The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-26 00:00:00

SPORTING: INTELLIGENCE.

• THE H9O RACES_(HEItTS.)
Satuidak last, the'24th inst.lhe Hertfordshire Club held their
Annual Meeting in Lord DAcnes Park, which, owing to the
fineness of the day and the beauty of the situation, presented -a
brilliant spectacle. The company consisted pf:t!le principal
inhabitants of the county, amongst whom we noticed the Mar-
quil and Marchioness Of Salisbiiry, in an elegant carriage drawn
by six horses, the Earl. and CountesS of Verulam,• Lord and
Lady Dacre, the Marquis of Huntly, Earl Talbot, Lord Lyne-
dock, Sir Charles Morgan, Sir J. Sebright, Sir Culling Smith,
Mr. Delme Radcliffe, and many other persons of distinction.
The first race was fora handsome tiold.Cup, which was won
with ease by Lord Verulana's ro. c.yaigas,.beating Rein Deer,
Vaurien, and Norms:

' Then the Two-Yr-old Stakes of 25 soy. each.
Sir. II eathco t e ' s ch. c. by bweeyool‘,omoi
taeuhitdesaerviintr.ssnt
at
Stakes:
tke
de
5..._- .
_- .... 11
Ld Verulam's ch. f. by Coinus . _ ... - - 2
The County Stakes was WWI by Lord Dacre's gr. c. by
Quizzer, beating Mr. Grwirie's f. by Pan.
3.sl4(rr..VGTHeerilmtbimenco,:tseicshbchf;Dc.;ln
c•-ossack. 7 ,
_., •
....
~... 1
Two others 'stilted. .
The Club Stakes (Handicap)
br..h. Rein Deer, beating was; won by Mr. Heatncote's
Mr. Pickfbrd'a f. by liuley, and
,
two others. _ _

After the regular Races of the Club, which finished as above,
there was a well-contested .race between two ponies.

CATTEMCK BRIDGE
MEETING WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 21.
The Craven Stakes of lOgs each, with 10 added ; 2 yr olds,
835%
eri4
suyrbs,scBrlt.eis3l.b. ; 5 yrs, 9st. ; 6 yrs
M;n:tdß. baid.egdiebedli;'9os3CaLY4crlscbi'it Pratti, by Whisker, 2 yrs old • - 1
Mr. Ferguson's gr. c. by Grey ikliddleham, 2 yrs - 2
Lord Sligo's h. c. Arrogance, 3 yrs - - - 3
Mr. Saunders's b. g. Sir Henry, -by Comus, .4 yrs - 4
Mr. Lambton's ch. c. Lorenzo, by Lebriold, 4 yrs - 5
Mr. E. Petre's b. c. Alercutio, brillowbray, 3 yrs 6
Major Cunningham's b. g: Stinger, by 'Octavian. 4 yrs - 7
The Produce Stakes of 25gs each, h. ft. for colts and fillies

:• , , ...... _
rising lyrs ; two miles. Fourteen subsdibers. . ---
'Mr. Claridge's b. c. Ebor, out of Adericia - - 1
Mr. Jacque's b. f. Ringlet, by Whisker - - - 2
all.. Kay's f. by Whisker .. - - - 3
Sweepstakes of 30gs each, 10 ft. rising 3 yrs old; colts, Bst. 31b. ;
fillies, Bst. Six subscribers.

LADIES TAKING THE VEIL.—The following is
a description of the ceremony which takes place
at the time of ladies taking the veil in France,and
is given by an eye-witness :
When I was in the capital of this country, I had an op-
portunity of being present at the time when a lady took the
White Veil, or, in other words, formed a resolution to retire from
the.world, and shut herself up in aelnister. It may be interesting
to give a short account of the forms observed upon this occason.
the first place, this person who was young, was dressed
in her secular attire as -it may be -denominated, and placed in
an arm. chair in front of the Altar; she was immediately sur-
rounded by her friends, and those .whom' curiosity had attracted
to the spot, to be spectators of the solemnity. A Priest as-
cended a temporary pulpit, placed at the corner of. the altar,
and in front of the Lady. At this time he delivered a discourse
in which he pointed out to her the vanities of the world, the
nature of the obligation she had undertaken to fulfill, and the
beneficial effects which would be derived from a life of contem-
plation in retirement. On this being ended, she appeared uncier
a considerable degree of agitation and enibarrassnient, particu-
larly at-the moment when her father gave her his hand, andied
her from the seat out of the church. From thence she entered
a contiguous convent, where there was a Window at the side of
the altar of the Church, secured by a close iron'grating, and here
the fair one appeared to be most completely metamorphosed.
Her hair had been cut off, she was stripped of her dress, and
robed in the costume of the Monastery, where theapectators of the
previous scene, were permitted to look through the iron bars.
At this particular moment the scene appeared to be of a nature
tragical and affecting. I observed her accompanied by a num-
ber of nuns, whose faces were concealed, with her own, in veils,
who walked in slow procession round the place, preceded by
one of them carrying a crucifix, when a mournful chaunt of
praise took place here by the whole, in whicE they were joined
by some of the spectators. This being ended, a curtain was
drawn over the grating. Although a promise of this nature
is made after the proposed nun is allowed to deliberate a year,
from the period of the wish she expressed to seclude herself in
the Convent, yet should she enter this establishment, still there
is a locus penitentice in one view attached to the obligation, as
to the white veil, since, at ti:e expiration of one year aftrr hav-
ing received it, she has it in her power to depart, and return
to the world. During this year, however, which may be consider-
ed a probationary state, a marked attention is paid to the young
Nun, in order to induce her to go through another formality,
namely, that of taking the of w 1:• veil. Should she assume this
it constitutes a most effectual barrier to her quitting the Con-
vent, and she is shut up in it for life !".....(Travel:,c of Spurn,
and'iFLLlT.taxnc:/aE WILSON, Esq. in Turkeyl,ure

