Star.
London, England, 1825-07-28 00:00:00

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" 7-211
1

eons- •

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'marked and coloured and about the size of s two
month's' old kitten. Thetitreisi khaggard,
enr-like look ; bat were..:so eonspletely:likd sheep-dog
puppies; that a mother of that sad might-hare sealed
them for her own. A story was -told of the lion
Nero" having "already had -a trial in the way of
" give and take," with a bull bitch, which had at-
tacked him, but, at the first onset, been bitten through
the throat. The bitch was said to have been got off
by throwing meat to the lion ; and if the account was

true, the result was only such as with a single dog,
against such odds, might reasonably have been ex.
pected. Up to a late hour of the day, the arrival of
strangers was far less considerable than had been an-
ticipated ; and doubts were entertained whether, in the
end, the owner of the lion would not declare off.

At a quarter past seven, however, in the evening,
from about 400 to SOO persons being assembled, prepa-
rations were made for commencing.
At seven o'clock, Mr. Wombwell having made the,
necessary disposition of his customers, announced his'
intention to begin, and immediately proceeded to enter
the den, which he was enabled to do with perfect faci-
lity through the railings. His appearance was hailed
with applause. The shutters which had been put in
front of Nero's caravan were then removed, and disco
vered a man confined with him. The noble animal

threw a sort of placid and inquiring look around, but
seemed quite unconscious of the scene in which he was
about to form so prominent an actor. The bars which
separated the caravan from the den were then lifted up,
and Nero went into the latter to join his master, who,
like a second Daniel, walked about with great gravity,
armed only with a small switch. The applause was now
renewed, and the band struck upßuk, Britannia. It was
now 10 minutes after seven, and the spectators began to
manifest a little impatience. Mr.Eliwards was desired
to bring forth his dogs, and he immediately came for-
ward with the three which were to mike the &•st

assault. They were all confined with collars and iron
chains. Ed wards himself held Turk, a brown coloured

dog, weighing about Nibs. This was the animal which
had been fighting another dog, and its head was se-
verely lacerated and much swelled. Wedgbury held
Captain, the fallow white dog, which weighed about
501br. and Davis handled Tiger, the brown dog with
white legs, which weighed nearly 601bs. Turk was a
thorough-bred bull dog, and the other two dogs were
half-bred, between a bull and a mastiff.
The men took their stations at the bottom of the in-
clined platform leading to the cage, and in front of the,
lien, whose attention was immediately attracted by the
barking and anxious stretching of the dogs, endeavouring
to break loose to commence the attack. At this time
Mr. Wombwell remained in the den, and it was not till
repeatedly called to by the crowd that he came out and
left Nero alone.

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. .
•
. . • tering to tnany,, nt ism* chasiaentent as They'
retired. It was..-1 issmtar of sufprise._ that a mob so
immense could. hive-bees: kept in subjection by so
sterall a force. Had a. occurrence taken place
in Lottsion,. it would haire beef impossible to have
resisted the rush of the populace. The time occupied
by this fracas gave additional advantage to Nero who
thus obtained upwards of twice the time which it was
stipulated be should have between the assaults. At
length there was a general cry of 44 time, time!" and
Mr. Edwardi received instructions to bang forward
his second set of dogs. The dogs were immediately
brought forth. Nettle, a brindled bull bitch, weigh-
ing Nibs. Rose a brindle pied bull bitch, with only
one eye, weighing 341bs. and Nelson, a large white
dog, between a • bull and a mastiff, weighing 70Ibs.
All these dogs were allowed to be better than the
first set, and it was therefore pretty certain chat Nero,
contrary to the sanguine expectations of Mr. Womb-
well, would be conquered. Still it was imagined by
some. that the repetition of attack would call forth
his energies mare decidedly, and that by the full exer-
tion of his natural powers he might yet be successful..

SECOND ASSAULT.
Shortly before eight, the new assailants were placed on the plat-
form, held as before by iron chains, till the words " Let go"
were given. They manifested the greatest impatience to commence
the attack; while Nero, roused by their howling., stood in the
centre of the den, regarding them with a stedfast look. Nelsos
was first let loose, and in a second he caught poor Nero by the
nose. Nettle and Rose followed, and as quickly made for the
same point. Nero roared terrifically, and as before endeavoured
to paw them off. He succeeded with some little difficulty, inflicting
some severe scratches. lie then ran round the bars, as if endea.
routing to find an avenue for escape.; but the dogs followed him,
and, rushing to his front again, seized him in the tender place,
Rose endeavouring to each him by the tongue, but only seized his
lip. Once more did Nero shake them off. inflicting sundry'
wounds with his talons, and the doss were bleeding in various
parts of their heads and bodies. Nero pursued his retreating ryas
tem, and ran round the den, amidst cries of " He's beaten, he%
beaten !" At this moment be was bleeding profusely from the
note and mouth ; and the seconds of the dogs. watching an oppor-
tunity. drew them out, and insisted that they had won. Mr.
'Wombwell denied that his lion was beaten, and an appeal was
made to the umpires; but there appeared to be only one in at-
tendance. A good deal of mock and real altercation followed,
and at last it was agreed there should be a
THIRD ASSAULT,

