The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-24 00:00:00

AN OLD, BUT SUCCESSFUL, HORSE
TRICK.

On Saturday morning last, at about eleven o'clock,
a successful horse trick was played upon Captain Ro-
bert Massell, of Wells, whose vessel is now at this
port discharging coals. It seems that the worthy son
of Ocean was wandering over the quays at the time
stated, when a respectably dressed person hauled along-
side, and after putting several ordinary questions,
said, " I sent my servant into the town yesterday to
buy a horse for me. He said he was to give 211. for
it, but I think he is about doing me. I have to buy
it for a gentleman. Holloa, here comes my master
now," added be, as another well-dressed man came
up, as if by mere accident. The trio after a time
went to the Bull Inn, where the second man laid
o: the table twenty-one sovereigns, and shoved
them over to the first man, who said " that won't
do, T must receive the money of a stranger."
He hen asked the captain if he had 211.? when
he said "No, but I can get it," on which the captain
immediately went out and got 211. The three then
retired to the Sea Horse Inn, where the captain was
told if he would lend the first man 211. for a few mi-
nutes he should receive 221. for it. The captain
then went out with the man who had not shown any
money, in order that he might see the horse at
the Coach and Horses. When opposite Alex-
ander's bank the captain said to the man, "I know
nothing of horse-dealing—take the 211. and get the
horse, and I'll go back to your friend and get the 221.
for it." Oa his return to the inn the man who had
displayed the 21 sovereigns had " hooked it," when
the captain ran towards the Coach and Horses, but
found that the fellow to whom he had entrusted his mo-
ney had also hoisted all sail and got away. The poor fel-
low felt that the wind had been taken out of his sheets
completely, and mourn fully made his way to the station-
house, where the facts were revealed. A horse was
found at the Coach and Horses Inn, which has been
valued at about 41. Immediate exertions were made
by Police-constab:e Robinson to detect the fellows ;
but notwithstanding the utmost activity the pirates
got away with their spoil. The affair has created
the utmost merriment amongst the captains on the
quay, who are thoroughly rejoiced that it was not a
Suffolk man who vas thus taken in. The goer fellow
played most anxiously into the rascal's hand, in order to
save the sovereign. He exclaimed to the victimiser
" Come, make haste, take the 214 ; there's another
gentleman at the inn waiting to pay me 224, and I
shall lose money and horse too if I don't make haste."
An extraordinary desire to obtain the one sove-
reign blinded his weather eye as to the fate of the
larger sum he had advanced. having seen the Sea
Horse the confiding captain thought it unnecessary to
see the land animal ; had he, however, but hinted the
matter to the attentive host, Mr. Worby would
quickly have saved him from these land sharks.—
Ipswich Express.

"SAil THE RUNNER'S" VISIT TO THE
GREAT EXHIBITION.

['here are very few persons in Gloucestershire that
know anything of Earl Fitzhardinge's fox-hunting
establishment who do not know something of " Sam the
Runner." In fact, so constant and unremitting has been
his attendance in the hunting field for many years past,
that (without being in the service of his Lordship) his
presence on those occasions seems as indispensable and
necessary almost as that of the hounds. Some time
since Sam, like the rest of the world, was smitten with
a desire to see the Great Exhibition, and for this pur-
pose he travelled to London. How he went I do not
know, but most likely he walked there. Behold him,
then, one fine afternoon in his scarlet hunting•coat,
white hat, and leathern inexpressibles, knocking at the
door of Lord FitzisardinKe's dwelling in Spring-gardens.
" Was the Earl at home?" he asked of the servant who
answered to his knock. "He was at home, but was
engaged, and Sam had better call cgain." " No; he
had just arrived in town, and wished particularly to see
him, and would thank the servant to tell him that Sam'l
Cornock, of Nibley, near Berkeley, was there." The
servant hesitated a moment, and then did as he was
desired. He returned almost immediately, and re-
quested Mr. Sam'l Cornock, of Nibley, near Berkeley.
to walk in. In he went, and was ushered, hat in hand
into the presence of his Lordship. " Well, Sam," ex-
claimed the Earl. " Well, my Lord," said Sam. " What
brings you to town, Sam?" " Why you see, my Lord,
I've come up to see the Expedition—but I thought I'd
first call and tell your Lordship I was here." " Ah, I
see, but where are you going to stay while you are
here?" " I don't know, my Lord." " Then make this
your quarters ; yon can have a bed ; and now go down
and tell the servants to give you something to eat," said
the Earl, at the same time tossing him a sovereign.
Now, having " made good his footing," as he called it,
Sam proceeded to wait upon some more of his aristo-
cratic friends ; the Dukes of Beaufort, Bedford, and
Sutherland, Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, &c., &c., &c.
Sam found himself quite a lion, and fed and feasted ac-
cordingly; dining one day at one duke's, the next day
at another's, taking tea at the house of a third; indeed,
he says, his greatest difficulty was to arrange his nu-
merous invitations, that he might give them all a turn.
He went to Apsley-house, where he saw the Duke of
Wellington. "So you are Sammy, are you?" said the
Duke. " Yes, your Grace," replied Sam, making his
best bow. " The Duke of Beaufort told me about you;
you run with the hounds, don't you?" "Yes, I do,
your Grace." " Here's a sovereign for you, Sammy."
Sam was so elated that he took his hat and gave his
Grace three cheers in hunting fashion. Sam also saw
the Queen; he was directed by Lord A; Fitzclarence to
stand at some spot she was going to pass in her carriage
—the carriage went slowly by, and her Majesty looked
out and smiled at Sam, as he stood up between two
life-guardsmen, with drawn swords. Sam took off his
chapeau and cheered most lustily, till the Royal party
was out of view. Sam said Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence
afterwards told him that her Majesty wished to see him,
that she might know if he was like a caricature that the
Duke of Beaufort had given her. A day or two before
Sam left the Duke of Beaufort said to him, " You must
dine here to-day, Sam." I am much obliged to your
Grace for the invitation," ho replied, " but I am sorry
to say that I cannot accept of it, as I am engaged to
dine at Apsley-house." Sam went back well lined in
purse and person, and is now following the hounds as
us u al.—Bristol Times.