The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-17 00:00:00

VAUXHALL S'AILING MATCH AND GALA.

Yesterday a grand sailing match took place for a large
silver vase, which was to be presented in the evening, at
the grand gala, in honour of the Duke of York. Nine
boats started from Blackfriars Bridge, and were to sail
round a boat moored below Putney Bridge. The River
was covered with wherries, barges, and pleasure-boats,
crowded with gay spectators of the well-contested race.
The Royal Eagle for a considerable time took the lead by
nearly twenty yards. At Battersea Bride, however, it was
nearly overtaken by the Fortitude, which pressed upon her
as closely as a boat's-length ; however, she did not come
up, owing to some mismanagement in working her way
under the Bridge. The Royal Eagle won in gallant style ;
the Fortitude came in second—" scd lungo irdernallo," and
the Comet third. The cup and cover, which were mas-
sive silver, and richly embossed, were presented with a sui-
table address by Mr. Williams) to Mr. Stokes, Captain of
the Royal Eagle.
Did not the proprietors of these gardens feel " that idle
wishes are very idle thing's," they would, we presume, wish
that every evening on•whieh their entertainments opened
fell on a royal birth-day ; and in this wish they would be
very excusable, from the overflow of visitors which thronged
to this favourite summer promenade on the King's birth-
day, and on last evening, in honour of the anniversary of
the birth-day of his Royal Highness the Duke of York.
Whether it be owing to the magic of a royal name, or the
sank of the entertainments—or, what is more probable,
Se the combined attraction of both—certainly we do not
remember, on any former occasion, to have seen these gar-
dens honoured with a more numerous, brilliant, and fashion-
able attendance. Indeed, the deserved popularity of his
Royal highness, as head of the army, could have no
small share in collecting the gay and crowded assem-
blage of last evening. In celebrating the anniversary
of his birth, and that of his august brother, "it was
sot (to speak in the spirit of Junius) a cold profession
ofallegiance to the First Magistrate, but a partial, animated
attachment to a favourite Monarch and a favourite Prince."
Of the exertions of the proprietors on this, as on the former
occasion, we can only speak in terms of the same unquali-
fied commendation. The fireworks, really, were got up in
a style of unparalleled splendour. Several thousand addi-
tional lamps were in requisition, shooting their radiance to
*skies, which
" Swelled the long column of resplendent Lames.
That shook their snielsies o'er tire startled Thames."
The overture from the opera of Der Freiscludz was
again performed, and though with the disadvantage of the
open air, it produced a very pleasing effect—" practice
makes perfect '—if the repetition of the Overture was not
perfect, it was certainly a very creditable improvement on
the liret perform,' •:e of this delightful piece of music. Its
execution, as well as that of the battle simphonia, reflects
very great credit on Mr. Rooke, the superintendent of the
musical department. Miss Tunstall and Miss Witham
greatly augmented the entertainments of the evening by
their vocal abilities, and we were in no small degree pleased
by the very tasteful execution of one or two pretty arias by
Miss Weite. The visitors continued to throng the gardens
from an early hour ; the utmost order prevailed, and every
polite and proper attention paid, for which the company
were principally indebted to the exertions of Mr. Simson,
the active and indefatigable superintendent of this delight-
ful scene of summer recreation.

The Countess of Belvidere, Sir E. Baker, and R. Gor-
don, Esq. M.P., are among the latest arrivals at Wey-
mouth.
A most splendid ball and supper were given on Thurs-
day evening, at the College, Salisbury, by Mrs. Wadham
Wyndham, to a numerous company of persons of the first
distinction and fashion. The Earl and Countess of Pem-
broke were present, as were also Lord and Lady Bridport,
&c. &c. The company consisted of upwards of one hun-
dred and fifty persons.
A house is engaged at Brighton for Mrs. Coutts, who
purposes making a sojourn there of several months.
A foolish report was circulated, that Miss Paton bad
been married some months back, at York, to a younger
branch (Lord Charles Lennox) of a ducal house; and
Miss Paton has thought it necessary to contradict it !
The numerous instrumental band, which have been
selected for the Gram; Musical Festival at Worcester, arc
from the Italian Opera, the Philharmonic, and the Ancient
or King's Concerts.
M. Karamsen's History of Mr Russian Empire is now
in course of publication at St. Petersburgh. Vols. X. and
XI. were published in March last, and several more volumes
arc expected.
Cowes, AUG. 1.5.—1 t is the intention of Mr. Green
(the aeronaut) to ascend from a field near the gasometer at
l'ortsca, accompanied by a young lady, on Tuesday, during
the regatta week, at Portsmouth, under the patronage and
support of a committee of gentlemen.
On Thursday last, the anniversary of his Majesty's
birth-day, the foundation stone of the Devonport Column
was laid on the site appointed for the building, which is en
eminence neat the Town Hall.
The King, on the occasion of laying the corner-stone of
the new gateway at 'Windsor Castle, was plea Fed to grant
the distinction of name to his architect by the change of
Wyatt to Wyattvi'le.
Yesterday morning the Braziers' Company, accompanied
by a number of ladic.r, embarked on board the Venus
steam packet, off the Custom-House, and sailed on an
aquatic excursion to the Nom. A band of music was on
board, and several of the men bore emblems of their
trade.
Saturday sennight the silver arrow, given by the honest
town of Musselburgh, was shot for, on the race ground
there, and gaited by Thomas Ewart, Esq. W.S.
The nines from the cellars of Powdtrham Castle, the
property of Lord Viscount Courtenay, were, on Monday,
at Carter's Auction Room, brought to the hammer ; from
the known excellence and age of the wines, there was a
large attendance, and high prices were obtained. Sonic
lots of Madeira fetched 7 gs. ; Port SBs. per dozer.—Exeter
Patrr.
SAGACITY or Mox a EVII.—A Valenciennes journal gives
us the following article :—Six merchants crossing the coast
of Guinea, with 73 large monkeys, were attacked by up-
wiwds of a hundred negrot s. Bing at a loss how to de-
fend themselves against such fearful odds, one of the mer-
chants proposed arming the prisoners : accordingly swords,
poniards, and pistols were distributed amongst them, and
by imitating their masters, these grotesque auxiliaries sue-
ce:mlcd in putting their aggressors to eight !! !