The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-06 00:00:00

THE BIRMINGHAM FANCY.

We understand that White-headed Bob takes a Benefit
in Birmingham to-morrow at Reynold's Sporting Gallery,
when it is expected that a match will be made between
him and Sampson.
Young Dutch Sam and Harry Holt took a benefit this
day at M. Beardsworth's Repository, but a very superior
display of scientific finish is anticipated by Bob, who in-
tends to make the thing very select.

GRAND AMATEUR ROWING MATCH FOR ONE

THOUSAND SOVEREIGNS.

The great amateur match which was made by Mr.
Osbaldeston, the celebrated shot, on the part of the London
amateurs belonging to the Arrow Club, and Colonel Stan-
don on that of the Guards amateurs, for 5001. aside, to row
with the tide, from Vauxhall-bridge, through the centre
arch of Kew-bridge, took place on Saturday afternoon.
The interest excited by the match along the whole line of
the river, was, perhaps, without precedent, and no sooner
were the preliminaries settled between Mr. Osbaldeston and
the Colonel, than both parties commenced active prepara-
tions for the contest. In about ten days, a finely constructed
wherry, 37 feet 11 inches long, was built by Sullivin, of
Mil Thank, for the Guards gentlemen, and on a coat of lead
coloured paint being put on her, she was launched and
training commenced. The fast rowing boat the Arrow
was put into proper trina for the London amateurs, who
took every precaution which the occasion required. Four,
out of eight gentlemen, were picked from the Guards crew,
and the boats were manned as follows:--
Guards Amateurs. I The Arrow Club.

Captain Bentinck
Viscount Chetwynd
Lord Douglas
Colonel Hobhouse
Brumwell, steerer.

Messrs. Slader
Bay ford
Cannon
Osbaldeston
Mitchell, steerer.

Some time previous to the start, notwithstanding the
pitiless storm, a number of Noblemen and Gentlemen, dis-
tinguished amateurs, congregated at Vauxhall, and among
the numerous Companies' boats, we observed, the Emerald,
Leander, Corsair (Mr. Slader's boat), Trinity, Union,
William and Frederick, and many others, several of which
were manned by crack watermen. About a quarter past
three o'clock, the Arrow gentlemen from Bishop's, Stan-
gate, and the Guards from Whitehall, pulled up to Vaux-
hall. Both of the wager boats received every possible at-
tention, as to condition for the occasion, and a steel rudder
of very light construction was made for the Arrow. The
Guards having taken their station from a pier of the
bridge, on the Surrey side, and the London amateurs from
one on the Middlesex side, at precisely a quarter to four
they started. The Arrow took the lead, closely followed
by their opponents, and the rain having ceased, the match
created great interest, and was followed up the river by a
vast number of four, six, eight, and ten-oared boats. On
arriving at the Red-house the Arrow was leading the way
in gallant style, and on shooting Battersea-bridge, they
were about four boats' lengths in advance. Up to Ham-
mersmith the struggle was great and interesting, the Arrow
gradually going a-head. From Hammersmith to the
place of destination, between twenty and thirty gentlemen
who had assembled on horseback, accompanied the head-
most boat along the towing-path, and the scene which pre-
sented itself was of an extremely animating description.
The Arrow amateurs finally arrived at Kew fifty seconds
before their opponents, accomplishing the distance, which
is upwards of ten miles, in one hour and three minutes.
A considerable number of spectators, among whom were
many of rank, assembled on the Kew-bridge, and the side
of the river. The London gentlemen proceeded up to
Richmond, where they dined. Many thousands have
changed hands on this occasion.

r.CHE DOG Flsn.—That dread and abhor-
rence of the fishermen, the dog-fish, has again made his
appearance in the Firth in great numbers.—Scotsman.

The breed of the partridge is likely to be very
great this season ; there have been seen many covies al-
ready on wing, and the dry weather and the backward
grasq crop will prevent many nests from being destroyed.
Hants Advertiser.

On Tuesday last an inquest took place at
Milltown Malbay, Clare, in Ireland, on the body of
DANIEL NEILAN, who came by his death from a gun-
shot, fired by a police-officer. The Jury returned a ver-
dict accordingly.

A CORBIE DEFEATED.—A correspondent
travelling two days ago from Edinburgh to Bridgehouse,
witnessed a curious scene by the road side, in the neigh-
bourhood of Sillarburn. A strong bird, of the Corbie or
" Hoodie-craw" species, engaged in a regular attack upon
a patch of bent, defended by a pair of partridges, and the
retreat, no doubt, of their young brood lately escaped
from the shell. Incapable of gaining his end by a direct
assault, the destroyer had recourse to stratagems. He
alighted, in the first place, in the grass field at a short
distance from the spot of bent, where he was instantly
followed by the cock partridge running, and in a very
little by the hen also, by both of whom he was forcibly
assailed. The wily thief having lured them from their
fastness, and exhausted their wind, forthwith teok wing,
and alighted among the bent. The parent birds took
wing also, and in a moment placed themselves in front of
him in the attitude of defiance. Baffled again, he had re-
course to the former method of provoking them to follow
him to some distance from the bent, and engage him in
battle. The birds " nothing loth" ran upon him at full
speed, when a severe round took place, after which the
Corbie, as before, made his way to the sacred inclosure.
The defence, however, was maintained with equal re-
solution, till the Corbie, finding at last that nothing could
be made of it, shamefully gave way, leaving the field in
possession of the delighted little victors.—Scotsman.