Star.
London, England, 1826-01-13 00:00:00

THE SERPENTINE RIVER.

Was yesterday attended by many persons of fashion in carriage*
and on foot. The ice being toletalsly good on the north side,
attracted many stientific skaiters. Along the northern bank were
to he seen, iu carriages:— •
The Duchess of Montrose and the Ladies Graham, Countess
of Essex, Countess of Tankerville, Lady Louisa Grey, Countess
of Berkeley, Sir Charles and Lady Ogle, Countess of Listowell,
Earl of Cardigan and the Ladies Brudenell, Emily Marchioness of
Londonderry, and ,liss Fitzroy, Countess Lieven, Duchess of
Somerset and Ladies Seymour, Colonel and Mrs. Fitzgibbon,
Lady Allen, Lady Copley, 'Mts. Courts.
• PIDN'ITNIANN AND ENNINITNIANA.-T-Duke Ot Argyle, lion. (1.
Bankes, Hon. M. Liddell, Colonel Cavendish, Sir William Ahdy,
Lord Elliot, Earl of Tinkeredle.
Si. James's Paax.—The fatal calamity in St. Jamee's Park, on
Tuesday, seemed to have chilled the ardour for skaiting, at least
amongst the proficients in the art ; there were of course a crowd of
*learners, who amused the " million" by dirk awkward achieve-
ments and frequent tumbles. The more accomplished few took
possession of the end of the Canal nearest to Buckingham (;..tr,
and causing a line of demarcation to be_ struck, beyond which the
canaille were not allowed to pass; except at the hazard of running
the gauntlet,•they made some very graceful evolutions. One of the
most remarkable was the execution of a set of quadrilles by a
party of Gentlemen, chiefly foreigners, which, notwithstanding the
absence of music, was very neatly done ; one young Frenchman,
M. Courdrois, in the space of about twelve feet diameter, performed
some most ingenious and graceful evolutions with the greatest ma-.
thematical proportion, and he afterwards, for a small wager, skaited
from end to end, against a Gentleman who ran along the verge,
and who got a start of fifty yards ; the runner at first seemed to
have a decided advantage, as he rather gained shatiJost any odds,
but having to get en the Ice, where the paling intervenes, it might
be fairly said that he lost ground, for he unfortunately got one leg
into a hole, from which he had some difficulty to extricate himself.
The skaiter, who by this time had come up, geneinusly declined
taking advantage of the chance, and went back a considerable dis•
ranee; until the other was again on terra firma. Some who had
ventured more money on the issue than he did, cried " Sham:,
foul," du. but he speedily redeemed his character with them, for
starting off with almost incredible velocity, he aeon diaticid his
antagonist, and reached the goal amidst the acclamations of thou-
sands. Several men belonging to the Boyal Humane Society were
in attendance; with ropes 'and drags, bur fortunately there was no
occasion for their services. The beautiful variety of colour* Spooril
by the furred and fair pedestrians, gave Hyde Park the appearance
of a Russian promenade. :
Among the Gentlemen we observed the Hon. G. Peorscrxei, win?
described a great variety of figures. Several races by the skaitirs
took place. The Basin in the Green Park; as well as Rosamond's
Pond, was thronged with* mien and boy*, but the latter predint.
dated, and the sport was chiefly confined to sliding. One youth, was
immersed in the water, but Was soon extricated Sy the hrsianders.