The Sun.
London, England, 1829-09-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE CHELSEA PENSIONERS..,, Lo:mow, 1829.
The author of the " Subaltern",•will add:no
little to his literary reputation by these amusing
volumes. The title, however, will puzzle many
readers, as it puzzled us ; they will naturally con-
clude that, as the work is the production of a
military man, it is named from, and bears some
reference to, the well. known College at Chelseh,
which Wilkie has rendered so famous by one
of his inimitable paintings. In this they will find
themselves at fault ; the " Chelsea Pensioners''
is Sc) entitled because it is a collection of mili-
tary tales and anecdotes, told over a glass of wine
by a fraternity of half-pay officers, to each other,
who chose to name themselves and their esta-
blishrnent after their patron, the Duke of York's
public institution at Chelsea. Their tales, which
are six in number, regard military life and man-
ners in their most varied fashion, and teem with
incident, description, and adventure. They do
nut ?retend to much character : their chief charM
is derived from the vivid way in which the bat-
tles are detailed, and the campaigns—such, fur
instance, as that. celebrated American one, in the
" Rivals," the best tale in the collection—placed
before the reader's eye. As most of the author's
stories seem, by the strong and earnest manner
in which he relates them, tei have been drawn
from his, own personal experience, and those
which refer to the American Revolution to have .
been sketched from distinct recollections of those
who were immediately or remotely interested in
it, it may be readily conceded that they teem
with animation. Such is literally the case, in
proof of which we give the following graphic de-
tails of a fleet weighing anchor, and setting off
from Scotland for America :
" Though noon had barely passed when the signal to
embark was hung out, so great was the deficiency of boats
attached to the squadron, and so extremely limited the ex-
ertions of the seamen, that the sun had long set ere the
rearmost divisions gained the vessels. The consequence
was, both to myself and others, exceedingly mortifying ;
tor we could obtain but a very imperfect view of the
splendid scenery which distinguishes the course of the Clyde,
especially towards its mouth, at the Kyles of Bute. We
beheld, indeed, hazily through the twilight, the far-off
mountains of Argyleshile, rearing their giant tops into the
clouds, as if to catch the last glimmering of day ; whilst
nearer at band that sweep of bold coast which marks the
termination of the Highlands, and draws a line of distinc-
tion between them and the low country, at least as pal-
pable as the river itself, could be discerned. But of the
particular features of the landscape, no impression could be
obtained ; all except the broad outlines being confounded
and rendered indistinct by the fast approaching darkness.
Yet was there, in the marine view itself, sufficient to stir
up in most boSoms a sensation of no ordinary interest.—
Three vessels of war, a frigate with a couple of gun-brigs,
had under their convoy on that occasion full fifty tranports
and store.ships. These, lifting their anchors and casting
their canvass loose to the breeze, swept in a body down the
noble river, which roared and frothed under the pressure
of their keels, as if the might of a storm had been on it ;
whilst the frequent firing of signal guns, the shouting of
the people from the shore answered from every deck, the
hailing of the several masters as ship passed ship so closely
as to bring both into danger, all these combined to pro-
duce a scene, which, when once witnessed, it is not very
easy to forget. By degrees, however, as on such occasions
invariably happens, things settled themselves down into
order and comparative quiet. Greenock with its crowded
shores was gradually left behind, the fleet held its course
without accident or mishap, and the frith widening as the
night closed in, every remote object became shrouded in
utter darkness. Finally, all that the eye could embrace,
was a cloud of canvass scattered over a surface of broad
water, and the only sound audible was the soothing but
melancholy ripple of waves, as they parted by the ship's
bow, and broke against her sides."

MISCARRIAGE OF NEWSPAPERS.

TO TJ-IE EDITOR CF THE SUN.

SlR,—Having lately seen a number of your inde-
pendent Paper, which was lying (with others of
rather old date) loosely on a side-table at an inn
where I was hurriedly passing, I was struck with
your notice regarding the mode some of the domestic
departments at the General Post-office conduct the
business at this time. Perhaps lam not now quite
perfect, but I distinctly recollect that the remarks
to which I allude were respecting Newspapers to
Portsmouth not having been received,and I remarked
them the more as being similar to a case which oc-
curred to myself half a year since. I conceive mine
may be stronger; and although immediately repre-
sented, has not produced the slightest explanation
to me.

