The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-28 00:00:00

MR. PIPS MS DIARY.

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 1849—Down the road to a Steeple
Chase, which I had never seen before, and did much
locg to behold: for of all Things I do love Diversion and
Merriment; and both Mr. Strappes and Sir William
Spurkins did tell me there would be rare Sport. Got
a Place in the Grand Stand, cost me half a Guinea,
which was loth to part with, but thought I should
have brave Entertainment for so much Money. Did
find myself here in fine Company, Dukes and Earls,
and Lords and Ladies too, which did please me ; but
among them some Snobs, in Stable-cut Clothes, with
spotted Neckcloths and Fox-headed Breast-pins; though
some of these were Lords too, who seemed to have been
at Pains to look like Ostlers.; To see the Crowd on
Horseback and in Carriages, and those on Foot pushing
and scrambling, and trampling each other to get a
Sight of the Course, as if there had been going to be a
Coronation, or a Man hanged! The Course, marked
out with Flags, and having Hurdles, Posts, Fences,
Rails, Hedges, Drains, Ditches, and Brooks in the Way;
and this Sportsmen do call the Country, and say such a
Country is a Teaser, and so I should think. By-
and-by the Juckies in their Saddles, but their word is
Pig-skins, looking in their gay Colours, like Tulips on
Horseback, which was a pretty sight. Then a Pell
rung to clear the Course, end the Horses with their
Riders drawn up ready to start, and presently a
Flag flourished for a Signal : and so they off. Good
lack, to see them galloping helter-skelter, like
mad, through Rivers- and over Hedges and Ditches,
and the whole Thing done in ten minutes !
Some did jump the Fences and Hedges, which they
about mu did term Raspers' clean over; but others not so
lucky, and stuck in Bramblcs or on Stakes, or between
double Rows of Posts, with a Quickset in the Middle,
whereof the cant name is Bullfinehers. Others upset in
Ditches; and one or two of them not able to get up again,
and carried away upon some of the Hurdles; and when the
race was over three Horses found lying with their Backs
broken, and so shot. Sir William did inform me that
it was a tidy Field, which I could not agree, with the
Raspers and Palisades upon it, and the Horses spiked,
or sprawling with their Riders on the Ground %%his bro-
ken Backs and Limbs. Nor did I understand the Fun
of this part of the Thing; wherefore I suppose I must
be dull; for it doseem to be the chief Delight that People
take in it. For, as if the Gates and Rails belonging to
the Ground were not dangerous enough, they do
set up others called made Fences, being stubborn Posts
and Stakes twisted with Briars and Brambles,
which do seem to be meant for nothing but to be
tumbled over, and in that Case do as much Mischief as
may be to Man and Beast. The Horses mostly ridden
by Jockeys for Hire ; but some by their Owners, who,
me thinks, do set a sufficient Value upon their own Ex-
istence when they venture their Necks in riding a
but I do blame them for risking the Life
OSfteaepulse Cefuhla Horse.—Punch. ;
orse.—Punch.

Tisa ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.-011 Thursday the first
annual meeting of the governors and subscribers to the
above charity was held at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of general business, to elect officers, and the
election of ten applicants for admission into the Asylum
at Pail-house, Highgate, from a list of 133 candidates.
Sir George Carroll in the chair. The report read by
the secretary stated that the progress of the society was
s
highly gratifying, there being, exclusive of yesterday
election, sixty pupils on the foundation. Since the open-
ing of the establishment, the educational course pursued
has been attended with the most pleasing results, each
individual case being consulted carefully with regard to
the development of its powers. The patients generally
had mido considerable progress in reading, writing,
arithmetic, music, and drawing. Sir William Clay,
Bart., moved the adoption of the report, which being se-
conded by It. Strahan, Esq., was carried unanimously.
The balance-sheet showed the receipts for the year to
o 3,6882 19s. 9d.; the expenditure 2,4931.' 13s. id.;
leaving a balance in hand.of 1,1881. 6s. Bd. The busi-
ness of tke day having been concluded, And the names
of the
successful candidates having bean announced,
thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting se-
parated.