heavily on the Working Population, and for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge throughout the Country. I would support such a Measure of Reform as will provide for the improved Discipline of the Establishment, the Abolition of Sinecures, the apportioning of Emoluments to Duty, and the Prohibition of Pluralities; at the Same Time I am desirous of relieving the Dissenters from Payments to which they enter tain Conscientious Objections, provided such Measure of Be lief does not tend to compromise the Principle of a National Religion.

"I will not support any Measure, either for this country or Ireland, that appropriates any Portion of the Revenues of the Church to other than Religious Purposes, or that in any Way weakens the Protes tant Institutions of the Land.

"I have no objection to Triennial Parliaments, but am opposed to the Ballot, unless the Votes of Members of Parlia ment be taken by Ballot also.

"The Franchise I consider sufficiently low to place it within the reach of all Men of Prudence and Industry, to whom its Attainment is an Object of Ambition."

This address is something of a model, both in form and substance, and might well have recommended him to a moder ate and fair-minded Liberal, as well as to those of his own political colour. His views on

se eternal attraction. We never e- laugh at Mr Sponge, simply er, because he is underbred and N- a sharp practitioner; in fact li- we all share Lord Scamperre dale's aversion for him. That ot, noble scamp and his shadow, ng Jack Spraggon, are the most nd masterly and finely drawn poret traits in Surtees' immensely to long gallery. There is not a ch touch of caricature in them; ed they are conceived in the spirit a of comedy, not of farce. Mr all Cuming expresses his dislike to the last scene of Jack Spraghe gon's death. It is a revolting scene, but in no way a failure, or even out of perspective. al It carries out with sardonic be force the main intention with on which the book was writtene- namely, to discredit steepleri- chasing, which in those early n. days, before it had acquired ng proper organisation or the dise- cipline of the Turf Club, cern, tainly had a very shady side. be Surtees never liked liked racing.

as

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"Hunting men seldom care on about racing, and racing men seldom care about hunting," g- he used to say; and he coupled r- racing and coursing rather connd temptuously together as "behe ing both contributory to the in pocket." This throws some I's light on the scene of Jack ut Spraggon's death, or rather b- the reason for which it was ey written; but undoubtedly it It shows some hardness of heart ly in the writer. A man who 's would deliberately go, as Surr- tees did, without any reason a or duty involved, on a fine he bright June morning" to wit