The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-23 00:00:00

A NEW MODE OF POACHING.

To say nothing of the various systems of wiring,
snaring, trapping, and shooting, usually employed by
man, there is one mode of netting—although many are
practised—that is not much known, and seems to de
serve especial notice from its destructive character,
and the success with which it is frequently
attended. Two or three poachers, disguised
in respectable attire, travel about the country in a
gig or dog-cart, accompanied by a single pointer
or setter. One of the party alights at the outskirts
of a village or country town, and proceeding to the
public room of the nearest tavern, soon falls into con-
versation with some of the unsuspecting inhabitants ;
and passing himself off as " an intelligent traveller,"
or keen sportsman, about to pay a visit to the
neighbouring squire, soon obtains sufficient local in-
formation for his purpose. The other "gentlemen"
have in the meantime put up their horse and gig at
an inn in a_ different quarter, and while discussing
their brandy-and-water at the bar have " pumped" the
landlord of all the news likely to prove useful to th,
fraternity. At a certain hour in the evening the trio
meet by appointment at some pre-arranged spot out-
side the village, and commence operations. After com-
paring notes, the most promising ground is selected.
A dark night and rough weather are all in their favour.
The steady old pointer, with a lantern round his neck, is
turned into a stubble field, and a net of fine texture, but
tough materials, is produced from a bag in which it has
hitherto been closley packed. 'The light passes quickly
across the field—now here, now there, like a Will-o'
the-Wisp—as the sagacious dog quarters the ground
rapidly, yet with as much care and precision as if he
were working for a legitimate sportsman in open day.
Suddenly it ceases to move, then advances slowly, stops,
moves once more,and at last becomes stationary. Two of
the men then take the net,and making a circuit until the)
arrive in front of the dog, shake out the meshes,and place
it in a proper position on the ground. Then standing
opposite to each other, and holding either end of the
string, they draw it slowly and noiselessly over their
quadruped ally—whose exact position is indicated by
the lantern—frequently capturing at the same time an
unsuspecting covey huddled together within a few
inches of his nose. When this operation is carried on
by experienced hands, an entire manor may be effectu-
ally stripped of partridges in an incredibly short space
of time. Gloucester Journal.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

Six O'CLOCK.

The only bets laid as yet have been 600 to 100 agst
Prime Minister, and 50 to 1, in fifties, agst Balsamo, for
the Darby, and 500 to 10 agst Wallflower for the
Chester Cup.

THE SCREW V. THE PADDLE-WHEEL—The rapid
strides that are making in the improved construction
of screw steamers, leads to the belief that ere long
they will almost entirely supersede paddle boats.
The Admiral paddle-wheel steamer, of about 700
tons and 300 horse-power, left Greenock at
four o'clock on Saturday afternoon. She was followed
shortly afterwards by the Arno, a new screw boat,
of 750 tons and 150 horse-power, designed and built
by Messrs. Wood and Reid at Port Glasgow, and
intended for the Mediterranean trade. The Admiral
had a start of from two to three miles, and during
the passage down the Clyde gained a little on
her adversary, owing to a strong head wind whicl
prevailed. On getting into more open water, under a
little alteration of the course of each vessel the more
ample spread of canvass by the screw boat told greatly
on her speed, and she gained considerably on the Ad-
miral. When off the Isle of Man they were within
a mile of each other, which distance was maintainer
until they reached the Bell-buoy; and here they had
to lay-to and tike pilots on beard, having mid,
the run in sixteen hours and a quarter, a remark-
ably short passage. The Astrologer, from Con-
stantinople, hitherto considered the fastest boat out of
Liverpool, arrived cff the bar at the same time, am'
started for the port more than a mile a-head of tin
Arno, but she was speedily overhauled before reaching
the Crosby Light.hip. The Arno'a engines attaiace
an average of sixty revolutions per minute. They
were made by Messrs. Thomson, of Clyde
Bank Foundry, one of whom, Mr. George Thom
son, was on board to superintend their working. Th(
Arno took a turn up the river, proceeding as far as thf
Sloyne, her beautiful appearance and symmetry of mod&
exciting the admiration of those who saw her. We may
mention, as an important fact in connexion with the
above trial, that the Arno was very: deep, !having up-
wards of six hundred tons dead weight of coals on board.
Mr. John Wood, builder of the royal mail steam-ship
Europa, was the constructor of
,the Arno.—Liverpool
Albion.

MANCHESTER FREE GERMAN SCHOOL.—On Wed-
nesday, the 17th inst., the Rev. Nicholas Germon, M.A.,
High Master, was presented by the scholars of the upper
classical department with a handsome silver epergne. AD
appropriate speech was made on the occasion by the senior
scholar ( Cawley), which was duly acknowledged by the Rev.
the High Master
PROPOSED EXTENSION OF COTTON MANUFACTO-
SUES IN THE VICINITY OF LIVERPOOL.—We have received a
statement of a rather curious, but interesting, character bear-
ing on the realization of some important commercial fruits
from the Rivington Pike Scheme; to the effect, that, on the
introduction of water from that district, numerous cotton
manufactories Nvill be erected around Liverpool capable of
employing vast numbers of her poor and young criminal
classes advantageously to themselves and the community.
Hitherto, it is stated, such manufactories have not existed
because of the unfitness of our existing water supplies for

the secondary process of dyeing goods after being spun; but
with the new water this obstacle will disappear, and conse-
quently it is expected that capitalists from various parts of
Lancashire, finding that,they may now " locate" their enter-
prises in this vicinity without subjecting themselves to the
charges arising from the transmisiion of their productions
to the Manchester dye-house, will at no very distant period
seize on the great advantages offered by Liverpool in other
respects.—Liverpool