Thomas Moore’s biography of Lord Byron was severely criticised, both for what it contained and for what it omitted. That Moore, the cherished friend of the great poet, should display all the faults and frailties of Lord Byron was ungenerous and ungrateful, but his ill-judged suppression of certain important matters of fact was far more inexcusable and damaging to Byron’s reputation. ―――― A BALLAD MADE FOR THE DELECTATION OF ALL TRUE SPORTSMEN. Prince Albert is a sportsman bold, And eager for the chase, Out with the hounds, like GILPIN oft He seems to ride a race. And oft in Windsor’s courtly Park He loves to ply the gun, Where hares so well bred are, that they Up to his muzzle run. Now when her gracious Majesty To Stowe a visit paid, (The newspapers contained a list Of all the cavalcade.) Scarce had the royal pair arrived At BUCKINGHAM’S proud seat, The Prince began in sportsman’s style, The noble Duke to greet “What shooting have you here, proud Duke?” “Shooting, great Prince,” he cried, “Not vainly in my choice preserves I feel a housewife’s pride.” * * * * * A sporting suit his Highness donn’d, On murderous thought intent He sallies forth, his every look Betrays the sporting gent. Not far behind, the portly form Of ROBERT PEEL was seen, His mind, less sporting than his coat, Is far away I ween. Five times ten keepers armed with sticks Entered in close array, And beat the cover, where the hares Like lords in waiting lay. Once and again PRINCE ALBERT shot, Once and again shot he; The hare, that erst on four legs ran, Now limped away on three. Each keeper raised his stick and struck The hare upon the head; The Prince he shot, the keepers knocked, Until each hare was dead. _Dulce et decorum est_, say some, _Pro patria mori_, And ’tis a fine thing for a hare, By princely hand to die. ’Twas this perhaps the game inspired To court their Prince’s aim, They died to give PRINCE ALBERT sport, And therefore they died game. How many fell _The Court Gazette_ Better than I may say, Hares that escaped will live to tell Their children of that day. Long live the Game Laws, though with ills Some people say they’re fraught, Long live the laws by which our Prince Enjoyed such glorious sport. _Punch._ 1845. ―――― THE POLITICAL JOHN GILPIN. GEORGE BENTINCK was a sporting man Of credit and renown, A stud in training eke had he, For Epsom’s famous down. GEORGE BENTINCK to himself, said he, Though M.P. I have been For many years, yet in debate My name is seldom seen. JOHN RUSSELL to the Commons goes, As rumour doth declare, A bill for Ireland to propose, And I will meet him there.