The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-25 00:00:00

COURSING.

The Cynegeticus of Arrian, the oldest writer on this manly
diversion, was, in 1831, for the first time, presented to the pa-
trons of the leash in an English dress. For this elegant trans-
lation, to which is appended an interesting account of the
" Canes Venatici," of classical antiquity, the courser is in-
debted to the research and learning of " A graduate of medi-
cine." We avail ourselves gladly of the present season to
direct the attention of the classical courser to this faithful ver-
sion of a manual of real value, although scarcely known among
sportsmen.
The original was written seventeen centuries ago by a courser
of Nicomedia, in-Asia Minor, and is conversant with coursing
as practised in the age of Hadrian and the Antonini. But the.
learned translator's annotations, "selected from various Cvne-
getica, in print and manuscript, from the first institution of
coursing to the present time," present to us, in one point of
view, the elucidations of classical authors and the pertinent
observations of writers of a later period.
Briefly giansitig in his preface at the Greek and Latin Cyne-
getica, and the succeeding ages, during which no ancient re-
cords of the chase appear, the translator pursues the pastime of
the leash from the time of Charlemagne through several cen-
turies, yet, until the publication of " The Booke of Hawkyng,
Huntyug, &c." by Dame Juliana Berners, in the 15th cen-
tury, he finds only incidental allusions to the greyhound and
hie'high repute ; and these principally as distinctive of the gen-
tility of his possessor. ')'bough in. no wise ignorant of the cu-
rious early treatise of Gastonlizebus, the celebrated Comte de
Foix, written in the middle of the 14th century,. nor the more
rare work in manuscript, "The Mayster of the Game," com-
poseelhy Edmond Duke of York; lie views the compilation .of
—"the sporting Prioress of Sofeuile" as-" the -earliest attempt
since the revival of letters, to certify by intelligible cannons the
corporeal characteristics of a good. greyhound-.)
1 roils the book of' St. Alban's he proceeds to notice other
Cynegetica, which followed it in rapid success ion, omitting those
works of later date, which are too well known to need particular
notice. But very few improvements either in the discipline of
the courser's kennel, or his practice in the field, are transmitted
tous by these collective Cynegetica; while modern ingenuity, it
would appear, has added little to our knowledge, in any depart-
ment of coursing, since the Nicomedian's maouate; upon this
point, however, we cannot do better than avail ourselves of the
graduate's own observations :—" His, (the Nicomedian's,)
remarks on the physical indications of excellence in greyhounds,
and of speed and good blood, derived from external shape and
character generally, on the unimportance of colour, 00 the in-
dications afforded by temper, tractability in the field, mode of
feeding, &c., are perfect as far as they go. Nor can we improve
on his kennel :management, in feeding, bedding, exercising,
alternately with confinement, rubbing down, &c., &C. As to
slipping law, and the number of hounds to be slipped at once, his
injunctions are strictly complied with at present by all fair
sportsmen."
"The Celts, it appears, had four different ways of coursing,
all of which are practised by modern amateurs, according to
their several tastes, and the nature of the country in which they
follow their sport."
" The superior class of Celtic gentlemen employed persons to
look out for hares in their forms, early in the morning, and to
inform them by a messenger what success they had met with,
before they left home themselves."
" A second class, probably
less opulent, and not able to afford
the expense
of hare-finders, mustered all their brother amateurs,
and beat the ground in regular array, abreast of each other.—
Both these parties were mounted on horseback; but a third class
sallied forth on foot, and these, Arrian says, were really work-
men at the sports; if any person accompanied the latter on
horseback, he was ordered to keep up with the greyhounds. A
fourth mode of coursing, sometimes adopted by them, was that
of first loosing dogs of scent to find and start the game, and then
slipping the greyhounds, as soon as it came within sight."
"Upon all of these differeut practices the father of the leash
has entered most fully in his classical manual: and if to these
points we add his sensible remarks on the entering -of puppies,
on breeding,
of young do management after whelping, feeding. and naming
gs, comparison of sexes, &c., his merit will be al-
lowed to be commensurate with his antiquity, and his enchi-
ridion, not only the earliest in the annals of the leash, but
altogether the most abundant in valuable information."
We regret that our limits preclude us.from entering more at
large into the translator's eloquent defence of the courser's pur-
suit; - suffice it,
.that coursing is shown ever to have been held an
honourable and gentleman) amusement in Great Britain ; but
that we can deny our leaders the pleasure of perusing the fol-
lowing spirited verses of the late Mr. Barnard, Of-Brantingham-
thorpe, "breathing the refined sentiments of a gifted scholar
and ardent courser, fired at the idea of his favourite sport, his
greyhounds, and his mountain thoughts being lightly or disdain-
fully received in the world's esteem !" is altogether impossible :--

