The Sun.
London, England, 1837-09-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1837.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sze,—l have this moment seen your paper of the 22c1
i ,st , in which you mention my having performed the part
of Idreno, in the opera of Semiratnide, at the Birmingham
Festival. I beg, therefore, you will do me the justice to
correct a slight mistake in your assertion, as on that ye; y
night I was performing the part of Otello with Madame
Pusta, at the Bristol Theatre.

My reasons for not fulfilling my engagement at Birming-
him were,—that the opera in which I was to have appeared
wis not played, and on Semira milk being substituted, I
d clined playing at the festival so insignificant a part as
lireno. On my refusal, I believe Signor Brizzi was en-
g Igcd, and if he did not succeed to your -satisfaction, it is
rather hard that I should be censured for it.
I am, Sir, your's, &c.
Bch, 23d Sept., 1827. ALBANIO CURIONI.

M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister, has re-
turned to town from Ramsgate.
0 to among the new faces about to appear at the
approaching season of Drury-lane, in genteel comedy, is
that of a lady who has for some time qUitted the stage ;
report bespeaks her as possessing youth and personal at-
tractions, gifted, moreover, with talents of a higher order
than those required for the light and trifling compositions
of the present day. A successor to Vestris has long been
wished for.
AN ODD CUSTOM.—Having arranged to spend a
Sunday at Cowes this journey, I feasted my eyes during
day-light on its beautiful scenery, and the splendid yachts
which were hourly arriving and sailing. In the evening I
went to the old church which 1 found very unlike most of
our London ones, being most respectably attended ; it was
lit with wax candles, and the service passed on in the usual
way, till while kneeling, and the clergyman in a most im-
pressive voice was delivering the prayer before the sermon,
I heard a confused noise of "puff, puff puff"—and on
looking up was surprised to find that nearly all the lights
had disappeared—not more than four remaining in the gal-
leries out of fifty ! I was not a little puzzled to account
for this dark trick, unless it was on the score of economy, as
we certainly could hear the scriptures expounded as well
without the lights as with them. Next morning, having
business at Moir's Library, I was mentioning the circum-
stance, when a gentleman present said :—" Sir, your sur-
prise could be nothing equal to mine. I had never before
attended the evening lectures, and was last evening•doing
duty for Mr. —. When I rose to read the portion of
scripture I had chosen for my text, I could hardly distin-
guish any person in the galleries ; and at first, thought all
that part of my congregation had left me. Indeed, Sir,
you can hardly conceive the effect this unexpected pro-
ceeding had on me. I afterwards enquired the reason of it,
and was told it was an old practice, originating with the
Minister's Warden, a very demure personage ; but whether
it was to save the candles—to prevent the gentlemen gazing
on the ladies—or the ladies on the gentlemen, or on each
other's di esses, he could not tell ; but it certainly had the
effect of fixing all eyes on the parson, as he was the only
individual distinctly visible ?"—Journal of a Bagman.
Last night the entrance to the London and Bir-
mingham Railroad, at Euston-grove, presented a scene of
confusion and excitement, in consequence of the assem-
blage of a vast concourse of persons, who had attended
there for the purpose of meeting their friends and relations,
passengers by the railway conveyance from Boxmoor and
Harrow, and whose fears and apprehensions were greatly
excited by the non-arrival of the trains at the usual hour.
Nine o'cleck arrived, and still no appearance of the trains,
which seemed to establish among the crowd a full convic-
tion that some disaster had occurred, and which actually
turned out to be the case ; for, on the arrival of the Harrow
train about twenty minutes past nine o'clock, it was ascer-
tained that it left Harrow about five minutes past seven
o'clock, and, on their accomplishing about two miles and a
half of the journey, three of the carriages were thrown off
the line. It is supposed to have occurred through some
stones and gravel from the road having by some means got
on to the rail. Although the passengers were terribly
frightened no accident whatever was occasioned by the
circumstance. The delay was atti ibutable to the want of
the necessary implements for replacing the carriages on the
line, as the accident happened some distance from the
place where they could be procured. The Boxmoor train
was also detained by the s ime occurrence, as at this spot
there was no outlet by which it ccitld pass on to the
other rail. The only personal inconvenience was the delay
of time, and, to one gentleman, the loss of his hat.
On Saturday a packer, Lamed Butterworth, who
worked at Mt ssrs. Frost's, St. James's-square, put an open
knife, blade upwards, into his breeches-pocket, when, on
s cop:ng down to his work, the blade ran it.to his body,
%,oun ling the intestines, and -causing his death in a short
titne.—Manchester Chronicle.
A steam-boat has just been launched on lake \Val-
lenstads, in Switzerland. Notwithstanding that wind and
tide were both against it on its first trip, it traversed the
entire extent of this stormy lake (four Swiss leagues of
2,719 toises each) in sixty-seven minutes. It will in fu-
ture perform the duty of a post and diligence, by convey-
ing letters and passengers regularly in this important dis-
trict, where no land route at present exists, although it is
the only direct communication between Zurich, the Grisons,
and Lombardy.
Last Friday afternoon, as a girl, aged ten years,
was nursing her sister, an infant of eighteen weeks old, at
the corner of Bow-street, Covent-garden, she was accosted
by a respectably dressed female, who handed her a note, and
asked her to deliver it a few doors off, for which she should
receive sixpence, and, in the meantime, she would take
charge of the infant. The unthinking girl gave up the
child to the woman, but, on her return to the spot where
she had left it, both woman and child were missing. Infor
mation was soon forwarded to the Bow-street station.

