The Sun.
London, England, 1827-09-29 00:00:00

FIELD SPORTS FOR OCTOBER.

(From the Annals of Sporting.)
PRE NSANT-SHOOTING, Our readers.need not be told,
commences on the first of this month; a month too
soon, indeed, as many of these birds do not attain
their proper growth before November. Despite
this, however, many fall victims to the unfair and
unprincipled sportsman,
_even during the month of
September. Pheasants, by dint of uncommon pre-
servation, have now become not only common, but
numerous, throughout the kingdom ; and though
they will, for the most part, cling to the preserves,
yet, capricious •in their movements, they will still
frequently be found at some distance from them.
The best time for pheasant-slooting on. the borders
of preserves, is about the middle of October, inas-
much as these beautiful birds will then choose such
haunts, and in them continue, if not much molested,
about ten dayi ; when they again' seek the friendly
shelter of the wood. As these are young birds,
which thus temporarily stray away, it would seem
as if the mother bird drove them from her, in the
same manner as the domestic hen is seen to get rid
of her chickens, " warring 'against Nature still."
Pheasant-shooting, considered as a diversion, is not,
in the opinion of the writer, equal to partridge-
shooting. While the ground is thickly covered with
vegetation, pheasants may be flushed in all situations;
and as long as potatoes and turnips afford good
shelter they will frequently .he amongst them; but
as the winter advances, the thicker hedge-rows will
be sought, and coverts and protecting woods be
courted, in which they are readily found, and, by
good perforMers' easily killed. The pheasant flies
with difficulty; for instance, if one b. sprung and
not killed, but marked down, followed and
_sprung
again, and if this be more than twice repeated, the
bird will scarcely be able to rise with any effect the
third time, but may be caught by the dogs. At the
same time it should be admitted that the first
rushing rise of a pheasant is not a little calculated to
try the nerve of inexperienced or commencing sports-
men. The breed we have reason to believe abundant,
though there be ugly reports extant of a disease in
the species: Time will show—we remain sceptical.
WOODCOCKS will present themselves, towards the
latter end of this month, when they sometimes ap-
pear in considerable numbers; though it is not till
the beginning of November that they are met with
in abundance.

SNIPES are to be seen during the whole year, but
generally may be said to be numerous towards the
latter end of this month. .

COURSING will soon become general ; though
hares, at this early period of the season, may be con-
sidered, if the greyhounds are good for any thing, as
very much overmatched. Much, however, depends,
in this respect, upon the season, and a good deal
upon the country. After a dry,.-bracing, breeding
time we have known hares run remarkably well from
the middle of October; and upon open, down, and
heath countries, where a chivey may be had three
miles from covert into it, we have seen young hares
puzzle, and sometimes beat, a very good brace of
greyhounds. Something must now, also, be con-,
ceded to the courser, on account of his young dogs.
He, as well as, the fox-hunter, and the keeper of
harriers, has puppies to enter, trial's -to make, and
hence October coursing (but not sooner) may fairly
be admitted. Blood, too, is as requisite to the en-
couragement and formation of the courage of a grey-
hound as it is to the entered foxhound; it cub-bunting
he necessary to the one, so is moderately early
coursing to the other. Unlike a racing colt, the
three apecieS of dogs in question can have no fair
trial unless the game is afoot before them, except we
could train a cunning old fox, or a clever running
hare, to mind their points; as Toomer, of the New
Forest, did his pig. But advance we.
Hunting with the harriers is somewhat dan-
gerous, till the frosts have so far nipped vegetation,
that the leaves begin to fall. Prior to this period,
the leaps, or jumps, (as they are more fashionably,
but less philosophically, termed), are blind, and, con-
sequently, the horse is very liable to come down.
However, some ardent hare-hunters turn out in
September: in October, hare-hunting becomes ge-
neral.

