The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-03 00:00:00

NOVEL STEEPLE CHASE AT BIRKENHEAD.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
On Wednesday evening last, the neighbourhood of Wood-
side was the scene of a most interesting and manly foot
steeple chase ; but owing to the day it was arranged to come
off, though very generally known, the attendance of specta-
tors was not very great, probably imagining it was a hoax.
The following gentlemen started : Bicknell, Kerney,
Aspinall, Littledale, Moorcroft, M‘Leane, Williams, Pike,
Mann, Rayner, Miller, Peacock, Williams, Stacey, Noaks,
Crewe, and Darleey.
The comae was about one mile and a half, over a sporting
country. The leaps, in many instances teazers. The start,
in a barren field, containing the first leap, a wide drain and
fence, was taken by the whole party, at racing speed, in
gallant style ; to the next, a cop and dyke, which was soon
surmounted. The next, a regular rasper, was cleared in
splendid style by Pike, all the others scrambling through, and
sticking in the thorn fence. The betting now was, even on
Pike against the field, he having gained so much in conse-
quence of clearing the leap. The race continued up a long
grass field, at the extremity of which • was a five-bar gate—
vaulted cleanly by several—when they came to a stiff hedge,
dividing a lane, at which some few baulked. Thence along
the lane for about two hundred yards, over a large bank and
and hedge into a grass field, where some showed symptoms
of fagging, in consequence of the heavy ground and very rapid
pace kept up at the commencement. Mr. Kerney now took
the lead, closely followed by Mr. Bicknell to the next leap,
which was a thorn hedge and drain, into a ploughed field,
and thence into a grass one, in which Bicknell passed Mr.
Kerney, and led over the next leap, a close thorn hedge and
dyke, into the starting field, and over the first leap, to the
winning-post, winning cleanly by about twenty yards; but
in consequence of him and Mr. Kerney having taken the
wrong side of one of the flags, both were disqualified, and
Mr. Aspinall declared the winner, the remaining competitors
not being placed.
When stripped for the race, they were all as fine young
men as could be seen, and it is pleasant that no accident
whatever occurred. The whole party Adjourned to the
Albion Hotel, where an excellent supper was provided, and
the evening was spent in the greatest harmony.

Seventeen ships, with 4096 persons, sailed for Sydney,
under the direction of the emigration agent, in 1839. Agri-
cultural labourers received £25 a-year, with board and lodg-
ings. All the emigrants of 1828 had been provided for.
It is now reported that govermncnt intend an increase of
five per cent. on all existing taxes, in addition to a modified
house duty.
A correspondent inquires if we can inform him who Mr.
John Hignett, the present solicitor to the ordnance, is. In
the years 1813, 1814, and 1815, there was an attorney at Li-
verpool, of the name of Mr. John Litherland, who, we
understand, afterwards assumed the 'name of Hignett, but
no trace appears in the law list of any gentleman of that
name, except one at Chester, who is still there, until 1836,
when the name of John Hignett Hignett, (the surname
being repeated twice,) as of No. 8, New-square, Lincoln's-
inn • in that of 1837, at Mr. Swan's, No. 7, Staple-inn, and
at Lincoln ' . in 1838, at Ipswich and Yoxford; in 1839, at
Yoxford only, but in this last year, there is also a John Hig-
nett (the single name only,) of 38, Hatton-garden, and La-
vender-hill, Battersea. Is John Hignett, the solicitor to
the Board of Ordnance, the John Litherland, the John
Hignett Hignett, and the John Hignett above described?—
Courier.