Star.
London, England, 1825-05-20 00:00:00

CORN EXCHANGE, MARK-LINE, MAV

stacle:

Our supplies during the week have been scanty, except Flour, of
which article 6200 sacks have arrived ; this circumstance, and the
continuance of fine weather, have greatly depressed the mann*
trade—still the factors are not inclined to give way, and Monday's
prices are demanded for fine Wheat. Barley is very dull of sale,
but not cheaper. The Oat trade is very lively, and line fresh Corn
supports our last currency. In Beans, Peas, and other articles,
there is no alteration.

rHE GREAT DERBY RACE.

_~

[We gave in a part of Our impression the decision cf the Derby
Stakes yesterday, but as this is a " great, an important day," with
citizen as well as Corinthian sportsmen, we subjoin a detailed ac-
count of the day's sports.]

• EPSOM, MAY 19.
Perhaps no greater interest WAS ever excited than the
Derby attrac.ed this day. The Craven and other
Meetings at Newmarket boast of distinguished visitors;
but the distance from London n turally precludes
thousands who would otherwise b• there. This is not
the case here, for the vicinity of Epsom to the Metro-
polis aJmirs of trg r.4g and bobtail hurrying to the
Downs in droves, to increase the number of the dilet-
tanti. On the present occasion, the road to the Course
presented a scene seldom witnessed. Vehicles of every
dr sci iption were in requisition: the dashing four-in-
hand, the coronet.ed lanJan, the tour-posters, glass
coaches, stage-coaches in prirnecyle, post-chaises, gigs,
tandems, cabriolets, carav ins, post—waggons, slow
waggons, hay-carts, dung-carts, and costermongers'
barrowchettes, all were mingled in one promiscuous
group, each striving for receJence; but "the race is
not always to the swift," and the swells could not pro
ceed one atom faster than those who had " taken time

by the forelock," and got into line, which they kept in
stern defiance of the proud man's contumely." Many
jokes pas,eJ between the Jelin.. and the Trotters, and

" gee up, Dobbin" %VAS the continued cry; but Dobbin
" kept his sta ely pace," and disdained to move beyond
his accustomed course. The utmost good humour,
notvev, r, seemed ; here and there, to be sure,
an unlucky break down would discompose the mildest
temper, and some of the plor devils were heartily wished
at their masters' gates, and a little squabbling arose in

consequences patience, however, overcomes every 0b-
...

The sides of t' e wick were lined with thou-

sands throughout—by spectators who neglected their'
homes and occupations for the sole purpose of gratify-
ing an idle curiAsity, and quizzing those journeying
towards the scene of action. The anima ion of the
scene was considerably increased by the number of
ladies' schools drawn out in regular array, some in line,
and others in the form of a crescent ; and, upon the
whole, we cannot but think that the road to the Races
was much more productive of Amusement than the
Races themselves.

