Hamilton County than in any other half dozen in the State. Partridges, woodcock, &c., and a great variety of water-fowl also, abound in untold abundance. If you would like a shy at a panther, a bear, or a pack of wolves, you can have fun; but a moose-hunt is an affair just a huckleberry over any American field sport short of buffalo hunting. A large bull moose is seventeen hands high, and his antlers sometimes measure eight feet from tip to tip.

"The present month (September) is a capital season for shooting; the young partridges, ducks, squirrels, &c., have attained their growth, and pigeons may be knocked down by the dozen at a shot. Deer, too, are unusually numerous, but should be left undisturbed until the 1st of October, when they will be in prime condition. Moose-hunting, proper, does not commence until after a heavy fall of snow, the last of November. A few weeks since a great number of heavy steel traps were set about Louis, Whittaker, Oxbow, and other lakes, for wolves, upon which there is a bounty. These were to have been taken up on the 1st instant, as otherwise a hunter would run the risk of having his hounds killed or cruelly maimed. Some of these infernal machines' weigh forty pounds. Their owners have doubtlessly taken them up ere this, or they will only find them by fishing in the lakes. They have a very summary process of getting rid of these steel traps after notice' has been given.

"For fishing, June is the best month; but trout may be taken from one year's end to the other. From May until the middle of September, they rise freely to the fly; but in June, the large lake trout are to be seen breaking like speckled trout, and may be taken in the same manner. After this time they gradually retire into deeper water; and in July and subsequently you fish for them-usually with a hand-line-in from fifty to one hundred feet of water. A Mr. Jewett, at Lake Pleasant, makes capital hooks for this kind of fishing: they resemble in shape the celebrated Limerick hooks, which have what is termed the O'Shaughnessy bend,' and are excedingly well tempered. They are as large as the hooks used for cod, haddock, &c. and require to be. We have seen the largest of them snapped off, and lines broken that appeared strong enough to hold an alligator. The point of these hooks is not above half the ordinary height, and it has a barb on each side of it.

"Salmon-trout fishing is practised here as in Lake George: it is not to our taste, by the by, but you shall have the benefit of our experience. In the first place, you select what seems to your eye a good location or two in a lake, and mark the spot by sinking a rock attached to a strong cord, the upper end of which you tie to a shingle, as a buoy, which floats directly over your anchor,' so that you can at any time hit upon the precise spot. The water, mind you, where the anchor is sunk, should be over fifty feet deep, if such a depth is to be found. Your anchor being well located, cut up half a bushel of small fish, shiners, suckers, &c., and strew them over it, and upon the following day you may safely calculate upon taking as many salmon-trout as you care to lug home.

"These same lakes you will find to abound with speckled trout, of large size, and exquisite flavour. The fly-fishing cannot be paralleled, in our opinion; and we have wet a line in nearly every stream or pond of note between the Susquehanna and the Kennebec. You will find trolling, too, grand sport. For this you require a leader of your strongest gut, nearly as long as your rod; and if you will take our advice, put on a set of snap hooks at the end, and another set three feet above it, on each of which spin a live minnow. Above the snaps, at uniform distances, loop on three or four large salmon-flies; and our word for it, on Pezeko or Louis lakes you will take two or three at a time. Let out from forty to seventy feet of line, and use your heaviest rod; bend a lighter one on your second rod, and use smaller flies: an hour's fishing will tell you the most successful size and colour of your flies. You can troll and throw your flies at the same time. The river fishing, except that it is incomparably finer, is very like that

found in other sections of the State; with this difference, that instead of fishing down a stream for a mile or two, you strike from one hole to another, and sometimes fish in the same place two or three days. These deep 'holes' are more properly eddies, not usually over six rods wide, but from a quarter to half a mile in length. They are full of trout, and you can take a hundred brace in a day sometimes; but this is sheer waste, for unless you have a pack-horse you cannot carry above half the number away, especially if you have to wallow for half a dozen miles through a thick growth of witch-hopple and shin-hemlock, the very thoughts of which make our legs ache. To return to trolling. We plead guilty to having had recourse to an arrangement which, we are confident, our friends, G.,’ 'Piscator,' and 'Meadows,' will think any thing but orthodox. In trolling with flies, we found half the time that a rise' was but 'a weak invention of the enemy,' and we proceeded to 'circumvent' him after the following fashion-we tied two flies together, selecting a yellow salmon-fly, for instance, and an ordinary sized red or brown hackle trout-fly. You should have seen how it worked: it was good for weak eyes. In casting, in the ordinary way, with a single or double-handed rod, of course it was unnecessary to resort to any such heretical practice.