house, where every description was given of her appearance,
but, up to last evening no tidings of either had reached
the disconsolate parents. It appears that the child-stealer
has been observed watching the residence of Mr. Gilson,
Princes-street, Drury-lane, for the last fortnight., and, from

in►ormation received in the course of yesterday, there is
every reason to believe that the woman will be very soon
apprehended, and the child restored to its parents.

A nwel mode of gaining access to houses for the
purpose of plunder has lately been restored to by the ever-
active thieves of the metropolis. A man, usually in the
garb of a mechanic or groom, knocks at the door about the
time that culinary operations are going forward, and ex-
presses his fears that the chimney is on fire, as he has seen
sparks issuing from it. In the confusion caused by such
an announcement the servant frequently runs down to the
kitchen to put out, or damp the fire, leaving the good-na-
tured stranger in the hall, who, of course, lays hold of hats,
cloaks, and other articles, and makes off, without waiting
to be thanked for his information. The trick was " tried
on" about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon at a house in
Tavistock-square, but without success.
As Mr, Thomas Ray, of Appleby, was on Mon-
day riding on his pony just outside that town, a boy struck
the animal a violent blow, which made it start. Mr, ltay
dismounted, caught the boy, and figV C him two or three cuts
across the shoulder with his whip. On his re-mounting the
pony the poor gentleman staggered, and fell dead to the
ground. It is supposed lie died from appoplexy, brought
on by the excitement caused by the occurrence.
On Friday evening a most tremendous explosion
occurred at the Powder Mills, at Camwes, Corn;" all, but
withgat any disaster, further than the injury done to the
houses and machinery, The concussion was much greater
than was ever experienced at these mills, and the shock
was very sensibly felt at the rerrqn Voqndry, which was
oonsiduiably shaken, and the font door of a house at that
/Alec was violently burst open. The cause of the explo-
sion is perfectly unknown,
}JUMAK 7QQ1.,00y,--The celebrated Professor
-- dining in company with a gaudy, discordant, and silly
chatterer, was asked to help her to the ns.ual concomitant of
boded fowl as lie did he abstractedly murmured—" Parsley
falad 10 parrpts,"
following mode of killing the worms which
Frey upon the vine is said to have been adopted in France
Atli success. By placing a number of lamps in well
greased dishes among the vines, 30,000 moths of 0e i'v4e
§peciell Ince cletrctied iq ppe Plichtt.

SPOUTING INTELLIGENCE

DONCASTER RACES

Doncaster, Friday Night.
The races terminated this afternoon with beautiful weather,
and a tolerable average of sport. Of the general character
of the meeting the accounts already published must have en-
abled our readers to form a pretty accurate opinion. It has
barely furnished the usual quantum of racing, while on the
two events usually so exciting the failing off has ken palpable,
owing, as we have before stated,' to the inferior quality of the
horses entered to run for them. That the company has bon
so thin is attributable to a variety of causes, viz.—the elec.
tions, the distress prevalent in-the manufacturing districts (al-
ways great- supporters of Doncaster), and the Birmingham
Festival. " The appointment of stewards for next year has
given much satisfaction, as there is every reason to expect that
their influence amongst the higher class of sportsmen will have
a beneficial effect. While on the subject we would suggest
that, AS the narrow room on the priacipal .floor is notoriously
inadequate to the accommodation of the betting men, a space
should be railed in before the stand, as 14 Goodwood. A
double benefit would arise out of this simple and cheap altera-
tion. Speculators would have room for their persons as well
as their voices, and the ladies would get rid of a nuisance
which, for years has been loudly and deservedly exclaimed
against.
The stakes, .4.Tec„ appointed for this afternoon's diversion
were decided as follow :

