EPSOM RACES.
THESE are the most popular, and for that reason the least enjoyed, we believe, of races. The old proverb says, that the wood cannot be seen "by reason of the trees," and the fault of Epsom is that the crowd is go prodigious as to prevent alrdiStinctiOn of persons. People who go in carriages see the dozen carriages and their occupants immediatelyabout them. Those who ride are sufficiently employed in guarding against the peculiar kind of equestrianism displayed by the Cockneys, whichtears some resemblance to the joust oft he knights of old. If a horsemanpenetrates the line of carriages to seek out acquaintances, lie is indeed delivered from the anxieties of the tournament and of watching the eccentric movements of ill-governed steeds ; but then he is in an extremely fair way of getting his beast kicked by the post-horses, which make these occasions a Saturnalia of all their vices. The post-boys have an admirably judicious mode of indulging this fancy of their beasts. When they unharness them, they make a point of turning them with their heads to the carriage, because it is a thing not easily lamed, and with their heels having the full range of such thoroughfare as there may happen to be. In this position the beasts kick, at discretion, as the French would say. We saw a horse of a superior kind receive one of these favours, which cut a fair slice, of the Epsom not the Vauxhall sort, out of his thigh. His rider bore the calamity like a man accustomed to the pleasures of the place, and the driver of the peccant animal made inordinately merry on the occasion. But these are events, literally speaking, quite of course. The Stand is the third method of viewing the scene ; and may do well enough for persons who, on a fine day in the month of June, can consent to be cooped up in any description of building, however conveniently adapted to its purposes. The Derby of this year ye is generally agreed to have been rather dull in all respects—running, company, numbers : there was a mere sprinkling of spectators—not much more than one hundred thousand ; and the flying squadron of horsemen did not far exceed the total cavalry force of the French army at the battle of Waterloo. The fact is, that London is shockingly empty this season. Many people have staid at their country-houses from fear of the Pope ; and for three entertainments last year there has been one this year. GUNTER, dreadful to say, does not provide, at this time, more than thirty suppers a night ! and the quadrille bands need not be engaged two months before a dance!! Why does not some member take up the subject of the state of the metropolis in Parliament? Our season has been a winter's day—a began late, and closes early.
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