MY GREYHOUNDS.

Itemernher'st thou my greyhounds true
O'er holt or hill there never flew,
From leash or slip there never sprang.
More fleet of foot or sure of fang.
Introduction to Mansttost. Canto IL
Oh ! dear is the naked wold to me.
Where I move alone in my majesty !
Thyme and eistus kiss my feet,
And spread around their incense sweet;
The laverock springing from his bed,
Pours royal greeting o'er my, head,
My gallant guards, my greyhounds tried,
Marc in orer by m side
And every thing that's y earthly born.
Wealth, and pride, and pomp, I worst; • -
An d cie thee
Who lift'st so high thv littlhe hornfly ,
Philosophy I
Wilt thou say that life is short,
That Wisdom loves not hunters' sport,
But virtue's golden fruitage rather
Hopes in cloister'd cells to gather ? •-
Gallant greyhounds, tell her, here
Trusty faith., and love sincere—
Here do grace and zeal abide,
And humbly keep their master's side.
Bid ber send whate'er hath sold
Human hearts—lust, power, and gold—
A. cursed trai .
And blush to find, that on the told
They bribe in vain. -
Then let her preach ! the muse and I
Will turn to Graccints, Gaze, and Guy;
Aud give to Worth its proper place
Though found in nature's lowliest race.
And when we would be great or wise.
Lo I o'er our heads are smiling skies.
And thence we'll draw instruction true,
That worldly wisdom never knew.
There let her argue as she will !
I'll wander with my eyhounds still
halloo ! halloo I
And hunt for health on the breeze-worn MU
And wisdom too.

The appended is devoted to the attempt of clearing up the
obscurity in which the different sporting days of antiquity are
enveloped, " by classifying varieties, and, in a few instances, in-
dividuals, and comparing, ancient types with modern representa-
tives." This is more especially attempted in relation to the
ancient British dogs, and the Celtic greyhound, (the subject of
Arrian's treatise,) as being of paramount interest to the British
courser; as introductory also to the treatise, the translator's
preface is followed by a bibliographical notice of the Cygneticon,
and a biographical memoir of its author, " the father of the
leash," to these and to the manual itself, we hope to revert as the
season advances ; and, for the pr.esent, take our leave of Arrian,
"the compiler of the Stoical Phrloiophy of the Phrygian. Slave,
the historian of the son of Philip, the hydrographer of the
Euxine, a military tactician, a warrior prefect, and a classic
courser, who has left works behind him which wilt endure as
long as literature itself, who has done all in his power to benefit
and interest mankind in various departments of human leering,
has contributed his mite to the advancement of national science
and healthful recreation, and proved himself worthy of the im-
mortality he so fondly anticipated." LEPOKICIDUS.

---
MARRIAGE IN FIIGII LIFE.—On Saturday, the 19th instant
at St. James's Church,- by the Hon. and Rev. Lord Wrottesley
Russell, _Lady Georgiana Paget, daughter of the Marquis of
Anglesey and the Duchess of Argyll, to Lord Crofton.
The inhabitants of Penrith, and the public generally, have
been much amused for the last few days in being eye-witnesses
to a wedthercock in Rao figure of Lurd Chancellor Brougham,
placed upona house in-Castle-gate. His lordship is neatly cut
out in wood, from the desig,n attached to the imaginaq
:Croatia-
isiece to 'Vol. 1. of the "Penuy hiagaziuo "—riding urou
-broom-stick, blowing a penny trumpet, with a be of know-
ledge; alai -the costvatc of oftLe.---Carli•ie •

EMIGRATION SKIPS.

