Star.
London, England, 1829-09-29 00:00:00

MASHAM, Sept. 25.

From the Leeds Mercury.
The town of Masham and neighbourhood have been
honoured by the visit of the Earl and Countess Harcourt, who are
now enjoying the hospitslity of their wealthy and very respectable
relative, Wm. Danby, Esq of Swinton Park. The Noble Pair
passed through the above town on Saturday morning last.
At one o'clock the spacious market-place of Masham was filled
with a numerous esco-t of horsemeo, consisting principally at the
tenantry of Ai r. Danby, and headed by the Gentry and respectable
tradespeople of 31asharn, who repair, d to Swinton to do homage
to the noble and distinguished ind.voluals, and at the same litre to
evince their respect for a landlord under whom the greater part err-
joyed their share of comforts; and never do we recollect to have
seen assembled together on such an occasion so respectable a body
of yeomen ; old and young were eager to join in this testimonial to
the merits of the House of Danby. On their arrival at the Hall
they were received most courteously by its worthy occupant, din.
Hanby, and Lord and Lady Harcourt, the latter of whom (sister to
Mr. Danby) appeared to feel very sensibly the honour done to her,
and was evidently grateful for this very kind reception on her re-
visiting her native place. One of the gentlemen composing the
procession (Mr. Wrather, of Masbate.) was deputed by her Lady •
ship to acknowledge the compliment paid her. which Iv did in a
neat and abort address, after which the company retired. A band
of music was stationed to enliven the scene. The reliantly of
Mr. Denby, to the number of one hundred or upwards, were re-
galed very plentifully at the hall with "good cheer of Old Eng-
land," and at six o'clock in the evening a party of gentlemen
and reirectsble tradesmen of Masham sat down to an escelleut
dinner at Mr. Lightloot's Hotel, The shames was serv.d up in the
best style, which, with the wines, conferred very great credo on
the host. The chair was taken by Henry Milian& EN. of MA2 In',
and the Vice Chair was occupied by \lr. Trumper, the agent or
Wm. Danby, Esq.
After the usual loyal toasts were given, the CHAIRMAN pro-
posed the " Health of the Lord of the Manor," which WAS re-
ceived, and drunk with great cheering.
31r. Taunters, in a neat speech, returned thanks, and pro-
posed the " Health of the 'tight Hotiourabk the Earl end
Countess Haacourr." This toast was prefaced with a just etilo.
gium on those distinguished individuals, and w drank with great
applause. The health of the amiable wife of Mr. DANNY Ha -
lowed that of her distinguished visaors, and was received with run
less mark of approbation. Our limits will not al:ow us to g
more lengthened detail of the meeting, or any part of the excellent
speeches made on the occasion by Captains 31u Ot Tom and W NAM lilt,
MCSAIR. WRATHSR, HUTCHINSON, JACKSON, DMA:MUSH, arid
amt., Uf Masham, and Mr. Joist PHUT, Ut Burton Hou-r.
The evening was spent with the utmost conviviality. and the
company did Lot separate till the chiming of the church clock tot e-
told the approach or Sunday

