ength about 240 miles. According to his moderate estimate, this flock contained two thousand two hundred and thirty millions, two hundred and seventy-two pigeons. In Persia, pigeons are kept wholly for the purpose of obtaining their dung, to rear and improve fruits; and immense flights of these birds are frequently to be met with. THE LAWS OF THE TURF. 66 The following trial between Mr. Jones and Mr. Breary is well worthy the attention of sportsmen in general, which took place at the Derby Assizes; it was an action against the defendant, the clerk of the Derby racecourse, in his character of stake-holder, for money had and received to plaintiff's use. The facts were these :-At the last Derby races, which took place in the month of August, Mr. (now Lord) Cavendish, and Mr. Thornhill, acted as stewards. When The Dunnington Park and Fatbuck Stakes" was run for, Mr. Thornhill told the jockeys, eight or ten in number, as they were about to start, that they must be ready within ten minutes after they were weighed to start for the second heat. The first heat was won by a three-year old horse of Mr. Beardsworth's, named "Champion." Few, if any, of the horses were ready at the appointed time for starting for the second heat. At nineteen minutes after the first heat Mr. Thornhill gave the word "Off," there being then only five horses at the starting post. Of these the plaintiff's horse "Tommy Tickle," which was aged, came in first. Although the stewards are masters of the race, it is usual for the clerk of the course to start the horses, and it is also customary to allow an interval of half an hour between the heats, particularly for young horses, which take a longer time to recover their wind than aged ones. This heat, therefore, having been objected to as not being fair, the defendant refused to weigh the rider of Tommy Tickle, and ultimately the stewards decided that it was no race, and must, therefore, be run again. The horses accordingly started a third time, when Champion came in first, and a mare named Gazelle came second, Tommy Tickle coming in third. Under these circumstances, it was contended that Tommy Tickle won the race, because the second start, it was contended, was fair; and neither Gazelle or Champion having run that heat, they must be taken to be distanced, and therefore disqualified from running the third heat, thus leaving Tommy Tickle the winner of the third as well as of the second heat. It was, however, admitted by plaintiff's witnesses that the usual and reasonable interval allowed between heats at all races throughout the kingdom was half an hour, and also that it was customary for the clerk of the course, and not the steward, to start the horses; be sides which, it was stated that the stewards were the proper persons to judge of the fairness of a start, and in this case they had decided that the start was not fair, and that therefore the second heat should be run over again. Upon these facts, Mr. Baron Bayley was clearly of opinion that the plaintiff must be nonsuited. If the stewards deviated from the usual course, they were bound to give notice of such deviation to the owners of the horses; and they were, moreover, bound to allow a reasonable time for young horses as well as old to recover their wind. On the present occasion they had not done so, and they had subsequently decided that they were wrong, and that the heat must therefore be run over again. In any point of view, there was no pretence for saying that the plaintiff was entitled to the stakes. His lordship would therefore beg leave to suggest that the next person called should be Mr. Michael Jones [a laugh.] Mr. Jones was accordingly nonsuited. STRANGE SAGACITY OF A RAT. Nothing more clearly points out that "Necessity is the mother of invention." During a dreadful storm which occurred in the vicinity of Haddington, about the time the river Tyne was at its height, a number of people were assembled on its margin, gazing on quantities of hay, and the huge masses it was sweeping along in its irresistible course. A swan, at last, "hove in sight," struggling sometimes for the land, and at others sailing majestically along with the torrent. When it drew near, it was observed that there was a black spot on its snowy plumage, and the spectators were mightily surprised when they discovered that this black spot was a large live rat. It is probable that it had been flooded from its domicile in some hay-rick, and observing the swan, had made for it as an ark of safety, in the hope, no doubt, of prolonging its life. When the swan reached the land, the rat leaped from his back and scampered away, but it was pursued by about forty of "the lords of the creation," and the life that the tempest spared was instantly sacrificed-a merciless fellow laid it dead with the blow of a staff. THE PET GOAT. In consequence of a most inveterate drunkard being reclaimed by a Goat, the following anecdote will be found extremely interesting : "There was a blacksmith, a very clever fellow, who had an excellent business, and could make by it just what he pleased; but, like many others, he could not keep himself well when he was well, but straightway he fell to drinking. Until then, he had been a kind father and an affectionate husband, and liked to see his wife and children well fed and well clothed; but how can a man, who has with his own hands destroyed his