The ship Cumberland, for New York, with upwards of eighty
emigrant passengers on board, sailed front this port on the 4th
instant. The vessel. twenty-three years old, registered for
335 tons, and at the time she sailed from this port had on beard
413 tons (dead weight) of iron and salt, besides O crates of
earthenware. Previously to her clearing, the-government agent
for emigration,. considering the great age of the ce.isel,•the sea-
son of the yeai., the nature of her cargo, and the injudicious
manner in which that cargo was stowed away, protested against
her putting to sea with so many passengers 0.1 board, anl, with
a view to prevent it. consulted the Collector of Customs ou the
subject, who, it appears, possessed uo powers that enabled him
to interfere. The day following that on which the Cumberland
left this port an advertisement appeared in the Liverpool Chro-
nicle, containing a declaration signed by about thirty of the
emigrants, expressive of their satisfaction with the arrange-
ments made by the charter party for their comfort and con-
venience.

On the 15th instant, when about macs West of Cape Clear,
while lying to under her main-top-sail, she was struck by a
heavy sea, which washed away hor bulwarks, caboose, part of
her stanchions, and. covering boa.Tls ; stove the long boat all te,
pieces, together with the pinnace inside of her, carried away
the wheel, and broke Cle seainan'i arm and kg that was st 6.
tioned at it, and it was discovered that she had also sprung a
serious leak. The ship being at this time rolling and labour-
ing, and the sea rolling over her in an alarming degree; tbo
master, Captain Nichol!, being a good seaman, immediately
foresaw that she must inevitably founder if he did not
immediately put her before the wind. This he accomplished,
and the crew and the passengers were set to work at the pumps.
Not being able to gain on the leak, and, judging that it was not
far under water, they commenced heaving the salt over-
board; this was early in the morning of the 15th, and, by sun.
set, by the-very great exertions of the passengers and the crew,
three hundred bags were hove overboard. Finding at this
time that they had gained ou the leak, they. steered their course
back to Liverpool,'and arrived hare on Monday night.
The poor unfortunate emigrants are now in this place, and
are in a most deplorable condition. One woman has lost her
child; and their bedding, clothes, and provisions are all either
damaged or destroyed by salt water. The charter party of the,
vessel, who received their passage money in advance, have
positively refused to assist or support them in any way. On
Wednesday they applied to the Government agent for advice
and assistance, who very humanely brought their case yestera
day before the sitting magistrate, Mr. Alderman Horsfall, who
could only express his regret that he had no power to inter.
pose on their behalf, further than by a friendly recommendation
that something might be duo for them by the charter party of
the ship in which they unfortunately sailed.

Without pretending to offer an opinion as to what the law;
as applicable to this case, may be in England, we direct the
attention of emigrants to the case of Maloney v.. Macomber,
tried lately in the Court of Common Pleas, New York, and
reported in THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD of Friday, the 11th
instant. In that case the plaintiff recovered the passage-money
paid to"the agent of the Governor Strong, an American ship that
put back to Liverpool, together with costs. Unless some steps
are taken to secure to emigrant passengers good sea-worthy
vessels, it will be for those persons to consider whether they had
not better sail in American ships. We hope, however, that the
Colonial Secretary will bring some specific measure before
Parliament on the subject.
We understand that the advertisement we have alluded to is
represented by the emigrants themselves as containing signa-
tures which did not belong to any of those on board; and they
further represent that it contains sentiments which were not
in the original declaration to which they attached their names.
This representation, on their part, may be a mistake, and if so,
we shall be most happy to contradict it.

MARRYING, WITH A VENGEANCE!—On the 9th instant, at
Leeds, Mr, T. Higgins, cloth-dresser, to Mrs. Mary Turner,
both of Woodhouse, she being his sixth wife, and he her third
husband !

