The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-01 00:00:00

SPORT ENG.

HUNTING INTELLIGENCE.
MEETINGS OF HOUNDS IN HE ENSUING WEEK,:

The Oakley Hounds, on Monday, at Clapham Park ; Tues-
day, at Snelson ; Thursday, at Stagsden ; Saturday, at Wes-
ton Wood.
The Duke of Grafton's Hounds, on Monday, at Gayton ;
Wednesday, at Little Horwood ; Friday, at Shenley.
The Quorndon Hounds, on Monday, at Gumley; Tuesday,
at Glooston ; Wednesday, at Widmerpool ; Thursday, at
Prestwould ; Friday, at Great Dalby ; Saturday, at Martin-
shaw. _ _ _ _

The Warwickshire Fox-hounds, on Monday, at Idlicote
Village ; !Tuesday, at Oakley Wood ; Thursday, at Which-
ford Wood ; Saturday, at Erick-kiln Grove.
The Cottesmore Fox-hounds, on Monday, at Stycken Hall ;
Tuesday. at Barleythorpe ; Thursday, at Holywelli; Friday,
at Launde Abbey.
FIELD SPORTS FOR JANUARY.
Gnoust: SHOOTING closed on the 10th of last month (Dec.),
and therefore these birds are no longer an object for the
sportsman; indeed, they ate generally very difficult to ap-
proach before the end of September, nor are they to be fairly
killed in any great quantity after that period. Poachers have
various devices by means of which they bring grouse within
their reach ; when the hills are covered with snow, they ap-
proach diem by placing a shirt over their clothes, and render-
ing themselves as nearly the colour of the snow as possible.—
On such occasions considerable destruction frequently ensue,
as the birds are often seen huddled together, and many thus
fall victims to a single discharge as they sit on the snow.
On theist of next month (Fbruary), the season for shooting
partridges
.and pheasants will close, leaving a more than or-
dinary residue of the latter, perhaps, in consequence of the
general and continued wetness of the season. In the latter end
of the month of August, the lower grounds in the neighbour-
hood of Altcar, Sephton, &c. (in Lancashire) were completely
overflown, in consequence of which the partridges were driven
to the higher grounds, and appeared as if they were terrified at
the inundation ; as in Lydiate (an adjoining township) sixteen
brace were killed by two persons, upon a small space of ground
—the birds lay like stones ; nor was it without difficulty that
many of them were forced on die wing.
OODCOCKS do not appear to have equalled expectation.
At the commencement of the season they presented themselves
more numerously than usual ; or in other words, there seemed
a more than ordinary number of avant couriers, yet, the main
body proved comparatively small, from the destruction, in all
probability, which could scarcely fail to ensue from the re-
markably stormy weather which occurred about the time of
their passage. These remarks will apply in a great degree to
snipes, though many of the latter remain all the year, and
breed in our own marshes.
WILD Fowl. have continued in the immediate neighbour-
hood of large rivers, and on the coast, in the usual quantity.
Few have yet made their appearance in the interior of the
coun try.
COURSING has been of an inferior order; or at least hares have
not run so well as usual before greyhounds, though. excellent
chases have been obtained by harriers. tis generally sup-
posed, and no doubt truly, that hares never run well in wet
weather. In fact such must be the case ; if, for instance, a
hare be driven into a soft fallow by greyhounds, she can
scarcely escape, as the superior length and strength of the dog
enable him to make his way much faster than it is possible
for a hare, who sinks up to her belly at every stroke. When
she is driven by harriers, she can choose her own ground, and
therefore avoids soft fallows, or similar places, where she must
encounter the most perilous disadvantages. Hence, perhaps,
we see the reason why the hare has run well before harriers, but
been easily killed by greyhounds. On the 22d of November a
coursing party met a Hoo-green, near Knutsford, Cheshire,
when several matches were run. A black bitch killed three
hares out of four, single-handed.
From what has been stated respecting the weather, it will
easily be perceived that fox-hunting must have suffered in con-
sequence. The weather has not only been remarkably wet,
but stormy also, almost beyond comparison. The morning of
the 7th of last month (Nov.) in this respect exhibited extra-
ordinary and awful appearances. The wind shifted repeatedly ;
in a few minutes, dark murky clouds appeared in various
directions, in the Northern parts of England, which were
carried about with rapidity, discharging their contents, as
they passed, in a sparing manner. Some of these threatening
clouds seemed to be charged with elecHe fluid, and it is •
said that flashes of lightning were emitted. Large hail-
stones fell, with uncommon fury, about nine o'clock, follow-
ed by several hours of rain. In such weather hunting must
suffer exceedingly : in fact, several packs of harriers, in the
neighbourhood of the writer, suspended their operations. In
regard to fox-hunting in particular, as it constitutes the first of
field sports, so it may be justly remarked, that at no former
period, were there known so many, or such splendid establish-
ments.

