Star.
London, England, 1826-09-01 00:00:00

PROM THE MIRROR.

" The man had sure a palate covered o'er
With brass or steel, that on the rocky shore
First broke the nosy cryster's pearly'coat,
And lisle(' the living morsel down his throat."—Gar.
13 halo has long been noted for its oysters ; And the
ancient Romans, who were extremely fond of-this
had their layers or stews for oysters as we have at pt-
sent. Sergius Orata was the inventor of them, as early
as the time of Lucius Crassus the orator. This country
still retains its superiority in oysters over other countries.
Most of our coasts produce them naturally, and in such
places they are taken by a dredge, which is a ;hick
strong net, fastened to three spills of iron, and drawn at
the boat's stern over the beds. The principal breeding-
time of oysters (says Bingley) is in April and May.
when they cast their spawn or spats, as the fishermen
call them, upon rocks, stones, or shells, or any other
hard substance that happens to be near the place where
they lie, to which the spats immediately adhere. These,
till they obtain their film or crust, are somewhat like a
drop of a candle, but are of a greenish hue. The sub-
stances to which they adhere, of whatever nature, are
called cultch. From the spawning time Lill about the
_end of July, the oysters are said to be sick, but by the
end of August they become perfectly recovered. During
these months they are out of season, and are bad eating.
This is known, on inspection, by the male having a
black and the female a milky substance in the gill. The
oyster-fishing of our principal coasts is regulated by a
Court tif Admiralty. In the month of May the fisher-.
men are allowed to take the oysters,in order to separate
the spawn from the cultch, the latter of which is thrown
in again to preserve the bed for the future. After this
month it is felony to carry away the cultch, and other-
wise punishable to take any oysters, between whose
shells, when closed, a shilling will rattle. Tne reason
of the heavy penalty in destroying the cultch is, that
when this is taken away, the ouse will in-:, ease, and
muscles and cockles will breed on the bed and destroy
the oysters, from gradually occupying all the places nn
which the spawn should be cast. 'There is likewise
some penalty for not treading on, and killing, or throw-
ing on shore, any star fish (asterias of Linnzus) that
happens to be seen. These, when collt.cted in any
numbers, are very de.tiuraive to the oyster-beds, in-
serting their rays, as the shells lie open, and devouring
the animds within :

The prickly star creeps on with full deceit,
To force the oyster from his close retreat.
When gapiog lids their widrn'd •oid display,
The watchful star thtusts.in a pointed ray,
Of all its treasures spoils thd rifled case,
And empty shells the sandy hillocks grace !"
Oysters are not reckoned proper for thetable till they
are about a year and a half old ; so that the brood of
one spring are not to be taken for sale till at least the
September twelve months afterwards. When younger
than these happen to be caught in the dredge, they are
always thrown into the sea again. The fishermen
know the age of oysters by the broader distances or in-
terstices among the rounds or rings of the convex-shel'.
Gav advises us in our walks to stop and taste this sa-
♦onry food, thus:

" If where Fleet-ditch with muddy current flows
You chance to roam ; where oyster-tubs in rows
Are rang'd beside the posts, there stay thy haste,
And with the stry'ry fish indulge thy taste :
The.damsel's knife the gaping shell commands,
While the salt liquor streams between het hands."
Nowadays we have an extra stoppage against our will, prefaced
with the cry of " Pray remember the grotto—only once a-ziear," and
yet it lasts tight or nine months. Such is the rage for building,
that it font orddiects rear upon the foot pavement shetly man-lions in
souse degree resembling gieuter piles, which are no sooner built
than they Gal to their It t 901.:
S•e the stripling! how he apes his .sire !"

Tuesday sennight, as Robert Wilson, one of the crew
of the Craig of Ailza steam boat. was going down •the
hap I..dder to the engine house, the heel of his shoe
caught one of the steps. and he fell backwards under
re of the side levers. which lowered itself o ;thin six
inches of the floor. He was heard calling ter help,when
the engine was immediately stnpi,ed, an.] assioance
tendered. It was too late, as he never Again spoke.
GARDE,: RnlsSiltY.—Late on Sundry n.ght, the
garden grounds attached to Peterborough House, Chel•
sea, wets despoiled of some exquisitely choice froit.
V 4 antes,, one of the dismounted bow-gmegt How Pa-
trol, observed some m..n issuing tom Peterborough
House vides. with a site k, and sospectink his buiinests
immediately struck at him, but the robber dropl'ed hi.
booty. and lan away. No less than 150 rich reaches
'reveal,' we) ds found in the dropped sack, with other
fruit,: Warren is still oo the look out. •

FIELD SPORTS FOR SEPTEMBER.

