Barnet Races. incur the pains and penalties mentioned in the ftatute concerning plagues and peftilence. Tuesday Morning, 7 o'clock. Carpenters were bufy in erecting the booths, ftands, &c. and other conveniences for the accommodation of customers; while the fond mothers in the town had washed and dressed their children in new caps, fafhes, and other tawdry ornaments, for the gaping multitude to admire; and by eight o'clock the break. faft tables were fpread for their friend and relations. Jackaffes loaded with fruit, oysters, and pickled falmon, had come down by nine, and links of raw faufages were hung upon fticks, to invite the hungry ftranger; and about ten, the charcoal and pans went to work; the favoury fmell fpread itfelf around, and walk into my parlour" became a general cry. A fquad of barrow-girls took poffeffion of an eligible fpot of ground, with their tubs of oysters; fome of the fatteft were opened, to make the mouth water, and all fat and good oh!' was bawled by lungs of leather. There was plenty of fhrimps, crabs, and perriwinkles, at every mugging-booth, in ad dition to their larders of ham, cold beef, &c. 277 The race grows warmer, and the temper fwells; Till all the fiery mettle has its way, And the thick thunder hurries o'er the plain. The Hunter's Sweepstakes was won eafy, by Mr. Goldham's bay gelding, beating two others.' Mr. Goldham, who rode his own horfe, was as much admired for his skill in horfemanship, as he has often been before for agility at the game of cricket. Afterwards the fweepstakes of gol. was won by Mr. Corries br. c. Bandalore. Here, fome of the done first dealers was thrown over the bridge; as the favourite who was laid on thick, was dif tanc'd. Wednesday Morning. The town appeared very dull; moft of the race-comers loung'd about the market, or up and down the High-street; ftaring with vacant eyes into every private houfe window. Some people were at the inn-doors, in the doing nothing ftate of lolling against an upright of the gateway, cross-legg'd, and look'd like emblems of indolence, who did not know what to think about. Others were aftride the rails, playing with their whips, fancying themfelves on horfeback, and whiftling Nnz Barnet Races. 278 II o'clock. Jack Bufkin galloped up Barnet town with his hands tied behind him, for a bet of fix bottles; his horfe taking fri ht, dafhed his head against the Matre fign-poft, and he was taken up dead. The coroner's inqueft have fince brought in their verdict-Lunacy. It is remarkable, that there never was before, in the memory of the oldest inhab tant of Barnet, fuch a number of rooks and pigeons as have appeared there. and on the courfe, this meeting, The E. Q. tables had, abundance of company; most of whom loft their money, but had he confolation to hear it was only owing to their having N. O. luck, 2 o'clock. The poney Sweepstakes was run for and won by the Hon. T. Bowes' ch, m. Paggy; who was high in eftimation at the bet ting poft. 4 o'clock. The bellman proclaimed thro' the town, that a day's play of cocks was to be fought at the Harrow, between the gentlemen of Barnet and Hatfield, for two guineas a battle, and twenty the odd; and in lefs then half an hour, the pit was filled: fome mute as fo many mourners; in other parts, were groups of main and bye-battle feeders, delivering eloquent lectures upon blood, bone, and feather, and claffically conftruing rights in left, norrils, hackles, and combs; till the first pair of cocks was pitted, when there was great fhouts, and different tones of "Come, that bag for 20-I'll take 6 to 4-I hold 6 to 5 the pyle-I'll lay 13 to 6 the yellow.-Done-done." then was alternately chorus'd round the pit while fo fierce were the rage of the two animals, with an unaccountable inveteteracy they were cutting and ftabbing each other to pieces, to the During this race, one of the amazing entertainment of the jockeys was difmounted by Mr. fpectators, who honour the fur-Gilpin, a flaymaker's horfe, runviving cock with fhouts of vic. ning away with his mafter, who tory. was taken up ipecchlefs with the Just before the races began, fe-tright; and on examining him, it veral of the family-men were put into a prodigious panic, on ac. count of a number of horsemen appearing at the inn-door where they dined, but they were difcovered only to be a party of friends, efcorting a favourite borse; and not any of the Bowftreet runners, as was at first reported. Seven horfes ftarted for the 50l, which was won after three good heats, by M. O'Kelly's b. h. Cardock, though M. Goodis fon's Dalham was the favourite; and bets 5 to 1 against Cardock. was perceived his boots were bloody, occafioned by a bodkin he canted in his breches-pocket, running through his diachylon plaifer. Evening. The mobility haften'd off the courfe; and through, the quantity of liquor the heat and duft had Sporting Intelligence, had obliged, them to. fwallow, were very clamorous and trou. blefome; pushing and crowding for the benefit of the pice-pockets, who made a good harvest. 