of an hour elapses, when
the mistress of the house rises and retires, followed by all the
ladies. It is then that the _seance de vin_ begins. The subject of
conversation soon changes, and political questions are discussed.
The conversation, without getting stormy, acquires that degree of
warmth and animation, which a good dinner, when one is blessed with a
strong head and a good digestion, generally inspires. Hard drinking
has, generally speaking, fallen into desuetude. It is only
foxhunters and country gentlemen who remain faithful, nowadays, to
that ignoble custom. A gentleman who has any self-respect, never so
far forgets himself as to get tipsy, for he would certainly be looked
upon with an evil eye, by the company, if he were to enter the
drawing-room with an indistinct articulation, or with trembling legs.
Dinner is over about half-past nine. The gentlemen then rejoin the
ladies to take tea and coffee, and the conversation turns, as before,
upon the news of the day."

On 8 April, Consols rose to par, or 100 pounds for 100 pounds stock, for
the first time for nearly a century. The last time they were at 100
pounds was in 1749, the year after the peace of Aix la Chapelle; at which
period the public debt was rather more than 78,000,000 pounds. The
highest price the Three per Cents, ever rose to, previously, was in June,
1737, and again, in May, 1739, when they attained the high price of 107
pounds. In September, 1797, they fell to 47.375, which is the lowest
price to which they have ever fallen.

On 23 May, the Derby was won by a horse called _Running Rein_, which was
the occasion of an Action in the Court of Exchequer, on 1 July, before
Baron Alderson. It was alleged that the horse had not been truly
described, that he was not of the age which qualified him to run for the
Derby, and that he ought not, therefore, to be deemed the winner of the
race. Colonel Peel, the owner of Orlando, the second horse, claimed the
stakes, on the ground that Running Rein was not the horse represented;
and Mr. Wood, the owner of Running Rein, brought this action against the
Colonel.

Mr. Cockburn, who conducted the plaintiff's case, gave the pedigree of
Running Rein, and his whole history. Among other things, Mr. Cockburn
mentioned that, in October, 1843, Running Rein won a race at Newmarket;
that he was objected to on the score of age; but, eventually, the
ste