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Having tried the lakes in the immediate vicinity of Skidmore's, you must make a trip to a hole in West River; the distance is six miles, four of which lie through a windfall, tracked rarely by any thing save a moose or a panther. If you get on at the rate of a mile per hour, you are smarter than we take you for. You will be some' tired before you reach the spot; but the very sight of it will repay a thousand ills. You must also visit Louis Lake, taking Indian clearing in your way: it is ten miles from Skidmore's, but you can ride in a wagon above half the way, and there is a clear cattle path the other half. You will find capital fishing in the lake and at the clearing,' as well as at the falls of Jessup's River. Hereafter, we intend to flare up' with an account of a trip or two of ours to these places, not having room at this present writing.

"We have laid out work enough at Skidmore's to give you a week's fishing. As for deer-hunting, if in season, it will not break in upon your time, as you must drive' by day-break. If you like fire-hunting-and we sincerely hope you do not, for it is a most unsportsmanlike and cruel practice-be careful you do not shine the eyes' of a panther, that's all.

"Now, please to pack up your traps in a hurry, for we are about to take you where you can spend your second week in the enjoyment of sport the gods never dreamed of. We are off for Pezeko Lake, the largest we have yet found, and the best one for trout we ever threw a fly in. Skidmore will whip us down there with his long-tailed mares. It is eight miles to Arietta, a village located at the inlet of the lake; but we are to stop at the house of Mr. Dunning, two miles short of it. The old gentleman is a hunter and resident of the county of fifty years' standing, and has killed more of feather and of fin,' than any man in the county. He does not keep a public house,' but 'entertains company;' which, being interpreted, means that if you look like a clever fellow, he will treat you to the best at his command; and if you do not, he wont have you at any price-'that's the way to tell it.' You will find no such fare, attention, or accommodation in any house within twenty miles, take our word for it. Having arranged this matter, let us introduce you to a high trump' and no mistake, Alba Dunning, as fine-spirited and gallant a young woodsman as ever knocked over a moose or landed a salmon. He has such ' appliances, and means to boot,' for fishing and shooting as you can find nowhere else. His sail and row boats are tip-top; he has plenty of live bait preserved in nets; and, what is equally pleasant, his father's house is within twenty rods of the lake. Lake Pezeko is about seven miles in length by two in width-a most beautiful sheet of water, surrounded on all sides by a majestic range of hills, covered to the summit with the most magnificent forest trees. The picturesque scenes presented from many points of this sea in miniature ex

hibit a savage grandeur of aspect combined with a degree of wild, romantic beauty, that would have charmed Sir Walter Scott amid his own Highlands, while Christopher North would throw away his crutch and immortalise them-after such fly-fishing as we enjoyed. Alba Dunning is one of the best sportsmen of his age within the range of our acquaintance; he is peculiarly well acquainted with the habits of game of all descriptions, and is fruitful in expedients. Since able to tote a rod or a rifle, one or the other has rarely been out of his hands; and as he has resided for years on the shore of Pezeko Lake, it would be singular indeed if he did not know it like a book-from a to izzard.' Rely upon it, he will shew you such sport as you cannot find north of the Potomac."

GYMNASTICS GENUINE.

