The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-01-01 00:00:00

~,~

HYDE PARK.
Yesterday the Serpentine River again displayed a
cencourse of spekaators, attracted to the ice by the
of the day and curiosity to beho:il the rival-
ship of many accomplished .I:aiters. The latter
~ere not so numerous a, on Sunday, but mute
ogt. The graceful and elegant movements of two
Gentlemen, %shorn we have observed with peculiar
pleasure for some days pas:, were not to be seen.
Their absence, however, was well supplied by the
variety of new competitors in the different methods
and manceevres of the art. Some flew with speed,
from end to end ; while others confined them-
selves within a certain space,. and. in easy and
gracece.ful
Some excelled in cutting figures of eight,
*while gliding on the outside edge ; others cut the
initials of their names : one gentleman in particu-
lar executed the word " liiiiington" with almost as
much accuracy as a school-master would in setting
a copy for his pupil. About one o'clock, a gentle-
man of singular appearance attraCted the attention
„f theeetatOrSt he darted suddenly into the cirtle
with the swiftness of an arrow ; lie was dressed in
dark brown clothes, his coat was very short, and
th sLirts lapping over, and buttoning in front to
the bottom, the whole edged with fur. He also
wore a brown beaver fur cap, tippet, and a small
muff, of the same kind : his skaits were remarkably
long in the print. broad, and turning up almost to
his knee; they were fastened to a sort of buskin,
without any buckles or straps, and were so firm AS
to appear a part of the foot. Taken altogether,
they were the most complete preparation for the
purpose we have ever seen. The person of this
gentleman was tall and athletic, but his movements
were by no means graceful ; his great advantage
over his competitors was in his superior swiftness,
as he darted from one part of the river to tl:e other
with the velocity of a bird, outstripping all who
attempted to vie with him. His exit was as sudden
and unexpetßed as his entre. He disappeared in an
instant, leaving no trace of him behind. Enquiries
were made in all dirtetions, but we could only learn,
that he is a native of Scotland, and had been many .
years resident at St. l'etersburgh. A great number
of fashionables were present.
Lord Vat mots was entitled to great praise, from
his easy and graceful movements, even in the
execution of the most difficult parts of the art.
Capt. How Alto, fora short time, drew the atten-
tion of every person present, by his bold and daunt-
less method of turning several times round on one
leg, then throwing himself backward three or four
' yards, alighting on the other, and spinning round
on it ten or twelve times without intermission.
He continued in this prAftice for about a quarter of
an hour, when, unfortunately, having thrown himself
off his centre of gravity, he fell upon his side, and
slided in that situation a considerable distance on the
ice. As soon as it was known to his friends that be
had received no injury, they immediately gave him
the grand salute, by taking their hats off, and mak-
ing the spread eagle in a circle round him, before
he bad time again to get upon his legs. Captain
HOWARD, immediately after, quitted the ice. Be-
tween three and four o'clock, a young Lady, dressed
in a black velvet spencer, with a beaver hat and
feather, made her appearance. It was her first at-
tempt this season. and she acquitted herself to the
admiration of alkpresent, never betraying the slight-
tit symptom of fear, but dashing along in a spi-
rited style. She expressed a great inclination to
try the out edge; but being advised by a young
gentleman who held her hand, first to make herself
perfect mistress of plain-skaiting ; she consented not
to attempt it then, at the same time declaring, that
nothing could induce her to keep from trying it to-
morrow, if the frost should continue. She did not
leave the Park until near five.

At Brayton-hall, the seat of Sir W
•',M-
aim, Bart. the following dismal catastrophe occurred
on yesterday sen'night: Mr. Rau:), the head garden-
er, having passed the fore part of the day along with
a division of the Cumberland Rangers, that under-
went inspection, in the evening, somewhat exhilirat-
ed with wlaa he had drank, he weut:to skaite on the
fish pond, and in pursuing this dangerous recreation
was dro-• ned. In the centre of the pond is a spring,
which bubbling up as from a fountain, never freezes;
and of this circumstance the unto: innate young man
was forewarned by the steward ; but whether he
could nut check his career, or that the premor.ition
above mentioned was neglected, is uncertain : in he
plunged, however, while there remained no other
trace of him than his hat upon the ice, though his
cries had given notice of his distress to a person who
was accidentally passing that way. After a painful
search his body was extricated, but all attempts to
restore life ss ere inefreettial. His remains were in-
terred at Asiiatria, on Thursday, with military ho-
uotirs.—The deceased came recommended to Sir
Vistr Pio from the Royal Gardens at Kew, and he
re•onensensin,llii•nself much to society at large, by the
sweetness of his disposition, added to his botanical
knowledge and other accomplishments.
The following benevolent regulation, relating to
Officers' widows and children, bearing date 17th
August, 1776. having, from being unknown to the
unkirtunete objeAs for whose relict it was designed,
become obsokte in the service, we have much plea-
sure in giving it publicity, tor the benefit of such as
usayliereafter become entitkd to this allowance :

" When au Ceinnuen.eted OSses shall be kslled in atls.us,
Modow arsl Orphan Children (rf he leaves any) shill be
alimpal as Mims s

" 7ti a Wide; • NU year's pay, according to her hustund's
11011111111 d erressaision To sack Child under ape and re.
- , one thud of what Is allowed theENrd.,w ;
peollissim Ch.lanni to Ire included

"Thy Conimaroltng Officer of the Corp, in which the 'lain
Officer 0n0!..1.41, un demand, limo a ecrohaffis of hi. hetng
►ll.l In *Mon to %nonvoting wife end etti`dren, nopechortr,
aocd.oig the time wheat, a•Te eta piing where, the said acct
.trial hammed, a riaplwala of which morose, atoll Itkawwe
tranotistted with the next opentley reign,
Yesterday morning. at eleven o'clock. the Second
Regiment of the Loyal London Volunteers had a
general mutter at their headquarters, GuilJhall-
yard, for the purpose of presenting an elegant
sword sad belt 401 the value of I g mem. as voted
to Ca?. of the Fifth Company. which was
presented by Capt. E. t tor, in the names of the
Nostammioioned Olheas anal Privates with a
vtitable address, after Aids they marched m High•
Miry harm had 4 grand field day. returned to town.
and were eiryrantly emirs/trawl with a donut at the
Tavere at the espcnc: of the Officers.