Star.
London, England, 1827-10-01 00:00:00

FIELD SPORTS FOR OCTOBER.

FROM TIM •NNA4 OF lIFJSTISO VOR TM' FIICSINT MONTY.

Pheasant-shooting, our readers need not be told, commences thb
day ; a month too soon, indeed, as many of these birds do not at-
tain their proper growth before November. Despite this, however,
many fall victims to the unfair and unprincipled sportsman, even
during the month of September. l'heauots, by dint of uncommon

preservation, have now become not only Comm..,. but numerous,
I throughout the kingdom ; and though they will, for the most part,
cling to the preserves, yet, capricious in their movements, they will
still ft equently be found at some distance from them. The best time fur
pheasant-shooting on the borders of preserves is about the middle of
October, inasmuch as these beautiful • birds will then choose such
haunts, and in them continue, if not much molested, Amen ten days ;
when they again seek the friendly shelter of the wood. As these
are young birds, which thus temporarily stay away, it would seem
"as if the mother blid drove them from 1.. r, in the same manner as
the domestic hen Is seen to get rid of her chickens, "warring
against Nature still." Pheasant-shooting, considered as a diver-
sion, is not, in the opinion of the writer, equal to partridge-shoot-
ing. While the ground is thickly covered with vegetation, phea-
sants may be flushed in all situations: and as long as potatoes and
tutxtips afford good shelter they will frequently be amongst them !
but as the winter advances, the thicker hedge-rows will be sought,
and coverts and protecting woods be courted, in which they are
readily found, and, by good performers, easily killed. The pheasant
flies with difficulty ; for instance, if one be sprung and not killed,
but mailed down, followed and sprung again ; and if this he more
than twice repeated, the bird will scarcely be able to rise with any
effect the third time, but may be caught by the deg.. At the same
time it should be admitted that the brat rushing rise of a pheasant
is not a little calculated to try the nerve of inexperienced or com-
mencing sportsmen. The breed we have reason to believe abundant,
though there be ugly reports emnt of a disease in the species.—
Time will show—we remain sceptical.
Woodcocks will present themselves towards the latter end, of
this month, when they sometimes appear in considerable numbers ;
though it is not till the beginning of November that they are met
with in abundance.

Snipes are to be seen during the whole year, but generally may be
said to be numerous towards the litter end of this month.

Conning will soon become general; though hares, at this early
period of the season, may be considered, if the greyhound are good
for any thing, as very much overmatched. Much, however, de.
ponds, in this respect, upon the season, and a good deal upon the
country. After a dry, bracing, breeding time we bate known hares
run remarkably well from the middle of October; and upon open,
down, and heath countries, where a chivey may be had three miles
from covert into It, we have seen young hares puzzle, and some-
timetinies beat, a very good brace of greyhounds. Something must
now, also, be conceded to the courser, on account of his young
dogs. He, as well as the (ox hunter, and the keeper of harriers,
has puppies to enter, trials to make, and hence October-coursing
(but net sooner) may fairly be admitted: Blood, too,is as requisite
to the encouragement and formation of the courage of a greyhound
as it is to the entered fox-hound ; if cub-hunting be necessary to the
one, so is moderately early coursing to the other. Unlike a racing
colt, the three species of dogs in question tan have no fair trial un-
less the game le afoot before them. except we could train a cunning
told fox, ur a clever running hare, to mind their points, as Toomer,
of the New Forest, did his pig. But advance we.
Hunting with the harrier. is somewhat dangerous, till the frosts
have so far nipped vegetation, that the leaves begin to fall. Prior :o
this periud,the leaps or jumps (as thep are more fashionably, but
less philosophically, termed) are blind, and, consequently the horse
is very liable to come down. Howbver, some ardent hare-hunters
turn out in September : in October, hare-hunting becomes generaL
Fos-hunting will commence this month; though this pursuit can
scarcely be considered in season till Noven"er: however, like
woodcock-shooting, it commences by degrees, gradually swells into
the noontide of its glory, and finishes much in the same manner u
the bird just mentioned takes leave of this country. It is greatly to
be lamented that no truce can be made between fox-hunters and
pheasant-shooters, since it has frequently been demonstrated that
the two di o:rsions are not incompatible; or, in other word., that
the existence of foxes is not necessarily the destruction of Ora.
cants, even in the very same cover. But it would appear that
the two diversions seuetate very different feelings than could be
wished for the fox-hunter is a generous character, and nothing
gives hint so much pleasure as seeing his friends, and as much
company as possible, with his hounds; whereas the pheasant-
shooter too often eyes, with an unkind jealousy, the approach of
every stranger, and admit* only a very defect few to share with
him in the pleasures of his chase the one is a very social, the
other, tno frequently, an unsocial, diversion. The writer of these
memoranda of the month is not, however, of the number of those
desponding disciples, who think that fox-hunting mast experience
annihilation, because a few ill-natured pbeasant•sbooters destroy the
foxes which happen to stray into their //reserves. Fox-hunting
nos only must go on, but must go on increasing, since it Is encou-
raged by the principal part of the rank, the wealth, the respectability,
the common sense, and the sterling integrity of the country.
Foxes, like hares, will be found very abundant, as the breeding
season has been as fine as possible ; and, from the uncommon pre-
parations made in various parts of the country, we have not the
least doubt but that fox-hunting will be more vigorously pursued
the ensuing season than at any former period. 4cirgiro Or fisadoi
the greater its antiquity the stronger ks strength.

