The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-16 00:00:00

CHURCH-RATE§.

YAkiIOUTH, MAY 15. —At the quarterly meeting of the
Town Council of Great Yarmouth, held on Thursday last,
Mr. E. N. Clowes moved " That a petition be presented
from this Council to the House of Commons, praying for
the eutire abolition of Church-rates," which was seconded
IV G. D. Palmer, and supported by S. Cobb, Esqrs., two
of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace ; and on a division
there appeared seventeen for the motion and ONE against it

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.—The revived
comedy of Twelfth Night attracted a numerous audience to
this house on Friday evening. It was followed, for the 22d
time, by the fairy extravaganza of the Sleeping Beauty in the
Wood, which went off with its accustomed eclat. Among the
numerous fashionables who have visited this theatre during the
past week we have noticed his Excellency Baron Billow, and
several foreigners of distinction, Duke Charles of Brunswick
and his equerry Baron Audlan Lord Chesterfield, Lord Alfred
Paget, Lord John Manners, Sir George Cayley, Mrs. and the
Misses Backhouse, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Segrave,
lion. Captain Forester, Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, and a
Party of officers of the Ist Life Guards. The house is expected
to close for the season in the middle of next month.
OLYMPIC THEATRE.—In our advertising co-
'watts it will be seen that on Monday Mr. Butler will close his
eery successful season with an author's night for Mark Lemon.
it is not necessary to remind the patrons of this favoured and
attractive little theatre, of how much they are indebted, even in
season now (we regret) so near a close, to the chaste and
del
lghtful pen of this author. The brilliant success of the
Ladies' Club, the House of Ladies, and Gwynneth Vaughan,
sufficiently attests their appreciation of his merits. We hope
on Monday they will return him thanks with a bumper. He
produces for the.occasion anew farce, to be called A Captain pro
tem., in which our old friend T. Lee (late of Drury -lane) will
appear as Darby O'Reilly. Some fun may be anticipated when
the part has been written for this genuine Irishman by Mark
Lemon himself. We perceive also that Compton lends his as •
sistance for the night, in his excellent part of Joseph Raby, in
Self Accusation.
LORD STANLEY'S BILL.—The Dublin
EreniAg Post has published in a Supplement a list of the
signatures to the Leinster and Charlemont Address to the
people of Great Britain, denouncing this Bill. Such a list of
signatures, it states, never was before presented to the British
public. Among them we find the names of 70 Peers and sons
of Peers, all deeply interested in the welfare of this country.
IVO less than 30 Baronets, 56 members of the Lower House,
exclusive of those in office and absent from the country-65
Lieut(ntrits and Deputy-Lieutenants—upwards o' 330 magis-
trates, and more than 450 members of the learned professions,
besides 1000 merchants, 26 dignitaries of the Roman Catholic
Church, and a large body of clergymen of all religious persua-
!iotta, including in all between 3,000 and 4,000 names of the
highest rank, the greatest influence, and the most extensive
Wealth and property in Ireland.
NEW WAY OF CATCHING MULLETS.—On
oar return from the White Strand to Waterville, a new kind of
!port had presented itself. The mullet, which at this season of
the year congregate around the entrance of the raver, had
formed a black mass at the embouchement of the lake. It was
impossible to use a net, the shore being cosered with rocks.
Neither bait nor fly had the least attraction for them; and al-
though they might be seen in the sun as shoals of myriads, and
as closely packed together as was consistent with their power of
!motion, no means had yet been devised of securing this excel-
lent fish. Their annual visits, therefore, were always paid with
impunity. I was angry at this, and spent some hours in endea-
vouring to allure them with flies, worms, bait, all to no pur-
pose. An idea struck me ; and stringing together about twenty
stout pilsC hooks, I awaited the bubbling which indicated the
presenee of the shoal. I threw over them with a long rod, and
Jagged the line after it had sunk amidst them. This plan was
comparatively simple, and I had the pleasure of adding to my
comparatively simple, and I had the pleasure of adding to my
a
h dinner, in which my friend, the surgeon, was generally
joined, the exquisite mullet.— Spotsman in Ireland.
AN AQUATIC STAG HUNT.—A hundred
