The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-04 00:00:00

SPORTING-(RVCEIVED TUTS DAY).

There has been a regular blowing up between
the Recorder of London and Alderman Fare-
brother. The cause of diSpute was a convict, who is
now undergoing the sentence of the law in pri-
son, pursuant to his conviction at the Old
Bailey. About five months ago,' ,A seems, this
convict was tried for stealing a piece of meat in
Newgate-marliet, The ,Recorder, when the
verdict,of " Guilty" was returned, sentenced
the prisoner - to
.imprisonment for .six months,
and to be whipped publicly through the market,
as an example to other market-thieves. _ His
Lordship thought that this sentence would be li-
terally carried into effect. He, however, found
that attempts were
.making to obtain the remis-,
mon of the most disgraceful part of the, sentence ;
and as he was of opinion that there should be no
mitigation, he expressed his disapprobation of the
efforts made on behalf of the unfortunate man, in
a manner not the least provoking in the world.
It is the duty Of the Sheriffs of London to, see
the sentence. of the law put into execution, and
of course, in a case of this nature, it is compe-
tent to those officers to order the whipping to he
inflicted at any period within the term of impri-
sonmeqt. the,prisoner, it happened, had been
taken ill in prison, and continued in so delicate a
'state, that the Sheriffs, in compliance with •the
dictates of 'humanity, postponed the whip-
ping. In the -mean time the inhabitants of
the market, who hadApquired into the character of
the convict, and learnt that the theft was his first
:known offence, prepared a petition to the SeCretar)
of State the Home Department, praying that
-the disgraceful part of the sentence should be re-
mitted. The petition stated that the inhabitants
would, if their petition were complied with,
employ the prisoner after his liberation from pri-
son, so ;that he would gain an honest livelihood ;
but, that if the opprobrious punishment were to
be inflicted, it would be imposSible to restore
himlo society, so horrible ti brand of iniquity
being inconsistent with any honest occupation.
Alderman Farebrothei4ery willingly undertook,
in his office of Sheriff, to recommend the peti-
tion, and presented it to the• Recorder, in the
expectation
.that that Judge who had sentenced
the prisoner would not hesitate to add the strength
of his name to the recommendation. The wor-
thy Alderman was deceived in his calculation.
The petition was abruptly returned, and a com-
ment was transmitted with it to the Alderman,
expressing the utmost surprise and displeasure
at the delay in executing the sentence of the
law. The Alderman, who bad been zealously
occupied in inquiring into the facts represented
in the petition, was determined that the objection
upon the part of the Judge should not influence
his endeavours in behalf of the • prisoner. He
had come to the conclusion, that if the man
were publicly flogged, there would 'be no
chance of ever doing any thing for him, as the
sense- of shame would totally prevent re-
pentance or improvement, and he would- be
pointed at' as more deeply disgraced than a trans-
ported felon wherever he appeared. A petition
was forthwith got up to the Marquis of Lans-
downe, and the Alderman took it himself to the
Secretary, to whom he represented that it would
be an act of great linknanity to remit the flogging,
and that the prisoner would be restored to so-
ciety, and there would be every chance of a re-
form in his conduct. The Secretary, imme-
diately upon this representation, gave to 'the
Alderman an authority. to the effect required,
f bc, - - I
IC V whipped.
When the. Recorder found that the sentaof
the Court was not carried into execution, he de.
dared that the conduct of the Sheriff was most
scandalous, and he' told Alderman Farebrother
that he, would himself see the Order of the Court
performed to the very letter, if the Sheriffs per-
sisted in their disobedience. His Lordship and
the Alderman, in a discussion upon the subject,
waved all' ceremony for the time. The one
charged the other with neglect or abandonment
of duty, and was retaliated upon with the accu-
sation of a total want of knowledge:of the law.
The matter is to be brought before the Court of
Aldermen on the .next Court day.- Those who
speak of the matter in the city, reprehend the
Recorder for having impetuously rebuked the
Sheriff, without having inquired into the actual
cause of the delay, which was, in the first in-
stance, the indisposition of the unfortunate con-

vict.-- Tiines.