reason, and sent a fire raging through his veins, answer for what he will do, or will not do? While he was drinking or drunk, the work was at a stand; the smithy-door, locked or open, as chance directed; his tools and materials, articles left for repair, every thing it contained at the mercy of whoever chose to go in to steal or destroy. He burned one horse's foot, ran a nail through another, paired a third to the quick, and, in short, lamed and tortured many a worthy animal far more respectable than himself. Such things soon met their reward. His customers, some in wrath, some with regret, all left him, and got their work done elsewhere. Of course, poverty followed, and that did not either improve his temper, or make him the less outrageous for drink. When he went home, hungry and greeting bairns met him there, and also a sad and often an angry wife, who had no food to give either to him or them. Knowing and feeling in every fibre of his heart, and conscious that he had been acting like a mouster, of necessity he was furious at her, and often concluded his visit to his own house by beating with his great forehammer fists the good and respectable woman so beloved in the days of his well-doing. "It happened that he had a tame goat which was very fond of him, and, drunk or sober, it trotted at his heels wherever he went. If he sat in a public-house, so did it. If he lay all night on the street or on a stair-head, as the poor lost wretch often did, there too was faithful Nanny creeping close to him, and many thought that it was the heat of the poor dumb animal that kept the life in John when incapable of either knowing or feeling that he was about to perish. Well, it so happened one morning that John could get nobody to take a gill with him; he asked one and another, but they all refused; and it must be confessed that, by that time, his appearance was not a particular recommendation to the practice he pursued. He cursed them with all his might; and, in a pet, said to his goat-- Come, Nanny, come awa, since nane else will drink wi' me, ne'er a bit do I care, my wee faithfu' Nan, thou shalt do't.' And going into the public-house he got his gill, and offered some to the goat, which, to be sure, the goat would not take. 'What the devil, Nan,' said he, 'aye! and thou'st gaun to do like the lave o' them, and a' sorrow to thee! Na, na, mistress, come here wi' you, gie's nane o' thae airs;' and seizing the poor beast, he poured the whiskey over its throat. This cruel trick was followed by snorting, stamping, butting, and every other expression of its anger; but in a short time it began to reel, and stagger, and fall, and John roared with rapture at the glorious exploit of making the goat drunk, and looked to it as a boundless source of future diversion. Next morn ing, according to custom, he repaired to the same whiskey house, and the goat at his heels, but it stopt at the outside of the door, and farther it would not budge; no, not for all that John could do. What's this for, Nan? what the sorrow ails tu, that thou'll no come in?' said he. D'ye na see! it's because ye filled her fou yesterday,' quoth the fat landlady. John was smitten to the heart, and let go the goat. After standing a moment, he silently turned from the door with his conscience roused from its torpor, and armed against him with a thousand daggers. Am I reproved,' said he to himself,-'me, made after the image of the living God, am I reproved in my evil ways by a puir dumb beast! a creature to which he has denied that reason which I have so brutally abused. Reason granted me for a light to guide mysel' in fulfilling my ain duty,-my duty to my poor, illrequited, faithful wife, and my unhappy bairns, to whom I hae set sic an awfu' example,-my duty to God, the great God I have offended. "He went home to his bed, silent and conscious-stricken; there he lay for two days without food or drink; in agonies of deep and fervent prayer to God and his Redeemer, confessing his sins, and imploring grace and mercy to help him to forsake them; and his prayers were heard. Next morning he rose and went to his work. He trembled at the sight of a whiskey-house, and watched and prayed that he might be preserved from the temptation. He was found steadily at his work; no longer a reeling, red-nosed, ragged blackguard, blustering and swearing, worse than any heathen, but clothed and in his right mind.' In a short time his business returned, his health became good, his spirits good, he had peace in his heart, and peace in his home, and penury, and poverty, and weeping, and gloom had disappeared. His children were no longer afraid of him, and he felt the same affection for them and their mother as ever he did." THE SAILOR BOY. AIR-"The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone." The Sailor Boy on a tour is gone In an Oxford crib you'll find him ; His boxing gloves on his fives are drawn, And care is cast behind him. "Alic Reid," said the bouncing cove, "Are you the man to fight me ? A turn-up let us have for love, And to floor you will delight me." But the Sailor Hero soon found out That for once he had made a blunder, For the Snob contriv'd to tap his snout, And poor Harry Jones knock'd under. Ah!" he exclaim'd, to repine is vain, Why to fight did I feel so eager ? I'll never set-to with the Snob again, When my head is confus'd with Seager."