When the history of betting comes to b« written by some competent hand it wil appear that from the very earliest time* nearly all the prominent members of the ring — that variegated region— have sprung from very humble origin, and started with very little capital. As nearly all those who may, in a comparative sense, be termed the saving members of the fraternity die wealthy, and as the rest live in \rhat they consider to be a luxurious fashion, it will appear that bookuiaking is a lucrative calling, and backing the reserve Take old Michael Brunton, a true Yorkshireman tor instance, born in 1755, and who, we are told, lived respected by all, and died rich at tho age of 90, after having attended Doncaater races for sixty-one years without intermission, and having carried on his trade till within three years of his death. In the matter of bookmakers aspiring to municipal honours history repeats itself, for Michael wad more than once Mayor of Rich mond, where he lived all his life-. The interpretation of Acts of Parliament is said to have been the only thing that caused him any uneasiness, though in that difficulty his self-reliance never deserted him, and when his, brother magistrates disagreed with his reading — and they appear to have done so pretty of ton— it was hs habit to produce a handful of coins, and offer to lay the bench 6 to 4 all round that he was right. Quite as great a character was old William Richards, the Leicester stocking seller, who, like Brunton, in variably dressed ie a blue coat with brass buttons, drab breeches and gaiters. Richards used to hawk stockings in early Hfo, and, while on his rounds, won some money at cords. A local race meeting gave him the chance of backing a successful out-sider v ith his winnings, and from this small beginning he became the proprietor of Ragdale Hall. Whenever he M'ent to a race meeting he used to take a supply of stockings with him to sell to the people Qf the inns at which he stopped, and whenever he won over a meeting no always brought back brown Windsor soap and ribbons for his servants. 