Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Whisker agst Mr. Shakespear's were equally matched, and they

Donkey, 8st. 7lb. each, A. F. 200gs.

BRIGHTON, July 26.-It does not appear that we are to have any regular races here this year. That the course will not remain unused, however, even should the regular animal sports be discontinued, the diversions which took place there this day may serve in some measure to evince. Five ponies appeared on the list, Lord Barrymore's Bang, with young Lee on his back, being one. The distance fixed was half a mile, for a subscription purse of ten guineas each, the best of three heats, which was won easy by Mr. Mann's Patriot, beating five others.-The next race was a match for fifty guineas, in which Captain Nis bitt's bl. g. Toby beat Mr. Donovon's Witchcraft, over two miles of the old course. The horses were neck and neck the whole way. One or two matches of minor interest followed, and it was between five and six o'clock before the company began generally to descend the hill.

Ir is reported to be the intention of some leading characters of Cheltenham, to establish races near that town; the first to take place in September next.

SAILING MATCH-A silver cup and cover was sailed for on Monday the 24th on the river Thames, and won by the Ludlow, Captain Anthony Lyon, of Wandsworth; the prize was given by a subscription, made among a few amateurs of that science. Four boats started, named the Ludlow, Spitfire, Caroline, and Camilla. The contest excited much interest, as the Caroline, Spitfire, and Ludlow,

were alternately a-head of each other. The Caroline passed first round the flag-boat moored off Wandsworth meadows, the Spitfire second, and the Ludlow within a minute after her. At this time the Camilla was two miles a-stern; however, in coming down, the Spitfire and Ludlow passed the Caroline off Wandsworth, after which the contest was entirely between the Spitfire and Ludlow, and much nautical skill was displayed by the captains of those boats; the Caroline and Camilla profited by these manoeuvres, and in Chelsea Reach, they were nearly up with the two head most boats; the Ludlow at last succeeded in getting to windward of the Spitfire, and passed the flag-boat of Cumberland Gardens, where the match terminated, a boat's length only a-head of the Spitfire; the Caroline and Camilla came in immediately afterwards close together, the Caroline a-head; it was allowed by every person that a more severe and wellcontested match never took place. -The captains partook of an ele gant dinner at the Cumberland tavern, where the cup was pre sented to Capt. Lyon.

ROWING MATCH.-On Thurs. day the 27th inst. a prize wherry, given by the gentlemen of the Funny Club, was rowed for on the Thames by seven pair of oars. The contest was to be decided in two heats. They started at half past four o'clock from Westminster-bridge, and proceeded round a boat moored off the windmill beyond Vauxhall, down the Surrey shore, to the beacon below Westminster-bridge, and through the centre arch. This contest, which constituted the first heat, was won in fine style by three

A A 2

boats

boats distinguished by colours, viz. yellow, pink, and green. The conditions of the wager only allowed the three first boats of the first heat to start for the second. They accordingly started again from Westminster-bridge, to row round boat at Battersea-bridge, and return to the prize wherry off Cumberland Gardens. This heat afforded a strong trial of skill, and the prize boat was won by Edward Farlow of Whitehall, and John Scott, of Bankside. The river was burdened by boats and gay company. A party of Westminster scholars, in a fine subscription cutter, pulled against the best boats on the river.

INQUEST.-An Inquisition was held at the White Raven, Whitechapel, on the 18th inst. on the body of T. Spencer, who died from the bite of a dog, at the London Hospital, on the Tuesday previous. The facts are as follow:-Dukes, a baker, in Whitechapel, who had formerly been the owner of the dog, being from home, his wife sent to a neighbouring baker to borrow a bread barrow, which was lent accordingly, and to which this dog was harnessed. Dukes's boy, who had received orders from his mistress, brought two bundles of tares from a country cart, in Whitechapel-road, and was wheeling them bome with the dog's assistance. The deceased, according to the boy's account, put his hands into the barrow, and took out a small part of the contents, and was instantly seized by the dog, which was of the bull breed, who bit him in two places in the leg, and held him for the space of a minute, when the deceased kicked him off. The deceased was taken to the London Hospital, where he died. From the evidence given it

a very

appeared that the deceased was in bad habit of body and at ån advanced age, but there was no doubt that the wounds accelerated his death. It was proved that the dog, when attached to the barrow, was very ferocious, but otherwise was gentle. Verdict of the coroner's jury-Accidental death.