279 and, then the tide, perhaps, will, help you off." Trickum implored ineffectually. for a confiderable time, till pleading the diftrefs of, the lady, Tom's gallantry interpofed, and he kindly condefcended for five fhil. Several battles were fought on the return of the company to their refpective abodes; one inlings-down upon the nail to row particular, by a hedge courtezan and an itinerant fhrimp lady; the latter had two of her teeth fent L AQUATIC SPORT. them to Blackfriars-ftairs. This he did, and landing them on the Surry fide, left Trickum to walk home, meditating on the means by which a knowing attorney may fucceed in humbugging a waterman! THE MELFORD DISASTER. The following circumftance occurred at Long Melford, near Bury; three young ladies of that place, one of whom is very much celebrated for her mental as well perfonal accomplishments, agreed a few days fince, to bathe in a river, about half a mile distant from the town, there being no private accommodation for that purpofe in the neighbourhood. ATELY, a limb of the law, after amufing himself at An early hour, at which they Vauxhall, with his dulcinea, would be the leaft liable to be. agreed with a waterman for two difcovered by ftrangers, was defhillings to take him and his lady termined on, and at four o'clock to the Temple Stairs. When they in the morning they proceeded approached the place, the lawyer from home to the appointed. began to revile the waterman,place. As they walked through and told him he was an impofing rafcal to ask two fhillings when his fare was no more than one, which was all he would give him. It was in vain that Tom the town, they were efpied by a blackfmith, who about the fame. hour ufually gets up to his work. Curiofity prompted him to find, out whither the fair ones were bound; but he did not difcover himself to them till they were in the river, the perfect images of Tug appealed to the generofity of Trickum, who paid his fhilling, and the pair was landed. Trickum finding to his misfor-their primitive mother Eve, when tune that the gate was locked, perceiving him approach, they and he could not get into the fcreamed out, and prudently fat Temple, called out luftily to down in the water. The modern Tom to take him on board, and Vulcan, dead to the diftreffes of carry him to Blackfriars-ftairs. Venus, determined to divert his uncouth fancy, by carrying off their cloaths, with which he did Stay there, and be d-n'd," quoth Tom, "for an hour or two, not 280 Sporting Intelligence. not return. In this pitiable Neptune's triumphal car was fituation they were obliged to re-again exhibited, but proceeded main for near an hour, when a poor woman paffing that way, on bearing the rude behaviour they had experienced, and their confequent embarraffnent, procured them fuch neceffary articles of apparel, as enabled them to get home. The blackfmith has fince made a public boast of his exploit, faying it was a fine piece of fport; and, owing to his unfeeling and brutish conduct, the young ladies have ever fince been afhamed to be feen, even by their relations. Vulcan's frolic and boating, will most likely turn out a ferious affair to him, for the three water nymphs have preferred a bill of indictment against him, for ftealing their cloaths. VAUXHALL PRIZE ROWING At a quarter after fix, the feven boats ftarted from Blackfriarsbridge, for the three prizes—— a boat, two guineas, and one guinea. The firing of an arquebus was the fignal, but the clabing of oars was fo inceffant, that it was not diftinctly heard, Sloat and Heath, of Bank-fide, got the ftart about two boats length. Brummell, of Vauxhall, and Howfon, of Hungerford, followed. Two of the other boats returned without making Westminster. The match was carried on with moft incredible fwiftnefs throughout to Batterfeabridge, through the center arch; and in the return to Vauxhall, Sloat and Heath won the boat by three boat's length only. Brummell