HORNS. TOM SPRING'S AND SPORTING LIFE IN LONDON CHRONICLE. LONDON, SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th, 1840. Price Id. No. 12. OP DICK TURPIN, WITH A FULL ACCOUNT OF HIS FAMOUS HIDE TO YORK, RICHARD ( commonly called " Dick ") TURPIN, was the son of a butcher, and was born at Hempstead, in Essex, in the year 170G. After receiving a decent education, he was apprenticed to a butcher, in Whitechapel; but his master was [ soon compelled to cancel his indentures, in consequence of his very dissipated habits, and the vicious companions with whom he associated. HU friends, hoping to reclaim him, persuaded him to marry, and ac- cordingly he took a wife, a young woman named Hester Palmer, whoso family were people of respectability, re- siding at East Ham, in Essex ; but it was soon found that even marriage was incapable of taming his wild and ad. venturous disposition, for not many weeks afterwards, he joined a gang of thieves, who had for some time excited the terror of the whole county. Their chief place of re- sort was Epping Forest, where they luxuriated upon the deer, of which there were then several hundred head, and Turpin being an excellent shot, took great delight in kill- ing them. But this was chiefly by way of amusement in tiie day time, the night being commonly devoted to breaking into the neighbouring churches or houses where the gang were certain of realising a heavy booty. Their mode of getting into a house was not by forcible entry, when the inmates were asleep, but by knocking at the door, and rushing in and securing the occupants, while some of the gaug were engaged in possessing themselves of whatever property they could find. At Loughton, they entered the cottago of an old woman, a miser, whom they robbed of all her wealth, amounting to several hun- dred pounds, Turpin compelling her to tell where she had tecreted it, by placing her over a fire and threatening not to release her until she had divulged the secret. In the beginning of the year 1730, they entered the house of a farmer, at Rippleside, near Barking, and robbed him of £ 700, and shortly afterwards, while Turpin was absent antl enjoying himself in London, the gang entered the house of Mr. Mason, the keeper of Epping Forest, on whom they had sworn to be revenged for his interference with them in their poaching depredations. Havine en- tered the house and secured the persons of Mr. Mason and his family, they proceeded to destroy all the furniture, breaking to pieces even the china and glass. Amongst other articles they destroyed was a china punch bowl, which one of the gang dashed from off a shelf, when out of it dropped 122 guineas and moidores. With this booty they decamped, taking the road to London ; and in going through Whitechapel, they met Turpin, with whom they went to the Bun- House, in Rope Fields, and there Fhared the plunder. Not long after this, they entered the house of Mr. Saunders, a farmer at Charlton, gaining admis. sion by knocking at the door, and when they got in, they found the farmer and his family, with a few friends, playing at cards. They compelled Mr. Saunders to con- duct them over the house, and open his closets, boxes, & c. from whence they took all the. plate and upwards of .£ 100 in money. Having got all the booty there was, they then sat down in the kitchen and regaled themselves with the contents of the wine cellar and larder, and finally de- parted, threatening the family that if any of them gave the least alarm within two hours, their lives should pay the forfeit. The gang then crossed the water, and brought their booty to an empty houBe in Ratelitfe High- way, where it was divided between them. To such an extent did they carry these daring depredations, that at last a proclamation was issued by his majesty, offering a reward of <£' 50 and a free pardon, to any of the party who would impeach his accomplice;, but without effect. The White Hart, at the upper end of Drury- lane, was their chief place of rendezvous, where they laid all their plans, divided their spoil, and squandered it in drunken- ness and gaming. It is related of Turpin, that he inva. riably interfered whenever he saw any attempt among them to cheat one another, and that on one occasion, after the robbery of Mr. Francis, a farmer at Marylebone, he detected one of the gang secreting thirty- seven guineas, part of the booty they had taken, to punish him for which, and afford an example to his companions, Turpin gave him up into the hands of the officers, and he was soon afterwards hanged at Tyburn, for one of his old offences. An attempt that was now made to rob the house of Justice Asher, near Leigh, in Essex, created such a panic throughout the county, that a reward of .£ 100 was offered for the apprehension of the parties, which compelled them for a time to keep themselves concealed. Still, however, Turpin and his associates were in the hahit, occasionally, of meeting together at their old haunts, and, at last, in formation was given as to a house in Westminster, where Turpin and several others might be taken. A party of military were accordingly sent to secure them, when, after a serious affray, wherein numbers were wounded, three of the most daring of the gang— Fielder, Rose, and Wheeler— were taken, but Turpin made his escape out of a window, and getting a horse, made off at full gallop. Wheeler turned King's evidence againBt his companions, who were condemned and hanged in chains, an example which struck such a terror among those who had escaped, that from that moment, the gang was broken up. Now it was that Turpin determined to mako his bow to the public in the character of a highwayman, choosing the county of Cambridge as the scene of his first exploit, because he was utterly unknown in that part of the country. And hero he met with rather a ludicrous ad- venture ; stopping a passenger whom he took for a farmer, but who, bursting into a loud laugh, declared himself to be, as he really was, the notorious highwayman, Tom King. From that moment these two personages agreed to keep company, and share together the successes or reverses of their profession. Their place of habitation was a cave on the Waltham side of Epping, near a house then known by the sign of the King's Oak. It was so large as not only to accommodate them, but to receive their horses ; and by means of holes made in the sides they were able to gain a full view of all travellers who passed. Turpin's wife lived in the cave with them, sel- dom stirring out except to purchase food for them at the adjaceat towns. They performed various daring exploits together, and, at last, though only for a short time, took into partnership a fellow of the name of Potter. Turpin continued to inhabit the cave for upwards of » ix years, being three years after the death of King. Turpin continued his career for a long time in a most daring manner, until at last a reward was offered for his apprehension, and many persons were induced to attempt it. Amongst the rest was the Forest Ranger, who set out one day to effect the capture of Turpin, accompanied by a pedlar. Thoy met him within a few yards of the cave, and the ranger presenting his gun at him, com- manded him to surrender, but Turpin kept parleyingwith him till he came to the entrance of the cave, when, rush- ing in, he seized his carbine, and shot the ranger dead, upon which the pedlar took to his heels and scampered olf. This man's death obliged Turpin to abandon the cave, and he went down into Herefordshire, where he was betrayed by a butcher, to whom he owed £ 5, and was near being taken, but escaped by jumping out of a window. After this he took great pain3 to disguise himself, and never made his appearance on the road in such a dress as to convey the most distant idea of his real character. In the dress of a waggoner, he one day ventured into the neigh- bourhood of London, and stopped Mr, Major, the owner Turpin's Ride to York. AN AFGHAN HYENA HUNT. of the famous race horse White Stockings. He took from him his riding. whip, made him exchange horses and saddles, and then continued his course into London, put- ting up his horse at the Red Lion, Whitechapel. About eleven o'clock the following Monday night, the brother of King, Turpin's old confederate, came to fetch the animal away, and was immediately seized by Mr. Major and a friend who were lying in wait for anybody that might come for the horse. King and Turpin, who were both close at hand, on hearing the disturbance which had thus been caused, rushed forward to rescue their companion. King clapped a pistol to the breast of Mr. Bayes, Mr. Major's friend, and fired, but the powder flashed in the pan, upon which he called out to Turpin to fire, who, obeying the order, missed Bayes, but severely wounded King. Finding now, that he was himself likely to be taken, he clapped spurs to his horse and rode off. King, it is believed, died of the wound he had received within a week afterwards. Soon after this, the forest became once more the scene of Turpin's depredations, but he did not dare to go near his place of safety, the cave. He kept on the outskirts of the forest, and was once very nearly taken by Mr. Ives, the king's huntsman, who endeavoured to hunt him out with some blood- hounds. Scarcely knowing where to secret himself, he went down to Brough, near Mark Cave, in Yorkshire, where, assuming the name of Palmer, he set up in business as a horse- dealer, and lived there very quietly for a long time. While engaged in this traffic, he chanced one day to be going over to long Sutton, in Lin- colnshire, and in his way he met a mountebank travelling the country. Having scraped an acquaintance with the fellow, Turpin proposed to keep him company, which was agreed to, and on the next day, when the market was being held, they arrived at Long Sutton. What could have been his motive for this freak it is impossible to sur- mise, unless, indeed, he thought it would afford him an opportunity of stealing horses, for he had not been long in Sutton before he took the liberty of exchanging his own for another of much greater value. Leaving off horse- dealing, he again took to the road, and committed such daring depredations, that a fresh reward was offered for his apprehension, and, indeed, he ran many narrow chances of being taken, but owing to the fleetnes3 of his Bteed, the celebrated " Black Bess," he managed to elude all pursuit, of which an instance is oil record in his " Ride lo York," the occasion of which was as follows :— Being in the vicinity of Hampstead, and having drank rather freely, he sallied forth from the inn, and robbed a gentle- man of fifty guineas and a valuable watch. A hue- and- cry was raised; he was pursued, and took the northern road towards York, of his rido to which place we now proceed to give some account. Dashing over Hampstead Heatb, he crossed the hill, then the Hendon Road, passed what was then Crackskull Common, and dashed along the cross- road to Highgate. Here he slackened his pace to give his horse wind, and rode easily down the hill. Dash- ing through Highgate, he reached Crouch End, with a host of pursuers on horseback at his heels Bhouting out, ' A highwayman 1 a highwayman 1" bnt he went at such a furious pace that nobody dared attempt to stop him. Suddenly, however, three horsemen appeared in the road before him, but, with a pistol in each hand, and his bridle in his teeth, he galloped on past them. " Now we have him !" cried some of the horsemen behind, seeing that the old Hornsey toll- bar was locked, and might, as they thought, stop his progress. But they were wrong, for though it was a great height, and a chevaux de frize on the upper rail, he cleared it by a full inch. Out rushed the turnpike- man, who commenced an altercation with Turpin's pursuers, refusing to let them pass till they had eaeh paid the toll, thus causing a delay which gave Turpin a considerable advantage. Striking into a bye- lane, at Duckett's- green, he cantered his mare gently towards Tottenham, where his pursuers came up with him, yelling like a pack of hounds in full cry. The populace tried nu- merous schemes to entrap him, but without success; so they contented themselves with shouting, screaming, and hurling all manner of missiles at him— but Turpin only laughed at them, and gallopod on. On reaching Edmon- ton, his pursuers began to drop off, growing weary of the chase, and not being used to such hard riding, but those who remained continuing still to sbout as they rode after him. A fellow in a donkey cart drew up in the middle | of a narrow part of the road, thinking to stop him, but Turpin, patting his marc, leaped clean over cart, donkey, and driver, a feat which drew down the shouts and ap- plause of every beholder. On ho went through Edmon- ton, along the High North Road, at such a pace that the mile- stones seemed almost to Hy past him ; for, although he was now freed from pursuers, they being tired out, he had resolved to reach York that night, in order to make out a case of alibi, should he be subsequently taken and indicted for his last robbery. Once, and once only, diil ho stop, and then chiefly to refresh his favourite steed. He rubbed her well down with his own hands, then washed her from head to foot with brandy and water, pulled her | ears, examined the state of her feet, and finding all right, he finally rolled a raw steak round the bit of her bridle, and again dashed forward on his journey. Passing through Rutland and Grantham, he reached Gonesby Hill, where his eye glanced for a moment at a gibbet, whence hung a skeleton in chains. It seemed to be a warning of his approaching fate, but, giving Bess the spur, he gal. loped onward, and the next moment had forgotten the incident altogether. Newark, Bawtrey, and Thorne are passed; Selby appears in sight, and now he reaches Cawood Ferry, and hails the boat. The stream is passed, , and anon, behold him on the other side of Tulford. Huzza ! the towers and pinnacles of York burst into sight — the ancient city seems to bid him welcome. " Tis won!" he cries; "' Hurrah! hurrah!'' and at that mo- ment the bells of the Minster tower poured forth their evening chimes— within half an hour he was in the bowl- ing- green of his favourite inn, playing with several gen- tlemen at bowls. This extraordinary feat, though it subsequently, as he had calculated, caused him, by proving the alibi, to be ac- quitted for the roobery, and so save his life, yet cost him the loss of his favourite mare, Bess, who died the very night of her arrival in York, in consequence of the exer- tion she had undergone, an achievement which is almost, if not entirely, unequalled. It is said that our hero, notwithstanding his propensity to plunder, possessed a heart capable of feeling for the distresses of his fellow creatures, and many stories are told which seem to prove the truth of the assertion, lie once met a country dealer coming up to market on the Essex road, whom he commanded to stop and deliver his money, but the poor fellow had about him only fifteen and sixpence, which he said was his all, and that if that was taken from him, he should be reduced to absolute want. Turpin's finances being, however, quite exhausted, he took the money, but desired the man to be at a particular hour on the following day, in a certain part of Newgate- street, with his hat in his hand, and to take no notice of anybody who might pass by and drop money into it. The man took his station at the appointed time and place, nor had he waited long, when a packet was put into his hat— the poor fellow opened it and found, to his great delight, that it contained ten guineas. Another time he robbed a poor woman on her road from Ferrybridge, and soon after hearing that her landlord had distrained upon her for rent, he contrived to relieve her in the following ingenious manner:— Having discovered her abode, he threw in at the window, through the glass, a leather bag, containing gold and silver to the amount of six pounds. During the latter part of his life, he appears to have abandoned his old career, residing quietly in the county of York, where he was so little known, that under the as sumed name of Palmer, he freely associated with the gentry at their hunting and shooting parties, nor was it any thing but mere accident that caused him at last to be recognized as the notorious highwayman, who had for- merly been » o well- known as Dick Turpin, and to expiate his numerous crimes by being put to death by the hands of the executioner. In a moment of frolicsome levity, he happened to shoot, in the street, a cock belonging to his landlord, and this being witnessed by one of his neigh- bours, named Hall, the latter remonstrated, upon which Turpin threatened, that if he, Hall, would only wait till he had charged his piece, he would shoot him as well Hall immediately went and told the landlord what had been said and done; upon which the latter caused Turpin to be taken before the magistrates, who demanded sureties for his future good behaviour. Turpin refusing to comply with this, was committed to the house of correction, and the affair becoming public, it was at last discovered that Mr. Palmer, as lie called himself, was the same person who, some years previously, had stolen a horse at Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire. This was followed by information that he had been in the habit of travelling through the North of England, in various disguises, during which he Had committed numerous depredations in horse- stealing. A letter which he now wrote, while lying in jail, to his brother in Essex, caused him to be recognized as the no- torious Dick Turpin ; for being refused by his brother, the letter was returned unopened to the. post- office, in Essex, and being accidentally seen by a Mr. Smith, a schoolmaster, he at once declared the hand- writing to be that of Richard Turpin, a youth whom he had taught to write at his father's. This coming to the knowledge of the magistrates, they had Mr. Smith brought before them, and upon being taken into the gaol, he at once identified Palmer as the notorious Dick Turpin. Besides this man, numerous other persons appeared, and swore positively to his identity, so that on his trial ( for horse- stealing) he was convicted on the fullest evidence. During his imprisonment, both before and after his con- viction, great numbers of persons flocked to visit him, and it is said that the turnkeys made upwards of 1001. by shewing their prisoner, and supplying liquors and other refreshments to his visitors. An attempt was made to get the sentence of death that had been passed upon him commuted to transportation, but so great ha 1 been his crimes, that he was deemed un- deserving of any lenity. He was executed at York on the 5th of April, 1739, with one John Stead, who had been also condemned for horse- stealing. He behaved with great self- possession, bowing to the spectators, and did not appear to be in the least dismayed. After conversing with the hangman for a few moments, he threw himself off the ladder and expired, after much struggling. His body was burried in St. George's church- yard, and the same day was taken up by some of his friends, but the mob got it back again, and buried it in the same grave, having first filled the coffin with slack- lime. Such was the end of the notorious Dick Turpin. The age marked on his coffin is 28; but it is said that he con- fessed to the executioner that he was thirty- three years of age. INOHNDITY OP SMUGGLERS.