* * Seager-a noted distiller for his fine flavoure:1 Vie Tom, considered the best in the Metropolis: whether tossed off short, or mixing for grog. Twas one day at a fete giv'n at Jove's sans souci; Come, name your endowments, cry'd Mars, for my meed I courage would give, if of courage they'd need; Of well temper'd steel an old tough English inw. The care of their dress, cry'd gay Iris, be mine: Cry'd Venus, her words sweetly kissing the air, Thus bestow'd each celestial some tribute of worth, New Cressys and Agincourts conquer'd again: Of a nation united, beware-the bow's bent, THERE never was a mistaken notion more prevalent, than that the bow is too simple to require any study, says Mr. Waring; but, simple as it may appear, it will be found that without a theoretical knowledge, the practical part can never be obtained, and so many inconveniences arise to a person attempting one without having acquired the other, that he soon grows disgusted, because not able to overcome a few difficulties: it is these difficulties that the author wishes to remove by pointing out to the learner a proper method to pursue; for many thinking it too insignificant, as not worthy a moment's study, adopt what their own ideas suggest, and by that fall into such bad habits as to break bow after bow, till at last they get disheartened from pursuing the amusement any further, and lay it aside altogether as appearing to them trifling and childish, and in the end expensive. How any one could ever think the amusement of the long bow as childish, can only be from the recollection that it was once his juvenile recreation, and supposing no greater feats can be performed by a manly weapon, than was done by a boyish plaything: but supposing his contempt of the bow is founded upon that idea alone, it cannot justify him for the slur he throws upon all the lovers of ARCHERY, and those not a few; for travel into any part of the globe and he will discover that it is, or has been, the amusement of the Nobles and Sovereigns of every nation, and is the general amusement of many eastern countries to this day. But the bow need not travel out of this kingdom to obtain honors, for it has received sufficient to stamp its fame both as an instrument of war and amusement in its native soil; but at present it must be confessed, that the inhabitants of Turkey, Persia, and of various other countries, far excel the best of English archers, and the reason is obvious, of practice," and a few examples of feats and achievements; a novice witnessing the performance of an unskilful archer, wonders how a man can amuse himself with what he remembers was only looked upon at school as a toy; but when he beholds the shooting of an expert archer, and is shown the strength and powers of the bow, his wonder changes to the opposite side, and he admires with delight what he before treated with contempt. want As the use of arms is universally allowed to be an honorable profession, why should not the pursuit of an amusement founded upon that warlike weapon, preceded by the present, be deemed likewise honorable? and when it is recollected, that the deeds achieved by our forefathers, which secured to England its present constitution, were with the bow; it cannot be denied, but that it is the noblest amusement, and in its admirers seeming to draw forth a tribute of gratitude for past services too worthy to be buried in oblivion. Be this as it will, it was in former times thought of such importance as to become the object of the legislature's care, mary acts of parliament having at various periods passed in support of it, long after it was laid aside as a weapon of war, and which even went so far as to compel every man, except the clergy and the judges, to practice shooting, and to have continually in his possession a bow and at least three arrows; the City of London was obliged by other acts to erect butts and to keep them in repair; and when, after a lapse of a few years, ARCHERY began to decline, and shooting to be discontinued, the bow-makers petitioned Queen Elizabeth for authority to put the acts of Henry VIII. in force, by which they obliged every man who had not a bow and three arrows in his possession to provide himself accordingly; if the bow-makers of the present age could again enforce the act, they might raise a sum that would go nigh to pay the debt of the nation. Archery began to decline after the death of Charles II., and was confined in practice to a few counties only, till about forty years ago, when it was revived with increased splendour • On Wednesday, May 29, 1793, the general meeting of Archers of Great Britain, took place on Black. heath, for a trial of skill for the silver bugle. General Orders for the Meeting on Blackheath, this day. "At eleven o'clock, the leaders of the targets to arrange the archers to shoot at their respective targets, and to set down their names; and that every gentleman, previous to his name being inserted in a target card, produce his ticket to the leader of such target, with his name thereon. "No greater number than ten to shoot at any one pair of targets. "Two arrows to be shot at each end. "Two target papers to be kept at each target. "At twelve, the shooters to form a line in the front of the tents, in the order of shooting; the signal for forming the line to be a march of the music playing the whole length of the line: the line being formed, the