--~•►-•.

FROM THZ ANNALS OF SPORTING FOR THIS MONTH.

Although, with many, those field sports which mainly
depend upon the gun commenced in the last month, it
is not until September that the shooter—we mean the
term to apply to all fowlers at game—is in full occupa-
tion. Le)cal difficulties, the comparatively few places
in which the birds are found, the absolute toil and un-
certainty of the sport, p:event many from pursuing the
grousV; hut with partridge shooting the case is widely
different ; alrno•t all who desire to do so, and are duly
qualified. can follow that delightful amusement, and
hence the first of September, which we need not id.
form our leaders is the day upon which the sport we
a►e mention'ng may, by law, commence, is a high day
and a holiday with all who delight in seeking those
spots where ~ the cowering covey lies ;" and who prefer,
to a hie of idleness, or pomp, or business, or, in the
words of the song, to

~ scenes of strife,
Their faithful dog and gun:"

The sun•rhining summer which we have had has
bron&ht for us an early, and, we have every reason to
believe, a bountiful harvest. The fields have been
speedily eased of their golden borthen ; the wheat and
barley have been quickly garnered in, so that there w ill
be no obstacles, wising from standing corn, to the com-
mencing partridge shooting at the prescribed perms
Bible period.
Of the breed uf birds we have, in former numbers,
spoken ; in our next we shall, we dare say, be enabled
to give an opinion from experience of the validity of our
prognostications. Till then, we delay more upon that
branch of the subject. We trust, however, that the
entreaties of the poet have not been made in vain.—
They are these,

-- Gentle swains,
If chance should lead you to the chosen spot
V' het e the shy partridge forms her simple nest,
The embryo offspring span; and, when your sithe
Levels the grassy v.illeys, should your foot
Approach the hefpleu brood, step back with care,
Nor our fond hopes destroy --."

Hares will be found forward, and, from same oppor-
tunities we have recently had of noting, we think abun-
dant. In spots, however, whet e there are harriers kept,
or coursers, who preserve the birds from the unprincipled
plunderer, reside, we trust the fowler will not be greedy
for their destruction, but the rather refrain, in most
cases, horn levelling his barrels of death at the startled
leveret. Nor must the courser or hare.hunter yet think
of putting their dogs upon the object of their pursuit;
it is too early to run down to the death the little timid
animal that will, in another month, if spared, afford them
an interest t r profit for the delay and the forbearance.
The fineness of the season, as it was propitious to the
fowler, so has it forwarded cub-hunting ; an amusement
preparatory, as it were, to the more noble field sport
of fox hunting, which, in a few weeks afterwards, will
follow it.

A gold crown-piece of JAMSS IV. of Scotland was
fund a few days since, on the grounds of the Hospital
founded by that Monarch at Perth.
A fine second crop of green peas, grown from the seed
of the first, has just been gathered in the garden of Mr.
Wakley, of Stockland, Somerset.
SUDDEN DEATH.—.-The Abbe PARIS, cure of Havre
de Grace, died suddenly in the pulpit on the 26th oh.
He was preaching a serm n on death, when he suddenly
stopped, said .6 I feel ill, my brethren," and fell back in
the pulpit. Before any person could reach him he was
no more. He had been cure of Havre 28 years.
THE BISHOP (P CALouTTA.—The Right Rev. RE-
GINALD HEBER was a man not less distinguished as a
Scholar and a Di pine, than for the amiable qualities of
his heart, his kiety, and his zeal in the cause of his Di-
r. ine Master. Du►ing the short period he had filled the
See of Calcutta, he had unremittingly devoted him-
self to the most active performance of his sacred func-
tions, and had proved himself worthy of being the suc-
cessor of the late Dr. MtnntEron, the first Prelate of
our Indian possessions. Dr. HEEEE's loss will be deeply
and universally felt throughout the whole of his gigantic
diocese, and he will he regretted alike as the pious and
zealous bishop of the Christian Church in India, and
as the learned and accomplished Gentleman. It will
be difficult to select a man so well possessed of the va-
rious qualities requisite for the Episcopal See of Calcutta
as this eminent Divine.

