The Sportsman

look at it a little more as an amusement-what it should be-and as such we can only advocate it.]

SHOCKING DEATH OF MR. PAUL DYSEN.-We have to announce the death of the above-mentioned gentleman, who was well known in the sporting circles of Manchester, and who lost his life under very melancholy circumstances. The body of the deceased, who had been missing since the 31st of January, was found in a reservoir not more than two feet deep. The fact of nothing having been taken from his person proved that the unfortunate gentleman-who, from the evidence adduced at the inquest which was held on the body, was the worse for wine on the evening on which he is presumed to have been drowned-met with an accidental death, having lost his way and fallen into the reservoir in question. A verdict was returned of "Found drowned."

We have to include in our obituary of this month the death of two rather prominent men in the sporting world-Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Forth. On this side of the channel the former was known chiefly as the owner of the celebrated Harkaway, and consequently not so well known as he should be. The success of that horse, on the whole, rather operated against the fame of the deceased gentleman with us. At home, however, he was always seen to advantage. A most hospitable friend, a free, open-hearted sportsman, a capital rider to hounds, and equally good over a country in the cap and jacket-he will be much missed in the Emerald isle. He may have had his faults, like most of us; but there are many whose accounts will not show so well on the opposite side as poor Tom Ferguson's. Mr. Forth, we believe, was the architect of his own fortunes, having worked on from a stable-keeper to become one of the most influential and clever trainers in the kingdom. His success was equal to his ability, and a long and strong string of triumphs might be traced back to his agency. One remarkable feature in his system was the closeness with which the secrets of the stable were kept, the "sensations" being seldom allowed to evaporate before the race was decided. His horses always looked well to the eye, as if flattered a little in their work, though few could really be better prepared. He was a jockey as well as trainer, and continued in the saddle up to a very few years previous to his decease, braving even the dangers of the Derby to the last.

CRICKET MATCH IN SKATES.-The Sheffield Skating Club played a cricket-match on the ice in skates, at Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, on the Swiss-cottage pond, on Tuesday, the 1st. The ice was in splendid condition, being as smooth as a piece of glass. After the first innings the party retired to the tent, which was fixed on the edge of the dam, and partook of an excellent lunch, and afterwards some beautiful figure skating took place. The game was again resumed, and the balls played with were made of gutta percha; the frost had a tendency to make them very hard, and from hard hitting caused them to break, but it is the opinion of the club that they will answer very well in summer. The following is the score:-J. Dodworth's side, 150, of which John Tasker obtained (not out) 65, James Tasker (b. Scholes) 0, J. Dodworth (b. Scholes) 0, J. Ingham (st. Scholes) 10, G. Paxton (b. Scholes) 1, J. Mettam (b. Scholes) 6, W. Wild (b. Scholes) 17, C. Skinner (b. Scholes) 25, B. Drabble

(b. M. Dodworth) 7, H. Axe (b. M. Dodworth) 2; byes 7, wide balls 3. M. Dodworth's side, 162, of which M. Dodworth scored (st. J. Dodworth) 42, G. Scholes (c. J. Dodworth) 10, B. Johnson (st. J. Dodworth) 0, F. Skinner (b. C. Skinner) 25, A. Horton (b. C. Skinner) 0, R. Gillatt (b. C. Skinner) 25, E. Gray (st. J. Mettam) 2, J. Hawkrigg (run out) 4, F. Harrison (run out) 1, T. Axe (not out) 22, W. Ince (not out) 21; byes 6, wide balls 4.

WOODCOCKS.-For several years these delicate birds have not been met with so numerous as formerly. Some sportsmen think it owing to the want of severe frosts in November; others attribute the cause to the immense quantities of their eggs gathered abroad in their native marshes for the market; but, independent of the great flights which used to cross the seas, there are now as many bred in this country as occasionally yields good winter shooting. For instance, during six days of the last intense frosts, Mr. Stewart, gamekeeper of Balmacaan, bagged in Lord Reidhaven's preserves 107 woodcocks, all plump, fat birds, such as must have fared well among the Cozy woodsprings of Glen-Urquhart.--Inverness Courier.

CHLOROFORM.-Amongst the many other virtues of this surgeon's assistant, we find it can be applied in full force to horses and hounds. A veterinary surgeon a few days since got into trouble with a most determined" miller," whose dangerous vagaries were only subdued by the happy interference of a chemist, armed with about a dram of chloroform on a handkerchief. By the aid of the same anaesthetic agent, Mr. Parry, the veterinary surgeon of Reading, performed a most painful operation upon a bitch, without the animal evincing the least uneasiness. For cases of this character it appears to be far preferable to ether.

STATE OF THE ODDS.

By comparison with what has lately been "the custom of the afternoon" at the Corner, the new year has opened well as to interest and business. On the Derby, without any very heavy investments, there have been more yet of the rumours and " bad winds" which have distinguished this race almost from the time it came into the market. Surplice (again), the Stinger, and Assault, have been the chief sufferers this month; the crack being at one time, according to the extra intelligent, "all on the go." He has, however, rallied wonderfully, and may be quoted now as quite as good a favourite as ever he was; the Stinger, too, is fast recovering; while Assault, on the other hand, is still somewhat in the shade. Just now, perhaps, Springy Jack, the pick of his stable, is the most enquired after at the price; and of the others, Loadstone who came on as "second horse" in support of the Goodwood stable-Cervus, Besborough, Beverlac, and Fern, are in good odour and constant request. One or two of them, indeed-Cervus and Fern to wit-are said to have been backed quietly for a good deal of money.

The Chester Cup, with the excellent acceptance of a hundred and

odd out of a hundred and fifty-five handicapped, boasts, as is usual at this season of the year, of the chief attractions for industry and idleness, as personified by legs and loungers. The most remarkable feature connected with it has been the long struggle between Blaze and Cracrow for head-man, which has at length been decided by War Eagle taking the disputed place himself. The three who are, and have been in great demand, it will be found, are succeeded by Jonathan Wild, also a bit of a pot, and justly so one would say, considering what he carries and what he has done. Still we must remember he is kept back-or as some word it more ungenerously, "patched up"-for the event; and, if so, we calculate the plaudite of his party may end in valete to their hopes. Of all the old and infirm, we should prefer putting our pony on Newcourt, though his position at present would scarcely warrant the outlay. Keleshe, Queen Mary, Bantam, and the Swallow, read better than anything else on our list, the majority of which are "fancy" articles, and should be dealt carefully with accordingly.

The Oaks, Two Thousand, and Metropolitan require little comment, or little done; and the fight having ended in "money returned" and "bets off," finishes quite as satisfactorily as could be expected. We don't mind seeing "officers and gentlemen" throw down a five or two, and a couple of raffs commence hammering away for it. Provided nobody's "kilt quite," there can be little harm here; but it is the wagering that makes the mischief. In future we recommend the patrons of the ring to follow the old leg's practice on this point, who, when they asked him what he was going to do on a certain "mill" just duc, replied, with a slight shrug of the shoulders, "No, thank'ee, no, I never bets on anything that speaks."