signal to face to the right and march, to be three beats of the great drum. "The different societies will then march to their re spective targets, and begin shooting when the music ceases. "The leader of each target to advance ten paces when bis party have done shooting, and begin to march to the opposite target, on hearing the music, which will play until the shooting recommences. "At three, refreshments to be taken into the tents. "The signal to go to the tents will be by the music halting in the centre of the ground until the arrows are collected, when each society will fall into its own station; the line will then be formed, and to march back to the tents, the same signal being used as for the march to the targets. "At half-past three, the same signal as before used will be repeated for forming the line, and recommencing the shooting. "At six, the shooting will cease by the same signal as before used for going to refresh; the whole line to halt in front of the tents, while the stewards collect the target papers; the whole party are then to be dismissed, and proceed to dinner." In the morning, six beautiful marquees were raised with banners flying, and at 100 yards apart the targets were erected in the following order: Royal Surrey Bowmen throughout every part of England, as will appear by the number of societies that were instituted, many of which exist, and continue their yearly and monthly meetings to this day. gen About twelve o'clock, according to general orders, the bowmen entered the field with their band of martial music, and having paraded the enclosure, a signal was given for the archers to assemble at their respective targets, and the shooting instantly commenced, which the shooters followed up with prodigious dexterity, till three o'clock, amidst a vast concourse of teel company; and then with their band playing, marched to their tents for refreshment. About halfpast four, they returned in order, and at half-past five the shooting was given up by consent. The company, who were become too numerous, having broke the line of order, and so deranged the shooters, that the Royal Surrey Bowmen could, towards the conclusion, seldom see their own targets. The Right Honorable the Earl of Aylesford, with the stewards, having collected the target papers, a temporary suspension took place, on account of the difficulty to decide between the shot of Dr. Leith, and the shot of Mr. Jarvis. After a nice investigation, the prize was declared (by his Grace the Duke of Leeds, president for the day) in favour of Dr. Leith, of Greenwich, for having split the central mark of the goal at the distance of 100 yards, with the greatest exactness. The following is an exact list of the successful competitors : Mr. Anderson, Robin Hood Bowman, captain of numbers. Dr. Leith, Royal Kentish Bowman, captain of target. Mr. Jarvis, Woodman of Hornsey, lieutenant of target. After this distribution of prizes, the members returned to town, and at eight o'clock sat down to a splendid dinner at Willis's Rooms. The beauties in the circle of carriages which surrounded the enclosure upon the Heath, out-numbered and out-shone those of any assembly we ever saw. Description of the Banners.-Robin Hood's Bowmen, had on a wreath, three arrows surmounted with an oak wreath. Woodmen of Arden.-On a yellow field, a silver arrow in flight, with the letters AR above the arrow, and DEN below, surrounded with a broad leaf of oak leaves. Toxopholites.-Sable, between a chevron, charged with bugle horns, three silver arrows. Royal Bowmen of Kent.-Or, in a canton the arms of Kent, the field charged with three piles of arrows. Crest, an arm rising from a wood INVICTA. Motto, Leges teneamus avitas: an ancient bowman on the dexter side, a modern ditto on the sinister. Saint George's.-Or, three arrows in pile. Crest, a stricken deer. Hornsey.-Vert,between a chevron, two golden bows in chief, a bugle horn in bare. Crest, three arrows in a thicket, entwined with a serpent. The following song, appeared at the time, written by the Poet Laureate, T. N., to the Royal Kentish Bowmen. As an amusement, ARCHERY has these advantages over all others as a field diversion, which is not only approved of by our ablest physicians, but strongly recommended by them as being the most healthy exercise a man can pursue, strengthening and bracing the bodily frame without that laborious exertion common to many games, every nerve and sinew being regularly brought into play without the danger of being exposed to those alternate heats and colds incident to many diversions, as in cricket, tennis, &c. On Sir William Wood's tomb-stone were these two lines : Long did he live the honor of the bow, And his long life to that alone did owe. ARCHERY is an amusement which steals (if it may be so expressed), upon a man's affections, and often makes him perform more than he thinks in his power: for many an archer who would not undertake to walk five miles Who Captain of targets, and numbers shall be, Their bows are all bent, and the pastime begun, The Woodman of Arden, how graceful he draws, Hark! hark! from above, what a burst of applause, 'Tis hit by a Bowman of Kent. How eager around for the honors they strair, The pleasures of harmony sweeten the toil, At the twang of the bow looks down with a smile The day's sport is over, the targets are told Where Willis ++ gives hunger content; |