ANGLixo.—The only fish that will take a bait (luring Janu-
ary, arc jack, pike, roach, and chub, which should be angled for
in the middle of the day, and, if the water is free in places from
ice, and tolerably clear, an hour or two's sport may be expected.
The last year, like its predecessor, has been very unfavourable
for angling ; a cold, backward spring, wet. summer, and un-
settled weather during the autumnal months, has baffled,
and, generally speaking, disappointed the skill and perseverance
of the angler. We do not recollect, from many years experience
and observation, such a succession of floods as the last has pro-
duced. The rivers were hardly ever in a fit state for angling,
from the foulness of the heavy Waters, which continually pre-
sented themselves to the lovers of angling, in their fiscatory
excursions. The River Lea has been flooded sixteen times
since Christmas 18.23. Very few trout have been killed in the
southern counties, the trout-streams being small rivers, were
seldom free from heavy, foul torrents of water and eddy, boiling
like whirlpools; when this state of things somewhat subsided,
and the summer approached, the May-fly was anxiously looked
fir : the angler was again doomed to disappointment, for these
killing flies shewed themselves but for a few days, and disap-
peared entirely, those beautiful and fragile insects Rot being
able to contend against the heavy rains, which at this season
fell and carried them away, ere they were able fully to expand
their wings.
Gudgeons, in the spring months, were very scarce in the
river Lea, we mean that part of the Lea within three miles of
the metropolis, where the large Thames gudgeons come to
spawn, at which seasons few fresh water fish can compare
with them, for firmness of flesh and sweetness of flavour.
Fly-fishing for chub, dace, &c., either by whipping for them
with an artificial fly, or dapping with a cock-chafer, moth,
grass hopper, or bee, during the summer, was attended with
little success, from the heavy and .foul water with which the
rivers were surcharged. In the months of October and Novem-
ber there was some fine weather, and the waters were in fair
condition ; many heavy barbel and roach were killed in the
Thames ; and numerous pike, jack, well-fed heavy carp, chub,
and roach, in the river Lea, during the fine weather, above
alluded to ; but from that time to the present there has not been
a chance for the angler's getting a brace of any kind of fish, and
few, I believe, since the middle of November have wetted a line.

FASHIONABLE CHANGES.
Sir J. Singleton Copley, Bart. for the Pavilion-parade,
Brighton ; Sir George Throgmorton, Bart. from A ylesbury,
for Olney Park, in Buckinghamshire; Mr. Paul Methuen,
from Norwich, for Cossey Hall ; Colonel and Mrs. Barham,
from Boulogne, to Ramsgate ; Lady and 11Iisi Campbell, from
Brighton, to Bath ; Mr. Charless Thomas Clifford, from Clif-
ton, to Marlborough-buildings, Bath ; Sir John Frederick, Bart.
for Burwood Park, Esher.

Butormrv, the seat of the Marquis and Marchioness. of
Exeter, has been for these three days the scene of most splen-
did hospitality. Amongst the distinguished visitors are, his
Royal Highness the Duke of York, their Graces the Duhe and
Duchess of Rutland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salis-
bury, Lord and Lady F. Bentinck, Lady C. and Mr. Pawlett,
the Earls of Lonsdale and Westmorland, Lady G. Fane, Lord
Graham, Gen. Grosvenor, Mr. Duncombe, Mr. Bradshaw,
Mr. Irby. Mr. De Rouse, and Capt. Percy, .M.P. It is ex-
pected, we understand, that the distinguished party will break
up this day from Burghley, and that H.R.H. the Duke of York
will proceed to Belvoir.—(Stanford Mercury.)

FEMALE FASHIONS FOR JANUARY 1825.
(From Ackermann': Repository of Arts, Fashion:, c.
HEAD-DRESSES.-1. Bonnet of royal purple terry velvet or
velour's ipinglc ; the brim broad and flat, with a corded satin
edge ; the crown high and rounded at the top, and partially
covered with ajtehri of velvet, bound with satin nearly half an
inch in breadth, and ornamented with a small twisted silk cord
of the same colour; the trimmings in front are large,and finish-
ed in the same manner ; the centre one is long and narrow,
and placed perpendicularly, concealing the termination of
those on each side ; bows of pearl-edge satin ribbon are
disposed about the crown ; long strings of the same inside
the brim.

2. Black velvet dress hat, bound with gold lace; from a
small bow in front, the brim forms double, and small white ma-
rabouts are introduced between ,•v it is closed behind in a simi-
lar manner : broad gold band round the crown, and at the top
four curved ornaments, bound also with gold lace ; marabouts
in front and on the right side.
3. Tartarian turban, formed of a richly shaded stripe silk
kerchief.

4. Cap of pink and white crepe line, with double border and
broad strings of the same : the crown is high ; the back part of
white crepe lisse, full, and arranged by five flat pink satin hands
placed perpendicularly, and inserted in the pink satin band at
the bottom of the caul : the front is formed by bouffant: of alter-
nate pink and white crepe lisse, interspersed with pink satin
ornaments of a papilionaccous shape, with a profusion of winter
cherries or alkekengi, and rosebuds above.
EVENING DnEss.—Plain colour velvet dress : the •orsage
plain across the bust, and drawn to the shape with alittle ful-
ness at the waist ; high in front, and falling rather lower on
the shoulders, and finished with gold embroidered lace round
the top : the sleeves are short, with epaulettes formed of heart-
shaped leaves, trimmed with blond ; attached are long full
sleeves of white gauze, regulated in front by ribbon velvet
passing from under the arm to the lower part of the sleeve,
which is confined by three velvet bands round the arm, each
fastened by a bow and gold clasp : blond ruffle at the wrist.
At the bottom of the skirt is a broad band of satin of the same
colour, with small silk cord laid across, forming squares*: gold
embroidered ceinture, fastened in front with antique gem.—
African turban of lilac barrcgc, richly embroidered in gold,
with a band of gold round the head, and supporting the folds
over the right car. The hair parted from die forehead, and
three or four large curls on each side. Necklace of medallions
in enamel, united by triple chains of gold car-rings to corres-
pond. English Thibet square shawl with embroidered corners.
Short white kid gloves : white satin shoes.

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