The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-14 00:00:00

THE BAD EARL.

On the 34th of May, 1784, he was raised to the
titles of Baron Lowther, Kendal, and Burgh (the
latter title derived from a place in Cumberland),
Viscount Lonsdale and Lowther, and Earl of Loris-
dale; and on October 10th, 1797, he was created
Baron and Viscount Lowter of Whitehaven, with
a collateral remainder of these titles to the heirs
male of the body of his cousin, the Rev. Sir Wm.
Lowther, of Swillington, Baronst. In 1761
he married a daughter of the celebrated Earl of
Bute, the favourite of George M.'s mother, and
died May 24, 1802, without issue. In him the Low-
ther peculiarities culminated in an eccentricity which
almost approached to madness. Of a gloomy and
morose disposition, full of evil tempers and great ideas,
he was known throughout Westmoreland and Cum-
berland as the "Bad Earl." De Quinceyrelates how
he used to drive through small towns in which
every face was grave from dread of his oppressive
temper, and the people of his estates felt his arrival
as those of a guilty town might feel that of an exe.
cutioner. He used to exhibit his contempt for
form by driving about in an old neglected carriage
with untrimmed horses, and allowing droves of
wild horses to thunder about his park. He seldom
went to London, but even there his haughty temper
displayed itself, and he actually left an estate to his
successor as a reward for standing as second in a duel
no one else would take up. His:carriage had been
stopped by an cfficer in command of a party ap-
pointed to keep Piccadilly clear for the atten-
dants on a great levee, and he actually
challenged the officer, who insisted on
doing his duty in spite of the remonstrant'f.',
rank. There was, however, a sentimental sine to
the character of this gloomy earl. "He loved with
passionate fervour a fine young worn n, of humble
parentage, in a Cumberland farmhouse. Her he
had persuaded to leave her father, and put herself
under his protection. Whilst yet young and beau-
tiful she died; Lord Lonsdale's sorrow was pro-
found—he caused her to be embalmed, a glass was
placed over her features," and at intervals he paid
visits to " this sad memorial of his former happi-
ness." He resisted the payment of all bills on
principle, nearly ruining the Wordsworths, among
others, and the first task of his successor was to
remedy the many acts of injustice of which his
cousin's half-lunatic, half-imperial mind—the man
offered to give and maintain s seventy-four fora war
which he disapproved—had induced him to commit.
The memoirs of his day are full of the strange acts
of the Bad Earl.---The Spectator's paper on " The
Lowthers."

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT THE NESS SALMON
FISHINGS.—The Inverness Courier records a strange
scene which occurred a few days ago at the Ness salmon
fisheries :—" Literally hundreds of fish came surging up in
shoals, and wriggled with difficulty over the fords. Troops
of excited boys lunged after them through the shallows,
pelting them, driving them back, and causing dim
consternation among the poor fish. On the ford below
Holm Mills a monster salmon showed himself leading
up a great shoal of lesser fish. His dimensions as he
splashed about in the shallow water, turning on his
deep silvery side to lessen the difficulty of finding water,
could not escape notice, and two or three lads rushed into
the water to give chase. The monarch tried hard to effect
the ascent, and his scaly followers for a moment re-
mained quiet to watch the result. But the enemy was too
active and too formidable—he turned tail and floundered
away down the stream, never halting until ho found him-
self safe in Macintyre's Pool. His flock was scattered,
some rushing to the right and some to the left, the
greater part finding their way upwards, but many re-
turning to the safe haven which they had so recently
left. The strange fact is that all this time the river
had not undergone the slightest change. It was lower and
clearer than it has been almost in the memory of man; not
a drop of rain had fallen for weeks. But a change was im-
pending, and we presume that the salmon knew it. Within
24 hours thunder showers were pouring down torrents on
hills of Glengarry and Lochness, and no doubt the fish were
impatient for the slightest hint or premonition that up
stream there would shortly be water enough to cover their
nakedness."

THE Kreuz Zeitung is described by the Spectator
as the largest-sized of all Berlin newspapers, being
of about the same shape as the London Observer, and
printed on better material than all the rest of its contem-
poraries. It has also the advantage over them in point of
literature, being at this moment the most readable journal
in the kingdom. Though high conservative, its tone is of
the most lively, and there are flashes of humour is it
worthy of Punch. At present it is the only Zeitung which
indulges in the luxury of political leading, which, if they
are not distinguished for elegance of style, deserve praise for
brevity of diction. The ireus Zeitung approves of the doings
of Herr von Bismark; but by no means fawns upon the Pre-
Inlet, but merely patronises him with an air of benign grass.
It is easy to read between the lines of every number the ever
recurring phrase, •' You, Bismark, are intrinsically a fool,
a mere Lanqiunker, and a tool of that parve nu Napoleon ;
but we will make use of you to the best of our power, and
while doing so will pat you on the back." The following
is a sample in the best manner of the Kreuz Zeitung, being
the concluding part of a leader on the Polish war of inde-
pendence which appeared last Sunday :—" The struggle in
Poland is but a repetition of the old battle fought in the
valley of Rephidim. He will be the conqueror in whose
favour hands are uplifted by Aaron and Hur ; he who
fights with holy arms for holy goods." See Exodus, c. 17.
The Kreus Zeitung is fond of quoting Scripture, and more
than once has compared Napoleon 111. to Amalek.