— A device was planned by a Jew, nicknamed Buffy, who was, and possibly is still, a very active agent in illicit transactions. Some hundreds of tubs were prepared at Boulogne, their shape and colour being altered and disguised by a coating of Paris plaster, studded here and there with gravel, shells, or seaweed, so that they resembled lumps of chalk, such as are found under cliff's upon the coast of Kent. A cargo of spirits, in tubs of this description, was carried across to Dover during the night, and dropped upon the sands above low- water mark, so as to be dry when the tide receded. The boat then put off to sea and disappeared : and soon after daybreak one of the smugglers, attired in a carter's ga- berdine, with a long whip upon his shoulder, drove care- lessly past the blockade sentinel, proceeded downwards across the sands, and leisurely loaded his cart with what seemed lumps of chalk, intended for burning into lime; he then laid a few pieces of real chalk over the top, drove again past the sentinel into the fields, where the cart was unloaded in a twinkling, and the operation repeated, till every cask had been conveyed to a proper place of safety. As no boat appeared in the affair, and but one person attended the cart, there was nothing in the least likely to excite the suspicion of the sentinel. The scheme accord- ingly succeeded so well, that it might have escaped detec- tion altogether had not the secret been entrusted to a woman. One of the Dover smugglers, in the exultation of success, confided their stratagem to a sweetheart, and the damsel in turn betrayed it to a more favoured lover, who happened to be an officer in the coast blockade ser- vice. This, of course, led to a discovery and seizure of the next cargo, and two of the plastered tubs were imme- diately sent along the whole line of blockade, to put the officers and sentinels upon their guard against any repe- tition of the stratagem. BALLAST.— A sea captain having told his friend that his ship was going to Baltimore light, and that he would take anything free of charge which would answer for ballast, the former, who was a man- milliner, sent to the ship about 500 large band- boxes! An actual fact within our knowledge. THE following shows, in a very strong light, the spirit of ferocious daring which so strongly marks the difference between the Afghans and their indolent neighbours, tho Persians. It is from the pen of Colonel Conolly. " We set out about sun- rise ; a dozen of us on horse- back, as many more men on foot, and all the lads of the khail, with some fifteen greyhounds and sheep- dogs. Syud Daoud took up fresh foot- marks of the hyena near the carcass of the donkey, and, with the assistance of two orthree other experienced men, tracked the animal a dis- tance of four miles, to some large ravines. Here they lost the footmarks, the track being crossed by several others, and the ground being too hard to receive more than a faint impression; but, after much searching, what with his clear sight, and his knowledge of the different dens in the ravines, Syud Daoud followed a track to a hole in the side of a bank, into which he decided that the animal, being gorged, had betaken itself to rest. A semicircle was ac- cordingly formed before the hole, two or three who had swords, unsheathing them, and the boys standing fearlessly by them with stones and sticks, or holding back the yelling dogs. Syud Daoud ordered us to bo as quiet as possible, in order that he might go into the den and tie the beast; but the hyena, alarmed at the barking of the dogs, came out upon us unexpectedly, throwing over a man who stood guard at the entrance with his sword. The boys, without the least appearance of fear, shouted and screamed, while they rained blows upon the brute's back with sticks and stones, the swordsmen every now and then making a cut at his hide; and they altogether so worried and con- founded the animal, that, after running up and down the rank without attempting to attack any body, he turned short and scrambled up the bank, rolled himself down on the other side, and set off at a long canter across a plain It was sometime before wo could get our horses round, so that the hyena got a good start: he gave us a gallop of three miles, the greyhounds running alongside of the beast without being able to hold him, and he occasionally sidel- ing his unwieldy body to the right or left to snap at them. At last the beast got into raviny ground, and we lost him. Syud Daoud said, that he would not now stop till he reached a place some miles distant, and that we should not get him that day, and as his word was law on such matters, we returned home. I mentioned that it was at first proposed to tie the hyena in his den. It appears a dangerous proceeding, but, according to the accounts of these people, it is not so for a man who has strength and coolness; for the hyena, though a savage beast, is easily frightened; and Syud Daoud was said to have tied threo in the course of a day. However, it is of course a very dangerous undertaking for one who cannot sustain great presence of mind, as they testified by mentioning the case of a man who a year or two before had died of a bite that he got in a clumsy attempt. Syud Daoud himself described to no the mode of tying a hyena in his lair, as follows:—' When,' said he, ' you have tracked the Least to his den, you take a rope with two slip- knots upon it in your right hand, and, with your left holding a felt cloak before you, you go boldly but quietly in. The animal does not know what is the nature of the danger, and, therefore, retires to the back of his den ; but you may also tell where his head is by the glaro of his eyes. You keep moving on gradually towards him on yonr knees, and when you are within distance, throw the cloak over his head, close with him, and take care that he does not free himself; the beast is so frightened that he cowers back, and though he may bite the felt, ha cannot turn his neck round to hurt you; so quietly feel for his two fore- legs, slip the knots over them, and then with one strong pull, draw them tight up to the back of his neck, and tie them theiti. The beast is now your own, and you may do what you like with him. We generally take those which we catch home to the khail, and hunt them with bridles in their mouths, that our dogs may be taught not to fear the brutes when they meet them wild.'" The Sporting Duke and the Curate. • MANY years since, when the accomplished Duke of Nivernois was ambassador to England, he was going to Lord Townsend's seat, at Rainham. in Norfolk, on'a private visit, en disabille, and with enly one servant, when he was obliged by a very heavy shower to stop at a farm house in the way. The master of the house was a clergyman, who, to a poor curacy, added tho care of a few scholars in the neighbourhood, which, in all, might make his living about eighty pounds a year : this was all he had to maintain a wife and six children. When the Duke alighted, the clergyman not knowing his rank, begged him to come in and dry himself, which the other accepted by borrowing a pair of old worsted stockings and slippers, and warming himself by a good fire. After some conver- sation the duke observed an old chess- board hanging up, and as he was passionately fond of that game, he asked the clergyman whether he could play. The latter told him that he could play pretty tolerably, but found it diffi cult in that part of the country to get an antagonist. " I am your man," says the duke. " With all my heart," a nswers the clergyman; " and if you will stay and taka pot- luck, I will see if I cannot beat you." Tho day con- tinuing rainy, the duke accep'ed his offer, when his an- tagonist played so much better that he won every game. This was so far from fretting the duke, that he was pleased to meet a man who could give him so much enter- tainment at his favorite game. He accordingly enquired into the state of his family affairs, and, making a memo- randum of his address, without discovering his title, thanked him and departed. Some months elapsed, and the clergyman never thought of the matter, when, one evening a footman rode up to the door, and presented him with a note—" The Duke de Nivernois' compliments wait on the Rev. Mr. , and, as a remembrance for the good drubbing he gave him at chess, begs that he will accept the living of . worth 400i. per annum ; and that he will wait upon his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, on Friday next, to thank him for the same." The good clergyman was some time before he could imagine it to be any more than a jest, and hesitated to obey the mandate: but, as his wife insisted on his making a trial, he went up to town, and, to his unspeakable satis- faction, found the contents of the note literally true. A CURE FOR A WOODEN LEG.—- The Musical Journal gave a cure for a sore throat, under which a prima donna once suffered, by the manager hinting to her that another singer would become her locum tenens. Something of the kind occurred a few years ago, when a performance took place at Covent garden theatre, for a charitable institu- tion. One of the pieces to be played was Dibdin's Pad. lock, in which a favourite female vocalist undertook the part of Leander, who, in one scene, appears disguised and limping upon a wooden leg. The lady made a thousand objections to the wooden leg, and went so far as to say, at the last rehearsal, that she would not perform if she should be obliged to use it; on which Fawcett called out on the top of his non- musical voice, and in the hearing of the lady, " Send immediately for Miss to come and rehearse the part of Leander."—'• No, no, no," exclaimed the vocalist, " I think I can manage the wooden leg very well." The cure was instantaneously performed, for Miss was a powerful rival of the fastidious actress. Highwayman; 2 TOM SPRING'S LIFE IIV liOtfBHW. August SO. Herculean Match performed by Mr. Osbaldes- ton, at Newmarket. HAVING had several inquiries from correspondents re- specting the above celebrated match, wetiave been in- duced to submit the full particulars of it, believing that it cannot but prove interesting to most of our readers. The above extraordinary match, to ride two hundred miles in ten successive hours, for 1,000 sovereigns, made between Colonel Charitte and Mr. OsbaldeSton, wfe de- cided on Saturday, Nov. 5, 1831. Previous to the event coming otf, as it is termed, this match excited an unusual degree of interest throughout the sporting circles in alj parts of the kingdom; but among the betting men if afforded " numerous events" to lay out th| ir mbnieyf bjSton, according to the best calculations thfyliffola make on The subject. A few of the immediate friends of Mr. Osbaldes- ton, who were perfectly aware of his " neck or nothing qualities"— Of Sportsmen brave, who hunted then, The leader bold was he, And ftali' iii. the teeth of the dread north wind He led that company. Now through the flashing Stream he darte, The wave aside he flings— Now o'er the cataract's bright arch, With fearless leap he springs. And maiiy a chasijn yawrifag wide, With a desperate bound he clears; Anon, like a shadow he glance'S by The rock of S'LX thousand ^ BaW. We repeat, Mr. Osbaldeston's neck or nothing qualities operated so strongly on the feelings of his friends, that they felt satisfied within themselves he could " win, and nothing else," if there was a possibility about the circum- stance ; added to which, if good training, judgment, and pluck that would not bo denied, could. bring him through the piece, Mr. Osbaldestou must win, barring an accident — although at the same time they were ready to admit that such an attempt was enough to try the constitution and strength of a giant, and would prove a teazer, or try- ing sort of match, even to the out- and- out Mr. 0. But it was well known that he had " screwed his courage up to the sticking- place," and exclaimed in the wb'rds of ichard— I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die! But the leary sort of folks— the cautious sort of botting men- rthe doubtful cove— and the " field" sort of charac- ter, who prefers generally a variety of chances for his book, stuck to the Old Chap who never veers to the right nor to the left, but with an unerring and steady pace ob- serves the greatest regularity in all his movements, de nominated Time— an undoubted safe one, in a variety of instances, took the latter as the best sort of chance to- ards winning.* Because the weather might prove stormy, and the rider and his horses become deluged with rain! Also, General Frost might appear on the course, powerfully assisted by some of his staff, Messrs. Snow and Sleet, calculated to damp the ardour of the horo of fhe tale, if not rather to annoy and depress his feelings! He might be out of condition altogether! The tooth- ache might suddenly attack him on starting ! A violent pain in tho stomach might occur during the match! His bowels become out of sorts! His head, the great pendu- lum of the whole, towards winning the match, might be out of order; and a variety of other little complaints that " the flesh is heir to!" To which might be added, his high- bred cattle, on which he placed so much reliance, might not exactly be " all right!" Likewise the chance that Mr. Osbaldeston might undergo a temporary sort of blindness during the race; not an uncommon circum- stance where so much exertion is requisite.-^ The above complaints were all within the reach of probability; aud one, of them might have occurred to have increased the " Chapter of Accidents!" Therefore time ought always to be backed as a winner by those persons who entertain a doubtful opinion that tho event cannot be accom- plished! The day at length arrived for the match to take place, and at the time appointed, seven o'clock in the mprn. ng, Mr. Osbafdeston, bang op to the mark in spirits,, and " fresh as a four- year- old," towards winning, « eoippanie, d by his umpire, Mr. T. Thelluson ; and Col. Charitte with Mr. Bowater, on behalf of the Colonel, appeared at the Dutch S^ and. The company was not so numerous as might have been expected upon such an extraordinary occasion; but when it is considered that the inhabitant^ of New- market have so much racing continually betore tbeir eyes, the novelty ceasesj, and accounts for the snyness of spectators at the above eiirly period of the morning. However, the preliminaries for starting were soon settled between the parties appointed to watch the proceeding, ot the match— the watches of the umpires being set ana locked up, Mr. Osbaldeston prepared to mount; he was dressed in a purple silk jacket,< loe- skins, and ablaek velvet cap; but some little surprise was expressed that ne aia not wear any flannel; but Mr. Osbaldeston was so warm within with the certainty of winning, and " eager tor ttie fray," that he stood in no need of auxiliaries to give mm courage, or to raise adonbtinhis mind on the subject. - It is true that he wore a broad riding belt with whaleDone ] round his waist, which proved of essential service to lur.. O., more especially as he advanced towards the conclusion of his unrivalled performance. He started upon Emma, who went the first round of four miles in nine minutes. Paradox, his second horse, bad likely to have p » « ved unfortunate to him. Paradox, like his name, was not ex- actly to be made out; he proved rather stubborn at start, ing, and very nearly rubbed his leg against the wall of tne stand. But Mr. Osbaldeston soon persuaded Paradox to alter his conduct, and the prad took the hint, and finished he four miles in good style. Liberty, a cheeiful sound to every persrin, went over the ground steadily; and Coroner was equally on tlie alert towards doing his duty. Oberon, a little, but capital horse, seemed almost to enter with the spirit of victory, like his rider, and got over his ground in first- rate style. Tweiity- five miles and a half had been completed in the first hour. Don Juan, although not a great Don in this match, nevertheless did his work quicker than some of the horSes • which appear on the list. Morgan Rattler, whose steps should be lively at all times, if he had any music attached to bis character, rendered assistance to his rider; Paradox improved in the eyes of the spectators by a more intimate acquaintance; and Cannon Ball, although not so swift as a shot, and also long enough on the list, as to time, in performing the round— yet the aim was completely answered. , , Clasher, in the tenth round, broke down ashort distance from home, and trotted to the finish of his journey in a bad state; but Mr. Osbaldeston did not heed the above circumstance a jot, as he was perfectly aware that acci- dents cannot be avoided ; yet nothing was the matter as to alter his opinion of winning the bet. AltHongh Coroner proved himself rather an obstinate beast ifat his second round, nevertheless; lie was managed with considerable tact by his able and unjaiinted rider, and completed his ride in 8 minutes and 40 sefc. On the conclusion of the fourteenth roUna, after Liberty* had dohe her work for the second timfe, Mr. O^ baldeston took & toothful " 8f brandy and \ vate/; indeed; it ' fcould scarcely be