I take the liberty of addressing you on such a
subject with deference, and only as I felt the just-
ness of your having given to the public information
of irregularities in an institution which I truly be-
lieve has long stood pre-eminently high for its
correctness.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Inverness, Sept. 7. P. M P.

At a Court of Common Council held this
day, it was announced that the Bank had agreed to ad-
vance the Corporation certain funds requisite for the com-
pletion of the approaches to the New London Bridge, at
four per cent.

DEATH OF THE EARL OF HARRINGTON,
G.C.ll.—An express was received between twelve and
one o'clock to-day by CoIoneI‘LINDSAY STANHOPE, at the
Stable-yard, St. James's, bringing the melancholy intelli-
gence of the death of the Noble Earl, which took place
this morning at half-past five o'clock at Brighton.
The Right Hon. the Earl of SEFTON was with the Colonel
when the express arrived, and left immediately to acquaint
his family of the circumstance. By the decease of the
above much-respected Nobleman the command of the
First Regiment of Life Guards, of which he was Colonel,
becomes vacant. His Lordship was in the 87th year of
his age, and Master of the Gold Stick.

A few days since a woman from Manchester
called at a house in Sutton, near Macclesfield, and inquired
for a person who was a steward at a cotton factory in the
neighbourhood. A female answered, " this is the house,
and I am his wife ." " That cannot he," said the
stranger, " for I am his wife ; we were married several
years ago at Manchester." Just at this time the latleless
husband made his appearance, when, lo! another lady
came and claitmd him as her lawful husband, having been
married to him at Nottingham. What was to be done?
The man of many wives preferred the first, and after dis-
posing of his furniture, marched off quietly with her,
leaving the second and third to argue the matter in the
manner they deemed best.

On Monday se'nnight one of the boats en-
gaged is the hen ing fishing caught a fish of rather colos-
sal dimensions, in the neighbourhood of Cullen. How
will the reader credit the fact, that this fish was nothing
else than a whale of prodigious size ! The monarch of
the deep had somehow or other entangled himself in their
nets; and the fishermen, on discovering the kind of cus-
tomer they had to deal with, felt very much in the same
way as the Irishman did when he caught a Tartar in the
wilds of Africa,—namely, that, instead of catching a
whale, the whale had. caught them. Instead of taking
the fish prisoner, the finny gentleman speedily satisfied
them that they were entirely at his mercy. lie set off on
an excursion down the firth, at a rate far surpassing any
thing they ever before dreamed of, dragging the hapless
crew along with him with the utmost imaginable ease.
When they had proceeded a considerable distance, one of
the fishermen recovered his presence of mind so far as to
cut the nets, which, as in every other similar case, were
Lstened to the boat. The whale providentially set off on
his excursion precisely in the direction to which the boats
pointed at the time. Had be dragged it from either of its
sides it must have been upset in an instant, and the crew
recipitated into a watery grave..--E/yin Courier.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

DONCASTER MEETING, 1829.

