I was told by Sir WALTER GREENINGTON, that the public "tumbled over each other" to back _Breach_, but I must say I didn't notice anything of the sort, and it was not the kind of day anyone would choose for a roll on the turf, the state of which was detrimental to any kind of _Breach_!--The believers in "coincidences"--(of which I need hardly say _I_ am one--a coincidence being a truly feminine reason for backing a horse)--had no option but to back the winner, _Rusticus_; as he drew the same berth he occupied in last year's race, which he alsop--(I mean also)--won for Mr. HAMAR BASS!--_Stuart_ was a great eleventh hour tip--(why _eleventh_ hour I wonder?--more than any other--and who fixes the precise moment when the _eleventh_ hour commences?)--but history tells us the STUARTS were mostly unreliable; and though I am told he ran a "great horse"--I thought him rather on the small side myself! I hear that Mr. LEONARD BOYNE has received a "licence to ride" from the Jockey Club, and that his ambition is to ride the winner of the "Grand National"--to which end he has started "schooling" a well-known chaser over the private training-ground in Drury Lane, belonging to Sir AUGUSTUS HARRIS--if he hopes to escape observation by training at night, I fear his design will be frustrated, as, on the evening, I went to witness this "new departure" in training, I found most of the London racing-touts present, with the inevitable field-glasses! Next week sees us once more at our beloved Newmarket First October--(this is a Jockey-Club joke, as the meeting _always_ takes place in _September_! But what does a little paradox of this kind matter to such an _August_ body!)--and I shall append my selection for the most important race of Wednesday, but I also wish to give a hint to the "Worldly Wise" not to miss the October Handicap, or the match, for which _Buccaneer_ will be favourite at the "fall of the flag!"--(The flag may _fall_, but such a _Buccaneer_ as this is will never "strike his flag" I feel sure!) Being absolutely overloaded with prophecy, I must also have a word to say on the Rutland Plate, which aristocratically-named race could only be won by the aristocratically-named _Buckingham_!--Yours devotedly, LADY GAY. GREAT-EASTERN RAILWAY HANDICAP SELECTION:-- Though good his chance to win the prize, "Lord HENRY" soon detected, That greatest danger would arise, From Colonel NORTH's "_Selected._" * * * * * [Illustration: "THE PERI AT THE ACADEMY GATES." "On July 4th, Lieutenant PEARY, in his great sledge journey, commenced on May 15th last, in Greenland, came on a glacier which he named The Academy Glacier."--_Times_.] * * * * * SWORD AND PEN. A FABLE. (_TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSO-FRENCH._)