Star.
London, England, 1808-10-04 00:00:00

MARGATE, OCT. 2.

. RURAL SPORTS ON THE CLIFF.,
We had yesterday the enjoyMent of a day at Mat-
gate, and a merry and a busy day it was. It con-
sisted of a series of entertainments, on the Cliff, East
of the Battery. The bill expressed ass.racing, for a
new hat; jumping in a sank, fora pair of shoes ; grin:
ning through a horse's collar, for a smock-frock ; and
running by young Ladies (under 60), for a new Hol-
land chemise. Two hours previous to the commence-
ment, the prizes were exhibited on a long triangular
pole, through all the public streets, preceded by the
martial drum and fife ; and the Town-crier gave no-
tice that the sports would commence precisely at noon.
About that hour the company on the Course exceeded
one thousand two hundred persons, composed of all
ranks and descriptions. The racers and the carriages
took their station in the fore-ground. The white cliffs
and the sea in the horizon, intersected by the town in
the valley, formed-a combination of objects truly pic-
turesque. The stand, although it could boast of nei-
ther beauty or fashion, attracted no little attention from
the number of grinners, who were the supposed can-
didates for the smock frock. Whilst the asses were
in training, the " list of the terribly terrible high-bred
running asses" was offered in every part of the course.
The race (three heats) afforded an infinity of amuse-
ment. Five were ehtered, and had it not been for
bolting, crossing, and whipping, the ropng Rescius (who
was better-bred. better-trained, and in more excellent
condition.than his opponent), would have won the
prize. Miss Ladd was the fortunate winner of one
guinea. As most money was betted upon the contest
for the chemise, it excited the most interest. . Much to
the mortification of every one, only one Lady entered,/
although the. Stewards repeatedly announced that the
prize (then elevated on the stand) was equal, in sub-
stance, to a fashionable gown and petticoat ; and that
if no competiton appeared after three distinct notices,
the Lady would walk over the course with the thernise
over her dolga. No one disputing the prize, the heroic ,
female walked from Mr. Cone's Summer-house to the
Prospect Crescent, with the utmost placidity, and ran
back again with evident marks of exultation; she was
one of the fishermen's daughters, and said to be an
old hand at a smock race:
The Directors of these amusements were of a su-
perior class ; but the harmony of the scene, i. e. the
fun and good humour, nearly ended fatally by a quar-
rel ensuing, in which two Ladies deeply interested, went
into strong fits, and were carried in that state off the
ground. An infant child, which was indiscreetly
brought into the middle of the crowd by a servant
maid, fell out of its nurse's arms, and would have
been trampled to death, had not the spirited benevo-
lence of Mr. BERNARD interfered, and rescued it from
impending danger.
MuxDEN performed Captain Bertram in the Birth
bay ; Cratk, in the Turnpike Gate; and Lazarillo, in
Two Strings to your Bow, last night, at the Theatre.
He played these several characters in a manner so
whimsically his own, as to defy all comparison. The
house was crowded with beauty and fashion.

Latest arrivals at Edinburgh :
The Marquis and Marchiones of Stafford, Earl Cower and
Lady Charlotte tower, the Honourable Mrs. Campbell, Lady
and WO Miss Abdys, and Charles A. Caldwell, Esq. Mrs. Gene-
ral Sydehhatni Colonel Grant, Miss De Ponthieu, John De Pon-
thieu, Esq. Samuel Fletcher, Esq. and Henry Ssfrann, Esq. M. P.
Major Dalrymple, and William Grant, Esq. his Grace the Duke
of Montrose, who set off for London • the Right. Honourable
Lord John Campbell, Sir Hugh Mouro, Bart. of Fouls, and Miss
Monto.

Doncaster Races, which ended on Thursday, have
been mote numerously attended this year than for
many years past. We find the names of the follow-
ing persons of distinction amongst the subscribers to
the Assembly :
Sir George and Lady Armytage, Sir C. and Lady Anderson,
Lord and Lady W. Beauclerk, and Lady M. Beauclerk, Lotd Bar-
nard, Honourable Mrs. Bennett, the Earl of Darlington, E,arl and
Couttess Fitzwilliam, Sir H. Fitzkerbert, Viscount and Lady
Galivray,Baron Hemberg, Honourable M. Hawke, Lady S. Lum-
ley, Lady E. Lowther, Lord and Lady Monson, Countess Mez-
borough, Lady Milton, Lord Midleton, Sir H. Mainwaring , Ho-
nourable Miss Monckton, Honourable Miss F. IVlonckton, Ho-
nourable Mr. H. Monckton, Lord Pollington, Lady Ramsden,
Sir M. M. Sykes, Sir H. T. Vane, Lady C. Wortley, Six F. and
Lady Wood.—Tvtal number of Subicrileers 334.