denominated— refreshment. Emma ran on the wrong side of the postin the fifteenth round ; but. the Squire soon made it all right: Don Juan follp& ectJh stressful style; and little Oberon delighted th£- s] jietfcfers: l> y dDiiif! her journey in 8 minutes and thirty Seconds. Cafthoh bill kept up a sure pace ; and Ultima was nothing wanting. Tranby, like his master, nothing else but a good one, and game to the back bone, proved the best horse rode by Mr. Osbaldeston during the day. Tranby performed four rounds, and ail of them wero done considerably under nine minutes. Sixteen miles done in thirty- three minuUi fifteen seconds, is quite character enough for any horse, without another word. But Mr. Gully has always been distinguished for the possession of good horses. We most certainly did not hear Mr. Osbaldeston, but we were told that he was so pleased with the movements of Tranby, a gentleman caught the sound as Mr. O. was riding by him, humming the well- known sporting song— I ride as good a trotting horse as any man in Town, He'll trot you— Fairy, aye, indeed, she tripped it along as light as any fairy,— and got over the course in the short space of 8 minutes and 8 seconds; and her second attempt. Morgan Rattler was quite at home a second time, when tried ; and Lord Lowther's colt, by Acorn, not only a * When Jack Carter fought with Robinson, the black, at Moulsey Hurst, April 24, 1810, for a purse of 75 guineas, he polished off the man of colour in the short space of seventeen minutes, and who had not half a chance; but in a time fight, at Combe Warren, on June 26, 1816, for 20 guineas a- side, D. Carter did not con- quer Robinson in thirty minutes. The black fought very shy, and Carter was very near losing the match— in fact, after all, there was a demur about it— twenty- eight minutes and a half had expired, and the fight not half taken out of Robinson— hut it was alleged against him that he went down without a blow, and the umpires de- cided in favour of Carter. | When Mr. Mytton, also of ' neck or nothing quality, rodo from London to Stamford in less than five hpyrs, a distance of ninety- five miles, he was nearly stone- blind on his entering the town. Therefore the chance was much greater against Mr. Osbaldeston, who had to ride twice as far as Mr. Mytton. J Mr. Rogers, the respectable and intelligent bookseller at Newmarket, observed, in a conversation respecting the taste or character of the inhabitants, that priuts of race- horses were not at all saleable articles at Newmarket; but that he had sold a great many volumes of Boxi^ na ; some- thing after the manner, if the comparison will be allowed, " that a Prophet is never believed in his own country !" And, vice versa, at Bristol, the hot- bed once for pugilists, and also the native place of Jem and Tom Belcher. Har- mer, & c., so renowned in the history pf boxing, that, at tho fair held in St. James's Church- yard, when milling was in its zenith, Mr. Smefiton, who had a stall there covered with books on boxing, were totally unheeded by aasaioJ people. rum ' un to look at," but a " good ' an to go," was much admired as to condition. Mr. Osbaldeston now took a " tiny bit" of refreshment, aud a drop of brandy and water, and now appeared confident to the echo. But he determined to lose no time, and'anxious to finish his work in the quickest time possible, he was mounted again on Tranby; and, as if he had gained new spirit b^ the trifling relaxation, he got over the ground in the short space of eight minutes. Skirmisher, by Smolensko ; Guilford, knd Dolly, ware all good ones, and satisfied their gallant rider that he was " getting on well!" Considering himself fafe, Mr. Osbal- deston now partook of a lunch in the stand ; and although wet through, he would not change his clpttica. His at- tendant, or niirse, if we may be allbwed the expression, Harry England,— a downy one, wide awake, and who can see his way as far as most people in this bustling world, and who also will never give any thing like a chanceaway if he knows it,— idhered to the good old maxim in this instance, to " push along, keep moving," in order to win a race ; he got Mr. Osbaldestdn again to his task, before his limbs felt stiff, or any thing like chilliness Should come over his frame. Few men in the sporting world, that we have Met with in our travels, can be " trusted alone!" better than the gay, rfieiry, late landlord of the Green Man! Ikey Solomons had nearly proved a very disastrous horse. to Mr. Osbaldeston; and might havf loit him the match. Ikey was going a slashing pace when he made a flounder, and Mr. O., standing in his stirrups, shot over his head. This, at all events, was going farther than he intended; and Ikey Solomons bolted for a hundred yards before he was again grabbed. To say that the above " un- toward circumstance" did not alter the complexion of things for a short period would be wrong; or that Mr. Osbaldeston was not put out of his way by it for a few minutes, would be equally untrue; But look to the re- sult,— like a game cock of the highest breed, he was at the scratch in a twinkling; off like a shot, and finished' the round well, though not so quickly as heretofore. It is true, Mr. Osbaldeston came in a little distressed, and his opponents were raised in hope a " tiny bit;" but the game of Mr. O. is so good at all times, that his motto ap- pears to be " Death or Victory." On Tam O'Shanter he became all right; and Tkcy Solo- mons and the fall were completely obliterated from the tablet of his riiemory. El Dorado came in very lame; but nevertheless* the rofind was clone in 9 minutes and 20 seconds. Keeping up the " look of winning^" and nothing el^ e! Coventry and Ringleader, kept the " game alive;" and Tranby, for the third time, was swift indeed. One hun- dred and forty- four miles were completed in six hours and seventeen minutes. Ipsala, Skirmisher, Guilford, Streamlet, Donegani, Has- ean, Filly, Ringleader, Tranhy, and Coventry, all did their rounds in the most satisfactory manner to the backers of Mr. Osbaldeston. Coventry and Ipsala repeated their rounds so as to put the thing beyond all doubt— and success was completely within the reach of Mr. Osbaldeston— a sovereign to ninepence. Streamlet had to encounter a violent squall of rain and wind ; and-, to prove the out- and out game of Mr. Osbal- deston, he stood it like bricks and mortar, unrtioved by the rude and overwhelming elements ; but not so Stream- let, the animal turned round from its violence near the fir trees, and in all probability would not have faced it again for some time, hut, his master, like " the pilot that weathered the storm," steered Streamlet through the round in nine minutes. Donegani, although the longest except Ikey Solomons, performed his, round quite time enough, to the satisfac- tion of the visitors. Skirmisher, the last horse required to give eclat to this wonderful match, finished the business at nine minutes before four o'clock— or, in other words, this im- mense undertaking was completed in eight hours and thirty- nine minutes, having one hour and twenty- one minutes to the good ! His reception by the public! on winning the match, was of the most enthusiastic description; and numbers of sporting gentlemen were at a loss to show him the extent of their approbation. Some seized hold of his hands; others patted him on the back, and others shouted out, " Osbaldesto'n for Cver! Osbaldeston against any man in the world! He wins five points out of six, and let any person make the match," & c. & c. Mr- Gully, Harry England, and Tom Oliver, three of the right sort of persons at such a time, rendered him some little assistance to dismount at. the Stand; on ascending which he was honoured by the congratulations of Lady Chesterfield and her sister, Mrs. G. Anson, who had driven from the race- course to bo in at the " winning" of this extraordinary match something after the manner, we suppose, " That nbne but the brave deserve tho fair!" There was no nonsense— no affectation— about Mr. Osbaldeston, no Benjamin Bolus required to take him in tow, and prescribe for him with a face as long as my arm, under yio impressiye idea— to take great care of himself! Mr. Osbaldeston ishis own physioiah— an excellent trainer — a soul above buttons— and a man who does not meet di fficulties half- way. Harry England prescribed physic to Mr. 0- as a cooler— a— Throw the physic to the dogs; I'll have none of it, said Mr. Osbaldeston, with a smile upon hi? countenance, and; without further ceremonyi he mounted Cannon Ball. He started at a tidy pane; followed by all the horsemen, to his lodgings, at Perrin's, in Newmarket, where he made his bow to those gentlemen who had done him tjie honour to attond him to the hotel. A warm bath removed, or rather prevented anything like stiffness about his limbs, and a comfortable nap in Bed- fordshiro not only composed his feelings, but, in the course of two hours, enabled him to meet his friends to partake of a good dinner and the pleasures of the festive board. Such was the climax to this unparalleled match in the sporting world. Mr. Osbaldeston did not ride the exact round course, which is some furlongs under four miles; but by going outside of it, getting into the Beacon, about Choke Jad^, touching on the Bunbury Mile, and coming home close to the ditch, he made it a four- mile course,; and, at, the end of each round he changed bis horse. Mr. O. had a leg given him up each mount, in consequence of the impossi- bility pf making the horses approach a wooden horse- block, turfed over, and erected in front of the Stand " Previous to the above match, Mr. Obaldeston had been in close training for a week, riding^ most of his honei; his constant exercise was of the severest description.-. He tfnfited his. - hounds in Northamptonshire, and aftejjyards. with two hacks he rode sixty- one miles to dine at New- market. During the match, as might be expected, a variety of opinions were expressed upon the subject— some thought Mr. Osbaldeston, after he had done upwards of 100 miles, appeared rather weak; and that one of the horses was rather troublesome to him. Sach might have been the case; but, upon the whole, his cool, g\ rt\ e, high- spirited conduct was the theme of all the spectators, and the ma- jority of • persons present entertained ( he opinion, from the first moment of his starting, to the completion of the match, that he always leoked like winning— his counte- nance was a complete finger- post to his mind. Mr. John Gully, not only anxious to assist his friend, but likewise interested in the success of the match, generously met him at coining in towards the conclusion of it, ahd laid hfcld of his horse. It has been said, but. we do not vouch for the truth of the assertion, that with all the horses possessed bv the parties connected with the abo^ e great undertaking, that the gtaSle was tiot sft wsU'coiid& cted as itmjgbtflaie been, where so much depended upon time— a few seconds a loss, but a minute or two positively dangerous; and at ono. perjpd of . the match there was something like ulicer- tamty as to tlie arrivkl of the horses arid also thkt some rounds had been accomplished by Mr. Osbaldeston before the " lookers out" for spare horses had made it all right. Be that as it may, one thing is decidedly clear, connected with this match, that Mr. Osbaldeston had perfectly satis- fied himself ( barring accidents) he could win it in ten hours to the greatest certainty; that he could also win in nine by taking 1000 sovereigns to 100. It was the opinion of the best informed upon the sub- ject, that had the day proved fine, the ground in a better state, and Mr. Osbaldeston had not been thrown off Ikey Solomons, he would have accomplished hfs great task ih les's time— say, from 12 to lS minutes sooner than is recorded. A List of the Horses, their names, aiid the time in which each'performed the round of Four Miles. m. sec. ... 9 0 ... 9 20 The largest Fenny Paper EVER PUBLISHED! ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 5PL& AO, wuib\ Publisieil No. I, of ttie wbhrly 9 25 9 15 . 9 , 9 . 9 . 9 . - 9 Ahorse by Smdlensko Tranby, 2nd time . Skirmisher . . Guilford .... Doily, 2nd time . . Ikey Solomons . . Tam O'Shanter . . El Dorado . . . ) Coventry .... 9 $ 5 ; Ringleader . . 3 10 Tranhy, 3rd time . 9. 5 ' Ipsala 8 40 Skirmisher, 2nd time 9 0 : Guilford, 2nd time . 9 21 ; Streamlet . . . 9 8 ; Donegani .... 8 20; Hassan . . . . 9 45 : Surprise ( Filly) . . Ringleader, 2nd time Trarifiy, 4th time Coventry, 2 nd time Ipsala, 2nd time , m. sec. - 8 52 8 0 9 25 8 26 8 45 ia 0 9 40 9 20 9 0 8 42 8 15 8 20 8 15 9 10 8 50 9 12 9 0 9 10 9 30 8 50 9 30 9 0 TIMES PEOPLE'S POLICE CONTAINING Police Reportsj^ Oin^ i ^ . ders, Shipwrecks, Fires, Lives of Highwaymen, Robbers, Pirates, Housebreakers, & c. & c. . t Published by W. M. CLARK, Wholesale Dealer in Newspapers and Periodical Publications, 17, War- wick- lane, Paternoster- row ; and Sold by Every Bookseller in the World. lies, Mur- Handsome Present. ON THE 1 st OF SEPTEMBER NEXT WILL BE PUBLISHED, TOM SPRING'S SPORTING ALMANACK, For 1841. Our. regular Subscribers may receive the above Splendid Almanack as a Supplement, price One Penny, by giving their orders previous to the 1st of September, to the Agents and persons who supply this Paper. LONDON: Published by W. M. CLARK, 17, War- wick- lane, Paternoster- row ; Sold by W. MARSHALL, 30, Barbican ; and all Booksellers and Dealers. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Emma .... Paradox . . . Liberty . . . CdWner . . . Oberon . . . Don Juan . . . Miirgan ilattler . Paradox, 2nd time Cannon Ball . . Clasher . ... Ultima .... Fairy .... . Coroner,, 2nd tinio . Liberty, 2iv' time . J5mimi. 2a, l time . . Don JUJH, 2nd time Oberon, 2nd time . Cannon Ball, 2nd tibae Ultima, 2nd time . 9 0 Tranbj' . . . . 8 10 Fairy, 2nd time .. 88 Morg. Rattler2nd time 9 2S Colt, by Tramp . . 8 58 Donegani, 2nd time 10 15 Dolly 8 58 ; Streamlet, 2nd time 9 0 Acdrn 9 2 i Skirmisher; jrd time 9 40 Mr. Osbaldestoo, at the close of the match, said he wobld feiv. e a plate of SOI. to be run for by the above horses. The above plate was won by Lord Lowther's Smolensko Colt, three years old, 7st. 101b. ( Chappie), and Djnegani second { Gonolly). IftiCbnseqfienoe of considerable chaffing ( as is termed in the slang of the day) having taken place respecting the match—" that any cripple, & e., could have done it with the siime horses," Mr. Osbaldeston, to put a stopper on the matter, addressed the following letter to the Editor of Bell's Life, on the subject: the following is an extract :— " Sir, there are men, I have no doubt," observes Mr. Osbaldeston," can do the matbh in the time I did, and in much less, who only ride seven stone, if they are to be called men. Many fox- hunters* and even jockeys, before the performance, thought it impossible to do it in nine hours; but now, the very same men say any fool can do it! If they are correct, pray what can a wise man do? Double, at least; but, perhaps, no wise man will be fool enough to try!— 400 miles in seventeen. successive hours and twelve minutes will puzzle all the wise men of the East! It is the pace which a man is obliged to maintain, with such short intervals between every four miles that distresses him, from which . the muscles have not time to recover. Two hundred miles in ten hours would be no performance to talk of— putting on the extra steam of six miles an hour tries the wind and strength. A man riding 14st. could do it in ten hours, if a good horseman, sound wind and limb, and with good pluck. Whoever accom- plishes it in eight hours and fifty- two minutes, riding list. 3lbs., will find his ' stockings tied up tighter than he ever had them tied up before,' to make use of a waterman's phrase! Various rumours have gone abroad as to the sum I won, and great exaggeration exists; some say 10.000L; some 20,000i.; and some even 36,000J. After deducting all expenses, I shall not net more than 1800i., owing to the supineness and bad advice of my friends. They would not exert themselves for me, nor would they allow me to back myself ' in the Ring;' because, they said, I should spoil the betting : and if I would only be quiet they would get plenty on for me. I followed their advice; but they never bet a shilling for me, but kept humbugging me to the last. " ' It was all right!' They knew I would have betted 3, 4, and even 5 to 1 on the match, two nights before, and kept me quiet to fill their owu pockets at 6 to 4, which they did pretty handsomely at my expense. I never was afraid of anything but sudden indisposition, and at no one period Of the match would I have taken Ten to One about the nine hours; I had time enough to dine with tjje Lord Mayor of London, and do in it ten, My friends' advice to keep quiet was something like advice given to Dawson, who was executed for poisoning the horses at Newmarket. They persuaded him a pardon was close at hand, even up to ( he moment of his execution, merely to keep his mouth shut, as ' dead men tell no tales,' as they say. " Havihg been pestered to death by so many inquiries about the match, and having been chaffed so much about the match, and a jockey doing it in eight hours, I thought it best to put a complete statement in the paper, and also to add the following challenges to the whole world, but pf which one, at least, I should imagine, may be selected for their adoption. I have named large sums, because, in my attempting or accomplishing any of them, I should incur a great expense, and risk my health and stamina, and it is not worth my notice for less. I address myself to all the sporting men in England, and, surely, as a body, they can stump the ready agains me alone, if they think it a ' gopd catch.' Should no matn, or body of men, come forward to take up any one of my offers, I trust I shall not be bo- thered with—' It's nothing to do— aud any old woman can do it— and. a jockey can do it in eight hours,' and so on. I merely back myself on my own stamina aud determination ; and a man of my age challenging all the world to back a man of any age against me, is unparalleled in the history of any sporting, and hardly to be believed. I will, how- ever, appear at tho scratch whenever called upon, both with the needful, and my own carcase ready for the fray. The following are my offers:— A WELL- WISHER will perceive that we have resumed our Sketches of eminent Modern Bruisers. We shall, in an early number, give a Memoir of Bendigo. A CONSTANT READER is answered above. S. H.