The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-31 00:00:00

Cumberland and Westmoreland Society.

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Last year there was an unfortunate difference in
this most excellent society—excellent in its charac-
ter from the good performed to the various charities
of the " two counties." Last year one party went
to Cremorne, the other to Islington, and the old
fable of the " bundle of sticks" was, to the cost of
all, verified by their want of Union. Under the
courteous and good advice of J. Thwaites, Esq.,
after the wayward sons of Cumberland and West-
moreland had thus frittered away their means of
doing good, this year the scattered bundle of sticks
have been again tightly bound together, and yester-
day saw again one united society, the good results
of which were apparent to the gratification of all
who wish well to the society. And yet, for all that,
the arrangements, good as they appeared to be,
were in a great measure upset by the immense suc-
cess of the gathering, At five o'clock more than
17,000 had paid for admission to the building ; at
eight o'clock it was calculated that more than 20,000
were present. The galleries were crowded ; re-
served seats and select seats (2s. 6d. and 55.) were
crammed to suffocation ; all round there was clam-
bering up to see ; even the portion set apart for the
Press was so obstructed that if ever reporting un-
der difficulties took place it was at the Agricultural
Hall yesterday, to give an account of the ancient
"back-hold wrastle."

The happy results of the amalgamation were
manifested also by the vast number of entries and
the great increase in the value of the prizes. No
more need be said of the late schism, and we now
proceed with our description.

The magnificent building, the Agricultural Hall,
was splendidly fitted up with innumerable seats, and
hundreds of chairs ; and at the end under the clock
there was a row of boxes tastefully arranged, with
rows of seats in the rear. The galleries also con-
tained a number of spectators, and the amphi-
theatre on each side of the organ afforded, as did
in fact all parts of the extensive premises, an ex-
cellent view of the arena, which was in the
centre of the circle, and which measured 190
yards around. Mr. Rudkin, of the Salutation
Tavern, Newgate-gate, who has also refreshment-
rooms at the hall, provided in the large apartment a
substantial entertainment, of which, about twelve
o'clock, the wrestling committee and other gentle-
men partook.

The umpires were Messrs. Leggett, John Richard-
son, Robert Atkinson, and Edward Stanton. The
referees were Mr. Richard Margetson and Major
Wills. Mr. J. Hodson is the treasurer, and Mr.
W. Gilchrist hon. secretary.
Committee of Management.—W. R. Margetson,
chairman ; Mr. James Hodgson, treasurer ; and Mr.
Joseph Gilchrist, honorary secretary ; Messis. W.
Armstrong, R. Atkinson, W. Atkinson, Thomas
Baty, Hugh Brown, James Brown, Archibald Bell,
Thomas Charlton, Richard Coulthard, George Gib-
son, S. Hewitson, W. Jameson, J. Illingsworth,
Isaac Lawson, W. Leggett, W. Little, Christopher
Little, Thomas Main, John Richardson, Alexander
Scott, Edward Stanton, George Tomlinson, Philip
Twentyman, Robert Weatherall, Joseph Wills, and
Joseph Wright. The various prizes announced for
competition amounted in value to 300 guineas.
The sports opened by the wrestling by 9i-stone
men, resident in London, and from the North, for
whom the sum to be given was £l2. This was fol-
lowed by a grand display of pole leaping for a hand-
some prize; prizes, amounting in value to 30 guineas,
given to be contended for by residents in the metro-
polis, not exceeding 11 stone ; and after this, a
prize given for a hurdle race round the arena, 190
yards ; the sum of £3O and a handsome belt given
to all corners from the North, not exceeding 11
stone ; and, to vary the attractions, a prize was
offered for a bell race ; and wrestling matches for
money prizes, amounting to £35, and champion
belt, open to all men of all weights from the northern
counties, no exception being made on this occasion
to the two noted champions, Richard Wright and
William Jameson.

The wrestling commenced at one o'clock, and as
the entries were numerous, the oi-stone men, num-
bering about 80, and others in proportion, some time
was necessarily occupied before it was completed.
The residents in London were confined to 94
stone.