and his partner the fecond prize, The number of boats on the river, and fpectators on the banks, exceeded every former exhibition. no further than the Red House for the want of tide. There were to have been great improvements, but there was not time fufficient.. The victors were carried in triumph to the gardens, which were thronged with company. Upon the whole, a more beautiful fight was never seen upon the face of Old Father Thames. At Workington Races, a child was run over by one of the plate horfes in the courfe, and killed on the spot. Waxey and Brother to Precipitate, we hear are matched to run over the Beacon Course at Newmarket, the firft fpring meeting for 200gs. h. ft. weight 8ft. 4lb. each. A wheatear of a very beautiful and uncommon plumage, was lately fhot on Horsham Common. The wings and point of the tail only are of the ordinary colour; the head and back down to about the middle of the tail, are milk white, interfperfed with here and there a feather of an afh colour, particularly on the. rump; the throat is a mixture of and belly are of one colour, and white and cinnamon; the breast tural to the chaffinch. This rare moft refemble that which is nabird has been feen by feveral fhepherds, who have catched many thousands, and who allow it to be a great curiofity, having never before feen any one that was any thing like it. On Thursday, July the 24th, a pitched battle was fought, in the Duke of Bedford's field, behind Gower-ftreet, between two Sporting Intelligence. 281 fupported in a powerful and dexterous method all the way to Chelfea, when Franklyn was the victor by two boat's length. Crow, of Church-street, won the third prize. BURY, AUG. 2d. On Monday fennight, about ten o'clock at night, fome perfons being emploved to deftroy wafp-nefts at Eufton, fer fire to one near the Duke of Grafton's park gate, which communicating with the furze on the heath, leading to Barnham, deftroyed a very large covey for game, and was with much difficulty, by the affiftance of the engines, prevented from communicating to the parfonage-house and barn. two coal-porters fkilled in the pugilistic art. Jones, called Old Tar, and a younger adept of the name of Chriftie. The concourfe of people who attended was very great, and chiefly of the coal tribe, who had come from the water fide, anticipating the fun of a favage battle; the original; difference having there arifen about the payment of a pint of porter: in confequence of which it was determined to decide the quarrel by fair boxing, for one guinea each. The first fet-to Cetermined odds among the gents of a guinea to a crown, from Chriftie fhifting, apparently, with fear, from his antagonist, who knocked him down at every blow thrown in by the left hand, and ftruck moft ferociously and directly at the breast. After feven fet-to's, Old Tar was declared victorious; although the eldest man in mufcular ftrength, he had the pre-emi-lages were greatly alarmed for nence as well as fcientific. Chrif tie was younger, of lefs power, and in worfe condition. A fa. vourite of the rabble, Thomas Body, who fought George the Brewer, and loft his battle from a broken arm, was fecond to Jones; and this ridiculous fight was held up and fupported by the mockkery of feconds and bottleholders, affording no fun to the amateurs, nor material injury to the combatants. Dogget's coat and badge was rowed for on Friday, Auguft ift. At a quarter after fix, the candidates ftarted, five in number, from the Old Swan. James Franklyn, of Putney, had rather the advantage, which he kept all the way, although very hard preffed by James Taylor, of Horfleydown. The race was The fight was of the 'most awful kind, forming a body of fire of immenfe magnitude, which was feen for many miles round, and the inhabitants of the vil its fafety; but happily the even. ing was very calin. Many rab bits and hares were found in the. plantation next morning, fmpthered and burnt to death. A gentleman fome days ago fet out from Oxford, to ride a match against time, from that city to London and back: the diftance 108 miles in twelve hours, with change of horfes, which he performed in eight and a quarter. ARCHERY. On Monday, August 4, an elegant entertainment was given by the Royal Surrey Bowmen, on Epfom Downs, to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales and the Royal Kentish Bowmen, of which fociety his Royal Highness is patron, who was gracioully pleafed to honour the meeting with his prefence. |