— No such thing. S.— We will give the particulars of the matter in an early number. CONSTANT READER.— Mr. Osbcildeston never rode such a match . ever, to his doing so, he turned to his Royal Consort, and asked her if he might indulge in the luxury of a cigar. She replied ia the negative, kindly taking the troubleto explain to him that, if he did so, the smoke Voufd t^ ke the curls but of ' the Lord Gha TOM SPRING'S LIFE IN LONDON. SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 1840. — LIFE IN PARLIAMENT. THE CHALLENGE. " I challenge any man in the world, of any age, weigh- ing or carrying my weight, to ride any distartce he prefers, from two hundred to five hundred miles, for Twenty Thousand Pounds ! But if he will only ride 200 or 250 miles, I will ride for Ten Thousand Pounds. Or, I will ride against th « Jockey of seven stone, whom they talk of hacking to ride 200 miles in eight hours, receiving 30 minutes for the difference between seven stone ahd eleven stone; or. 1 will take iO, QOOi. to 3,' 00( A., or 20', 000J. to 6,000. that I ride Two Hundred Miles in Eight Hours, which, it must he allowed, would be a wonderful perform- ance for eleven stone odj ; and, I think,' almost impossible — at least, a single accident would lose the match ; and I should have scarcely time to mount and dismount. Iam always to be heard of at Pitsford, near Northampton. " GEORGE OSBALDBSTON. n "| Pita[ ord, Wednesday, Nov. 16." THE PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT AND THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. THE Court newsman having satisfied public curi- osity, by relating with great minuteness all the com- mon- place occurrences inseparable fromthis interesting affair, it becomes our most gratifying task to detail a variety of events of remarkable importance, which actually took place, and which have been furnished to us by our own reporter, whom we retain for such special purposes. The Royal and august Consort, Prince Albert, having some time since expressed a wish to be present on this momentous occasion, great care was taken to provide his Highness with a very comfortable cabriole chair and a soft cushion ; it was also well padded about the back, in case the Prince found the affair stupid, and wished to take a dose. It was moreover ornamented all over with a horse's foot and a fiddle, intended to be emblematical of Prince Albert's pre- eminent skill in the elegant sciences of music and horsemanship— he knowing as much of the former as a chorus- singer at the Eagle Tavern, and having dis- played his thorough acquaintanceship with the latter by being more than once pitched off, neck and crop, in the presence of her Majesty, who on one occasion was seriously alarmed at perceiving his nose come in contact with a mischievous pebble, which not only scratched it, but made it bleed in spite of vinegar and brown paper. After all the nobs had assembled, and about half a dozen peeresses had nearly poked out their neigh- bours' visual organs with their feathers, arid Mrs. Caroline Norton had, with that unrivalled delicacy of feeling which so peculiarly distinguishes her, pushed her way up to the Treasury Benches, so as to be in her favourite place— as close to Lord Melbourne as possible— a gentle clamour of female voices was heard without, which on inquiry was found to proceed from another lady of well- regulated habits, the Duchess of Inverness, who in a good high key, and a shrill and remarkably shrewish tone of voice, was expressing both her amazement and indignation that she was not welcomed with the National Anthem, as she was at the last Caledonian ball. This lively and well- timed discord was agreeably diversified and increased by the tumbling down of a bench which had been placed on the mantle- piece over the fire- place, and Lord Duncaunon, whose busi- ness it was, as " First Commissioner qf the Public Works," to see that " all was right," was immedi- ately sent for. His lordship soon made his appear- ance, habited in a paper cap, a flannel jacket, and a white aproh ; and being provided with a hammer and a bag of nails, he soon did the job of fastening up strong in a masterly manner. He then made a re- spectful bow to the company, and having looked at the Lord Chancellor very knowingly, he asked that distinguished personage if he was now ready to re- ceive the company ; being answered iqthe affirmative, he withdrew rapidly, saying as he went out, " Very well, then, I'll tell the trumpeters to blow away like blazes." He had scarcely disappeared when the trumpets were heard, and the whole of the Royal set- out made their august appearance, a mob of Maids of Honour and Ladies of the Bedchamber bringing up the real-, all neatly habited iri new printed gowns ( warranted fast colours), white cotton stockings, and sticking- plaister shoes, with rosettes of black ferret. Prince Albert handed the Queen to the " Throne, as gracefully as any young German gentleman could be expected to do who had left his academy before iis dancing lessons began ; and then being informed that he might sit down himself, he prepared to occupy the chair which had been placed for him, first of all taking out his handkerchief and dusting it all over— it having been previously hinted to hiiii that he mlist on all State occasions keep himself as clean as he possibly could, washing being rather an expensive commodity in this foggy country. The Prince was now about to seat himself in right earnest— a movement which appeared to excite the most intense interest in all around. Previously, how- i t- - r- — f - T-- — laiwwlor's r when the Priiice, with the utmost affability, withdrew his request^ not only sitting himself down, but crossing his legs without a mbment's hesitation. The. Commons nqw were summoned to the bar, and the'Queen having relWslied herself with a cup of curds and whey made on purpose for her in the newly erected nursery of Lady Cowper, she informed the liord ChanceUprf tjpt Vhe was quite ready to spout what; Be hajjt prepared ' Tor her. The old gentleman ' wM.) orse'- 1>< lV Jpir the" pulled out a small wooden, hammer, with which heknocked " silence" three times, as the chairman is in the habit of doing at a free- and- easy ! he next drew forth a large black leather pocket- book, and handed up the speech to be read by her Majesty; and having told her to mind far words qf four syllables, he whispered in her ear, " Now cit kway." The Queen then rose, and took some time to clear her throatJjandj^ aving; jgplied a white cambric hand- kerchief to her nasal organs, she. read what follows :— THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. " MY Nb'ii's AIJD G'ENTTEMFEII— " It being about the time wheirgrouse shooting begins, arid the country looks fematkably pleasant, the bees and butterflies being all ahrdad, I think it high time that the dull and stupid monotony of PARIIAMENT should be puta. stop to, and that you should all be let Hole like So many schoolboys to enjoy the v'achtion; each, and all of you, therefore, may put on j/ Our hMs and go quietly abcut your business as soon as I have done talking to you. •" First and foreffldk, I beg to acquaint you that I re. ceive both by steatn- boat ahd rdil- road the most comfort- ing assurances of peace from every foreign potentate, from Baffin's Bay to Port Jackson; every one of whom are too poor to go to war; however much delighted they would be with the rational enjoyments of head- breaking and throat- cutting. " Among. the » e Pacific - gentry, I do not, of coutse, in- clude THE CHirtSsS, whom, I regret to say, tny Solomon of a Foreign Secretary, Viscount PALMERSTON, lias hot been able either to gull or mystify; the conseqtlencb of which will be, that bdhea, pekoe, and souchong will not be to be had for love or money, and the ladies of my Court must go back to the good old custom practised in the days of Queen Bess, and instead of shattering the nervous sys- tem to fritters by breakfasting on herbs and hot water, they must fill up the vacuum with rump steaks and pots of ale. " Should, however, our sailors, who are in the habit of demolishing junk, demolish the junks of the Chinese, it is my intention immediately to make a rail. road over the Chinese wall into Persia, where the Emperor shall be compelled to keep Lent and devour hot cross- buns on Good Friday. " I beg to apprise you, MY NOBS AND GENTLEMEN, that I am just now most laudably employed, in conjunction with Austria, Prussia, and Russia, in effecting some most important changes at Constantinople, as we mean to com- pel the GRANB TURK to throw away his turban and wear instead o cocked hat and a drooping feather. His sub- jects, too, we intend to persuade into the propriety of wearing Irish linen shirts, knee- breeches and buckles, and top- boots, while the Turkish aristocracy we mean to con- vince of the necessity of using hair powder and Britannia metal spoons, and appearing at evening parties in velvet waistcoats and black satin stocks. " Regarding the NIGGERS in Jamaica and other West Indian Islands, I beg to congratulate you on the twenty millions voted for their freedom having produced the most salutdry effects, every Nigger now being so completely turned into a gentleman, that DAN O'CONNELL informs me that it is absolutely necessary immediately to estab- lish ' A BENEVOLENT SOCIETY,' to turn the poor Irish into Bl'abk men, dnd eicport theinin large quantities to take the place of the Triggers. " A drawback will be allowed at the Custom- house on every cargo, the shipping off of which will of coarse prove a great relief to IRELAND— a eoan'- y which you, MY NOBS and GENTLEMEN, and MYSELF, are, as DAN says, ' ever- lastingly bothered about.' " The most important fact that I have to communicate to you concerning Canada is, that as Mr. POCLETT THOM- SON'S style of Government of our North American pro- vinces was distinguished not only by utter incompetence, but disgusted all classes of the contmunity, I have, as a reward for his extraordinary services, called him up into the House of Lords, where he will vote on all questions as the Ministry shall direct him, or a patent heating ap- paratus will be applied to his Seat, by which it will be ren- dered too liol to hold hifii. " I am delighted, MY NOBS and GFETITLEMEN, to find that you have not lost sight of increasing the REVENUES and PATRONAGE of the CHORCH. When we consider the interminable personal labour of the archbishops and bishops, the wretchedness and misery depicted in their appearance and exhibited in their mode of life, together with the truly contemptible pittance allotted to each annually, it is impossible that any being can be so hard- hearted as not to approve of the very meritorious way in which Parliament has come forward to succour this suffering and ill- used class of the community. " GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS— " It may be satisfactory to state to you, that I consider — as far as the shilling and sixpenny settlements you have done yourselves the honour of making upon my German hubby, Prince ALBERT— that you have done what MEL- BOURNE gives me to understand may b6 called ' the decent thing;' but pray comprehend me clearly— had you been less liberal with THE PEOPLE'S money, I should have turned you out in less than no time, and replaced tho WHIG and [ JADICKL crew by a gang of thorough- going TORIES, whom SIR ROBERT PEEL assures me I should have found more accommodating and less troublesome. " In regard to THE REGENCY, MY NOBS AND GENTLE- MEN, that, I think, has bee'n hianagel in a manner highly agreeahle to all parties. ALBERT will do as he likes on all occasions, and he has strictorder's from me, if he meets with the slightest contradiction in any quarter, to apprise me of it immediately ; and I promise you this, MY NOBS AND GENTLEMEN ( concluded the Queen, clenching her little fist, and raising her uoice}, that if you annoy the dear fellow in any way, as my nautical uncle BILL used to say, ' I'll send you all to leeward like a bag of sand.' " Portrait of Owen Swift, the Wonder. MOCIRE, of Upper St. Martin's- lane, has iust published an excellent full- length attitude portrait of the above celebrated boxer. At the foot of the plate appears a list of his contests, eighteen in number, in only two of which Owen was defeated. Underneath the tablet of battles, the following lines are written:— " When Nature from true British clay Her heroes was transplanting, Shp found, unto her dire dismay, Z. USUS natures wanting. " Selecting from her fertile store A golden piece of earth, She moulded it with special care, And gave a mortal birth. " And to her aid the gods she called ; Right willingly they came, Bestowing their great attributes Upon her child of fame. " Hercules his strength supplied, Arid Vulcan gave his thunder, Minerva lent her bravety— Thus Nature fotmed her Wonder. " Quick Mercury in dudgeon came; When he the boy espied, He cried, ' To one so perfect made Shall fleetness be denied?' " ' Stay,' said great Jove,' we can't withhold So requisite a gift; We coincide with Mercury, So let the boy be Swift.' " The gods to prova their hero still An offspring of their might, Gave him the wiadom— aye, the skill, To turn Noon into night," 1S40. TOM SPRUV^ S LIFF, LONDON. 3 ™ JJJL_ J - -. RECOLLECTIONS OP THE LIFE AND SERVICES OP A BOW- STREET OFFICER. WRITTEN BT TFLMSBLF. " A Bow Street Officer, say ym ?- Yot a ca . hiilear I" ' akc'i Progress. CHAPTER ' A PEW days previous to Hardy Vaux's visit to Mr. Bilger ( which, as I have aWady shown, turned out . sucli an excellent speculation), lie colled at the shop of a pawnbroker, in Bridges- street, Covent Garden, to pawn some watch- seals and other trinkets, stolen from the vari- ous other jewellers whom he had visited. On this occa- sion, the pawnbroker came in person to wait upon him, and having looked over the articles offered as pledges, pulled out one of the sliding shutters over the counter, and then1 begin a conversation with Hardy Vaii'x, in which , he offered at once to purchase any articles lie might wish to raise money upon, and so save the trouble and formality Of making out duplicates. Vattfc replied, thtit he Wis ih the habit himself of dealing in such goods; and. that bjing sometimes short of cash, he was at times obliged to pawn a few, but that he had no objection occasionally to give him, the pawnbroker, the opportunity of becoming a pur- chaser. " Well, now, sir," enquired the latter, " what will you take for these 1" Hardy Vaux named his price, and a sum. was eventually agreed upon, so much larger than what would have been given by any professional re- ceiver, that the bargain was instantly concluded, and the goods were sold instead of pledged. And here X must further state, that on the Monday after the day on which Ilardy Vaux had paid his first visit to Mr. Bilger, he sent his wife to this very pawnbroker's with one of tfye dia- mond rings stolen, from Bilger, to pledge it for five guineas, which she did— both which circumstances I think it right to mention here, because, as will be seen presently, they are connected with tlje ensuing part of this narrative. And now to resume my accohnt of Hardy Vaux's depre- dations upon his new victim. A few. days after his first • visit, he had the injpudence to'present himself again ip Mr. Bilger's shop, Bromley waiting outside to watch, in order that he might hurry home to Mrs. Vaux, and inform her in case his companion should be detained pn suspicion of the first robbery. On addressing Mr, Biiger, Hardy Vaux at once saw, frpm the coltl manner in which the old gentleman and his son received him, that he was suspected, but, nothing daunted by tjiis, he coolly laid his hat uppn the counter, seated himself in a chair, and said he had come to give final directions for making the ring he was in want of— the price would be. no object, but it must be ready speedily, as he was going out of town in a few days. Mr. Bilger promised that it should be ready on the following Saturday evening, and then desired his son to take down Hardy Vaux's instructions, for whiph purpose Mr. Bilger, junior, opened his day- book. Vaux produced the card of draughts that had been made at his former visit, pointed out the particular pattern he had selected, and then went on giving a variety of verbal in- structions, which young Bilger appeared to be taking notes of, concluded with requesting to be favoured with his cus- tomer's name and address, which Mie latter readily gave, supposing himself, for the instant, to be a Mr , of —— street, square. He then desired to be shewn the assortment of ladies watches he had seen before, say- ing that he intended to purchase one when the ring was completed, but Mr. Bilger, senior, after some little stam- mering, declared that they had all been sold— in fact, at that mpment he had npt, he said, a lady's watch in the shop, but he would send some for his selection when the ring was finished. " Very well," replied his visitor, " do so" — and then he rose from his seat, wished the father and son good evening, and departed, the old gentleman bowing him out at the door, with as much respect as if he had no suspicion of his character. But this was not the case, for Bromley saw the old gentleman stand for some time at the door watching after him. Now, a few days after this, happening to call in at the pawnbroker's, the latter asked him if his wife had not very recently pledged a diamond ring there for five gui- neas, and seeing that Hardy Vaux was somewhat startled by the question, declared that he asked merely because a ! ady » of his acquaintance having accidentally seen it, had taken a great fancy to it, and that he should like, if they could agree on the price, to purchase it for her. This was a mere trick of the pawnbroker's to lead Hardy Vaux into an acknowledgment that he had sent the ring to be pledged, but it did not succeed, Vaux declaring that his wife had several rings, and that he was utterly ignorant of her hav- ing pledged such an article. Here their conversation ended, the fact being, however, that enquiries had been made at numerous pawnbrokers' shops, by Messrs. Bilger and Son, as to the rings that had been stolen ( of which, it