The Hornby Castle Stakes (third year) of 25 soya. each, with 25
sovs. added by the Corporation. Two miles. 4 Subs.
Mr. S. L. Fox's bl. c. The Doctor
The Filly Stakes of 20 soy:. each, with 20 added by the Corpora-
tion, for three yrs old, Bst. 41b. each. St. Leger course. 7 Subs.
Mr. Blakelock's bl. f. Yarico, by Waverley—Fancy ........Lye 1
Mr. Powlett's b. f. Miss Letty, by Priam—Miss Fanny's dam... 2
Betting-5 and 6tol on Miss Letty, who took the lead, and ap-
peared to have so much the best of it at the distance that 10 to I
was offered on her; Holmes.here looked round as if he had made it
all right, and was not a little surprised when Yarico ran by him at
the stand, and beat the winner of the Oaks in a canter.
The Scarborough Stakes of 30 sovs. each, 10 sore. ft., for three yrs
olds ; colts, Bst. 61b ; fillies, 83t. 31b. The winner of the St.
Leger to,carry 71b. extra. One mile. 15 Subs.
Mr. S. L Fox's bl. c. The Doctor, by Dr. Syntax... waked over
Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, 60 saws. added by the Corporation, for
beaten horses during the week. One mile. 5 Subs.
Mr. Heseltine's b. e. Cowboy, by Voltaire, 3 yrs, 7st. 111 b 1
Lord Kelburnit's ch. f. by Actmon, 2 yrs, ist. 81b 2
Lord Mexbrough's ch. f. by Velocipede, 2 yrs, Gst. Bst 3
Mr. Webster's gr. c. Kochlain, 2 yrs, 6yrs
2tol on Cowboy, and sto 2 agst Apollonia. Cowboy took the
lead, kept it, and won easy.
The Town Plate of 100/., and the entrance of 33 guineas for the
second. Heats, two miles.
. . _

.
Mr. Heseltine's The Bard, 4 yrs, Bst. 71b Heseltine 4 1 1
Mr. Bell's Miss Eliza, 3 yrs, ist 51b
Mr. Clark's br. c. by Sir Hercules, 3 yrs, 7st. slb 3 4 3
Mr. Osbaldeston's Alit: Alac, 3 yrs, 7st. 51b
First beat-5 to 4on Miss Eliza, 4to 1 agst The Bard, sto 1
agst Sir Hercules, and 5 to 1 agst Mic Mac.
Second heat-5 to 4 agst Miss Eliza, 9to 4 agst The Bard, and
10 to 1 agst Mic Mac.
.._.

Third heat-2 to lon The Bard. The second heat was won by
a neck, and the other two cleverly.
In the course of the week there has been some very heavy
betting on the next Derby. The Early Bird has been backed
to win at least five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and large
sums have been laid out on the colt out of Nonplus's dam at
20 and afterwards 18 to 1 ; on Moue Adam from 40 up to 30 to
1; on Cobweb, beginning at 20 and ending at 15 to 1. Mr.
Coombes's colt was backed at 12 to 1 after his race yesterday,
and then dropped to 20 to 1. Harpurhey was backed a night
or two ago to win nearly 10,0001. Volunteer has not been
mentioned. Last prices:-
9 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Grey Momus—taken
15 to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's The Early Bird—taken freely
15 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's Cobweb colt
13 to 1 agst Mr. Armitage's colt, out of Nonplus's dam—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Coombes's Cobham (Frederica)—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr. Richardson's Monc Adam
30 to 1 awt Lord Chesterfield's c. out of Tranby's dam—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Ogden's Harpurhey—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. Cookes's Willibut—taken

4,000 to 2150 laid against each of the following six in one
bet :—Grey Momus, Early Bird; Volunteer, Cobweb, Non-
plus, and D'Egville (laid several times).
1,300 to 200 against Grey Momus and The Early Bird (laid
two or three times.)
The field backed against the following ten : —Grey Momus,
Early Bird, Volunteeer, Cobweb, Fanchou, D'Egville, Non-
plus, Harpurbey, Monc Adam, and Willibut.

2,000 to 20 cost Early Bird and Ninny winning the Derby
and Oaks.

THE OAE3.
10 to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's Ninny—take 15 to 1
THE ST. LEGER.
8 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's c. out of Sharpset's dam
15 to 1 agst Mr. Fairlie's The Hydra
20 to 1 agst Duke of Cleveland's Henriade—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Coombes's Cobham—taken
The winner of the Champagne Stakes is not yet named.
Davie Gellatley is the name of a Derby horse belonging to
Lord Chesterfield, and was applied by mistake.