Star.
London, England, 1824-08-28 00:00:00

DONNYBROOk FAIR.

[FROM THE DUBLIN FREESIAN'S JOURNAL.]
e' Oh, wondrous Brook ! which, like the water of ifie
Ganges, receives the annual devotion of conglomerated
thousands !—By what powerful Tell of gladdening in-
fluence hast thou succeeded to uphold, through centuries
of national adversity, and despite of the intrigues of hypo-
critical sanctity, those Milesian traits and peculiar cha-
racteristics which extract pleasure, even from poverty ?"
'Twas thus exclaimed an elderly Gentleman, whom we
observed transferring to the gra,phic art, the far-famed
i; Humours of Donnybrook Fair,'
Where, 'midst the changeful scenery ever new,
Fancy a thousand wondrcus forms descries,
More wildly great than ever pencil drew."
Those who possessed no gout for discovering beauties of
nature in the perspective, while more sensible objects of
admiration intruded upon their eyes and noses, had a
',ratifying subject for contemplation, in the town of
motley tents, where every order of canvass architecture,
from that of the Gipsey hut to the Donnelly pavilion,
was strictly preserved. The swarms of visitors
" Clowns, cobkrs, cutlers, tanners, weavers, beaux,
" Who hurriedly arrive in cluster, and in rows,"
are ravished at the first glimpse of the gorgeous drapery
and showy embellishments of a long line of Theatres, at
one of which the fascinating and celebrated Mrs. Browne
astonishes the world by her extraordinary equestrian feats,
and Powell's horse, Timour, exhibits his wonderful saga-
city in another—and Angoletti's " astonishing monkeys
from Paris, whose performances exceed all human pro-
646ility," with the expert Chinese Juggler, are to be seen
in a third ; there is also Deltour's novel exhibition, con-
si;ting of the "almost incredible" feats of Mr. Legwood,
v. ho having but one leg and foot, and part of one arm,
will take a watch to pieces and put it together again,
%yids the greatest facility, besides going through the
lin m of shaving himself with the greatest expertness,
waiting, carving a fowl, loading and firing off a
musket, &c. &c. 'Then there are female rope dancers,
aad other amusements. Mr. Legwoods very insinuating
address, and gentlemanly deportment, with the surprise
excited by his triumph over the defects of nature, occa-
sion the audience to depart highly gratified. Thomp-
son's Pantomimic Company, with Melo-dramatic exhi-
bitinns, also attract considerable admiration. Powell's
very valuable and beautiful gird of horses, and also the
two troops of each of the Brow nes, call forth re-
peated ilaudits.
Such attractions are not to be resisted by those who
come to " the Brook"for "a bit of davarsion," and after
enjoying their penceworth of that -species of delight,
" Sporting Polly from the County Down," and other,
but less celebrated, agents of tot tune, next present them-
selves for the gratuitous amusement of the multitude. A
little further on, heaps of gingerbread and " a power" of
all kinds of fruit, Halter taste, sight, and smell, and af-
ford Paddy an opportunity of exercising his natural gal-
lantry, by pressing her, who is " the cream of his fancy,"
to eat " her fill:" Those whose souls are susceptible of
the charms of melody, or have taste for the beauties of
harmony, still linger before " les salles des spectacles,"
enchained by the exhilarating notes of their several or-
chestras, composed of squeaking clarionets and thun•
dering drums.
_ _ _

The admirers of the Fine Arts have also an °pro:-
turity of gratitying their refined tastes by the purchase
of a full• length portrait of " the Man of the People",
O'Connell), from numerous itinerant picture-
:>eilers, for the vet y serious price of one halfpenny, with
1-o.timeri)us oiber valuable specimens of native genius, at'
the same price. We were not in time to attend the per-
formances el a temporary theatre, where the lovers of
ethics were entertained by some popular representations,
but which, we understood, were suppressed by the po-
lice. The following, it is said, were amongst the number
of those pieces winch were received with applause:
" The &tight Humorous and Most Comical Comedy, called, The
lleiorining Vagaries of a Lord and ro Lord."
" A Doletul Tragedy, entitled, The Canine Massacre; or, The
Do?,'s Lamentation."
":the Spiritual Quixote."

Selfishness cieing no portion of Paddy's composition,
le is quickly attracted by the gaudy display of inge-
nious toys, from amongst which he treats the little
11 n77.7300na and sheelaghs" to their " fairings," and then
"the woniati," with all the wire's blindness and nio-
thet's fondness, loudly boasts that the " divil a better
scat ever stepped in shoe-leather than the same Paddy,"
who has, therefore, for the remaining term of the fair,
a carte blanche to drink, dance, and do what he likes.
But what's lite to an Irishman without sharing it with the
" dear ermines" his heart holds so dear: and, therefore,
" With tongue all loudness, and with eyes all mirth,"
lie hands out a bosom lass in all her native charms,
"with forehead white as milk or any boiled potatce,"
and foots it away to the exhilarating tones of a tuneless
oemona or squeaking drone, and exultingly banishes
tie ennui of the hour, while lie communicates a spirit
of gaiety and good humour to the surrounding and ad-
Miring company—
" And whilst jogging at his Wench's side, her beau
Cracks many a rustic joke, his power of wit to shew
Should the twopenny jolt from town, the mountain'
air, and the sight of numerous " boiling pots," well
crammed with cabbage and " thumping red potatoes,"
give the visitor a desire for more solid enjoyments, if
his palate be not exceedingly epicurean, he will be able
to obtain refreshments of no despicable quality, with
lashings" of pure barley water to help his digestion.
Since the commencement of the fair, " the sun with
courtesy has beamed upon the fun ;" innumerable equi-
pages, tilled with persons of the first rank and fashion,
have daily occupied the principal avenues and ap-
Troaches to " the brook."

The general and genuine mirth of the vast assembly
Present, the variety of discordant objects, the whole en-
livened by a constant succession of wit and waggery,
fun and drollery, the fineness of the weather, and the
beauty of the surrounding country, excited the most
agreeable sensations in those capable of observation:
The tents and show-booths are far more numerous
than last year; and the Police preserve most excellent
crder amongst the charioteers and the people.
Since the commencement of the fair, " the sun with
courtesy has beamed upon the fun :" innumerable
equipages, filled with persons of the first rank and
failtion, have daily occupied the principal avenues and
pproaches to " the brook." Yesterday Lord Coataxa-
7:9nx and family, Sir C. GRANT, Sir STUART BRUCE,
2;4:everal other persons of distinction, in their vehicles,
passed a great part of the day in the fair. The LORD
MAYOR also visited it, and dined in the neighbourhood.

A selies of the Demerara 'Colonist has arrived to the
l't 'Or. They do not supply any local news of the least
in-erest. Mr. HeitzEar, vt ho is appointed to the office
Fir,t Fiscal, and his Lady, arrived at Georgetown on
the '2sth Julie, in the Colt ille, from London.
The Dulverton Stag hound.; have commenced Stag-hunting. As
soon as the het vcbt is our, the Fox Hounds will begin Cub-hunting.