will be rememhered, this was one), and that when Hardy Vaux called at the pawnbroker's soon afterwards to re- deem this particular one, an attempt was made to keep him waiting while somebody hurried over to Bow- street to get an officer, but the boy behind the counter so com- pletely mismanaged the whole afl'air, that Vaux at once saw the design upon him, and made a precipitate retreat. Finding that the officers wore now everywhere in search of him, for the affair at B. ilgcr's, the son having given them such an accurate description of the person of the thief, that they instantly knew him to be no other than Hardy Vaux,— he now took a lodging in a retired part of Saint George's Fields, not daring to venture out to the theatres, or indeed anywhere else in search of plunder, but contenting himself with living economically upon a few pounds he had by him, and when that was gone, upon the aid he obtained from his old friends the pawnbrokers. One night, however, being anxious to see his confederate, Bromley, he determined to venture out and search for him at some of the houses he was in the habit of frequenting, particularly one in Parker's- lane. There he accordingly • went, disguised as much as possible, and found a great number of dissolute characters of the very lowest class, regaling in the tap- room, but Bromley was not among them. Having taken some refreshmebt at the bar, he was about to quit; the house, when acertain damsel of the pave, who had formerly cohabited with Bromley, tapped Hardy Vaux on the shoulder, and taking him aside, expressed her astonishment at his folly in having ventured to that end of the town, considering the hue and cry that there was after him. She had been, she said, a few days before, to a pawnbroker's shop in Drury- lane, to redeem some pledges, and had there seen a handbill describing Hardy Vaux's person, and offering twenty guineas for his appre- hension and conviction, on account of the diamond ring, & c., stolen from Bilger; upon hearing which, he instantly hurried home, and did not again venture out until com- pelled to do so by actual want of food. It was one Tuesday evening, that for the first time after a lapse of several weeks, he left home to try his for- tune at one of the theatres, but in his way thither he was tempted to enter a shop on Ludgate- hill, where he managed to purloin a quantity of silver fruit- knives, pencil- cases, pocket- books, & c„ amounting in value to a few pounds, when, delighted with his success, he returned home, resolving not to incur any unnecessary risk by a visit to the theatre. His wife was extremely pleased to see him come back safe, and they agreed to take a walk together as far as Blackfriar's- bridge, chiefly for the pur- pose of giving her a little air and exercise, as for a long time she had not ventured to stir out of the house. On arriving at the bridge, Hardy Vaux persuaded her to con- tinue the walk as far, as Fleet: street, vphere, having par- taken of n dram at a liquor- shop, she pressed him tb return home, but he now entreated her to go to Clare- market, as he wished to see one of his old confederates, who had pro- mised either to meet him, Or leave a note for him at a cer- tain public- house in that neighbourhood, relative to a • prize- fight he had promised to attend, at Moulsey Hurst, the day following. Now the liouse in question was a flash- house, which the Bow- street officers were in the habit ofvisitipg at all hours, and several of. them had_ fre- quently seen Hardy Vaux dressed in the manner . described in the handbills that had recently been issued for his ap- prehension, and for this reason his wife, having a presenti- ment of the danger, did all she could to dissuade him from visiting the place, but in vain. On arriving at the house, Mrs. Vaux went in first to reconnoitre, and finding no officers there, she beckoned to her husband, who came in. OB entering the tap- room, ha found there abqut twenty notorious characters, some drinking and smoking, others amusing themselves with card playing, & c. The landlord put the note Hardy Vaux had called for into his hand, and the object of his visit being thus completed, his wife pressed him instantly to leave the place and return home; but he insisted on stopping for a few moments to smoke a pipe of tobacco with his old friend Watkin, whom he found there, and accordingly took a seat, placing his wife b etween himself and Watkin. Scarcely had he lighted his pipe, when he observed two strangers enter the room and whisper with the landlord, who, while answering them, frequently glanced towards Hardy Vaux. About half an hour afterwards, two officers entered the room, and calling Vaux out into the passage, seized hold of him, and con- veyed him to Saint Martin's watch- house, putting several questions to him on the , road, respecting the robbery at Bilger's, but without eliciting any confession. The follow- ing morning, he was taken befpre the magistrates at Bow- street, where Mr. Bilger and the pawnbroker, with whom the diamond- rings, before mentioned, had been pledged, were in attendance. The ring and other articles were pro- duced, and although the prisoner vehemently asserted that he had never seen Mr. Bilger before, the evidence was so conclusive that lie was committed for trial, and subse- quently tried, convicted, and sentenced for death, which punishment was afterwards commuted to transportation for life, and in a few days he was sent on board the Re- tribution hulk, at Woolwich. On his voyage to New South Wales, he was released from his irons, and em- ployed as assistant to the steward, in issuing the provi- sions, & c. He also used to write the ship's log- book for the captain, and was ultimately consigned, ott his landing at Sydney, as servant to a settler, called " Big Ben," but speedily left him, and became deputy- overseer of the gaol- gang, from which situation he might have risen to a higher, and have made himself very comfortable for life, had he not have become involved in sothe nefarious trans- actions with a fellow named Edwards, a servant in the family of the Judge Advocate; in consequence of which he lost his situation, and was sentenced by the Court at Sydney, to twelve mouths' labour in the jail gang, from whence he was consigned to Newcastle, there to work in the coal river. After remaining there nearly two years without committing any fresh offence, the commanding- officer took compassion on him, and permitted him to return to Sydney, but there again he was set to work with the gang, being deemed too incorrigible to be worthy of any indulgence. He now attempted to escape, but was discovered, and flogged for the attempt; after which, he was again sent back, to the coal river at Newcastle, where he got the appointment of store- keeper's clerk. How long he remained here, I know not; but I believe, that, many years afterwards, the term of his banishment was remitted, and he was suffered to return to England. In conclusion, all I can add respecting him is, that up to the present time, he has not thought proper to renew an ac- quaintance with myself, or any of the police, so I suppose that, in his old age, he has had the wisdom to abandon his vicious courses. How they Work ' em off" in America. THE murder of Adolp Adrian, a gentleman from Franoe, who has been recently passing through the United States, exhibiting feats of sleight of hand, beggars, » J1> description, and is without a parallel in the history of civilised men. He arrived in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, on the 30th of April, and procured a warehouse for the purpose of his exhibitions. While cleaning up the room, his at- tention was drawn to the actions of a woman who resided on the opposite side of the street, such as kissing her hand to him, cutting his name out of the hand- bill, kissing it putting It into her bosom, and throwing the remainder of the bill over into the street. He immediately inquired through his interpreter, for he was unacquainted with our language, who occupied the honsei and being informed that, Dr. M'Leod, a gentleman of respectability, lived there, he, as a matter of course, thought it exceedingly strange that such conduct should have been exhibited to him from the wife of the Doctor, but from every circum- stance we have reason to believe that it was not long be- fore he learnt her character, which had been for years previous to this time of the most questionable nature; by her nearest relatives she had been forsaken, though her husband still acknowledged her as his wife ; and it is said, believed her to be slandered and free from all wrong. The next day, however, the unfortunate Adrien received a note from her, which she threw from the balcony of her house into the street, and on picking it up he found, in language too strong to be misunderstood, her warm affection for him, and requesting him to answer it, and giving him di- rections how to convey it to her. He answered it, and this brought about a correspondence which continued for several days; during which time she wrote to him that she had lost all pffection for her husband, and that she had determined to stay with him no longer, and proposed to take her off. He reluctantly consented fo do so ; though during this whole period, from the affidavit of the inter- preter, he had never been in her prosence, but after every arrangement was made he went to her bquse alone, and remained not longer than five minutes. Everything then being in readiness, she was conducted to the boat, at her request, the evening before. They were to start the next morning, but unfortunately for the seduced stranger, she had disclosed her designs to a former acquaintance, which led to their detection. From that acquaintance the facts were communicated to her husband. About eight o'clock that evening the alarm was given, and a search was im- mediately made, but for some time to no purpose. Dr. M'Leod, then, iu connection with his relations, went to the Montgomery Hall, and inquired for Adrien's room; they entered it, &, nd broke open his truplc and Mrs. M'Leod's, which it seems had been sent there. They then left; shortly after which Ailrien, with his interpreter, came in, having spent the evening at a respectable private liouse, and finding the trunks open, he suspected that he had been detected, and immediately lett for the woods. In his escape he lost his hat. He had scarcely left the house before his pursliers returned, arrested the interpre- ter, tied him up to the bed- post, and, with a pistol at his breast, made him divulge the whole secret. They then went to the boat, found her locked up in her berth, fast asleep, and took her out and carried her to her father's, where she has been closely confined since. Next morn- ing they armed themselves, and started out in search of Adrien, and after some timq they heard of him directing his course towards Selma, when Dr. M'Leod, attended by- Mr. R. E. Cox, a druggist of Montgomery, started after him, and at the river, nine miles from Montgomery, they came up to him under the following circumstances. Just before they arrived at the ferry, Dr. M'Leod fell back, and Cox wont up to the gentleman who owned the ferry, and inquired of him if such a man, describing him, had been there! He was informed that he was then at the river waiting to get over. He forbade the gentleman putting him over. He theti went to the house of the ferryman, and by force took his gun, reprinted it, and left his bat and took the hat of one of the little boys for the purpose oF disfiguring himself— he then went down to the river, whore he found Adrien standing in the flat. He cocked his gun, and commanded him to'stand or he would blow out his braips. Adrien threw up his hands, and making signs, begged for his life. Cox kept him in that position until Mr. M'Leod ran down to the river, As soon as Adrien saw him, he jumped out of the flat, and as he could not swim he began to drown. When he rose the second time, M'Leod discharged a double- barrelled gun at him at 15 feet, and missed him. He, however, rose no more. They then returned to town, and informed the citizens what they had done, and to the credit of some of our young men, they went immediately to the river, procured his body and brought it to town, where an inquest was held avi) r it, and the next day it was decently interred in the grave yard.— American Paper. A FISH STO^ Y.— The Attdhapas Republican says they have been furnished, through the politeness of a friend, with a list pf fish caught, in a seine, pn Saturday last, from Lake Chitamacbes. The following is the number and names of the finny gentlemen picked up on the memorable occasion pbovi: alluded to:— One alligator, six feet long; 2 sharks five feet long; 2 alligator gars, four feet long; 2 sheeps heads, 5 buffalo or carp, 15 mullets, 8 cat- fish, 21) perch or barfish, 32 sardines, 2 flounders, 1 stingaree, I soft- shell turtle, 1 hard ditto, 25lbs. j G soft- shell crabs, 5, hard ditto, ,18 sqnfish, and a number of shrimps and other small fry too tedious to mention, MEMOIR OF YOUNG DUTCH SAM. Our hero now began to be noticed by the Fancy, as the son of the phenomenon of the prize ring; and but a short period had elapsed, when lie was matched with Harry Jones, the sailor boy. This battle was decided at Shere Meare, on the borders of Bedfordshire, on Tuesday, the 18th of October, 1825. . Tones was backed for £ 25 a- side against Young Sam, in consequence of his having the best of Sam at a sparring match at the Jacob's Wells, Barbican. The odds, however, were against Jones 6 to 4; and, in several instances. 2 to 1 ; and some persons even ventured to lay 4 to 1 on the ground: this conduct rather puzzled a few novices, but among the in- and- in coves it excited no sur- prise whatever. Several Of these learned gents observed, Vy, you knows as well we does, if Jones naps a rum one, he's sure to cut it— there's no dependence on him. Ve could sooner lay ten to one than take the odds." Sam was attended by Dick and George Curtis, and Jones by Goodman and Reid. The Young One had the length of his opponent, but Jones showed most muscle and strength, and also the best condition. Two to one on setting- to in favour of Sam. Round 1. Caution was the order of the day on both sides: Sam on the look- out, and the Sailor Boy equally leary to guard against squalls. Sam tried all the ma- noeuvres he was master of, to do su. mmut; but Jones, who had a tolerable knowledge of milling, was not to be had. Some minutes elapsed, and nothing was done, until the Sailor Boy rushed in to work. He made a bit with his left hand on Sam's cheek, and closed. The weaving system was now adopted : Sam was thrown ; and the Sailor Boy fell on the young Israelite.—" Well done, Jones." .2. Jones cleverly stopped Sam's left hand : sparringfor advantages; and Sam hit short. The Sailor Boy, eager for work, went boldly up to his adversary, and planted a right- handed hit on Sam's nob. A sharp rally of give anil take occurred. In closing, the Young One received a cross- buttock; and Jones also fell heavily on his op- ponent.—" Bravo, Jones! that's the way to win." 3. Jotaes hit short, being too eager to make play: how- ever, he soon made up for it, by planting a heavy blow on Sam's cheek. In closing, the pepper- box was handed from one to the other ; the Sailor Boy fighting at t he nob, while his opponent was hammering at the body. The round was finished by Jones getting down as well as he could, Sam keeping on his pins. 4. The Young One did not show any thing like the superiority he exhibited in the fight with Stockman. The claret was running down from Sam's mouth ; while, on the contrary, the Sailor Boy looked none the worse for his engagement. Sam's mouth was open, rather piping. Jones, with excellent skill, stopped a heavy left- handed blow. In fact, considerable science was displayed by both of the combatants, till Jones rushed in to mill: sharp counter- hitting ; iu closing the pepper- box was in full use, until they separated. Another sharp rally took place, when the Sailor Boy went down. 5. This was a prime round, and the fighting was excel- lent on both sides. Sam's peeper napped a rum one from Jones— the Sailor Boy repeated the dose. ( Great ap- plause ; and " He'll win it 1") Sam was also bored down at one corner of the ring. 6. The Sailor Boy appeared as fresh as when he com- menced the battle; in fact, there was nothing like a mark about his nob. He also appeared quite up to the move- ments of Sam ; and would not be decoyed from his mode of fighting by the stratagems of the young Israelite. Severe counter hits, and bot>. of which told on both sides. Jones also received a leary one on his listener as he was going down. 7. A long fighting round, and Harry as good as Sam. A sharp rally and mischief in it. The Sailor Boy broke ground, but soon returned to his adversary; when he laid hold of him by the body, and sent him down in an ugly manner.—" Well done, Jones— you can't lose it." Sam's left hand was stopped by Jones ; but still the former persevered till he made a good hit. Sharp counter- hitting ; rather too hot for Jones, and he retreated ; but, nevertheless, he returned to the charge in a passion, and planted a flush hit on the young Israelite's face. Jones ultimately went down. 9. The upper works of Sam napped a little one; and Jones got away, laughing. A severe rally ; and give and take without flinching. Sam tried milling on the retreat, and was successful, till the Sailor Boy slipped down. 10. This round was decidedly in favour of the Sailor Boy. The latter began his work without delay ; and Sam fell down by accident, and received a heavy hit on his conk ; but, like a trump, he jumped up, and slashed away wihout any ceremony ; but the Sailor Boy drove him to the ropes. Sam adopted the weaving system, but not with effect: the Sailor Boy hung upon his neck, till both went down. 11. The Sailor Boy was a dangerous customer to Sara. He planted a heavy blow with his left hand; then boldly went up to his opponent, and caught him round his neck it was then blow for hit, till Sam was thrown. ( Lots of applause for the Sailor Boy.) 12. The chaffing- box of Sam received | rather an ugly thump from Jones ; but Sam was determined to be with him, cutting the skin of his eye- brow like a knife, the claret following. Good milling; till Jones seemed a little abroad, when he pulled Sam down. 14. The young Israelite appeared much distressed, and also exhibited severe marks of punishment. The blows of Sam, at this period, seemed to have but little effect on Jones. The Sailor Boy again parried off the blows of his opponent with much skill; but he bored in, and caught hold of his adversary round his neck. Sam, in order to extricate himself, fibbed his opponent; and, at length, he got away. Jones went down. 15. Severe counter- hitting; after which Jones bored Sam to the ropes. It was expected the Sailor Boy would have made some mischief; but after a little struggling he went down. x 16. With his left hand Jones planted a severe facer; but the young Israelite, in return, jobbed him with his right. A rally, of no long duration ; and, in closing, Sam was thrown. 