I DONCASTER, SumsAv NicuT.—By way of prelim-le to
the Meeting, and' partly, no doubt, from an idea that it
would bring'some -of the visitors here a day sooner, ammr!
thus conduce to the profit of the town, a match was tree!,
some time back, and appointed to be run yesterday ; ac-
'cordingly it came off as follows:-
111 itch 200 -sous. h. ft—T.Y.C.—Sst. Ms. each.
Mr. Robinson's b. f. by Sir Oliver, Racket 1
Mr. Ridsdale's ch. f. Susanna, by Figaro
In the morning, the odds were on Susanna; but as the
day advanced, they shifted to is to 4 on the other, who
justified the confidence placed in her by taking the lead at
a good pace, and winning very easy. Rode by Darling ;
the loser, by Templeman. Several families reached the
town yesterday afternoon, but it was not till towards this
evening that appearances justified the belief that the pre-
sent meeting would rival that of 1828 ; which, under the
stewardship of the Duke of Devonshire, formed so brilliant
an epoch in the records of these celebrated races. At the
time of snaking up our parcel, his Grace the Duke •of
Wellington had not arrived, hut it was confidently stated
that the Noble Duke would reach here in the course
of the night, or early to-morrow morning. His Grace
will be the guest of the Earl of Chesterfield, who has
made the most extensive arrangements to accommo-fi
date his numerous guests, and give eclat to his
Stewardship. In addition to the Premier, the Noble
Earl will entertain, during the race week, the Prince
and Princess Esterhazy, Earl and Countess of Jer-
sey, Eat l and Countess of Newburg, Earl and Coun-
tess of Belfast, Earl Clanwilliam, Earl of Rosslyn,
Marchioness of Tavistock, Lord Melbourn, Lady Janet St.
Clair, and several other members of the fashionable circles.
Besides these distinguished personages, the following have
either already were in, or will arrive in time course of the
night :—The Duke and Duchess of St. Alben's, Duke el
Devonshire, Duke of Leeds, Marquis and Marchioness o!
Cleveland, Marquis of Sligo, Marquis of Clanricarde, Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Londonderry, Earl Verulam, Earl
Fitzwilliam, Earl and Countess of Scarborough, Earl of
Howth, Earl of Harewood and family, Earl and Countess
of Wilton, Lord and Lady Strathaven, Lord Lowther,
Lord and L:aly Southampton, Lord Hawke, Lerd Milton,
Lord Darlington, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Langford, Lord
Wharncliffe, Lord Stourton, Lord Durham, Lord George
Bentinck, Lord Henry Bentinck, Lord J. Fitzroy, Lord
Kelbourne, Sir L. Glyn, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Petre,
Hon. R. Grosvenor, Hon. Messrs. Lascelles, Hon. P.
Stourton, Colonel Crawford, Colonel Cradock, M.P.,
General Sharpe, Sir Henry Milner, Colonel Peel, Colonel
Hancox ; Captains Dowbiggin, Taylor, Macnamara,
Grant, Byng, Hunter, Fleming, Henley; Messrs. Delme,
Radcliffe, Greville, C. Wilson, Baird, Foulis, Watt, Ar-
mitage, B. Thompson, Holvoake, Payne, Irby, Clive,
Foljambe, Brown, Telford, &c. In our next we hope to
be enabled to give a more complete account of the visitors.
From the immense quantity of rain which had fallen in
the course of the week, and the state of the country from
Alconbury to within a few miles of Doncaster, many parts
being completely under water, we were induced to expect
that the turf would be unfavourable for running; we were
agreeably disappointed ; the turf here is naturally ham7d,
and. benefitted by the short interval of dry weather,
is really in a very good state ; and if the weather, which
is now favourable in the extreme, continues fine till Tuesday,
it will be in excellent condition. In the belief that all the
horses would be out at an early hour this Dunning, as was
formerly the case, we were upon the race-ground'as early
as five o'clock ; none, however, made their appearance,
except Frederick and the Exquisite, who took their gal-
lops, and returned to their stables before the others came
nut—they looked remarkably well, and will require a good
one to beat them. About eight o'clock the others came
on the ground, and presented a goodly lot. Voltaire looked
amazingly well; he is by far the most powerful Black-
lock colt we have seen, and his gallop evinces great speed
as well as stoutness. Sir Hercules was also in the throng;
and, in spite of the repom t of his being a tougher, took a
good gallop, and appeared as well as ever. Mr. Peter's
and the Duke of Leeds's lots are in excellent health. Zin-
ganee and Fleur de Lis were on the ground—the farmer
had a gallop round the course, at a pace which kept his
companion to his mettle. He is quite up to the mark.
The mare is in beautiful condition, and will be hard to
beat, unless her running be affected by a cause natural
enough to mares, and which need only be hinted at to be
understood by our sporting readers. The following is a
complete list of the horses here :