A BET of a very singular nature was lately made, at a coffee-house in Bond-street, which is likely to afford much amusement, as it is perfectly novel, and for no less a sum than 5001. The wager is, that a gentleman shall go from London to Dover, and hack, in any mode he chooses, while another makes a million of dots with a pen and ink upon a sheet of writing paper.

ON Monday, the 22d instant, a person undertook to trundle a coach wheel six miles within an hour, on the Abingdon road, which he performed, with apparent ease, four minutes within the time.-Considerable bets were depending.

A GENTLEMAN who resides at London Farm, near Gallery, in Kincardineshire, has now in his possession a ram, between the Cheviot and English breed, of extraordinary strength and size; he lately gained his owner a considerable wager, by carrying a youth, weighing seven stone and a half, a quarter of a mile, at the rate of seven miles within the hour. The attachment of this animal to horses is singular, as he will trot beside those of his master to any distance with apparent pleasure.

On Wednesday, the 24th instant, when the groom was leading Harry Rowe out of the stable at Eddlethorpe Kennels, near Malton, he struck his head against the upper beam, which caused his immediate death. He was formerly the property of the late Mr. Went worth, and got by Pantaloon, out of Duplicity's dam, by Florizel.

EARL Fitzwilliam had lately a

two black swans, with red beaks. His Lordship sent them down to his seat at Milton, where they are alive in the park.

ANGLING. An expert angler caught lately, in the river Tivy, near Newcastle Emlyn, four trouts, weighing together twenty-three pounds and a half.

PUGILISM. Scroggins is matched to fight Nosworthy, in a 24feet ring, for 100 guineas, on the 6th of June; they are in close train. ing. Betting, 5 and 6 to 4 on Nosworthy.

A sparring exhibition, for the benefit of Painter and Shelton, the late losers at Hounslow Heath, took place at the Fives Court, on the 6th instant, and it was well attended. The best specimens of science were exhibited by Cribb and Oliver, Belcher and Harmer, Richmond and Shelton, Ford and a teacher, &c. &c. After the diver sion, the amateurs retired to a dinner at Cribb's.

On Tuesday, the 9th instant, at Twickenham Common, a smart battle took place between two natives of the spot, but they had no science. A second battle for a subscription purse took place between Ford, the pugilist, and an athletic navigator, of fourteen stone. Ford fought bravely, but he was in a shocking condition, and had not a chance during the whole combat. The navigator shewed himself a courageous man not to be denied, to use a technical phrase, and Ford yielded to superior power, after fifty-six minutes fighting. Both were much beaten.

On Thursday, the 3d instant, George Heath was charged at one of the Police Offices, with an assault on Thomas Cribb, the prizefighter.

fighter. Heath is a waterman, and celebrated for laying informa tion against his brethren of the ri ver, for the violation of the rules. These parties came in contact on the banks of the Thames, when Cribb muttered something about vagabonds and informers. Heath felt the force of the observation, but despising the weight of fists, ventured to revile Cribb's pugilistic talents, and the boxer in return levelled a tremendous blow at Heath, which hurled him into the Thames. Cribb then gave him in charge to the watchman, and he remained in custody all night, but the Magis trates dismissed the complaint.

ON opening a bale of cottonwool, this month, at the mill of Messrs. Grimshaw, White-house, greatly to the astonishment of all present, a small tortoise was turned out. It appeared at the time to be in a torpid state, but on being washed, and a short time exposed to the open air, it became animated and lively. It must have been at least six months excluded from the air, deprived of food and motion, and may have been so for two years, as it frequently happens that cotton-wool has been so long packed before it comes into the hand of the manufacturer.-(Belfast Com. Chron.)

Extraordinary Dwarf.-The following is a correct description of the smallest dwarf ever known, who was exhibited before the Queen, the Princesses Elizabeth, Mary, and Charlotte of Wales, the Prince Regent, the Dukes of York and Clarence, on Friday, the 5th instant. His name is Simon Paap, a native of Zandvoort, near Haarlem, in Holland. He is twenty six years of age, and weighs only twenty-seven pounds, and is only

twenty-eight inches in height. He is considered the shortest man ever seen. He is well made and well proportioned for his size. He has not grown any since he was six" years of age, and no cause could be assigned by the faculty. He goes through the military exercise with a gun, proportionably to his size.

He smokes tobacco and takes snuff freely. He prefers the house to the open air. His ap pearance is that of a child between four and five years of age, but his age is visible in the features of his face; his disposition is very lively, and he will hold a conversation in his own language.