17. The Sailor Boy planted several hits; after which he bored ih with his head down, in order to escape a milling. A struggle for the throw, when Jones got down in the best manner he could. " I don't like that," said an old ring- goer; " he's going to cut it." 18. and last. Sam came up to the scratch quite gay; and the Sailor Boy was lively, and, to all appearance, nothing was the matter. After some sparring, Sam planted a blow on the right side of his opponent's nob, and he fell on his back. It did not appear by any means a finishing blow ; and the amateurs did not like it. When time was called, the Sailer Boy was deaf to it; and, of course, Young Sam was declared the conqueror. The battle was over in fifty- three minutes. OBSERVATIONS.— There was nothing new in the Sailor Boy's cutting it: in general of his battles he did the same thing, when the amateurs have been perfectly satisfied that he hadijrtie besdlof it. It was exactly the same sort of thing in£ M battltevith Stockman. It was the general opinion thabTie'migW' have won, nay, that he ought to have won the fight. He showed himself decidedly the best fighter, and was also the strongest man. In truth, when be had got his clothes or. he was very little the worse for milling. The blows ei Sara were more showy than effective; and his hits were trifling in point of exe- cution, on the nob of Jones, when compared to the prime style with which he fir ished off Stockman. To sum up the matter, it was the opinion of the majority of persons present, that Jones, " if it was all right," although a good fighter, a strong chap, and capable of doing severe exe- cution, by the manner of his giving it in, proved himself, in reality, little more than a cur. Sam did not remain idls for a customer: hs was matched with Tom Cooper, the gypsy, for j@ 30 a- side. This battle was decided on Tuesday, the 25th of April, 1826, at Grays, in Essex, twenty miles from London, and nearly opposite Gravesend. It would be wrong to state that the road was covered with amateurs on Tuesday; but, nevertheless, the " Old Ring Goers" were in motion at an early hour, and a good muster of the Fancy, in their gigs and other vehicles, were trotting over the ground to arrive in time at the scene of action. Young Dutch Sam was rather an at- tractive feature in the boxing circles at the present period; and Tom Cooper, by his manly behaviour in a turn- up with Bishop Sharpe, which continued for twenty minutes and upwards, was also viewed as an opponent likely to meet with success. The betting was decidedly in favour of Sam, 7 to 4, and in some instances 2 to 1, The ring was formed in a field near the Thames, in a most delightful spot; and the scene all round was per- fectly enchanting. The ships in the river added to the interesting effect. The ride from London was also truly picturesque. At one o'clock the combatants entered the ring: Dutch Sam attended by Dick Curtis and Harry Holt; and Cooper was waited upon by Jem Ward and his brother, Jack Cooper. After the hands were crossed together in friendship, the men set- to. Round 1. Sam looked well, and the advantages of training were perceived by the improvement of his frame; and the " Hero of the Bush" was also in good trim. In fact, Cooper was a hardy wiry sort of chap. Both on the the alert, but cautious; and a short time occurred in ma- noeuvring to obtain an opening. At length the Gypsy let fly, and touched Sam's canister slightly ; but the son of the Phenomenon returned on the body of his opponent with his right. In a rally, counter- hits took place. Sam, however, got away in style; but the Gypsy, anxious to do mischief, again made use of his right hand ; when Young Dutchy, with great celerity, planted a second body blow. Sara, also, by his skill, bored the Gypsy into a corner, and exhibited his superiority, to the delight of his backers, by using his left and right hands on the index of Cooper, producing the claret until he went down.— Uproarious shouts of applause for Sam, and 2 to 1 offered without the slightest hesitation. " Sam will win it in a canter." 2. The blows of the Gypsy were seen on the face of Sam, but did not appear mischievous. Caution again on both sides; but the Gypsy, always fond of slashing, used his left hand with success on Sam's head. Dutchy, like a good one, and master of his art, took the lead, went ih and punished the nob of his opponent like fun. The Gypsy did not like it, but kept fighting as he was retreat- ing from danger. A sharp rally, and milling on both sides. Sam, perceiving that he could go in without much danger, again drove his antagonist to the ropes, where the Gypsy, rather tired, went down.—" It's as right as the day!" said the Pet of the Fancy; " we shall wiu it with- out any trouble." " Sam for a" hundred." 3. The mug of the " Hero of the Bush" was now the worse for fighting, but his pluck was as good as ever; and mischief seemed his object, by his slashing away at ran- dom at his adversary, Random shots scarcely telL, and so it turned out for the Gypsy. Sam took advantage of this sort of wildness, and put in a conker so sharp, that Cooper was quite mad, and rushed in to work, helter- skelter, and planted a severe blow under Sam's right ogle, which produced the claret. (" Capital!" from the friends of Cooper; " Another like that and summut will soon be the matter!")— Young Dutchy, as gay as a lark, returned the compliment by two severe hits, and, as a sort of tie- up to the round, sent his opponent headlong on the turf. " Dat's devay!" from the Sheenies; " Vat a peautiful hitter! He's a chip of de Ould block! Dat's vat he ish, my dears ! He's an article not to be sliold for his value, my dears!" 4. The coolness displayed by Sam, as well as his supe- riority as a boxer, satisfied the judges he must win it, although he had napped a rum one under his left eye, which now bled rather copiously. His left mauley was also a tiny bit damaged, and the friends of the Gypsy announced the circumstance with delight and hopes, that it was a good chance for their man, in case he could last a long time. Sam got away cleverly from a . desperate blow, but he went in to his opponent, and, by a flush hit on his mouth, set all Cooper's ivories dancing. The Gypsy, not dismayed, returned on the body; a sharp rally followed, in which Cooper Was floored; and Sam, rather weak, went against the stake.— Five- and- twenty pounds to ten, but the backers of the Gypsy did not fancy it. 5. This was a prime round ; and the friends of the Gypsy observed, if he had but commenced the battle as he now fought, the chance might have been in his favour The Gypsy wildly fought at. the body; while Sam ( adopt ing the traits of his master, Curtis, who was at his elbow) kept milling at the head, and doing considerable execu- tion at every hit. Sam also got away from numerous blows; and such was the fine science he exhibited, uniting tremendous punishment, that he nobbed the Gypsy five times, one after the other; and then, by a way of a quielus, floored him. The Sheenies were now roaring out in ec- stacy, offering any odds on their " Peautiful Young Dutch Sam 1" " He's an ornament, my dears, to the Prize Ring, and it ish likely he will become as great a man as ish fader." 6. The courage and resolution of the Gypsy was ad mired by every one present; but his mode of fighting was wildness instead of science. He trusted too much to desperation— he slashed out without looking at his oppo< nent; in a word he was not a marksman. In the hands of a scientific boxer, like Young Dutchy, he stood no chance. When once kept out, and a few nobbers, such a fighter becomes an easy prey, and is licked off hand at the leisure of the cool miller. Thus was the Gypsy disposed of in this round ; he napped " divers blows in sundry places," and was ultimately floored. Five to one, but no takers. 7. The appearance of the Gypsy was altered consider- ably about the head, but his friends insisted he was now fighting better, and thought they perceived a small turn in his favour. Anxiety and friendship in favour of a man, in addition to backing any boxer, too often punishes the pocket of the amateur— he does not view the contest proper light. The Gypsy was still mischievous; and a chance blow has been known to win the battle. " Bat be on your guard," says the Pet. " Give nothing away. Be ready for him, he's coming, wild as an ox." Sam waited for his adversary— met him in the head; and, in the struggle for the throw, both went down. 8. In this early Btage of the battle it was a guinea to a dump, as to the best fighter. Sam did as he pleased, as a superior tactician; and finished this round in great style by a flooring hit. Any odds. 9. The Gypsy was piping : all abroad, and of little use, 1 with his index out of shape. He was also fatigued, but yet he went to work desperately, in order to obtain some- thing like a chance in his favour. It, however, was " no go!" The wildness of the Gypsy was fast leaving him ; and the jobbers he received at every turn rendered him nearly stupid, and he was hit down quite distressed. 10. It was completely " bellows to mend" with Cooper; in addition to which, Sam's fists were never oat of his face until he was floored. Thirty to ten. " Take him away; he can't win it." 11. The Gypsy in this round endeavoured to hit up ; which, if it had told upon Sam's nose, might have been dangerous. But he was punished severely; and by Cooper's endeavouring to make a return he fell down quite exhausted. 12. The Gypsy was nearly done over ; but he was gay, fought like a man, and contended till he went down. " Take him away." 13. Wildnessand mischief wasstill the intent of Cooper; but it was all up with him as to victory. Sam planted his hits as safe as if he had been attacking a dead mark. The Gypsy down. 14. Cooper was now so distressed in every point of view, that all the champagne in Charles Wright's extensive cellars— successful as it was in most cases towards recruit- ing drooping spirits— would have proved of no use towards renovating the frame of the defeated Gypsy. He was severely punished till he went down like a log of wood. " Pray take the brave fellow away." 15. and last. All things have an end; and the Gypsy was compelled to submit to defeat. Like a drowning man that will catch at a straw, Cooper made a desperate rush as his last effort. But Sam finished his opponent by a tre- mendous blow on his nose, as he was falling forwards, which deprived Cooper of his senses. When time was called, the Gypsy was insensible to it; and of course Sam was declared the winner. Sam left the Ring little the worse for the combat, excepting his hands, which were much swelled. The Gypsy did not open his eyes for several minutes, when he was not only carried out of the Ring, but also to the nearest public- house. In truth, Cooper could rtot stand. The battle was over in thirty- eight minutes. OBSERVATIONS.— Sam not only proved himself worthy the attention of his backers, but he also raised himself a step higher in the spOrting world, by his victory over Tom Cooper. He won the battle like a master of his art, and was perfectly prepared at all points. His coolness was admirable, and he met his man with all the skill of an experienced warrior. Sam is a troublesome customer for any boxer of his weight. Cooper did not disgrace himself by this defeat, but he ought to have paid more attention to science. His mode of fighting might soon dispose of ugly commoners in street rows, but with a skilful pugili t, when his desperation is stopped, his forte is gone, and it Is a sort of heart- broken attempt aftei'wards. ( To be continued.) FAMILY JARS. Terry Malonv, a broad- shouldered Eraeralder, sum- moned his brother- in- law, Mike O'Brien, for 6s., the amount of a surgeon's bill for mending the head of the said Terry Mahony, which the other had broken by means of a, quart pot and a cudgel. The " pontiff. and defendant, who were both coal- whip- pers, occupy apartments in the same bouse in Gibbett's- alley, near the Match- walk, Shadwetl, arid the aforesaid breach in the plaintiff's " upper story" was the climax to a bit of a domestic " shindy" they had, by way of winding up a political dispute. " Yer wurtchip," said Mahony, the plaintiff, " Mike's a rep^ le'r, bad look to him." Commissioner: Well, what has that to do with his breaking your head? Are " repalers," as you call them, in the habit of cracking sconces ? Mahony: Sure, yer wurtchip, it's anything they'll crack that stands in the wayov ' em. It's a bloodthirsty nather, Mike, is tp be ill- thrating his own kin. Commissioner: In what way are you related to the de- fendant? Mahony : Yer wurtchip, wasn't his own wife named Mahony, which same is my father's own maiden name, » nd she's his natheral darther. Commissioner: Then, from what I can understand, you are his brother- in- law ? Mahopy: That's true, and a mighty unfriendly blaggard he is, Sure I thought I was " kilt" intirely whin he sthruek me wid the quart pot. Commissioner: You Irish can do nothing without finishing it with a fight. How did this row begin ? Terry Mabony, the plaintiff, scratched his head, blessed himself, and engaged to " spake, the wool truth." From his story, it appeared that Terry and his brothor- in_ iaw. having indulged rather too freely with drops of the cra_ thur," waxed somewhat political, and proceeded to argue the relatjve advantages and disadvantages that would ac- crue from " a repale of the Union." Mike. it seemed, was a red- hot " repaler," but Terry " rowed the other way," and their disputes, like political disputes in other quarters, led to high words; and Mike, who like many other Irish orators, was somewhat intemperate and vio- lent, though he had no prospective anticipations of being rewarded with a commissionership, in the " heat of de- bate," flung an empty quart pot at his relative's head and cut it open, and afterwards applied a plaister in the shape of a stout oaken cudgel. For repairing this same breach the medical gentleman charged 6s., to recover which Terry summoned Mr. Mike O'Brien. Commissioner: Was your head seriously injured by the defendant, Malony? Malonv: Faith, an' I was, yer wurtchip; its lucky it was a thrilling thickness, or it's " kilt" I'd been as dead as a herring. Commissioner: Ah, you see under such circumstances it is an advantage to possess a thick head. ( Laughter.) Terry, whose cranium appeared to be as substantial as a brick wall, agreed with the learned commissioner, that the brains, where there were any, ought to be well defended. Commissioner: Well, Mike, it seems pretty clear to me that you broke your relation's head ; why do you refuse to pay for mending it ? Defendant: Och, yer hanner, Terry begun the shindy, which me witness, wid yer hanner's lave, will prove. Commissioner : Well, let us hear your witness. A ragged Irishman here came forward, and was asked by the commissioner what he knew of the transaction. " Plaze yer riverancp," said Mike's ragged witness, " I'm from the county Cork seventeen year, barrin a few wakes, and".— Commissioner: We don't want to know how long you have been from Cork, or whether you wear your coat but- toned behind, but merely whether you know anything about this transaction. Witness: Nothin', barrin that they're both alike, ounly Terry's a mighty dale the worst on ' em. From tbis very lucid explanation the court were not able to form any opinion as to who was the aggressor in the row, and the summons was consequently dismissed. SILVER HORSE SHOES.— It is mentioned by Beekman that when the Marquis of Tuscany, one of the richest princes of his time, went to meet Beatrix, his bride, about the year 1038, his whole train were so magnificently deco- rated, that his horses were shod, not with iron, but with silver. The nails even were of the same metal; and when any of them dropped out they belonged to those who found them. It is well known that an ambassador from England to France once indulged in a similar extrava- gance, to exhibit his opulence and generosity; having had his horse shod with silver shoes, so slightly attached, that, by purposely curvetting the animal, they were shaken off, and allowed to be picked up by the populace. RED MUILET.— In the Royal Gardens at Belem, are mullet are reared in tanks of fresh water to the immense size of from twenty to thirty p ounds weight. WELLERISMS.— Why is a horse like a lollypop ? Be- cause the more he is lick'd the faster he goes.— Why was Noah like an unfortunate ratcatcher'! Because he was forty days and forty nights before he saw are- a- rat ( Ara- rat).— An enraged actor once threatened to tear Elliston to pieces. " Sir," said Elliston, in his usual pompous manner, " if you coald tear me into ' good pieces' I shall feel infinitely obliged to you." AN AMERICAN TOAST— Tho following toast was given by Mr. Bleeaken, of Yonkers, New York, at the late celebration of that village:—" The agricultural interests of the State of New York. May our farmers have good crops, full ears, heavy grass, and no small potatoes." A GREEN ONE.— A stranger, from down east, declared be would not stay another hour in New York, for he found,, on walking Broadway, that it was such hard times here, people couldn't afford to get their beards taken off. A CHANGE,— A traveller stopped at an inn to breakfast, and having drunk a cup of what was given to him, the servant asked what will you have, tea or coffee ? To which the traveller answered:—" That depends upon circum- stances. If what you gave me last was tea, I want coffee. If it was coffee, I want tea— I want a change." TENANTS.