The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-02 00:00:00

SPOIITING.

WANSTEAD COURSING OVER CAXTON PARK,
TUESDAY, DEC. 31.
MATCHES FOR TEN GUINEAS.
Mr. Bowes gr. b. beat Mr. Powlett's be. d.
Mr. Wepys' Casualty beat Capt. Smith's Flora.
Mr. Webb's Fly beat Mr. Jones's Flirt.
Mr. Gilbert's Fanny beat Mr. Gootlison's Negro.
Mr. Roden's bl. d. beat Capt. Fowler's Monk.
Mr. Ilouverie's Music beat Mr. Swan's Webb.
SILVER CUP AND COVER.
Mr. Udney's Uxbridge won the Cup in two ties, and Mr.
Humphries' bl. b. the Cover.—The sports were altogether ex.
cellent.

At the close of a silly book, the author, as
usual, printed the word FINIS t a wit wrote under it the fol-
lowing couplet:---
" FINIS ! an error or a lte, my friend I
" In writing foolish books—there is no end."
The female proprietor of a boarding-house in
the city of Batavia, being e(pplied to by an acquaintance for
accommodations under her mot, regrotted her inability to re.
ceive him, on account of her house being already tilled
" But," added the dame, with obliging earnestness, " do not
be impatient ; my lodgers are new comers ; and you know,
my dear friend, we are certain of death vacancies in is short
time."

In a company of topers, whose fancies are
always inventive of a reason fair to fill their
glass again,' a round of belles was proposed. Dr.
Barret, upon being called upon for the fair ob-
ject of his admiration, gave, with much gravity,
' the college bell.'
DIODORUS SHAMUS says, that among the an-
cient Egyptians, one of the articles or conditions
of their marriage contracts was, that " the bus-
band should be obedient to the wife."—We
have often heard of Egyptian bondage, but never
knew that it had been carried so far its this
before.

THE FOUR, P's.—M. PoNTAC, a French Ma-
gistrate, of great abilities, but extremely indolent, having retired
to his country seat, to divert himself during the summer season,
a suitor went to him to solicit a final determination of a cause
which had been many years protracted.' Ile arrived just as the
President was going to mount for the chase. M. Pontac being
of a facetious disposition, bade him stay, till he came back, and
in the meantime to-amuse himself with finding out the meaning
of the letters that were over his gate, namely—four P's. When
Pontac came back from the chase, he found his dangling
suitor. " Well, my friend," says the Judge, " Have you made
out the inscription ? ' " Yes, my Lord, that I have." " Aye,
well, what is it ?" It is pauvre plaidrur, prenez patience.—
(Poor pleader, pray have patience.)--!'he real signification of
the letters was, Peter Pontac., Premier President ; but M.
Pontac was so pleased with the new turn ingeniously given to
them, and so admonished by the reproof it conveyed, that the
cause was decided next day.
A Luc !—The pigs in the vicinity of Naples
are so fat as to be able to move only with difficulty ; and several
persons have been curious to learn in what manner this deal.
deratum was obtained. They were informed that the pigs
were always fed in the first instance with Indian Corn,
and then generally permitted to shift for themselves ! The
method adopted by the Neapolitans to ascertain when the ani.
mal is fit for the knife, is as extraonlinary as it is cruel—an
iron probe is Plunged into the side of the animal, and when the
point touches the lean or museularfibre (not till then !) it is in.
dicated by the expression of pain.—(Shrewsbury Paper.)
THE CURISTIAN „tEa.t.—The most ancient
author whom we find using the modern mode of
date, Anna
is the venerable BEDE, who
published his Ecclesiastical History in 731. It
was adopted in France under King PEPIN, and
fully established in the reign of CHARLEMAGNE.
The custom of beginning the year on the Ist of
January commenced in France in 1564.