IT may not be known to every body, that the coruscations of the most popular essayist of the present day flashed their earliest rays from the columns of a newspaper. In the "Morning Chronicle," the first sparklings of the rare genius of Charles Dickens displayed the promise that has been so well kept to the hope. From time to time there have appeared lately, in another morning journal, several Irish sketches, purporting to be reports of cases heard at the "Kilrush Petty Sessions," as remarkable for perfect keeping in all that relates to the characteristics of the eccentric people to whom they apply, as for the essence of rollicking fun and fancy with which they overflow. Whoever their author may be, that he is a fellow of infinite wit and pleasantry admits of no question. For many a hearty, ungovernable, fit of laughter, wrung from spirits which the world's grave business has made too rarely prone to smile, we are his grateful debtors. It has long been a pet scheme of ours to transfer a sample of those clever "tableaux écrits" to these pages; but till the happy occasion of which we avail ourselves, none met our observation sufficiently adapted to our purpose. Fate has, at last, presented a morceau that makes ample amends for a long fast: here it is; and when you have read, say, could the incidents narrated be put before you in their habits as they are supposed to have lived, what would become of Power's hundred pounds a-week, if men could help themselves to such scenes as this at "Kilrush Petty Sessions?"

"An Irish Matadore.-Your country tailor, of a certain class, is indubitably a character. Is there a bonfire to be leaped over?-snip is the man to essay it. Does a wandering pugilist, whose palmy days in the ring are gone by, arrive to enlighten the yokels by an exhibition of 'the noble art of self-defence?'-the man of measures straightway levants from the shopboard, flings down the goose, plucks off the thimble, dons the gloves, and returns with an eye sewed up, and a countenance of a different pattern. Albeit of slight stature and small, such was Johnny M'Gonnegal; attempting every thing-believing he could achieve any thing-and succeeding in nothing. Napoleon fell, and even tailors must succumb to fate; so be it ours to 'Herald' Johnny now within the peaceful precincts of the law court- the issuer of a wisp of summonses, and with a cuttingout' look, though not akin to Jerry Coghlan's.

"Johnny's notes of invitation had been distributed with the most dis

interested liberality. They were numerous as the sybil's leaves;' even gemmen of his own cloth had not escaped citation; and there they stood nodding and grinning at each other, and looking needle-points at Mr. M'Gonnegal.

"As the recorders of affairs of honour' say, 'the usual preliminaries having been adjusted,' complainant stated in a general way that he had been hissed, and clodded, hooted, abused, and called a 'conceited b-t-d,' which Michael O'Connor more politely termed an uppish illegitimate;' and all because he, Johnny, had done his best to shew the buoys a small taste o' diversion a few evenins before, an' only for their own noise an' folly 'tis they'd have seen sport.'

"A friendly, half-suppressed voice in the tailor's rear, emitted an encouraging Be Cripes a good boy.'

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6

Magistrate. What diversion did you get up?'

"Johnny, like all Patlanders in a quandary, worked away with his fingers' ends on the organ of philoprogenitiveness, looked around, coughed, and at length replied, To give a wallopin' to big Robin the bull, over at the coort.' This admission was followed by a roar of laughter, the bystanders, no doubt, contrasting in their mind's eyes the 'mighty brute,' and the all but 'airy nothing' proportions of the cabbager.

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6

Davy Driscol, a dry, sarcastic-looking customer, was put forward as spokesman by the accused. Erra, thin, be said by me, an' sit down,' he exclaimed, laying his hand on snip's potato-trap; 'here's the identikal way it was, gintlemen, an' let him conthradict me, if he can. Two or three ov uz wir discoorsin' on the new road, respecting the beatin' Robin gev a couple o' min the day before. Allileu! tut! tut! they wir no min,' says Johnny M'Gonnegal, lookin' as fierce as ever he could; they wir no min an' to let him chastise 'em; I'm only meself,' sez he, "an', begor, give me a good blackthorn an' I'll fight him single-hand to-morrow' (laughter).

Half jokin', your worship, nothin' more, indeed,' interrupted Johnny; 'becase, you see, I read in a book, that iv you put your head between your legs, an' advanced backwards, there never was that bull or dog born that wouldn't run from you'-(great laughter).