THE VORACITY OP THE PlKE—as described by
Mr. Cholmondeley Pennell in his recent work
called the "Angler-Naturalist." His informant in regard
to the following incident being the father of the boy thus
attacked by the pike :—" One of my sons, aged fifteen, went
with three other boys to bathe in Inglemere Pond, near
Ascot race-course, in June, 1856; he walked gently into
the water to about the depth of 4 feet, when ho spread out
his hands to attempt to swim ; instantly a large fish came
up and took his hand into his mouth at far up as the wrist,
but, finding he could not swallow it, relinquished his hold,
and the boy, turning round, prepared for a hasty re-
treat out of the pond ; his companions, who saw it, also
scrambled out of the pond as fast as possible. My
son had scarcely turned himself round when the fish
came up behind him and immediately seized his other hand,
crosswise, inflicting some very deep wounds on the back of
it; the boy raised his first-bitten, and still bleeding, arm,
and struck the monster a hard blow on the head, when the
fish disappeared. The other boys assisted him to dress,
bound up his hand with their handkerchiefs, and brought
him home. We took him down to Mr. Brown, surgeon,
who dressed seven wounds in one hand ; and so great was
the pain the next day, that the lad fainted twice; the little
finger was bitten through the nail, and it was more than
six weeks before it was well. The nail came off, and
the scar remains to this day, A few days after this occur•
rence, one of the woodmen was walking by the side of the
pond, when he saw something white floating, A man, who
was passing on horseback, rode in, and found it to be a
large pike in a dying state; he twisted his whip round it
and brought it to shore. Myself and my son were imme-
diately sent for to look at it, when the boy at once recog-
nised his antagonist. The fish appeared to have been a
long time in the agonies of death, and the body was very
lean and curved like a bow. It measured 41 inches, and
died next day, and, I believe, was taken to the Castle at
Windsor.' There can be no doubt (Mr. Wright adds) that
this fish was in a state of complete starvation.—lt well fed,
it is probable it might have weighed from 30 to 40 lb."
A FEMALE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL.---" Among
the Mexican prisoners who have arrived in France,"
says the Slick, "is one particularly worthy of notice—a
young Indian female, aged 23, who was lieutenant-colonel
in the regiment of Zacatecas. She has in the space of seven
years gained all her grades at the point of the sword. When
her husband was called on to serve, she followed the army,
and having distinguished herself in battle received the
rank of sub-lieutenant, Her husband was killed in the
affair of Guadeloupe, on the othMay, 1862, and her bravery
on that occasion obtained her the rank of second in com-
mand of a regiment, at the head of which she rendered her.
self' conspicuous in the defence of Puebla. She was most
expert in the use of the sword, and her soldiers almost con-
sidered her as a supernatural being. After the surrender
of Puebla, she was taken to Vera Cruz, and arrived at
Brest on board the Rhone transport. Her order for em-
barcation stated her rank, and gave her a right to a seat at
the table of the superior officers. She possesses a pleasing
physiognomy, but her manners are rather masculine."
STATISTICS OF DRUNKENNESS.—In the year end-
ing at Michaelmas last 94,908 persons-260 a day
—were proceeded against before justices in England for
drunkenness, or for being drunk and disorderly, and 63,255
of them were convicted. The great majority were only
fined, but above 7,000 were committed to prison. The re-
turns show a great increase ever the previous year, for only
82,196 were then charged with drunkenness, and only
54,123 convicted. Of the persons thus charged in the last
year 22,560 were females, and more than 10,000 women
were convicted for being drunk. Coroners' inquests in the
year 1862 found 211 verdicts of deaths from excessive
drinking-145 men and 66 women thus ended their days.
IRISH EMIGRATION TO AMERICA.—We observe
that large numbers are still leaving this country for Ame-
rica, notwithstanding the disturbed state of society beyond
the Atlantic. The opening of the Galway line, it is
thought, will give a great .impetus to emigration, while the
reduction in the fares of the Cunard line has tempted many
to leave the old country and try their fortunes elsewhere.
—lVesteris Stew,

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

READING RACES—This DAY.
RY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
FORBURY STAKES.

_ _ _
Nereus 1
Dominie Sampson
3
Abernethy

Four ran.
CAVERSHA/1.1 STAKES.

Danaus ..
Miss Livingstone
3
Sister to Melsonby

Fifteen ran.
THAMES HANDICAP.

Gibraltar 1
Kingswood ......
Hampton Court
.•
Three ran.
SELLING STAKES.
Good for Nothing
Bitton . •
2
Tom FoolerY ......... . ........
...... „
Nine ran.
WHITLEY STAKES.

CTopsy 1
Calliope colt 2
rochet colt ...................................
Seven ran..
ABBEY :STARES.

Eastininster ...................................... 1
Gszotter
Crisis
2
STAND PLATE.

Tarragona . 1
Cadiz
.. 2
Twenty-one ran.

BETTING ON THE COURSE.
GREAT EBOR HANDICAP.
11 to 2 agst Clarior (taken)
Bto 1 agst Golden Pledge (taken)
10 to 1 agst Monk (taken)
10 to 1 agst Piccador (taken)
LEGER.
9to 2 agst Ranger (taken)
6to 1 agst Queen Bertha (taken)
6to 1 agst Lord Clifden (taken)
Bto 1 agst Avenger (taken)
100 to 1 agst Cheerful (taken)

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—Tins DAY.

EBOR IiANDICIP.
10 to 1 agst The Monk (taken freely)