THE SHEARERS IN SCOTLAND.
From the Glasgow Chronicle.
The hand-loom weavers, who were so judicious us to
leave the ifi-paid loom for the labours of the harvest, have neatly
all returned, and are highly pleased with their success. 'lbuse
that went no farther than Linton hiring market have had front five
to six weeks' constant shearing, when the weather permitted,
and the wages per week were 95. exclusive of bed and loud.—
Those that went nearer the borders had I as. per week and victuals.
—Their hours were from five o'clock in the morning till seven
o'clock at night. Their food was porridge and skim or butter-
milk, morning and evening. They messed in parties of seven ;
each male and female was allowed a Scottish pint of porridge,
and a fourth of that quantity of milk. The breakfast ter this
large number was, like in old baronial times, made at once in a
capacious copper utensil The porridge " spurtle " was H. feet
long ; and the top of it was inserted in a hole made in a plank,
across the iambi* ; and a stout mow* below kept stirring, wild-
the oatmeal was gradually scattered on the boiling surface. It tired
two or three before the process was completed, and the cog.
fairly carted to the &Ad. The dinner was Lon-idered the pool est
meal, the invariable diet being a "bap," or about a two-penny
loaf and a bottle of ill-'ernsented small beer. The weave: s
coming off the loom did not the first week relish this sort of food.
but afterwards it became quite palatable; and now, when they
have returned, they have acquired such vigorous stomachs that
they say they are afraid that they will be able to est more than
they can earn. They slept in pairs, on plenty of straw, with
a pair of blankets below, and another pair above them. None
of them were allowed to come near the fire ; fnr if this privilege
bad been granted to any, the farmer's Ingle would have b. en it,.
undated. If the shearer's clothes became wet, it had to be borne as
philosophically as possible. Washing of linen or shaving were un-
attainable to the majority ; and at the morning muster it was ques-
tioned if Nicholas's Don Cossacks could have eclipsed the gre -
terque appearance then displayed. They describe these large as-
semblages of Highland, Lowland, and Irish shearers as " coarse
parties," but say that the Highlanders art best behaved. Some
of the Irish, though candles were interdicted ►n the barn, would
smuggle them on the Saturday nights, and play at cods till
clear day-light on Sunday morning. lice observance i.f the
Sabbath is represented as suspended in the Lothians during the
harvest operations. The wages were paid on the Sabbath morn-
ing, and the re-engagements made fur the ensuing six days for
such shearers as were willing to continue ; and, in Cast of sick-
ness or wet weather, food and abetter wile given, but nu wages
allowed. The shop keepers did most business or. the Sabbath.—
Hooks, sharping-stones, and old agricultural implements were
openly displayed and sold in the village; and the shearers de-
voted the day to making such purchases as they stood in need of,
in clothes, shoes, hats, &c. besides the iiidisprnsable luxuries
of colonial production. The wheat crop this season is consi-
dered about ao average, though a good deal of it bad sprouted, and
will he inferior in quality. In one extensive farm there was only
planted one acre of potatoes and iftsen acres of corn. Dairy pro-
duce is nearly neglected. and the milk for the eh bad to be
carried a considerable distance. Instead of twenty to forty cow.
pasturing on a large farm, there will be, perhaps, only two fur the
use of the farmer's family ; and instead of the cows going from
the byre to be watered, there will emerge from the stable a great
number of draught horses, who are hard wrought at the plough,
harrows, or leading in. from sunrise to sunset. Son►c prime owls
are re:red on these farms. The farm ta are described as not
so rf bust or hardy as the west country lads ; and this is ascribed to
the want of abundance of milk :and cheese.

CoNcLusivz REasoNING.--A Methodist asked his
sbopman why be did not say grace before his meals; " because
my father always did." said the 'Wyman, " and he was always
troubled with indigestion."
CANAL OF Tilt PYRENErs.—A second canal, to
connect the two seas between Bayonne and Toulouse, is in con,
teniplation. The probable cost is estimated at 38 millions of francs.
It is to he navigable fur vessels of 140 tons hurthen.
Thursday night last, two valuable animals a the pony
breed, belonging to H. A. Lone. Esq. of Corrington, in Essex, to-
gether with some halms, were stolen from that gentleman's
premises.
A VETekaN IN Lov r AND WAlL—There is no
living in Malik:, a pensioner of the name of John Logan, 103 years
of age, enjoying a good state of heath. This old veteran, during
his apprenticeship, was impressed sod sent on board a man-o'-
war, where be served some time and then enlisted for a soldier,
and has served in different regiments in the reigns of their lute
Majesties George 11. and 111. for neariy fifty years. He was dis-
charged tbirty-three years ago as a drum-major, with a pension of
about 14s. per week, which keeps him and h a wife comfortably in
their old age. He has been married twice : his first wife having
had by him eight children, all girls ; and his present wife has had
no less than 24 children by him, 12 girls and 12 boys, making in
the whole 32 children !
THE MEASV lit: or TIME.—In the measure of time
there is a curiims co:ticifience between the practice of
modern England and the language of the Mosaic his- •
tory. In the account given by the early historian of the
creation, " the evening and the morning " are descrilew
as the first day." This mention of the evening before
the morning is to be noted in the ancient writim.-s in tke
descriction of the space of time called ft (lay. It is a
curious fact that we, to the present day, prererve tho
same form in the mew,nretnent of time. We &sails,
seven days by the word sv'nnight, andfoifrtcr.l a'ays by
fortnight.
Yesterday an inquisition was taken at • the Dudley
Arms, Harrow-road, before Mr. Stiling, the Coroner,
touching the tl..ath of John Robert Ridge, a barrister-nt-
law. The deceased gentleman resided in the Harrow-
road, with his wife and family On F:iday last he was
left alone in his front parlour. On the return home of
Mrs. Ridge she found her husband lying back in a chair
speechless, and appaiently eying. Mr. Girtlwoo.l, an
eminent surgeon, was sent for, who, on arriving, pro-
nounced Mr. Ridge quite dead, and gave it as his opi,
nion that his death was occasioned by a rupture of A
blood vessel in the head.—Verdict, •• I)itil by the
ation of God." The deeent,ed was (ie. reads of age,

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