Upon the Downs, the arrival of the different parties
from all points of the compass, enveloped in clou is of
dust, had the most :Orgill ir and grotesque appearance;
and as they took their stations on each side of the
Course, they had rather the appearance of a congrega-
tion of millers than or sporting citizens. Every place
commanding a 'convenient view of the race ground,
from Tottenham-corner to the winning-post, was occu-
pied by twelve o'clock, and in some instances by car-
riages four and five deep, and before the commence-
ment of the sports the'hill, celebrated for the assemblage
of the haut ton, was completely covered, many of them.
being unable even there to obtain a favourable station ;
and we have no doubt that hundreds we.e not able to
catch even a glimpse of the running.
The approaching race for the Derby Stakes excited
an extra'rdinary intriest, and many thousand persons,
both male and fern tle, went to the Warren to have a
peep at the horses bct..re they were saddled ; Rufus
esp. cially ' attracted much atten ion, and was pro-
nouncta:l a fine horse. During this natural gratification
of curiosity, the betting circle on the hill in front of the
warren was more numerous than we recollect to have
witnessed it tor some years. The books were all out,
and a continual cur ssfile of bets was kept up to the last
moment. From the course which things were taking,
it was clear that Rufus had gone back a point, and that
Webb had supplanted him in the good opinion of some
of the knowing ones; the odds, in fact, against Webb,
were reduced to 7 to 4., while those against Rufus were
raised to 5 to 2, still the great majority of the field kept
to the old favourite, Rufus, contending, that upon prin-
ciple, and from the feats he had already performed, he
ought to be the favourite. Some said thst Webb had
had a private trial with Cedric, and astonished his
friends by his powers; but others whispered that this
was a mere invention to get him up for certain private
reasons—be this as it may, thoseltvho fancied Yebb had
no reason to find fault with their judgment: Upon the
clasing of the books, the odds were 6 to 4 on the field—
Webb first favourite, and Rufus next, f 3 to 1 against
Muleteer,B to 1 against Hogarth, and these tour were
backed at 70 to '2O against all the others.
Long before the time of starting, the lines on both
sides were quadruple deep with vehiclei of every de-
scription, and the stands presented an animated and gay
appearance ; in short, the whole coup-d'ceil: of the Course
WAS picturesque in the extreme. The fineness of the
day added to the effect of the display, and every coun-
tenance beamed with pleasure and delight ; all were de-
termined to be pleased, wig though the dust rolled in
clouds, frequent resort to the booths cleated the way
for more. 'There were booths of all sorts, from the
splendid London Crown and Anchor Tavern, down to
tile more humble Cat and Fiddl E. 0. tables were
provided for the canaille, and the Une, Deux, and Cinque
for the swells ; in short nothing was wanted to satisfy
the inward cravings, and every amusement was at hand
pour passer k temps between the running, which
could satisfy the most fastidious; altogether displaying
a striking contrast between the sweet repose of nature
and the bastiing gaiety of
Of the various scenes ten the Downs, none was more
calculated to excite the wonder and idolisation of the
yokels and cockneys than the dense mass cl men and
horses packed together near the starting post, for the
purpose of betting. There were speculators of every
class, from the swell Corinthian, who risks his thousands
to the humble leg, who ventures his crowns. Nothi,A
could be more- animated or amusing than the in-
tense anxiety manifested in every countenance, and
the Babel-like contasion which prevailed through-
out the morning till :Al doubts were at rest.—
It was a matter of astoni:hment to us how,. in V e
midst of such noise, they could understand each ov-.er,
or make correct memoranda of their engagements.
was curious to observe the avidity with which the legs
seized on a bet that offered the merest trifle above toe
current odds, against a favourite. Hundreds were
ready to jump down the throat of any adventurous fel-
-1 low who fancied hirn,-11 all niece in the t•tre:.
Soon after one o'cl..y_k his Royal Highness the Duke
of Gloucester art ived on the DJ .VIIS, in his carriage and
four, ‘A hick was drawo up close to the weighing-house.
—His Royal Ilighuess then incautted his horse aid in-
termingled v, iii LI e general throng. Among oche.
persons of rank prent, and these may be said to em-
brace almost the w vie of the fashionable circles of the
metropolis, we noticed •
The Duke of Itichutond, the Duke of Portland, the Duke of St.
Albau'a, the Duke of Uraftotwthe Marquis of Hertford, Lord
•

Jersey, Lord Verulam, General Grosvenor, Lord Orford, Tim
Burford, Lord Deerhurst, Lord Sefton, I, ird Ual•ridee, Sir F
Burdett, Captain Berkeley, Sir William Ball, J:r. Mahe, Ball,
and Mr. Mayne.
The pfcipockets vrere pretty numerous, and from the fine oppor-
tunities presented by so crowded a C.urse,we have iirtle doubt th it
they levied heavy contributions on the pockets of the spectators.
We did not hear of any accident of consequence.
We now come to the Races, of which there were only two, and
considered by those who came only to see them, as a Scanty hill
of fare.

About an hour and a half previous to the start, the betting Gen-
tlemen assembled in very great numbers at the post &Lot whence
the horses run, having previously congregated in the town for a like
purpose. At the latter place the fluctuations were not very smite-
rial, with the exception of Webb's being the first favourite. Ti►e
odds then were as follows:

to 1 agst Webb ; 5 to 2 agst Rufus ; 7 to 1 agat Muleteer ; S to 1
agst Levey ; 8 to 1 agst Hugarth.
At the post the odds gradually ruse in favour of Webb—first,2 1,
then 7 to 4,6 to 4;5 to 4, then even betting; and finally, i and
s; to 4 on him, and 2 to 1 agst Rufus.
The signal having been given for starting, the crowd galloped off
to the appointed spot, and, as the two Lvour:tes paced backwards ,
and forwards, many a "longing, lingering look" was cast upon
thcm. The last bell at length rang, and seventeen .tarred.

.2
110
12
IL

•