Accounts from Port-au-Prince (St. Domingo) to the
17th of July, contain a Decree for raising a National
Gutrd, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery,
which is immediately to be put in force. There is also
a Proclamation respecting the intercourse with other
nations and their colonies, but the latter is looked upon
with indifference at present, till the final result of the
negotiation with England is known, which is reported
to be in such a forward state that a vessel of war was
expected to Convey the brother of the English Consul
to this country with the Treaty. It is stated that great
difficulties had occurred its this negotiation, on account
of the commercial privileges granted to France, parti-
cularly their vessels being admitted at one half the
duties imposed on the flags of other nations.
Monday an inquisition was taken on the body of Mrs.
Mucha Trawley, the wife of a shoemaker, residing in
Back Chutch-lane, Shoreditch. It appeared, from the
evidence of • a Medical Gentleman, and of her husband,
that the poor woman, who had been for some time in-
disposed, died from the effects of excessive fright, occa-
si9ned by the storm of Friday. Verdict accordingly.
FAMILY GnouP.—A loyal banker dropped in upon
a painter, to negociate for a family picture. It happened at the
memorable epoch of "life and property men," when London was to
be thatched with silver and paved with gold. " Well, Sir, your
nioAt obedient, mister painter;' said the squire-banker, looking
round. "Sir, yours," returned the painter, bowing low. The
hanker was a fine, portly, pompous-looking citizen, a gond subject to
Lie 1I jesty, and no bad subject as a sitter, though it happened that
he s..t not. " Well, mister painter, Sir, you have some fine pieces
here, Sir. Pr ty, Sir—a—what may be the value of that ?" point-
ing to a whole length it an admiral. "My price for that is two
hundred gu:neas." " So!" ejaculated the banker, " a fine, noble-
looking fellow, 'pots my word—very heroical indeed ! Alt ! mister
painter, they are our great wooden walls bull-works. This is the land
for such seamen—Old England, hey, Sir—and those who don't
like it, why let 'rot leave it : that's my toast, Sir. But to the point.
Sir; trig business is to negociate look you, for a large family piece—
myself, my wife, and my boys and girls; a fine family, as you shall
see, Sir—the s:ime number as his Majesty's, God bless him ! Now,
what is your charge fur inch a collection ?—group, I think you
painters call it." I c ori,nt exactly answer that—within--5001. or
so," replied the painter. " Wheugh-li-b," whistled the banker—
"what, Sir, SOU?" " Such a subject requires study, Sir—great
studying—as, how." " Pho ! pho! study, mister painter ! true,
Sir, but yeti hare not studied Cocker. Sir, hey? ha, ha, ha!—not
tell within 500/—ha, ir .1, ha!" 11 Why, Sir, such a work requires
consideration. I should like, first, to be allowed re see your family,
Sir; and then—how to dispose of sO mane OCiSOOS-10t, to em-
ploy them—and—and—" " Oh! my gond Sir, I'll save you that
troublet—tbst is already settled, my good Sir: we are to he painted
in our lawn, with a harpsicherd, and all singing God sate the Ain e."
—Ziieia7 &urge.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

NANSION,HOUSE.

BART/Inc/mew ram—Yesterday Mr. Wright, the irontnnngpr
of Smithfield, waited upon the Loma MAYOR, and expressed his
hopes, that although it was resolved to continue the fair, the former
restrictions would not be discontinued. Above all, he hoped th:ir
care would bet ,ken that every public.house would be shut ty, znd
every fiddle in the neighbourhood silenced before 12 o'clock, That,
indeed, was one hour too late, and they should not be allowtil to
let any one in after 11 o'clock.
The Loan Mayon assured Mr. Wright that none of the former
restrictions rhouni he relaxed, and that the time sl,nnlJ, as ni;:ci:
possible, be abridged. ills Lordship expressed himself fully sen •
sible of the evil that was sustained by hoLsekeeper4, and the heads
of families in the City, from the fair. Ile U'-is dctern.iiied to do
all in his power for their preventi• ^ Ilk Lordship then save di.
rectums to Mr. Brown, the Marsh.), ti;iott the subject.
Mr. Wright said, be should accomy, any the Marshal and the
Officers to aid in pitting an end tc the scene at 1. o'clock. Ile was
desirous not merely that the sale of li juor should be prevented after
that time, but tlr.t the dances should be stopped.
Mr. Brown said, that the officers would go in, ant carry array all
the fiddles the) heard after 12 o'clock.

The LORD 11.1symt said, he hoped that they should this year be
spared the mockery of a printed proclamation against shows and in.
terludes, at the very time the Corporation r...evived heavy tolls from
the proprietors of the booths elected for the performa.ic.:.
Brown said, he believed that the Proclamation would not
this year be issued. _ _