— A stranger from the country, visiting the city, and having seen the bust of a sweep projecting from the top of a chimney, went home and reported that on account of the density of the population in town the gar- rets of the houses were occupied by shoemakers, the cel- lars were occupied by Irishmen, and the chimnies were let out to negro families. Folks out west are making Harrison cradles for Tippe- canoe babies, out of empty hard cider barrels. A gentleman in the country lately addressed a " billet doux" to a lady in a neighbouring town, adding this curi- ous postscript:—" Please to send me a speedy answer, as I have somebody else in my eye!" A lean skeleton- looking Doctor of Divinity was once accosted by a fellow with this salutation : " Well, Doctor, I hope you have taken care of your soul!" " Why?" " Because your body aint worth caring for." A coffin- maker in Albany advertises that he is selling off at cost, in consequence of the times— and he adds, " he hopes this will be some inducement for his customers to die, as they can have them cheaper now than they ever can again." LEISTERING SALMON' Dreadful Shipwreck TOM SPRING'S IilFE IK LONDON. * Bedding— familiar Scotch for spawning. LEISTERING, so termed in the South of Scotland, and spearing and blazing in other parts, is a sport highly con- genial to the habits of its hardy inhabitants; although as — perhaps somewhat too rigidly so— it is held both in habit and law to be nothing but poaching, it is seldom if ever followed by the higher orders. When the first winter Hoods have subsided, and frosts, with or without snow, assert their stem dominion, the salmon genera, which i elude grilse and sea- trout, resort to the fords, gravel- banks, and shoals, to spawn, and these haunts are in the leisterer's vocabulary denominated " redding- beds*." Then— which generally comes in dreary November— the hardy Caledonian bestirs him for a sport, which were he or- dered to engage in as labour or employment, or could be compelled to execute as atask, he would deem an imposition worse than Siberian slavery. Leistering is followed both by night and day, For night- work, the party consists of three— one blazer and two leisterers or spearmen. The night's work is all calculated and pre- arranged; that i » , 1 lie length of water, and number of fords. See., intended < 9 he blazed, and the torches prepared accordingly. The » r last are composed of broom, birch, or oak branches, stand- ing in point of preference as here mentioned: broom, cut green and dried gently in an oven, is considered best, as it emits a pure steady light with little or no reek. They are cemented with a leetle pitch, and bound together by means of withs. The leister in general use hasfivo pn ' igs, Scoltice taes; some prefer seven: they vary in length from a fbot to nine inches, the shaft ranging from eight to five and six feet. Although practised in all stag< v and periods of tho moon, so long as the water continue!, low and clear, the darker the night, the steadier the fish lie: the slightest shadow affrights them, and they bolt into the deeps and holes. These then have to be blazed; but i . is not reckoned as good sport, nor is it ever attended with the same success as in dark nights on the shallows. In the day- timo this sport somewhat varies in its practice ; the party are doubled in numbers, and the torch being' ( useless, a rope is attached to each spear, which are longer in the shaft or handle than those used in night- work. As soon as the fords are approached, the spawners bolt into the holes and deeps; and these, by means ofthe spear and rope, are then, as it is technically termed, " plunged:" that is, every part ofthe hole, deep, or pool, is thoroug.-. y stirred and probed with the leister. This (" rives the fish to the banks to hide— the salmon, like the woodcock, can it only conceal its head, caring nothing for the remainder of its appearance. When thus plunged, they force their heads in under clods, stumps, or rocks, and afford the fairest target to the spearman. This day- paactice is often as successful as the night, and scores have been killed in one day's woik of yore by one party. The average height of water in which the leisterer works is about three feet, and so severe generally is the temperature, that if a ford or redding- bed be any length, a circlet of ice. where the water reaches to, is generally found about the limbs or body. This is said to be often very painful, but the parts underneath quite comfoitable. This icy girdle being rubbed off, the clothes are put on, and the exercise in passing to another arena, and a dram, make all light. But cold, however little, is hailed with hope, and endured wi h'pleasure, as the keener the frost " the keener the fish on the redding." The severity ofthe present laws, and the practice of posting watchers all along the courses ofthe various waters in redding or close time, has almost put a stop to this favourite hyperborean pastime. That, as it is always liable to abuse, it was objectionable, there can be no question; but that the results of the restriction have by no means fulfilled its intention is quite as apparent. The supply of fish, instead of increasing, has palpably de- creased' and even the present tacksmen of the upper fisheries', and the watchers, now coincide in opinion with the old rod- fishers and leisterers or blazers, that it is the abuse ofthe practice, not the thing itself under reservation, which should be guarded against. But here is the diffi- culty, for which it appears morally impossible to provide a remedy. Stop a ranting Highland leisterer, quotha, as long as a fish could be found on a fiourd ( ford) ! • To this graphic description of this national mode of salmon- taking, we add that of Mr. Stoddart, who, in his " Art of Angling in Scotland," says— " Among the amusements of the lower orders in Scot- land, that of spearing, or, as it is more popularly termed, leistering the salmon, is by far the most exciting:" and then proceeds to give a sketch of leistering In one of their waters. " The months most suitable for this amusement in the southern district of Scotland," says Mr. Stoddart, " are those of October and November, about and imme- diately after close time. On the subsiaing of a heavy flood, which, during these months, brings into the tribu- taries of the Tweed a considerable number of salmon, grilses, and sea- trout, a party is generally formed, com- posed of the male inhabitants of the parish or district, from old men of threo- score down to boys in their earliest teeHS. For several days previous, the blacksmiths, miles about, are employed in sharpening up and repairing the leisters or salmon- spears, which are commonly three or four pronged, and have long slender shafts formed of ash or fir. Torches also of pitch, resin, old ropes, and flax, are made ready— the state of ( he water is discussed— and a mimicry ofthe hustle prevalent before a foray, or mar- tial adventure, is enacted among the petty villages or farm- houses bordering on the stream. " On the afternoon ofthe intended operations, and im- mediately previous to their setting forth, every public- house contains a number of small and select groups talking over their former feats and fortunes But the sun is now gone down, and a star or two peer out from the eastern bend of heaven. Yarrow, chafing her banks, is listened to by the eager band who are assembled outside the Gordon Arms, some armed with leisters, others wav- ing red and gleaming torches, which cast their far reflec- tions into the core of twilight. At length the order of march is given, and in the space of five minutes our gal- lant group of Borderers are waist- deep in the bridge- pool on the look- out for salmon But, ho'. a salmon is discovered; and the nicely- poised leister is directed, as if from the eye, upon the broad flank of the silvery fish, as it rushes, arrow- like, up the current. A shout, not loud, hut joyous, proclaims the success of the blow, and fast pinned by the unerring spear, writhes a fine new- run grilse in four- feet water, unable to break from the firm hold of its relentless captor, who soon drags it ashore and completes its destruction. " One who has not witnessed it will be surprised at the effect of a torch held over a stream during a dark night. Without being magical, it is astonishing; every pebble is revealed, every fish rendered visible in places even where the water is some fathoms deep. To a spectator at a short distance, not previously aware of what is going on, a group of salinon- leisterers must possess a singular and romantic appearance, associating itself strongly with the olden time of Border adventure. The torches with crim- son flare, searching the hill walled heaven, and hurrying, in all directions, fire and shadow over a dark mass of wa- ters ; the figures, some fully exposed, others dimly visible,' and thrown suddenly into view by the intervention of% stream of red light; the surrounding extent of moorlaifi and pasture, embellished with a few gaunt trees and mouldering tower; here a solitary sliSep fence, there a quiet hut; and, with these, the strange intermixture of human voices— all necessarily must work^ ipon the hgia- gination with a power and vividness which is seldom ex- perienced among the more ordinary elements of poetry and romance. " But here is a gallant chase! No tiny fish have they started, but a twenty- pounder at least, judging from the huge tail, which is helming it along the shallows. How it scuds, like the dolphin bark of Arion, or a rainbow rocket throwing up ruby sparks! What a brilliant track of fire is there in its rear It dashes up, in fine style, through a series of pools, followed up by the whole group of sportsmen, and it slips, almost miraculously, from under the showers of leisters with which it is rapidly assailed But, hung in air, the fatal spear is thrown from the steadiest hands among modern Borderers, and down it falls unerringly upon the devoted fish, which, hard pressed, is employing every means of escape. " " But our group of hunters are somewhat wearied. The torches, one by one, are consumed. Above a score of fish have they immolated— salmon, grilses, sea- trout, and yellow- fins— and here they lie in a goodly heap, to be shared out among the whole party. ' Salmon are rather attracted than frightened hy the torch, and will often, if not otherwise disturbed, move slowly up towards it, or balance themselves steadily upon their fins within reach of the eager sportsmen. ' Leistering in Scotland," continues Mr. Stoddart, " in broad rivers, like the Tweed, is sometimes practised in a boat; and in the Solway Frith, where the tides run rapid and the water is shallow, a horse was wont to be employed. We believe the method of spearing fish from the saddle is still in vogue, and can easily believe, that although fol- lowed for profit, it affords no small or ignoble amusement among such perilous and unsteady sands as those which occur in the south- western districts." Mr. Stoddart concludes his sketch with THE LEISTER SONG. Flashes the broad- red gleam Over the midnight slaughter, Wild shadows haunt the stream. Dark forms glance o'er the water. It is the leisterer's cry ! A salmon, ho ! oho 1 In scales of light the creature bright Is glimmering below. Murmurs the low cascade, The tall trees stand so saintly, Under their quiet shade The river whispers faintly. It is the leisterer's cry! The salmon, ho! oho! A shining path the water hath, Behind the shape of snow. Glanees the shining spear From the harmless hands unheeded; On, in its swift career, The dream- like fish hath speeded.. It is the leisterer's cry ! The salmon, ho ! oho ! Along its wake tjie torches bleak, And waver to and fro. Wildly the eager band Closes its fatal numbers; Across its glistering sand The wizard water slumbers. It is the leisterer's cry ! The salmon, ho! oho! And, lightning- like, the white prongs strike The jaded fish below. Rises the cheering shout, Over the rapid slaughter ; The gleaming torches flout The old, old- shadow'd water. It is the leisterer's cry I The salmon, ho! oho! Calmly it lies, and gasps and dies, Upon the moss bank low ! Smolensko ; or, a Second Eclipse. SMOI. ENSKO, the property of Sir Charles Bunbury, which, during his racing career, excited a greater share of the public curiosity than any of his most famous prede- cessors, in 1813 won the two great stakes in the New- market Spring Meetings: immediately afterwards, the Derby Stakes at Epsom; and the Magna Charta stakes at Ggbam in the following August. It was even betting for the Derby between Smolensko and the field, and an unfortunate gentleman, backing tho field to a large amount, had not sufficient firmness of mind to bear up against the consequence of his own imprudence. A few days, however, before the race, a report getting abroad that the horse was lame, and lie being seen without one of his shoes, Sir Charles Bunbury took and won five and six hundred pounds to ten three times over. The betting soon returned to its former state. At this time the news- papers were filled with Smolensko, and he was by them represented as the speediest horse which had appeared since Eclipse, and " unlike Eclipse only in his coolness and want of driving." All the world went to Epsom to witness the performance of this new Eclipse. On his re- turn to London, he was ordered from Tattersall's, for the inspection of his Royal Highness the Regent. Many per- sons were desirons of purchasing this horse, and there seems no doubt that four or five thousand pounds might have been^ pbtainad, ha » l the proprietor been desirous to part with him. On the approach of the Egham meeting, the papers were again full of Smolensko, and a turnpike- man on the road ^ declired that, in twenty years, he had not seen such crowds pass his gate, of carriage company, librae and foot, the latter of all descriptions, and all for the jutfpose of getting, s. sight of the famous black horse. Mitny had conje- tyght| an or twenty miles on foot, return- ing through the gMe " till two o'clock in the morning. Crowds gathered roand him on the course, and he was then exhibited to her Majesty, the Queen and the Prin- cesses at the royal stand. A man actually offered Sir Charles Bunbury two Hhndted pounds for the use of his horse; to make a « ji„ ow of; and there is no doubt but that Sir Charles, couLd'ne have done such a thing, might have made five hundred pounds by exhibiting him in London. Among the cur ous tattle at Egham, on the subject of this wonderful horse, it went about that, the day before the race, he had been stinted of his meat and water, ac- cording to the old system ; most probably a hoax of the groom, by way of answer to some sage enquiry ; it, how- ever, reached the ears of Sir Charles, who remarkod to his informant that, should a servant of his make so gross a breach of his orders, " he would never eat any more of his beef and pudding." It was reported Sir Charles chal- lenged all England, offering to take four pounds and run his horse against any horse of his year, his horse not to take a sweat. Smolensko, was one of the healthiest, quietest, and best tempered horses'that ever was trained ; about sixteen hands and a half high, full brother to Thun- derbolt, got by Sorcerer, a son of Trumpetor, and his pedi- gree i « filled with our oldest and highest racing blood. LOSS OF THE VRYHEID. THE Melville Castle, a British East Indiaman, after having performed tho usual number of voyages, was put up by the East India Company for sale, and purchased by j an agent of the merchants of Amsterdam trading to the | E. ist Indies. She was navigated to Amsterdam, where she underwent a tolerable repair in her upper works, and I was new sheathed arul coppered, while her knees and timbers remained in a very decayed state. Thus patched up, with such an imperfect repair, the company tendered her to the government, who were then in want of a large ship to carry out troops and stores to Batavia, reserving tothemselves the liberty of bringing home a return freight.' A surveyor was immediately ordered on board, who re- ported that tho ship was in perfect ri pair, and wanted nothing but tho necessary stores to equip her for the in- tended voyage. The ship was accordingly furnished with all the requisite stores, was painted throughout, and re- | ceived the name of the Vryheid. On Monday, Nov. 8, the troops were destined to em- bark on board of the Vryheid, received orders to march ! from Rotterdam to Amsteidam, where three hundred and twenty men, the flower of the regiment, were selected out I of nearly one thousand, who formed the second battalion of marines in the service of the Batavian republic. On Saturday the 20th, tho troops were ordered to em- bark, which was done without delay ; and early the follow- ! ing morning the admiral, the colonel, and all the officers 1 went on board the Vryheid, accompanied by their ladies, j attendants, and domestics. The ship immediately got under weigh, and proceeded with a favourable breeze till early in the morning of the ' 22nd, when it blew a heavy gale from a contrary direction, j The captain immediately ordered the top- gallant- masts and yards to be struck, when she appeared to ride much easier than before. As the^ lay opened, however, the wind blew with increased violence, and every exertion of the crew to render the ship manageable proved ineffectual. The most serious apprehensions now began to be enter- tained for the safety of the vessel; and the state of the ladies on board was particularly distressing. Some em- braced their helpless offspring, and wept over them in speechless agony, while others in vain implored their hus- bands to procure the means of landing them in safety on their native shore, and to give up the voyage. The com- mander, Captain Scherman, was himself in a very trying situation. His lady was on board, with an infant only three months old at her breast; and her affliction was ag- gravated by being surrounded by so many females fondly weeping over their little ones, and earnestly en- treating assistance of the captain, who had the utmost difficulty to prevail on them to leave him, so that he might attend to the duties of his station. The ship continued to drive before the wind till about three o'clock on Monday afternoon, when the storm in- creased