set up Nimrod with his halfdozen horses as they had done, and the difficulty soon arose how to keep him.' 66 But eventually they came to terms, for Surtees was quite sharp enough to know the value of a popular name in a new periodical, although his taste for touring" himself was the real heart of the matter. Nimrod became a contributor to the New Sporting Magazine' instead of the Old,' and contributed more than was in the bargain. Great indeed would have been his surprise could he have known that to a generation that has forgotten Nimrod, Pomponious Ego would be a familiar name. But the future is mercifully hidden from our eyes. Surtees had now successfully started on his literary career. Success was the rule with him, for he had great force of character, and extremely clear sight. In one of the many imperfect notes for his projected 'Recollections,' he said that "editing is very good fun for a time. It brings one acquaintance with " We can easily fill up the hiatus. He enjoyed his work, and naturally he enjoyed compiling the biography of Mr John Jorrocks for his own and the world's recreation, and the great benefit of the New Sporting Magazine.' "The most useful man to the work," he remarked, "though I say it who perhaps should not, was Mr Jorrocks." Of that immortal we do not propose to speak. He speaks for himself, so candidly, clearly, and at such inordinate length, that words of ours would be wasteful as well as inadequate. He has charmed, cheered, and instructed three generations of sportsmen, and there is no reason whatever that his benefits should not be bestowed on the generations yet to come. But it is quite possible that his long and close companionship was a purer enjoyment to his creator than to any of his more distant worshippers. Jorrocks went everywhere with Surtees for a space of years, while he hunted with the old familiar Surrey Hounds whenever press of work kept him in London, or while he made his frequent and longprojected hunting tours to all parts-to Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Dorsetshire, and Leamington. It was the life in which they both revelled; and as Mr Cuming remarks of Surtees 66 'His doings during the summer are reflected in those of Mr Jorrocks: trips by coach to Brighton and to other seaside resorts; by sailing-vessel or steamer from the Thames ; trips to Cheltenham and (once at least) to Newmarket; occasional runs over to Paris, and coaching journeys with no special aim." But this way of life, congenial, strenuous, successful as it was, did not last many years. In 1831 Robert Surtees, then twenty-eight, lost his elder brother, Anthony Surtees, who died of smallpox at Malta set up N dozen hor 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 produ tions, he proceeded with ca tion, and made no overtu he even had the nerve to to Nimrod's condescending and the how to ke But ev to terms, sharp end new perio taste fo was the rea Nimrod b to the 1 rine inste contribute the barg could he a generatio Nimrod, P be a fami future is m our eyes. Surtees started on Success for he had acter, and In one notes for lections f- He speaks for himself, so cane, didly, clearly, and at such ine ordinate length, that words of ours would be wasteful as well e as inadequate. He has charmed, e cheered, and instructed three e generations of sportsmen, and a there is no reason whatever is that his benefits should not be If bestowed on the generations r. yet to come. But it is quite or possible that his long and close - companionship was a purer d enjoyment to his creator than n to any of his more distant word shippers. Jorrocks went everyse where with Surtees for a space of o years, while he hunted with n the old familiar Surrey Hounds d whenever press of work kept e him in London, or while he n made his frequent and long projected hunting tours to all y parts-to Northamptonshire, r. Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Dorset, shire, and Leamington. It was -the life in which they both . revelled; and as Mr Cuming t remarks of Surtees 1 "His doings during the sumg mer are reflected in those of Mr Jorrocks: trips by coach e to Brighton and to other sea side resorts; by sailing-vessel e or steamer from the Thames ; 5, trips to Cheltenham and (once - at least) to Newmarket; occaIr sional runs over to Paris, and daching journeys with with no ial aim." at this way of life, con1, strenuous, successful as s, did not last many years. 331 Robert Surtees, then ty-eight, lost his elder her, Anthony Surtees, who 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 Waya 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 entertain Conscientious Objections, provided such Measure of Relief 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 Protestant Institutions of the Land. "I have no objection to Triennial Parliaments, but am opposed to the Ballot, unless the Votes of Members of Parliament 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 moderate and fair-minded Liberal, as well as to those of his own political colour. His views on the Ballot coincide with those of Sydney Smith, a wholehearted Liberal and reformer, and a wit like Surtees. However, by the Liberal and Radical journals his views were declared to be "the corrupt, degrading, and demoralising principles of that base and selfish faction which," &c. Yet they had nothing but good to say of the man himself, which in those days of unrestrained personal invective during a political campaign is no small tribute to his character. His own impressions of the humours of an election, as well as some very telling satire on the advocates for Repeal of the Corn Laws, may be read in his novel Hillingdon Hall,' which is really a reflection of his personal experience in the Gateshead election. It would be instructive reading for any one interested in preparing for the General Election, which is always said to be "just ahead," or "nearer than we expect," or "almost upon eternal attraction. We never laugh at Mr Sponge, simply because he is underbred and a sharp practitioner; in fact we all share Lord Scamperdale's aversion for him. That noble scamp and his shadow, Jack Spraggon, are the most masterly and finely drawn portraits in Surtees' immensely long gallery. There is not a touch of caricature in them; they are conceived in the spirit of comedy, not of farce. Mr Cuming expresses his dislike to the last scene of Jack Spraggon's death. It is a revolting scene, but in no way a failure, or even out of perspective. It carries out with sardonic force the main intention with which the book was writtennamely, to discredit steeplechasing, which in those early days, before it had acquired proper organisation or the discipline of the Turf Club, certainly had a very shady side. Surtees never liked racing. "Hunting men seldom care about racing, and racing men seldom care about hunting," he used to say; and he coupled racing and coursing rather contemptuously together as "being both contributory to the pocket." This throws some light on the scene of Jack Spraggon's death, or rather the reason for which it was written; but undoubtedly it shows some hardness of heart in the writer. A man who would deliberately go, as Surtees did, without any reason or duty involved, "on a fine bright June morning" to wit |