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Davy Driscol.-One at a time is manners, I b'lieve. Well, sir, the challinge got wind, to be sure, an' 'twas agreed that this man was to get tin an' sixpence if he bet the baste fairly; an' my hand to you, sich a croud as getthered, you'd imagine 'twas Dan O'Connell was there! About four o'clock in the evenin' my bucko got into the paddock, afther takin' a couple o' horns o' malt against the work; an' he havin' a crimson hankitcher tied round his head, an' a blue check-shirt on him, an' a pair ov white leather small clothes, that he borryed o' Mick Claney, the horsebreaker: indeed, there was as much ribands flyin' out o' the knees ov 'em as you'd see in a dozen counthry girls' caps at a fair. Well, to be sure, how he used to hop, an' screech, an' wheel his blackthorn !--begor, we all thought as he 'd fairly eat the animal'-(laughter).

"Oh! folly on, do!' muttered poor Johnny, evidently wincing under the narrator's description of his prowess.

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"Begor, your riverince,' resumed Davy, 'the minit Robin seen sich a flighty lookin' example skippin' towards him, he only 'bout ship an' off wid him, an' this man peltin' afther him an' abusin' him to all intints an' purposes: we cheerin' him, ov coorse. Whin the bull got to the wall, you see, he put on his considerin' cap, I suppose, an' got ashamed ov what he was runnin' from; so he stuck out his tail as straight as a spade tree, an' gev a couple o' bellows, throwin' a shovelfull ov airth up wid his horns at the same time, an' makin' straight at this conceited crether

"Who, of course, moved off,' observed his worship.

"Davy Driscol grinned.-'Oh, no! not he; he stud and shewed fight. Erra, see here, that I mightn't, but you'd imagine 'twas an Artikymedes screw was behind him, he ran so swift. My hand to you, he did'nt wait to

settle his head beteune his legs, an' 'tis all past an' gone now. Mick Cosgrey saved his life.'

Omnes. He did so, the ungrateful little wasp!'

"He was makin' for the gap in the wall,' continued the eloquent Davy, an' he perspirin' as if he was 'tinding a stame ingin. Mick,' says he, an' he pantin' like mad, 'I'm the father ov three childer!' So, well become Cosgrey, he hot Robin wid a clod ov airth beteune the eyes; an' as bulls don't use pocket-hankitchers it puzzled him to get the dust out, an' so my lad escaped '-(renewed laughter).

"Well, M'Gonnegal,' said the magistrate;-but the schneider was gone-stole away-vanished-evaporated. So Davy Driscol and his comates followed, after promising to let him be at peace touching his bullhumbling propensities."

A FEW WORDS FOR SPORTING SERVANTS.

To the Editor of the Sporting Review.

SIR, Funds for the support of many who have contributed towards our amusement are already instituted, and are subscribed to with goodwill, alacrity, and liberality. The decrepit actor finds in the noble provision of the Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatrical Fund a resource against poverty and distress. The Coachman's Fund, in like manner, supports the decline of those who, on another kind of stage, have afforded us pleasure and accommodation. Various trades have their clubs and benevolent societies, insuring relief and moderate comfort to those who, by unavoidable misfortune, may become dependent on their munificence: but, amongst all these, I am not able to discover that "huntsmen, whippers-in, and gamekeepers" are included. No set of men are thrown more in the way of an easy intercourse, approaching to familiarity, with their employers;-no set of men, as a body, are more distinguished by some of the best qualities of humanity: temper, caution, courage, patience, must be theirs by nature : to these must be joined honesty, civility, and a host of other essentials, before any one of these situations can be filled worthily and effectively. Petted and caressed by the well-earned praise of the field,-prized during the summer of their days by their masters, -I wish I could say, that in the sere and yellow they were always equally happy. God forbid that I should distrust the kindness of many a noble fellow with whom I have enjoyed field-sports, or doubt that a retiring pension and snug cottage await his old and failing dependant; still, I would have those very dependants themselves put it out of the power of any master to hold their fate in his hands. Briefly, then, let a club be formed of masters of hounds, game-preservers, and sportsmen in general;—nay, not only let these, but let every philanthropist enrol his name amongst its members. The right of nomination of those to be benefited should be guided by the interest which the members of the club take in its welfare, and, of course, by the proportionate sums they may subscribe: but I would strongly insist upon the absolute necessity of the objects of the charity themselves clapping their own shoulders to the wheel. Without this, the most material part of the moral benefit derivable from