FOX-IIUNTING will commence this month ; though.
this pursuit can scarcely be considered in season tilt
November: however, like woodcock-shooting, it
commences by degrees, gradually swells into the'
noontide of its glory, and finishes much in the same:
Manner as the bird just mentioned takes leave of this;
country. It is greatly to be lamented that no truce
can be made between fox-hunters and pheasant-
shooters, since it has 'frequently been demonstrated.
that the two diversions are not incompatible; or,'
in other words, that the existence of foxes is not'
necessarily the destruction,of pheasants, even in the
very same cover. But it would appear that the two
diversions generate very different feelings than could
be wished for : the fox-hunter is a generous charac-i
ter, and nothing gives him so much pleasure as see-i
ing his friends, and as much company as possible,
with his hounds ; whereas the pheasant-shooter too
often eyes, with an unkind jealousy, the' approach
of every stranger, and admits only a very select few
to share with him in the pleasures of his chase : the
one is a very.social, the other, too frequently, an un-
social, diversion. The writer of these memoranda
of the month is not, however, of the number of those
desponding. disciples, who think that fox-hunting
Must.expertence annihilation, because a few ill-na-
tured pheasant-shooters destroy the faxes which
happen to stray into their preserves.. Fox-hunting
not only must go on, but must go on increasing,
since it is encouraged by the principal part of the
rank, the wealth, the respectability, the common
sense, and the sterling integrity of the country. ,
Foxes, like hares, will he found very abundant, as
the breeding-season has been as fine as • possible ;
and, from the. uncommon preparations made at va-
rious parts of the country, we have not the least
doubt but that fox-hunting will be more vigorously
pursued the ensuing season than at any former;
period.
quity the stronger its strength.
.TilijacqFuLreTt
h vierc racing ui,g id°:eason the greater its anti-
is driwins to a
THE
close. One of the most splendid meetings in.the
ec
world, even if
.ive concede to Ascot the priority in :
some respects, has just come off; and with the New-
market Meeting the report will be closed for the
year. '• The fulness .of our 'Doncaster details render
any further observations unecessary here. Of va- I
rious gratifying sports October claims its share, and
it will be our " acceptable service" to chronicle
them.

The Parish clerk of Langford, near Welling-
ton, was called Red Cock, for many years before his death;
fortha that
he
having i nwgasone t
aSunday
cock-fighting,
hea bawledchureh ,0
uatn
ashilling
dreamingil
upon the red cock !" And, behold! the family are called 1
" RBedßCloGenk;toostl:issdEayp.T.S2is.—ockpoTrt4e Advherotuissee of
Advertiser.
the
late Mr. Canning at this place, has just been announced for
sagivlee,nfrioipmiiivehh
ricinteint is presumed
tionoil vsiditnhgathellr C
here. The
Thaieininhoguselnisis
spacious and roomy, fitted up weriitt;insuotarie attention to
thancoin-
gfoolotd r
emtaognrgiksnlagi obu‘ltsvyoe,dpatlthihai dii
sn.s.tiathpe;aoif.tuthitirnentreiiiteu;r
oiin d . throughout,floor fronting
althoughthe
;einceianar,p.osiycasbitie.nelolinninbiorvaerdy,frwoirnth
ia
t.goodA collection of books, in which
tsshoue
hogfuovoa roomsd
beens e series ie
was:
egos-fi
it
added
to make
Cfaacntnina(gi 0
utiblfteer she
bons
epurchased n
,ea ll
oafe e so
these
is a grand banquetting or dining-room. The front of the
house was also materially changed, a stone portico and'
balcony, with Doric and lonian pillars being added„
so as partially to cover the. Corinthian pilasters with!
which the house was originally built. From the lower!
part of the house is a tunnel, leading beneath the road to
the beach, by means of which the desceot from the cliff
(which is here very steep) is entirely avoided. This was
also constructed after the house was bought, find was pro-
bably intended 'for the accommodation of Mrs. Canning,
who was herielf an invalid. It is said the house cost, in,
the first place, 3,0001., and that the above alteration cost
a sunvof 1,400/. or 1,5001. more. It was purchased froml.
.41:44,cannipg's private purse, and was settleAopon her.j
It was here that Mr. Canning resided during the severe ill-'
ness that he suffered previously to the last Session. This
was the only time that he lived in the house, as he did not
return to Brighton.