•
FUNERAL OF LIEUT..
HUME JOHNSTON.
On Saturday the report of the minute-gun announced to the
inhabitants of Deptford, that the body of this gallant officer was
about to be removed for interment, and..immediately some of
the principal inhabitants prepared to meet the funeral proces.
sion, and signify their respect to the gallant chief of the expedi-
tion by following to the grave one of its most useful and
esteemed officers. The shipping in. the River lowered their
came
and the Captains, Officers, and Crews,
on shore to follow the
procession, which at half-past two
o'clockiLir moved from high,
mthh Red Lion Inn. Lower Water-gate, to
St. Paul's Church, Deptford, in the following order :
The Staff Bearers.
Six Seamen of the Fury, with white hat-bands, two and two.
TH E Bob
jackn by six inen, covered with a pall and
k being thrown across the front of
botrhnee
cinoloauhra,n, dtsioiemuenciooffin
the coffin, with the deceased's sword, &c.
Six Officers of the Fury anti Reda bearing the pall.
Captains Parry, Hoppner, and-Lyon, and eighteen Naval
Officers in full uniform, with black crape and hat-bands,
marched after the body,
A company of marines with arms reversed followed, and the
procession was clOsed by the crews of the Discovery ships, many
of whom appeared much affected, Auld all expressed their sor-
row at the dreadful circumstance which hart deprived them of a
good friend and gallant officer. The melancholy procession
was led by the inhabitants, and proceeded through the main
street to the Church, where the Rector met it and led the way.
The Purial Service being commenced in the Church and con-
cluded over the grave, the commanders and chief mourners
arranged themselves behind the company cf marines, who
formed a line on the right side of the grave. The marines then
performed the usual military honours, after which the crews
returned to their respective ships.

We are happy to find that a new Company is
to he formed, fir the purpose of receiving consignments of
'West India produce on secure and profitable investments in the
Colonies. This is as it should be—it .is quite reasonable, and
highly creditable to the West India body, that they should, by
their own means, apply a permanent and effectual relief to their
property, and give it a standard ofyalue. Which its importance,
in a national point of view, so fully deserves. West India
agency business has alws.) s been profitable in the worst of
times, and this Company has the•aanction of such high names,
that we will answer for it, its management will be as able as its
object is fair and legitimate. This will -be an institution distin-
guished from many others which have been lately formed, by its
high respectability and importance, and it has our hearty good
wishes for its success. We shall endeavour to obtain some par-
ticulars of its plan, and give them to our readers next week—
for we know that few subjects are of inure general interest, or
of greater importance, than the prosperity of the Colonies.—
( John Bull, April2s.)
RETAIL BREWERS.—On Friday an adjourned
Meeting of Publicans and others interested in
the property of Public-houses was held at the
Freemasons' Tavern, for the. purpose of agreeing
to some measure to oppose the present Bill be-
fore the House of Commons respecting. Retail
Brewers. A Petition to Parliament to this effect
was proposed and adopted, and a Committee no-
minated to watch the progress of the Bill.
Mrs. COUTTS has paid a visit to Chester within
the last few days. She travels in a style worthy
of her wealth. On Sunday last she paid a visit
to Parkgate, and sent for " the old veteran"
RYLEY, to the Mostyn Arms Inn, leaving with
him, as we have heard, at the close of the inter-
view, some substantial proofs of her attach-
ment to early theatrical acquaintance.—(Chester
Chronislc.) • -