SUICIDE.—On
.Saturday last, a person

- -
employment of Mr. Hirst, carpenter, of Doncaster, after
vainly attempting to cut his throat with a razor, too blunt
for the accomplishment of his fatal
,purpose, proceeded to
the river, and in the most deliberate manner took off his
apron and hat, laid the' razor on the bank, and plunged
into the stream.—Sheffield Courant.

• El/RES.—On Monday • last,: about ten o'clock.
is the morning, an alarming fire broke out in the village
of Islip, near this city. It was occasioned by some snarks
from a cottage chimney falling on the thatch, which imme-
diately caught fire, and the wind at the tune being very
brisk, the blaze communicated to the next, and in a very
short space of time five thatched cottages, two barns, and
two ricks of hay, were entirely consumed. Several poor
families are by this calamity reduced to the greatest distress,
without a dwelling or an article of furniture. Some
villains, in the shape of men, ,were active in committing
depredations in the dwellings of some of those who were
saving the property of their neighbours, and several articles
were stolen. One fellow was detected, and severely ducked
on the spot.—Another fire broke out in the middle of the
day on Thursday last, at Howlington Farm, at Botley,
occupied by T. Ensworth,_ Esq. of this city, which con-
sumed two cottages, a stable, barn, (in which were some
farming implements,), and out-houses; together with a
stump of hay. The accident was occasioned by the im-
prudence of a boy who shot off a gun in the barn. The
Earl of Abingdon sent all his labourers with the fire engine,
to assist in extinguishing the flame S.— Oxford Journal.
THE THIThiDERSTORM.--Abolt two o'clock
on Monday morning last, this town and neighbourhood
were visited by an awful yet magnificent storm of thunder
and lightning. The heat on Sunday was excessive, and
almost insupportable. The thermometer at three o'clock
stood at 86 deg. in the shade; Towards evening, and un-
til after midnight, the horizon was illumined by vivid
flashes of lightning. We never witnessed any thing more
splendid: The fork-lightning was beautiful in the extreme;
of divers colours, and assuming every conceivable. variety
of form. Sometimes scorpions of fire seemed playing in
the air ; starry points, of the brightest and most intense
light, followed each other in quick succession ; then streams
of liquid fire, bursting from a centre, shot with terrific ve-
locity across the expanse. The thunder was at first almost
inaudible ; it then gained on the ear like the sound of
battle. The rain, for sometime, fell in torrents. We are
happy to say, that the damage in this neighbourhood, is
confined to the following instance.—The electric fluid en-
tered the attic story of a house nearly opposite the Sugar
House, in the'Nursery, the inmates of which had 'a very
narrow escape. It tore off part of the ceiling ; it then
passed into the room below, where the occupant and his
wife and two children were sleeping ; here it struck the
wall, and after removing a portion of the plaster, appears
to have passed directly over the bed in which the'children
were sleeping, without doing them any other injury than
raising a blister on one of their arms, which might have
been uncovered ; it afterwards struck the opposite wall,
shivering a bason to atoms, and breaking several panes of
glass in the window: A tree on the Worksop road, a little
beyond Handsworth, was shivered to atoms by the
lightning. The thunder-storm extended nearly from one
end of the kingdom to the other. The rain, in addition to
_what fell last week,. has given quite a new appearance to
the fields and vegetation in general......Shejfie/d Courant.

KNUTSFORD RACES.---WEDNESDAt, 1.
CORNWALL Lyon and
.11. WARBURTON, Esq. Stewards.
The Peover Stakes of 10 sous. encli-, for all ages. One
mile and a distance.
Sir T. Stanley's ch. b. Grenadier, 6 yrs ••• 1
-Sir W. Wynne's br. g. Orthodox,
.6. yrs ... 2
Won in a canter.-6 to 4on the winner.—Ten
Atandicap Stakes oflo sews. each, and 40 added. Heats,
about a mile and a half.
Mr. Hudson's b. f. Miracle ..... 3 1 1
Mr. Thompson's Orthodox
I Mr. Johnson's b. f. Vesta 23 di
2 to 1 on
,Orthodox-5 to 1 agst. the wiener.
There was no race for the Cavalry Purse.
•