4

•
POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
• lib f • ""-
BOW-STTIr.P.T.
In the early part of asst' week a young man presented h
before sir It. Blaine sad G. It. hhesuut.t., Esq. and solicited the
kind later ference of the Magistrates its his behalf.
1 he young man stated, that he did not know whc; be was; that
be had gave by the Dante of" George Helm," and be was now 23
years of age. lie was brought up by a Mrs. Helm, who was house.
keeper to a Barrister in the Temple, who, till after kis return from
the boarding school where he was educated, he had supposed WAS
his mother. He always addressed her as mother, and he passed as
her son, though he had newer been sobristesed. After his leasiug
school at Chelsea, and returning to Mrs. Helm, is the Temple. a
few years ago, they quarrelled, and in her auger she said to klnt
" You shan't stop with me, if you don't behave yourself bet-
ter ; you may go to your owe mother, I am not your mother."—
He was thunderstruck at the intelligence, and" replied, "Pray
who is my mother. if you are not ?" She replied, "Go and ask
Mts. Bradford." He repeatedly conjured Mrs. Helm to tell kim
who were his parents. and after much solicitation the told him,
"that in October, in the year 1104, she was informed that a surgeon
of the name of Bradford, residing at that time in Harfurd-street,
Fitzroy.square, wanted a nurse fora new born infant, and that any
one who would undertake to suckle and take taro of it would receive

7UI. and also an annual sum for its support. She applied to the sur-
geon to take the infant, and it was appointed for her to call late one
evening to receive the child. Site stated to the Doctor that she
would not take the child without she recceived it at the bands of
its mother; and, bring introduced at a late hour into Dr. Brad-
ford's house. she was admitted into the drawing room. She heard
a carnage drive up to the door, and soon after, a Lady, richly
dreseed, but evidently in the deepest affliction, entered the room
with Dr. Bradford; who had an infant in his arms. The infant
was delivered to her charge, and the mother, who was weeping,
said to her, " Pray take care of my dear child, fur some day or
other he will cease to a large estate." At Me time the room
was darkened, sod the Ledy was enveloped in a thick veil, so
that it was impossible to distinguish the Lady's features. The
young man, with a natural anxiety to learn who his parents
were,said that he had made Inquiries, and found that Dr. Brad- I
ford sad left Harfordwreet, and was rending in Tottenham-court-
road, and he proceeded thither, and bad an interview with Mrs.
Bradford. Ile Informed Mrs. Bradford that be was the boy who
had been brought up by Mrs. Heim. of the Temple, as her me;
but be had discovered that she was ant his mother, and that site
( Mrs. Bradford) could inform him who were his parents. Mn.
Bradford said, " the secret of your birth is in my Wow, and "Ohl
me it *ban die." She gave him a trifling sum of motley, sad awn I
afterwards (in 1823) having a quarrel with• Mrs. Helm, he ..Bernd
into the Royal Marines. In 1824 Mrs. Helm purchased his dia.
charge. She bad repeatedly admitted that she was supplied with
funds for his support from some persons unknown, and he had no •
doubt that they were supplied through the hands of Mots. Bradford,
who, be was confident, knew his parents, and was iseelhqng money
to which he believed he was entitled.
Mr. Mom uts said that it was a very extraonlinlriory, but it
was told with the appearance of mach sincerity ; be should there.
fore desire the ram to inform Mrs. Bradford that he should be
glad of an interview with her. This (Saturday) morning, Mrs.
Bradford appeared at this Office, and the young man was called be-
fore Mr. Minshull, when the following singular dialogue took place:
Mrs. Bradford—l attend here at the request of one of your
adiren; my name is Bradford.
Mr. blissuuxt —This young man says that be believes he is en.
titled to some property, and/hat you know who his parents ale.
Mrs. Bradford—l know nothing of the lad.
Mr. Mixsuutt —You must know who be is, Madam.
Mrs. Bradford—l know something of him.
Mr. Muumuu.—Tbea you ought to disclose it ; and I can tell
you that a bill in Chancery may compel you to do what would be
ally an act of humanity towards this young man.
Mrs. Bradford—l know nothing of him, and lam tans a pence
who can be easily intimidated. lam ready to swear, if you will
give me the oath, that I know nothing of the lad.
Mr. Mass rest—loo have this moment admitted that you know
somehing Of him.
Mrs. Bradford—l meant to say, Sir, that I knew that ha tuned
at my house, and I bad given him money, and ho had been of gnat
trouble to sue.

Mr. hinisenn4-1 hope, Mrs. Bradford, you will have some re-
spect for the feelings of this youth, and that you will do as you
world wish to be done by?
Mrs. Bradford-1 know what is right, Sir.
Mr. Mursormr —Then do what is right, Madam; OM of dis-
covery may compel you to do, as an act of justice, what would, at
this moment, be au act of humanity. •
Mrs. liradtord—l have elfired to swear that I know not his
parents, and I now ask if you have any thing further to do with toe ?
Helm—You must know something more than you kkink proper
to disclose, because when I have asked you for money, you have
told me that you would apply to my friends on the subject.
Mrs.Bradford—Mayl uow go; is anything further wanted of me?
Mr. hilassouLL—l do nor detain your but 1 had hoped that you
would (without Sather proceedings) have thrown some light apse
this very extraordinary affair.
A Gentleman who sat on the Bench, who I. connected with one
of the Houses of Parliameut, gave his card to the young mao and
directed him to call upon ithh,pledging himself to assist bins in bring-
ing a bill of discovery into the Coen of Chancery ; and Mr. Mot-
saismc said he thought there were already grounds sufficient for
taking that mode of proceeding.—The parties then left the office.