to a perfect hurricane. Soon after the . main- mast went by the board with a tremendous crash, and, in its fall, swept overboard several of tho crew, who were drowned, besides wounding four or five others. This dis- aster greatly augmented the fears of all on board. The captain himself, the admiral, and the other officers, now seemed to consider their lives in the most imminent dan- ger; for though they were near enough to the Kentish shore, that they could discern objects on land, yet the waves, which then rolled mountains high, totally precluded the possibility of their receiving any assistance. They now hoisted a signal of distress, and after very great exertion, they managed to bring the ship to an an- chor at the entrance of Hythe Bay; but as it was quite dark they could obtain no assistance from the shore, though the wind was not quite so tempestuous. By the captain's orders, the crew were plentifully regaled, and a beam of hope illumined every countenance ! but, alas ! it was of momentary duration. The ship was found to have sprung a leak: all hands were ordered to the pumps; and while they were thus employed, the storm came on again with redoubled violence'- Universal consternation now prevailed, and the pierc- ing shrieks of the women and children at each successive blast of wind, were sufficient to unman the stoutest heart. Every relief that circumstances would admit was afforded by the ship's company and the troops, to the unfortunate ladies, many of whom were, by this time, clinging round their husbands and fainting in their arms. They remained in this dismal situation for several hours, during which the greatest order and sobriety reigned on bo'trd, till about six o'clock on Tuesday morning, when the vessel parted from her best bower- anchor, and drifted towards Dymchurch Wall, about three miles to the west- ward of Hythe. They continued to fire guns of distress, and kept the signal flying during the whole of tho morn- ing. At day- break, a pilot- boat put off from Dover, and coming near, recommended the captain to put back to Deal or Hythe, and to remain till the weather became more moderate. " If you proceed," said the boatman, " all hands will be lost: you are not acquainted with the coast, and if the gale should continue, no power on earth can save you." Tlio captain, however, conceiving the danger to be less imminent, neglected this advice, and flat- tered himself, that as the day opened the wind would abate, when he should be enabled to put into some bay or port, without being obliged to comply with the demands of the Dover pilots, or to pay the Downs fees for coming to an anchor there. ' B J Tho pilot- boat had scarcely left- the.. fillip, when the commodore at Deal dispatched two- boats Mdendeavour to board her, when the unaccountablfrand fatal obstinacy of the captain was again strikingly displayed; the crew were ordered to let the vessel drive before the wind, and to pay no attention to the recommendations of the com- modore. The boats then fired several shots as a further signal to bring- to, but these were equally disregarded. A few minutes afterwards, one of the boats passed close under the stern, as tho ship had lost her mainmast, de- sired she would immediately put about and stand for the first port. But to this, like former solicitations, they gave no reply, and the gale increasing they soon lost sight of both the boats. The ill- fated captain was now in a state of the greatest agitation, and bitterly repented his refusal to take a pilot on board, but it was now too late; the roar of tho sea was terrific, and such a tremendous swell, that the chance of any relief being afforded from the shore was effectually prevented. The wind blew a perfect hurricane from the south and south- west, the signal- guns thoy continued to tire inces- santly, and the captain twice attempted to put the ship about, but all his exertions proved fruitless. She was now near Dymchurch Wall, where the coast for the space of above two miles is protected from the encroachment of the sea by the overlaths and immense piles, and is further secured by large wooden jetties stretching far into tho sea. On the first of these jetties the unfortunate vessel struck. In this desperate situation, with the wind becoming more and more boisterous, the captain ordered tho mizen- mast to be cut away, and all the water in the hold to be started, by staving the casks, while a part of tho crew, under the directions of the officers, were incessantly em- ployed at the pumps. They also hove almost all the bal- last overboard; but in spite of every exertion, the danger seemed every moment to increase. So maddening was the reflection of what might have been their situation had the pilot- boat not been refused, that the officers could not refrain from reproaching the captain with having slighted the advice of the English in the boats ; ho appeared to be deeply sensible of his error, but it was now too late to repent. Tho admiral recommended the sheet- anchor to be cut away, which was accordingly done, and nearly two cables were veered out in the hope of bringing off the ship. All this time she continued to beat upon the piles, and the sea to break over her with such violence thatthe men were no longer able to remain in the hold. The pumps had now become so completely choked with sand and mud, that they were rendered totally useless, and a speedy de- struction of the vessel and all on board appeared to be inevitable. Th ® foremast soon afterwards went over the ship's side, hurrying along with it about twelve of the crew, who were soon out of sight. The ladies now began to strip themselves quite naked, which is a usual custom among the Dutch females under similar circumstances, and several of them were handed to the bowsprit attended by their husbands. The others chose to wait their fate on the quarter- deck, where stood the miserable Captain Scherman, in silent despair at the unavailing cries of as- sistance of those around him, while his unfortunate wife, in all the bitterness of maternal anguish from the loss of her infant, was clinging to his feet. About eight o'clock, the rudder was discovered to be unshipped, while the tiller was tearing up the gun- deck, and the water rushing in with fearful rapidity at the ports. At this moment most of the passengers and crew joined in solemn prayer to the Almighty, and while en- gaged in this act of devotion, the sea, foaming dreadfully, made a fair breach over them, so that they were obliged to exert every effort to remain in the ship. From the uncommon fury and roaring of the waves, the guns conld scarcely be heard even on board; and no hope remained of their obtaining any assistance from the shore. As a last expedient, the captain gave orders to cut away the anchors from the bows, when a violent swell immediately parted them, and the ship drifted with irresistible force farther on the piles. The unhappy sufferers had now no other prospect than that of instant destruction— every human exertion had been made to save the vessel— nothing more could be done; and all stood in silent suspense waiting the awful moment that should hurry them into eternity. The morning was unusually dark, and to aggravate the horrors of the terrifia scene, the ship was not more than four or five cables' lengths from the shore; so that the crew could discern that there were several persons on the Wall, but who were unable to afford them any relief. It was now half- past eight, when a tremendous sea dashed with such force against tho ill- fated vessel, that, after rocking like a cradle for two or three seconds, her timbers split, and immediately she broko her back. About one hundred and seventy persons were instantly overwhelmed by the furious element, and not one of them ever reached the land. The wreck, thus torn asunder, still presented nearly three hundred miserable objects clinging to the various parts that remained above water ; while the tre- mendous noise of the foaming billows wa3 drowned by the piercing shrieks and cries of the hapless women and children. At the earnest request of the admiral, tho jolly- boat, which was hanging over the stern, was now launched ; and he, together with the colonel and eight females, were helped into her. Mrs. Scherman wept incessantly, but refused to quit her husband to accompany them. They had not, however, proceeded far when a dreadful sea broke over them, and the boat instantly disappeared. In a few moments the colonel was observed endeavouring to support his lady above water, when a returning wave overwhelmed them, and they sunk to rise no more. The ship was now settling rapidly, and each determined to risk some experiment to reach the shoro. The captain proposed to his lady, that they should make themselves fast to a large hen- coop, and commit their lives to the mercy of the waves. A few of the crew having cut away tho coop, they, with great difficulty, made fast the captain and Mrs. Scherman, and after an affectionate parting, lowered them down over the stern. They had nearly reached the Wall, followed by tho anxious looks of those who had remained on board the wreck, when a large piece that had been detached from it, drove them completely under, and they were never seen to rise again. Painful as this spectaclo must necessarily have been to the remaining survivors, their attention was completely absorbed in contriving means for their own preservation. A lieutenant, his wife, and two female domestics of the unfortunate admiral, still remained on the wreck, and the men agreed to make one more effort to save them. Seiz- ing one of the hatches which had been torn asunder, they fastened it to a piece of the quarter- gallery, and lashed the females to the planks, while the lieutenant, who was a good swimmer, stripped himself, and having taken a rope round his waist, the raft was lowered into the water. They had scarcely been a few seconds upon the water, when a violent gust of wind overset the raft, and every soul on it was hurried into eternity, Thus perished all officers and females who had remained on the stern'of the wreck. About this time, the bowsprit was torn asunder from the other parts of the wreck. It had been already ob- served that many of the females and officers had taken refuge upon it, and the number of persons about tha rigging and various parts of the bows was now above a hundred, who were driven towards the Wall by tho vio. lence of the surf. Those who were upon the stern, watched the progress » f their companions with the utmost sclicitude, and just as they supposed them to be beyond the reach of further danger, a tremendous sea broke over them, and whelmed them all in one genoral de- struction. The surface of the ocean was instantly covered with their bodies, and many of the unhappy creatures had almast reached the shore; but wave upon wave succeeded each other with fearful rapidity, and finally triumphed over all their exertioaB. Among the most distressing instanoes of individual suffering, was that of a captain of the marines, who was swimming with one hand, and, with the other, endeavouring to support his lady by the hair of her head ; till, overcome by cold and fatigue, he turned • ound, clasped her in his arms, and both disap- peared. The wreck, meanwhile, was gradually disappearing, and many of the seamen and marines, successively seizing on various timbers, precipitated themselves into that danger they were so anxious to avoid ; but it was natural to suppose, that after so many dreadful examples, those who still remained on the wreck should not be willing to attempt similar experiments. Of these there were now not more than forty- five on both parts of the wreck, which frequently became so entangled, that the men were near enough to hold a conversation with each other."^ Their situation, however, was now rapidly approaching a crisis; from all parts, the planks were being torn away, and each succeeding sea was fatal to two or three of the wretched survivors. At length, two of the seamen determined to lash themselves to a large hog- trongh, and endeavour to reach the land: they were handed over the larboard side, and after a miraculous escape from coming in contact with a fragment of the drifting wreck, they fortunately suc- ceeded in reaching the shore in safety, being the first oat of all the adventurers who had quitted the ship that had succeeded in their attempts. Their success greatly contributed to animate the exer- tions of those whom they had left behind, and who in- stantly fell to work to construct a raft, which, in a few minutes, was sufficiently rigged for them to make the at- tempt. To this frail conveyance did the remaining survivors commit their lives, and had scarcely got clear off the wreck, when a heavy sea struck the ship with such violence, that she was dashed into a thousand pieces. The situation of those on the raft was now peculiarly awful, from the numerous fragments of the wreck, which were floating about in every direction, and by the violence ef their motions threatening instant destruction. They con- tinued, however, to drift nearer the Wall, when they were ran foul of by a piece of the wreck, which swept oflf eighteen out of the thirty- three who were upon the raft, and wounded all the rest in a greater or less degree ; at the same time, they were driven forward with such velo- city, that it was impossible to afford any relief to those who were struck off. One of these poor fellows was snatched from the deep by the enterprising humanity of Mr. Kemp, of Hythe, who, at the imminent hazard of Ms own life, was observed endeavouring to save another, a soldier, when a pieoe of timber unfortunately struck the poor soldier on the head, and he was drowned. About ten minutes after this fatal accident, the survivors suc- ceeded in reaching the long- wished- for shore, half- dead with fatigue and the severe bruises which they had re- ceived. Thus of four hundred and seventy- two persons, who, but a few days before, had left the city of Amsterdam, and who were but a few hours on board the Vyrheid, in full health and confidence of security, not more than eighteen escaped. This wretched remnant of the crew of that ill- fated vessel received from the inhabitants of the adjacent coast, such generous attention, a3 not only con- tributed to their recovery, but amply relieved all their necessities. The bodies of the unfortunate sufferers, which were scattered along the coast for many miles, were likewise collected, and interred in a decent manner at the expence of the inhabitants. The bodies of Captain Scherman and his wife, and many of the officers anj, their ladies, were committed to the grave with every mark of respect. A very liberal contribution was afterwards made by the inhabitants of Folkstone and Hythe, to enable the sur- vivors to return to their native land, which they reached in about ten days after the fatal accident. It is a eircumstance worthy of remark, that a small merchant vessel which left the Texel on the same day as the Vyrheid, took a pilot on board off Margate, and was brought safe into port, without losing a single hand during the storm. The following is an accurate statement of the number of the crew and passengers of the Vyrheid:— Forty- two officers, twenty- two women, twenty- eight passengers, seven children, fifty- one seamen, three hundred and twelve soldiers:— total, four hundred and fifty- four per- sons lost. Ten seamen, eight soldiers ;— total, eighteen saved. A Murderer Singled Out by a Dog. • THERE is at Nemours, in France, a castle of very an- cient structure: it was built by Charles the Fifth. On one of the chimneys in this building there is a remarkable piece of sculpture. It represents a battle between an un- armed man and a mastiff, before a multitude of spectators. The story is preserved on record, and is as old as the time of Charles the Fifth. It is as follows:— A person of some distinction was found early in the morning, by some peasants, dead, in the midst of an unfrequented wood, and with marks of violence on him ; by his side stood a mastiff dog, that used to attend him in his walks. The monarch was on the spot when the accident happened ; he inquired with the utmost rigour after all that could be supposed guilty. An ancient animosity between the de- ceased and a man of fortune in tho neighbourhood had rendered him suspected. His servants had sworn to his being in bed early; himself gave asseverations of having made up the dispute; but the King suspected. Charles the Fifth was a man of discernment; he thought guilt was in his face, in spite of all his assertions of innocence. He ordered the suspected person, and twenty others, to be set before him the next day. He produced the faith- ful dog that hail been found near his master's body; the creature singled out the murderer, who was the very por- son suspected, and would have torn hiiu to pieces on tha spot, if he had not confessed the fact, and changed the punishment. Published by W. M. CLARK, wholesale dealer in cheap publications, Warwick Lane, London; to whom all Or- ders and Communications should be addressed post paid. Principal Agents in the Country. Bath, Mr. R. Croker. Belfast, Mr. J. Henderson. Birmingham, Mr. T. Watts, Snowhill. Mr. J. G uest, Steelhouse lane Carlisle, Mr. Arthur. Cheltenham, Mr. W. Henley. Colchester, Mr. J. Lingwood. Dublin, Mr. L. M'Dermott 57, Upper Stephen- street. Gravesend, Mrs. Stanford, 8, New Road. Edinburgh, Mrs. Curie. Mr. J. Finlay. Leeds, Mrs. Mann, Central- Market. Lichfield, Mr. Stokes. Lincoln, Mr. Drury. Liverpool, Mr. J. G. Smith, Scotland- place and 23, Cleveland- square. Maidstone, Mr. J. Lnrcoe. k. Manchester, Mr. Haywood, Oldham- street. Newcastle, Mr. J. Crothers, Shakspearo- street. Newmarket, Mr. Simpson. Norwich, Mr. Darken. Nottingham, Mrs. Smith. Porttea, Mr. H. Gardner. Ryde, Mr. J. Beasley. Sheffield, Mr. Lingard. Wakefield, Messrs. Nicholls Worcester, Mr. T. Thomas. Wolverhampton, Mr. Taylor Falmouth, J. H. & R. G. Lake Glasgow, Mr. J. Barnes. Hastings, Mr. J. Turner. Hereford, Messrs. Merrick. Hull, Mr. J. Noble, Market- place. Country Booksellers and Dealers desirous of becoming Agents for the sale of this Paper, should forward their Names and Addresses to tho Publisher without delay. N. B.— A Liberal Allowance to Agents and Dealers; Fraud by i. LAST, a, Crane- court, Fleet- street. 4