The Sun.
London, England, 1806-08-12 00:00:00

FOOT RACE.

Yesterday public expectation xvris much excited
by the announcement of a Foot Race in Hyde Paik,
between Curling, the Brighton Shepherd, and Grind-
ley, the Boot Closer, both noted for their skill and agi-
lity in running. Soon after twelve o'clock, that
part of the Park which lies between the Barracks and
Kensington Gardens *as completely tilled with
speaators of every description. The distance to be
run was 120 yards, for. oue hundred. guineas. a side ;
but, independent of that, very considerable sums
were betted on each of the' parties ; and Curling, in
general, was considered the favourite. The time
fixed for deciding the race was between twelve and
tweio'clock. About a quarter before two Curling
came on the-ground, and-prepared for, starting ; but
the Boot Closer could not be found, and it was gene-.
rally supposed that his friends had advised him
rather to forfeit the deposit money, which was fore.
guineas, than to risk a race with his opponent, who
was decidedly the. favourite ; accordingly, Curling
stripped, and ran over the distance with most astor7
ishitig:speed by himself, and it was considered by
his friends, that he was entitled
.to the deposit,.
How. eier, immediately after Curling had quitted
the ground, the Boot. Closer made his appearance,
and, by the advice of his friends, also prepared for
ststttng; they considering that he was equally ens
titled to run the distance, as the other had quitted
the ground. Accordingly, a space was made be=
t %.ceen the speaators; the distance; one hundred
and twenty yards,' and he also ran over the ground
by himself.

The friends of each party now withdrew to a
house, and it was decided cetween them, that the
deposit money should be drawn; and the wager
rendered void. Much disapprobation was express-
ed by those who bad bets depending. The pick-
pockets were extremely busy. Most of the ugi-
lists of note were present ; and it is generally sup-
posed that the match was made by them, as they
had laid more bets, play or, pay, than any of the
other spe&ators.

Old Mother SMITH, as the Sailors used to call her,
the great expounder of fate, and dealer in goo,/ for-
tune, died on Friday • last at Wapping. She had
reached the 70th year of her age, and had'for a tong
time
_before she thus closed her mortal career, lived.
'very comfortably, by selling fair words to seamen,
when they were going upon a voypge, and prediat-
ing their safe return to their sweethearts and wives.
The French, it appears, have added NAPOLEON to
the Catalogue of Saints. Surely the person thus de-
signated cannot be the man who; when •he was in
Egypt, made it his boast to the inhabitants of that
Country, that, as far as' depended on hipi, he,had
overthrown Christianity ; and, as a proof of his con-
version to lifahvmetanian, added to his name` All,
t nstead of alias? !

There was a trial in the Civil Court, at the Wick.
low Assizes,lastweek, in which Lord ALnaoßoucut
was- Plaintiff, and the Hon. Colonel WINGFIELD
Defendant; it was to recover a property of near
30001. a-year, left the Colonel by the late Earl of
ALDBOROPCM. The present Earl, wanted to set
aside the Will, upon the grounds that the late Earl
was insane, and-that the will. was neither signed or
sealed when Avitnessed. The trial lasted -the whole
day, when the Jury retired for about ten minutes,•
and brought in a verdia for the Defendant.

The LORD CHANCELLOR displayed a remarkable
refinement of gratitUde on the subjed of Lord CHED-
WORTH'S Will, when he stated that his Secretary had
accepted the office merely to confer an obligation on.
his Lordship, as it can hardly he doubtea that there
are thousands who would have been equally ready
to confer the same favdur ot`i the Noble Lord, and;
who would have. been so delicate in their notions as
to suppose that they had received the obligation.
It bias been erroneously said that the decision on.
the trial of Mrs. Warrpoitn, on Saturday last,- at,
Guildford,. puts an end to the Gretna Green Mar-
riages. That trial,, was for Bigamy, and the Judge
of course Would not receive the Law of Scotland on
this point from a Tobacconist, who performed the
ceremony. if the fof.tner husband shOuld proceed
against the second husband upon a charge of Cron.
-Con. the point will then be finally decided.

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