'HURSDAY.-The Tatton Park Stakes of 25 Boys. each,
h. ft. for three-yr-old colts, Bst. 51b. fillies, Bst. Two

miles. •
Sir T. Stanley's h. c. by Catton—walked ever.
Two paid. .
The Dunham Massey Stakes of 25 soy*. each, . for colts,
Bst. alb. fillies, Bst. Two miles.
Lord Groivenor's b. c. Gros de Naples I
Sir T. Stanley's b. c. Joceline
Two paid.—An excellent race.
Sixty Pounds, for all ages ; three-yr-olds, 6st. 71b. four,
Bst. five, Bst. 91b. six and aged, Bat. 121 b. Heats,
two miles and a distance. Second horse to receive 101.
Mr. Barrow's b. an. Alecto, aged
Mr. Clifton's ch. h. Mr. Munn 2 2
• Two drawn.—Wou easy.

' EDGWARE PONEY RACES.—FRIDAY, AUG. 8.
The Town Cup, valve 50gs, for ponies not exceeding
12 hands 2 inches high. Heats, thrice round.
Mr. Jacob's. Fair Helen , 1 i
• Mr. Potter's Maid of the Mill
Mr. Willis's Fanny .
Mr. Shepperd's by. f.
This race was ably contested.
Subseriptioxt: cup, value 50gs. for ponies not exceeding.
13 bawls 2`inchri high. Wits:, four times round.
Mr. Lawson's hi. m •-'l,. 1
Mr. Phillip's Sutton LaP4 ' 2
Mr. Copp's eh. p ,.- - • ,
This was a fine race, the ponies keeping together till
within a few yards of the winning-post, when Mr. Law-
ton's made play, and won by about a length.

BRIGHTON- RACES.—Ti-tuasnAy, AUG. 2.
(CONCLUDED FROU OUR' PAPER OF YEtiTERDAYO
'he Ladies' Pliite• of 601. 'for all ages ; three-yr-olds,
7st. Slb. four, Bst. 71h. five, 9st. 11b. six and aged,
9st. 51h. HeatS,• the New Course.
Mi. Caulfield's lu f. Wiiimper, 3 yrs 1 1
Lord Egreinont's'b. b. Porpoie, 3 yrs
Mr. Coleman's b:41: Flamingo, 4 yrs 4 dr
Mr. Smith's b. f. by. Wanderer, 3 yrs dr
Porpoise the favourite. Won easily.

KNIGHTON RACES.--THURSDAY, Jui,v 26. I
Borough Stakes of 5 sove. each, with 20 added. (6 Sohs.)
Mr. Vaughan's b. in. by Grimaldi, 5 yrs 1 1
Mr. Back's b. f. Georgians, 4 yr. 4 2
Mr. E. Powell's b. c. Truth, 3 yrs 2 3
Mr. Hughes's b. tn. Arsenic, 5 yrs 3 dr
Radnorshire Stakes of 3 sous. each, with 20 added. (10
Sobs.)
Mr. S. Edwards's b. tn. Miss Downes, 6 yrs... 2 1 1
ce Mr. Say's b. In. Nosegay, 5 yrs
Mr. Roger's b. f. by Manfred, 3 yrs' 3 8 3
Mr. Jones's ch. h. Emperor, 4 yrs ... 4 ,list.
J. Evans's b. g. by Carbon
FILIDAY.—Tbe Members' Plate of BA
Mr. Gwalter's b. . Prude, 6 yrs 1 1
tn
Mr. Bodenham's h. in:Sprite, 4 yrs
Mr. Evan's e. m: by Pisestor, 3 yrs
Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added. (6 subs.)
Mr. Turner's Shropshire Lass, lute Cholstry Lass... 1
Mr. Warwick's c. g. by Weaver, aged
:11r. Hughes's b. in. Arsenic, 5 yrs
Silver Cup.
Earl of Oxford's b. in. Harriet Wilson, 6 yrs 1 l
Mr. Pickernell's b. f. Vision, 4 yrs
Mr. Kitchennian's c. f. Atalanta, 3 yrs dis.
Mr. Jones's h. f. Lavinia, 6 yrs.dr.

