Star.
London, England, 1803-04-12 00:00:00

RURAL SPORTS.

Mirth and fellivity was yenerday the order of
the day in every quarter. At an early hour the
road to Greenwich was crowded with pedenrians;
thole who could fport a gig, or a rickety hack-
!torte, not letting out fo Coon. Some went by'
water, but they were comparatively few. It was
truly pleating to witnefs the fatisfadion, always
the companion of a holiday, beaming in the faces
of the people. By twelve o'clock the village was
crowded ; no feats in the public houfes were to be
had ; even the benches before the doors, and in
.the yards, were all occupied.
The amufements of the place, in addition to
thole of the Park, confined of round-abonts,'
fwings, wild beads, and a Play ! We believe that
ample honour was done them. Gingerbread was
in great abundance and requeft.
The Stag Hunt at Epping was molt numernuny
attended. Could we defcribe the various quali-
ties of the horfes and their riders who joined in
the chace, molt happy Ibould we be. Bucephalus
was never belfrode with greater delight by Alcs•
ander the Great, than were many crop eared po-
nies, humbling mares, and gaunt rozinantes, by
journeymen, apprentices, defiling clerks, and in-
trepid men milliners. Had John Gilpin himfelf
appeared in tin field, he would in general have
been deemed a prodigy of adivity, and admired
as an equejlrian God, if fuch there be, who had come
"to teiteh the world with Horfemanftiatt." Neither
would Hawfer Trunnion, Efq. and his friend
Hatchway, whore adventures in journeying to the
wedding of the former, are recorded by Smollet,
in Peregrine Pickle, have been defpifed.
A report having been circulated that Colonel
'Noe aeon hid given a beautiful flag to be turned
out on Eafler Monday for the entitlement of the
holiday folks, many perfoas were induced to be
prefect from this circumilance alone. The fad,
however, was not fo. At a quarter before one
o'clock, a flag, decorated with ribbons, was
brought in a cart, and turned out upon the level,
at a Ilion diflance from the Bald-faced Stag. She
immediately made off down the hollow to the
left, over Gold Hill, followed by a numerous
train, which (he kept at a refpeinful diaance for
feveral miles. After making many circuitous
turns, and affording a very good view to thofe not
immediately joining in the chace, the made for
Lough-on, through which place (he palled, and
then ran to the woods, where, after a chace of
three hours, the left them in the lurch, and was
not feen after ; huntfmen, whippers-in, men,
holies, and dogs, returning without the fatisfac.
tion of being in at the death. It was remarked,
that fo fine a chace had not been remembered for
many years. Many Gentlemen were thrown oat, or
rather thrown sr, but there being common oc.
currences, created no great aliondhment.
Col. Tarts/row prefcntcd a nag to Mr. Mit,
et sH, Lord of the Manor, which was (hewn to a
great number of perfinis.
Rov A L H u rir.—Yefierday morning, at half pan
nine o'clock, His NIA] S TY. attended by Generals
Gwysw and MAN MISS, rode to the right of Afcot
Heath,where they were met by the Earls of SAND-
WICH and WLSTMORLAND, and above moo gentle-
men fportfmen, and as many on foot. The day
being remarkably fine, the fight was grand. Soon
after ten o'clock the Royal Deer was turned out'
of the cart for the day's diverfion. At first letting
off the deer, which is very famous, ran with great
lwiftnefs acrofs the race ground towards Sunning
Hill, taking to the left through Mr. CR ATC H LSO'S
park, and through the wood and inclofures to the
left of Winkhcld plain towards Wavill and Brea-
nal, leaving South flill Park and Swinley to the
right, by Tower Hill, where he made a double to
the right and run I%.rtli great fpeed towards Bag.
Ihot Heath, where numbers were obliged to give
ap the chace. In the courfe of this famous chace
there was a difiance of about three miles between
the fire hounds and the left ,the day being warm,
and the deer ruaaing with gi cat fwd.