bugles from all directions of the lake now summoned each
party to their boats, which crowded the shores IS the island,
and.ludicrous were the scenes of apprehension, screaming, and
splashing, as the lake, now wild with storm, dashed its angry
spray over the dignified segregators. Many boats put back to
the lee of the island ; but the Major, relying on the skill of his
little crew and his own steady hand at the helm, set forth, and
we arrived at the opposite shore just as the hounds were de-
scending to the strand. Splash went the affrighted animal into
the lake, amid the shouts of the hundred boatmen who were
immediately at utmost stretch to follow him. Each crew was
now put to the test of strength, and I must record the fact,
that the Major was not last ; the shores were crowded with
spectators—the mountains reverberated the sounds in continued
echoes—the clamping of a thousand oars—the resounding
bugles from the boats—the cries of cargoes upset in the melee
—the alarm of the drowning, and the shouts of the foremost,
raised altogether a din that must fail in description.— Sports-
man in Ireland
WILD FOWL.—My gun was now in:requisition—
so unaccustomed were these animals to any annoyance from man,
perhaps even to his sight, that I found no difficulty in approach-
ing a flock, thus settled, and senditr, the contents of both bar-
rels amongst them—they flew upwards, and, in a few moments,
again assembled on the same spot. The screams of every class
of seabird, which followedthe report of my gun, conveyed the
idea of our being amongst an interminable flock. As we passed
down the rocks, following the course of the river, new coveys
met us at every turn. It was hard work to load—my powder
Was becoming exhausted—and I regretted I Lad not a better
supply, as one of the flat pools of the stream exhibited a dark
Mas sof ducks, widgeon, and teal.— Sportsman in Ireland.
On Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr.
Higgs, at the Penitentiary, Milbank, on the body of Henry
Alitward, aged 18. The deceased was admitted on the 4th
inst., having been sentenced by a Court-martial at Chatham
to twenty days' imprisonment for being absent without leave.
On the Bth he was taken to the infirmary, being attacked with
erysipelas, arising from a small scratch under the right ear.
The inflammation increased, and produced suffusion on the
brain, which caused his death on Tuesday. He was attended
by Mr. Wade, the surgeon, Dr. Bailey, and Staff-Surgeon
koe, He was in perfect health when admitted, but the surgeon
said erysipelas was prevalent at this time, especially in Chelsea.
The deceased's father, who is apatient in Charing-cross Hospi-
tal, had obtained leave to bring a letter for his son, and though
oc was in the inquest-room, was not aware of his death till he
heard the name. Verdict--Natural death from erysipelas.
The revolution effected by the opening of the
Southampton Railway, is already most sensibly felt in Ports-
mouth. Instead of the swarms of passengers from Ryde, by
our steam-packets, they now come with two or three. In
fact, Cowes will in future be the principal entree instead of
Ttyde. Notwithstanding the tine pier, &c., a great deal of
this mischief doubtless arises from the avarice of the select
few of the Steam Packet Company, who, although they have
been receiving fifteen per cent on their outlay, pertinaciously
refuse to lower their exorbitant fares. The Brighton Company
must extend their line to this fine harbour, and the sooner they
begin the better, if they intend to secure an immense revenue,
which otherwise must pass by the Southampton route. The puny
efforts of the local company here must be thrown overboard.
One of high character and professional experience must suc-
ceed—some Sir Arthur Wellesley be called upon to carry on
the Railway campaign which has languished, and is likely so
to do for years, if not resuscitated by a Brunel, a Stevenson,
or a Dastick, and then with the finest roadstead in the
world, the most capacious harbour, and a dense and swarming
Population success and ample remuneration must be the result
of the speculation.
THE FIRST POET LAUREATE.—The reign of
Henry the Thiid affords the first Poet Laureate, and the per-
son then appointed to that office was styled Master Henry'
alias the " versificator," to whom the King ordered 100 shil-
lings to be paid
.out of the Exchequer, in discharge of the ar-
rears due to him. It is stated to be very probable that this
officer was introduced by the then Queen Consort, Eleanor of
Provence, who was herself a poetess and instructed in litera-
ture from her youth.