OYSTERS.

The fifth of Augpst is generally the day on which
those highly-esteemed shell-fish are annually intros
dueed *6 the metropolis. As the fifth this year will.
be Sunday, thc. LeQtl., end activity at. Billingsgate.,
must be postponed to Monday morning; but, qo
anxious are the numerous oyster-dealers of Londdn
and its vicinity to cater for the public, that a supply
will be brought to their shops soon after twelve
o'clock on Sunday night. Those who wish to be
well acquainted with the habits of the people of
London, and to obtain a knowledge of the means by
which they earn their bread, should walk to Billings-
gate at the commencement of the oyster season.
The scene is a very extraordinary one : the avenues
to .the Dock, where the oyster-boats arrive, and
where the article is sold by the bushel, are closely
blockaded by lineS of carts.and carriages, which ge-
nerally extend over London Bridge. As the pur-
chasers often, at great risk and personal injury, suc-
ceed in getting their oysters from the smacks, they
bring the atticle to the' carts, and lose no time in
conveying it east, west, north, and south of London.
In a few hours, millions of oysters are spread in
tempting profusion in every street in London and
the suburbs. The oyster season' is hailed
by the industrious, as the commencement of
their profit, and prosperity, and thousands of
poor are supported by it. The trade in oysters
is ,of vast importance in the view of a Legislator,
and all those, who study the wants and interests of
the community. Independently of the comfort and
profit it brings to the Metropolis, the. oyster dred-
gers and their numerous families along the coast of
Kent find their employment. The manner in which
these dredgers labour in their calling is, worthy at-
tention. ,The oyster dredgers of Feversham form a
Corporation, regulated by a code of their own laws.
A portion of their profits is reserved to purchase
spat, or young oysters from other beds to replenish
and improve their own. All the oyster fisheries
in the 'Medway are regulated by the Statute,
and a Court is kept for that purpose annually
at, Rochester, where a Jury of Free dredger men
make rules and orders, when oysters shall be
taken, in what quantity daily, and other regulations
for improving the brood. By the 10th of Geo. 11.
a duty of seven-pence per bushel is laid upon oysters
imported from France. The manner of working
the beds affords the spectator in fine weather pleasant
amusement. Some time before the sea-tide swells
the river,
.the vessels or smacks intended for the
London market are " anchored abreast the oyster
grounds. • The dredgers in their boats are dis-
persed over the whole fishery, and the scene be-
comes one.of active industry. The dredgers with
a sort of net made of leather, and bound with
iron; soon fill their boats, and remove the oysters
to the anchored smack, which receives them in
her hold. When she,is full, up goes her anchor, the
sails ar3 trinimed, and having entered the Thames
she makes the best of her way to Billingsgatemar-
ket. Thus the good folks of London are supplied
from the Medway, and that part of the coast of Kent
which the Romans named Rutupier (Richborough)
and from whence they conveyed oysters to Rome,
How they were kept fresh, and in a state. to please
the palate of the Roman epicure, history does not
inform us.
Melton is now celebrated for the most delicious
oysters, and the natives, as they are called, come from
Colchester.
Although the trade begins in the present month,
oysters are not considered to have the best flavour
before September.

Between one, and two o'clock on Monday
morning, this town was visited, by an awful . storm of
thunder and lightning, accompanied by torrents of rain.
The lightning was uncommonly vivid, each flash giving the
light of day to the pitchy darkness of the heavens. The
storm lasted until nearly four o'clock, and the lightning
flashed at intervals until five. Many females were so
alarmed that they forsook their beds, and we are sorry to
hear, that, a female residing in the neighbourhood of
Chorlton-row, actually died in consequence of the fright
she experienced. A cow was killed in a field near Roch-
dale, by the electric fluid. The rain did some injury to
the corn, but the succeeding fine weather would, no doubt,
. restore it.—Manchester Herald.