ACTION in the Palace Court, Westminster, Friday, July 7. King v. Wicks-This was a special action brought by the plaintiff, at stable-keeper in the borough of Southwark, against the defendant, an auctioneer, for the recovery of damages on a breach of contract, in the hiring of a horse; and the declaration set forth, that the defendant having hired and contracted to ride the horse himself, did put his friend, a Mr. Mullett, on it, and by his careless negligence the horse was thrown down, and both knees were broken. A compensation in damages was therefore sought for, on the ground that the defendant had broken his contract, and by that became liable to the damages accruing from the breach. -Robert Mayor Quandling, ostler to the plaintiff, deposed, that on the 18th of March the defendant, accompanied by Mr. Mullett, came to his master's, and the defendant told him he wanted a horse to ride out on a day's pleasure. Witness rode it up and down to see if it would suit the defendant. De fendant rode it away, and when it was brought home at night both knees were broken. Witness believed the horse to be worth 401. or 501. and thought the injury it had sustained was not less than 251.-Mr. Agar addressed the jury in behalf of the defendant, and called Mr. Mullett, who stated that the horse was tender in the feet, and that the plaintiff said at

the

the time that he had been bunted. Witness had much difficulty in keeping up his head during his riding him to and from Enfield, In Kingsland-road he fell on one knee, in spite of all the caution he took with him and on London Bridge he slipped down and broke the other.-Verdict, damages for the plaintiff, 101.

An adventure among the Loup Garous, or Wolf Men.—Mr. Bauman, of the privy council of Cleves, and first pastor of the reformed church there, related to the late Mr. Pratt the story of a man at Cologne who assumed the character of a loup garou, and lived many years by the pillage of whatever, in that character, he could lay his "hands on, insomuch that he amassed great wealth in money and valuable moveables; but he was at last assaulted and taken by a countryman, who swore he defied the devil and all his works. This man was encountered by the wolfman on the day he was known to have sold a quantity of corn at Cologne market; but so far was be from tamely yielding up his honest profits, that instead of flying with terror before the wolf man, or dropping his money-bag, :he held the said bag, which was a heavy one, at arm's length, and felled the thief to the earth with that very gold and silver which he would have purloined. Before he recovered the blow, the heroic farmer threw him like a calf over his horse, and in his wolf-clothing delivered him up to justice; and in this dress he was soon after hung, in the public market-place at Cologne. It might have been. thought this disaster would have opened the eyes of superstition; but on the contrary the Colognians continued to believe that the real

loup garou, being angry with the man that was hung, got into him, and in order to be revenged, put it into the head of the farmer to attack him, that he might be taken up as a thief and come to an untimely end; and that the instant the halter was round the pretender's neck, the spirit of the real wolf-man slipped out of him again, and enjoyed his triumph, to think how cleverly he had brought his enemy to the gallows. Thus the very circumstances that ought to weaken superstition, gave it strength.

THE Romans rode in different colours, particularly the companies of charioteers, to distinguish themselves. There were generally four, viz. prassina (green), russata (red), alba, or albata (white), and the venata (sky, or sea colour); but the green was generally the favourite, especially under Caligula, Nero, and the following emperors; but Suetonius tells us, that Domitian (who was made emperor in A. D. 81, and died A. D. 96,) added two more colours, viz. the golden or yellow, and the purple, but these were soon laid aside again by the following emperors. (Vide Kennet's Roman Antiquities,)Such was the fondness too for the favourite horses, that Montfaucon tells us, and gives a copper-plate drawing from an urn, which has two inscriptions upon it; the uppermost regards the horses, the lower the men, which begins with the letters DM, relates to the persons interred therein. Over the first horse was an inscription, the meaning of which is, "That this was in memory of the börse Aquilo, begot by Aquilo, who had coquered 137 times, won the second prizes 88 times, and the third 37 times."