THE operation of nose-pulling was performed upon a young turf character in Bond-street, on the Sunday after Epsom races, at broad noon-day. When Foote introduced Apreece to the world in the ludicrous character of Cadwallader, in The Author, a friend of that gentleman's threatened to pull the mimic by the nose, whenever he met him. This being told in the presence of Quin, be asked bis advice what he should do? "Do! I'll tell you what you must do-soap your nose, and then 'twill slip through his fingers."

WRESTLING. After the annual fair on the 15th instant, the athle tic amusements commenced at Morice Town, Devon, where the votaries of these ancient gambols were never more numerous, and it may be justly said, never were more disappointed. The usual custom of the contending parties has been a kind of rivalship between the sister counties, Devon and Cornwall, which could produce the best men in the gymnastic art. The palm had been given alternately to each for many years; but for the last

two, Devon has produced two such giants, in Jordan and Flower (young men more than six feet high, and nearly 18 stone), that the Cornishmen have declined attending. In consequence, the grand prize was not played out until the fourth day, when the two great standards of Devon determined to oppose each other: many bets were made in favour of Flower at the commencement, but after a few rounds, it was observed that he flinched from his adversary's foot blows; odds were then in favour of Jordan, who, after a trial of 17 minutes, caught his opponent by the fore-hip, and gave him so fine a turn on his back, that the air was rent by the shouts of the spectators, in declaring him victor. Great praise is due to the conductors of this wrestling, who proposed an additional prize of 51. afterwards, to be played for by men without shoes. Some of them afforded good play, particularly a little sailor boy, about 19 years old, and not five feet high, called Spure, alias Little Bonaparte, who astonished every one by his play. He threw the celebrated Webber, and two other tall " good men;" but his fourth man, Northcott, gave him an unlucky turn, which had nearly dislocated his neck. It then remained for a young man, called Uglow, and Northcott, to contend for the prize, which was won by the latter, being a more powerful man. The first prize was won by Webber; second prize by Jordan, jun.; the third by Jordan; second best by Flower.-Plymouth Telegraph.

IN the Court of Common Pleas, May 27-Tilley v. Parsons.-This

was

an action brought by the. plaintiff, a trainer of horses for the turf, against the defendant, of a similar profession, to recover da mages for slander, under the following circumstances:-A Mr. Radcliffe, of sporting fame, had been in the habit of employing the plaintiff to purchase horses for him, and previous to the last races at Ascot, employed him to purchase a horse, named Speculator, for, which he was to pay six hundred guineas. The horse was paid for, ran at Ascot for the Oatlands, and lost. In a conversation between, the defendant and Mr. Radcliffe, subsequently, at his house in Dorsetshire, the former told bim that the plaintiff paid only four hundred guineas for the horse, and "sacked" the other two hundred. Mr. Radcliffe expressed his surprise, and said it could not be so, for he had the receipt of Mr. Hart, the late owner, for that amount. The defendant requested to see it, and upon seeing it, said it was not Hart's hand-writing, and it must be a forgery.-This was the case on the part of the plaintiff, and Mr. Serjeant Shepherd, for the defendant, addressed the Jury, and said it was not his intention to cast any reflection upon any witnesses, but the circunstances of Mr. Radcliffe's communicating in a public manner, a private conversation, was an incautious as well as an unwise thing, and was the foundation of this action.-His Lordship charged the Jury, and they found for the plaintiff-damages 501.

POETRY.

THE following Poem, published in

1779, was at the time esteemed a choice morceau; a repetition of it cannot but afford entertainment to many of the readers of the Sporting Magazine.

While you, dear Townshend, o'er the billows ride,

Mulgrave in front, and Hanger by thy side,

Me it delights the woods and wilds to court,

For rustic feats and unambitious sport.

At that dim hour when fading lamps expire,

When the last lingering clubs to bed retire,

I rise!-how should I then thy feelings

shock,

Unshav'd, unpowder'd, in my shooting frock!

What frock? thou criest.-I'll tell theethe old brown;

Trimm'd to a jacket with the skirts cut down.

Thou laugh'st, I know thou does't; but check that sneer; What, the' no fashion'd sportsman I appear,

way;

No servile ministerial runners they! Not Ranger thin, but WASHINGTON I cry;

Hey on! PAUL JONES, re-echoes to the sky:

To-ho! old FRANKLIN-SILAS DEANE take heed,

Chear'd with the sound, o'er hills and dales they speed.

Till one, to whose quick sense and prac tis'd skill,

His active followers yield a hasty will, Touch'd by the scent the passing gales convey,

With startled vigilance presumes the prey :

The rest a disciplin'd subservience keep, Dash where he runs, or as he crouches, creep;

At length the hostile league one point