And the dogs were for the last time led to the platform, ail eager
for the fray, and in no respect dismayed by Nero, who, in fast, had
only continued his defensive system, making no use whatever of his
teeth, and using his paws only to push off his determined assailants.
The dogs, at the signal given, made a simultaneous rush, and at
the same instant seized the unhappy Nero by the nose, pinning him
at once to the floor. Nero succeeded for a moment in shaking them
off, but this tended only to increase his own punishment, for they
returned to the assault with renewed ferocity, again pinned him at
the same instant, and dragged him in an exhausted state close to the
railings, where be roared with agoay. The victory of the dogs was
' now evident to all, and Mr. Wombwell admitted himself that his
Lion had no chance. The moment this admission was made, the
dogs were taken away, and Nero was left alone. The poor fellow
stood up evidently worn out in spirit and body ; the blood flowed
copiously from his wounds, and as be paced slowly backwards and
forwards, he skated to be in terror 'eery moment lest the atmek
should be -renewed. Mr. Wombwell, whose mortification was sat-
!Wendy apparedt,again entered the den with water, which he threw
over the Lion',haad—Na ceremony which rather increased than dial.
ribbed his alarm. A short dm* was then allowed to elapse to
permit the crowd. to view the effects of the battle, after which the
caravan was drawn to the side of the den, and the door of com-
munication
having been opened, Nero, with alacrity, took refuge
in this sanctuary, which was immediately closed. The last two
assaults did pot occupy more than live minutes.
. PLISER V+oollll.lt was evident throughout, that the
domestic se in which the Lieu had been brought up,
completelY fsiiiiilified hint for combat. He had no
confidencesidlarn- self, and miy be said rather to have
resisted persiciiiion, than to hive fought the dogs. As
an exhibition; it could only 'be considered as au expe-
riment, andjroin the want of courige on the part of
the Lion, the ititereit was greatly diminished. We can-
not-tint hope Atiit this is the last exhibition of the sort
which *:li'lliVermitted in this country.
With the exception of Turk, the dogs.are all doing
well, although they bear strong marks of the mischief
which their noble antagonist might have done, had he
been conscious of his powers. Turk has been dread-
fully mangled, and can scarcely survive.
In the course of the day the worthy Friend, whose ex-
postulation with Mr.Wombwell wehave noticed already
as useless, addressed to him the following letter, which,
we must say, doei great credit to his talents as well as to
his humanity : • •
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" nave beard wkh a degree of horror, of an intended fight be-
tween a lion that has been exhibited by thee, consequently has been
under thy protection, and six bull dogs. I seem impelled to write
to tbee on the subject, and to entreat thee, I believe in Christian
love, that whatever may be thy hope of gain by this very cruel and
very disgracefil exhibhion, thou wilt not proceed. Recollect that
they are Gun's creatures ; and we are informed by the Holy Scrip-
tures,
that not amen, & sparrow falls to the ground without his notice,
aod as this very shocking scene must be to gratify a spirit of cruelty
a well as of gambling—for it is asserted that large sums of money•
are engaged on the event ,of this contest, it must be marked with
Divine, displeasure. Depend upon it that the Amatoury will
avenge the sufferings of his tormented creatures on their tormentors,
for though he Li a Otto of love, he is also a Goo of justice, and I
believe that noleed of cruelty has ever passed unpunished.
" Allow ate to ask, then, how thou wilt endure to see the noble
animal thou but so long protected, and which has been in part the
means of supplying thee with the means of life, mangled and
bleeding before thee? It is unmanly, it is mean and cowardly—
to torment, anything that 'cannot defend itself—that cannot speak
to tell its pains and suffering—that cannot ask for mercy. Oh !
spare thy lion from the pangs of such a death as may perhaps be
his. Save him' from being torn to pieces. Have pity on the dogs
that may be torn by him. ' Spare the horrid spectacle—spare thy-
self the suffering that teat will yet reach thee if thou persist.--
Shaw a noble example of humanity. Whoever has persuaded thee
to exposed& lion to the chance of being torn to pieces, or of tear-
ing other animals, are tar beneath the brutes they torment, but un-
worthy of the names of men or rational creatures. Whatever
thole niayest pin by this disgraceful exhibition, will. I fear, prove
She a canker-worm among the rut of thy substance. The writer
of this most earnestly entreats thee to refrain front the intended
evil, and to piotect the animal In thy possession from all Mauer
My suffering. The practice if benevolent* will afford thee more
tree comfort than the possession of thousands. Recommend the
practise of benevolence to others, and always remember, that Ha
who gave life, ditinot give it to be the sport of cruel man, and
that he will certainly call man to account for his conduct towards
dumb creatures. Remember also, that cowards are cruel, but the
brave love mercy, and delight to save.
• With shmere desire for the preservation et thy honour, as a
man of humanity, and fee thy happiness and welfare, in every way,
I remain thy 'dead, " & HOARE."

The gross receipt of the Revenue of Customs in Ire-
land, in the year ending sth January,lBo2, was 1,875,4981.18 a Old.
Stb January, 18118, 2,184,1184 17s. 81d. ; atb Smeary, 1823,
1,146,084.175. ed. ; Sib January, 1824, 1,918,4551. 1111. 4d. ; and
Stb January, 1825, 1,847,8501.25. 7td.
Yesterday, at the engine factory of Mr. Payne, at
Greenwich, Zachariah ICmsley,. 24 years of age, being
employed to cleanse one of the flues, covered himself
completely, with the exception of his-bead, arms, and
hands, with twisted tow, to keep off the soot, and
which be unfortunately set tre to, by going too near a
lighted candle he had in the floe with him, and was in-
Aantly-shrouded in flames, which the confined nature.
of 013 place prevented being. extinguished, _until his
face and arms were burnt. in a manner too dreadful for
description. He waszonyiyed to St. lhouraa%
al in a moat deplurait