POETRY.

POETRY.

THE HIGH COURT OF DIANA.

THE NOBLE GAME OF CRICKET. Each mate must excel in some principal

To the Editor of the Sporting Magazine.

SIR,

[blocks in formation]

THE following verses on Cricket, The parties are met, and array'd all in

written by the Rev. M. Cotton, of Winchester, being highly prized by the lovers of that fine exercise, will, I trust, be considered worthy of insertion in your publication.-I am, &c. J. F. Chiswick, July, 1815.

Assist all ye Muses, and join to rehearse, An old English sport, never prais'd yet

in verse;

'Tis cricket I sing, of illustrious fame, No nation e'er boasted so noble a game. Derry down, &c.

white,

Fam'd Elis ne'er boasted so pleasing a sight,

Each nymph looks askew at her favourite swain,

And views him half stript, both with pleasure and pain.

The wickets are pitch'd now, and measur'd the ground,

Then they form a large ring, and stand gazing around:

Since Ajax fought Hector in sight of all Troy,

Great Pindar has bragg'd of his heroes of No contest was seen with such fear and

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

brother,

[blocks in formation]

The one fam'd for riding, for bruising Ye strikers observe when the foe shall

the other;

[blocks in formation]

draw nigh,

Mark the bowler advancing with vigilanţ eye;

Your skill all depends upon distance and

sight,

Stand firm to your scratch, let your bat be upright.

And bowling and striking, and running Ye fields-men look sharp, lest your pains

ing and tossing,

and crossing;

ye beguile,

[blocks in formation]

Then why should we fear either Sackville or Mann?

Or repine at the loss both of Bayton and Lan?

With such troops as these, we'll be lords

of the game, Spite of Minchin and Miller, and Lumpy, and Frame.

Then fill up your glass, he's the best who drinks most,

Here's the Hambleton Club-who refuses the toast?

Let us join in the praise of the bat and the wicket,

And sing in full chorus the patrons of cricket.

And when the game's o'er, and our fate shail draw nigh,

(For the heroes of cricket like others must die);

Our bats well resign, neither troubled nor vext,

And give up our wickets to those that

come next.

Derry down, &c.

THE ANGLER AND PHILOSOPHER.

BESIDE a gentle murm'ring brook,

An angler took his patient stand; He ey'd the stream with anxious look, And wav'd his rod with cautious hand. The bait with nicest art was drest,

The fishes left their safe retreat,

And one, more eager than the rest, Look'd, long'd, and swallow'd the deceit.

Too late she felt the poignant smart,
Her pitying friends her fate deplore,
The angler, with well-practis'd art,
Play'd, hook'd, and drew her to the
shore.

Lur'd by the beauty of the day,

The sun now sinking in the sky, A sage pursu'd his walk that way, And saw the bleeding victim lie.

Far in the vale of years declin'd,
He watch'd the course of nature's law,
And thus with philosophic mind,

He moraliz'd on what he saw.

Indulge, awhile, the pensive vein,

And fix this image in your mind;
You've hook'd a fish; observe its pain,
And view the state of human kind.

Fate gives us line, we shift the scene,
And jocund traverse to and fro,
Pain, sickness, still will intervene,

We feel the hook where'er we go.
If, proudly, we our schemes extend,
And look beyond the present hour,
We find our straiten'd prospects end,
And own an over-ruling power.
Awhile we sport, awhile lament,

[ocr errors]

Fate checks the line, and we are gone, Dragg'd from our wonted element To distant climes, untry'd, unknown.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
« ПредишнаНапред »