For the last tussle, the best of three falls, a most
exciting struggle took place ; both, however, were
won by Graham, after a hard trial for superiority.
Graham gained the first by the swinging hipe ; the
second by the inside click, or nearly by half-hipe.

THE HURDLE RACE.—Two heats and the final—
In the first heat there were eight starters, which was
won by Musgrove, of Cumberland ; Robinson 2d,
Baker 3d. In the second heat Williams came in
first before eight starters ; Hope close up for 2d.
The final heat was won easily by Musgrove.

In the wrestling by list men resident in London,
for the Agricultural Hall Cup, presented by Thos.
Rudkin, Esq., Graham beat Armstrong in the first
fall by the inside click. When they met for the
next time, Graham,. after a severe struggle, gained
the second bout by the inside hank. Graham has,
therefore, won both prizes of 9st and list, and was
most deservedly cheered on retiring from the ring.
POLE LEAPING.--R. Musgrove won the first prize
by clearing 10. feet 6 inches. Winter and Baines
tied at 10 feet 3 inches, so they agreed to divide the
second and third prizes.

The Prize of £3O and a Belt. Open to all comers
from the North not exceeding I.lst.

Final Round—J. Scott, of Carlisle, and J. Mil-
born, of Weardale, the best two out of three falls ;
Milburn threw his man by the swinging hipe. Second
round—Scott became the victor, making one fall
each ; thrown by cross buttock, in excellent style.
Last fall--Milburn no xtriumphed over Scott by a
clean back fall, throwing him in an admirable man-
ner, amidst the cheers of his friends.
RINGING THE BELL.—This afforded fair fun, the
men being masked, but some confusion ensued by
the ring not being properly kept, and no one could
ascertain how the affair ended.

WRESTLING BY MEN OF ALL WEIGHTS.--The
prizes, amounting to £35, were open for competition
by men from the northern counties, the winner in
addition to have a champion's belt.
Final Falls, Two out of Three.-3. Jameson, of
Penrith, and R. Wright, of Longtou. This excited
immense interest. Each tried for a favourable hold,
and after several times getting together and sepa-
rating. This dodging continued up to the 15th
time, when they got a good hold, when Jameson
after a very sharp struggle by superior strength al-
most pulled Wright down, and then back-heeled
him. Second bout—Both made several more at-
tempts to obtain the grip, when Wright downed
his opponent cleverly by the outside stroke ; in fact,
it may be considered a half-buttock. Last bout—
More trying for the best hold, and now an hour
had elapsed since they first came together. At
length they closed, and another very sharp en-
counter ensued for the fall, which Wright obtained
by the hipe, and deafening cheers for the smaller
man and of lighter weight.
We should have been glad to have gone further
into the last closing struggle, but the confusion was
so great that we were unable to do so.

ACTS OF PARLIAMENT.—The number of Public
Acts passed in the present session up to the adjournment
for the Easter recess was 13. Two acts were to apply
money out of the Consolidated Fund for the service of
the current year; one was for £1,137,772, and the other,
passed on Friday, was for £19,000,000.
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISEMENTS. —A gentleman
who has received numerous .answers to a matri-
monial advertisement has written a letter to the Birmiezp,,han
Gazette, in which ho says :—" I observed curiously enough
that the suitors for my hand were sharply divided into two
classes. One was made up of women who were young, or
comparatively so, and who could spell, but had no money.
The other class was old, and had money, but could not
spell. There was not among the applicants a single young
woman who had money. There was not a single old
woman without money. The facts aro curious, but easy
of explanation. A young woman with money easily gets
married ; without money she is sometimes reduced to
desperation, and takes to answering advertisements as a
last resource. And an old woman without money is so
undesirable a mate, and her case is generally so hopeless,
that she thinks it useless to make any matrimonial over-
tures whatever, even through the medium of an advertise-
ment. If she have money though, she has some hope,
however infelicitous all her other circumstances may be."