GIRDLKNESS LraurnousE.—Mr. Stevenson, engineer, has
been making some observations on the Girdler,css Light, about
to be exhibited on the coast. The house was lighted for a short
time on the evening of the 7th instant, when the Aberdeen
Harbour Trustees placed their tug steam-boat at Mr. Steven-
son's disposal. He Went off for several miles in various direc-
tions, and ascertained that the two lights exhibited on one tower
would completely have th© desired effect of distinguishing this
light station from any other on the eastern coast. We congra-
tulate the shipping interest, as well as the numerous mariners
who have occasion to navigate the north sea, on the near pros.-
pect they have of realizing the great advantages they may rea-
sonably expect from the erection of 'this important lighthouse,
which vas permanently lighted on tho lath curreut.—Jberdeen
Observer. i

POLITENESS OF THE PRESS IN AIfER IC A.—A Kentuckr
paper thus speaks wand of a contemporßry in his neighboarhooa
Is he waiting for an excuse to call us to the field ? We can
furnish him with none whatever, further than to pronounce him,
as we do most sincerely, and with an especial regard to tke
meaning of our words, a drunkard, a liar, a puppy, and a most
redeinptionless scoundrel."

RISE IN ME PRICE OF CATTLE.—The high prices obtained
for Highland cattle at the /ate Falkirk Tryst, have enlivened
the hardy Gael, who looks forward to equally h►gh prices in the
spring of next year. One Highlander, from the Mull of Kin-
tyre, sold 40 head of cattle at last Falkirk Tryst, and realiLed
12.100 more than his expectation.—Glasgow Courier.

PATRIARCHAL FAMILY AT HOLT.—On the marriage. of Mr.
Thompson, of Wrexham, with Miss Pate, of Chester, a week
or two ago, the happy pair took up their residence at. Bolt,
with Mrs. Pato, the mother of the bride, and two sisters. The
united ages a these fire individuals amount to 415 years :
' Mr. Thompson (the bridegroom) 93 years.
Mrs. Haines
Mrs. Pate
Mrs. (the other sister) B7
Mrs. Thompson (the brine)

Total 415 yeats.
Another remarkable circumstance is, that the house in which,
this patriarchal family resides is upwards of three hundred years
old, and is the only one ❑ow standing in the ancient bDrough of
Holt that escaped the ruthless ravages_of Cromwell's army in
the civil wars.—Macclesfield Courier.
Great excitement has of late been occasioned at Ayr, and
through the circumjacent country, by the singular circumstance
of the trustees of Burns's monument, at Bridge of Doon, having
granted a lease of the custody of the monument and care of the
grounds to a private individual, for 150 years. The individual
to whom this lease is granted is Mr. David Auld, of Ayr.--
Scotsman.

.THE SUTHERLAND FAMILY.--The late duke allowed his
eldest son, when Earl Gower, ten thousand a-year, which cum
was scarcely adequate to the expenses of his uumeroasly.
increasing family and he was, therefore, on the
.point of
giving up his litklse iu Hamilton-place, and removing to a
cheaper residence, when his grace bought York House, and.
then Lord Gower was invited to Bridgewater House. Lord
Francis Leveson not agreeing in politics with hii brother,
retired to Catlands. The demise of the duke brings back Lord
Francis to Cleveland-square and the possession of the Bridge,
water estates. The personal property, sworn to as exceeding a
million sterling, might with a strict regard to truth, be said to
exceed two millions, and even then not be near the nark.--
Morning Post.

A number of paragraphs have recently appeared. in the me-
tropolitan and provincial papers, stating that the title of a greet
northern nobleman to honours and estates was more than ques-
tioned, and that the whole of the evidence -connected with the
case, and the claims of the next heir, were under the considers=
time of an excellent genealogist preparatory to an appeal te
the tribunals. The ambiguous nature of the description ".North-
ern nobleman," has led to inquiry and conjecture untaveurable
to the credit of more than one of the peers north of the Tweed :
and we think it may be as well, therefore, to say, that the per-
son alluded to is a nobleman of Yorkshire, who lately succeeded
to the titles and estates of his venerable predecessor, and who
bad acquired a rather unenviable distinction fora rash declara-
tion on the subject of the payment of taxes during the conten-
tions preparatory to the passing, of the reform bill, rho question
of title now about to be agitated is by no means a new one. We
have heard it frequently alluded to within the last dozen years.
—Morning Chronicle.
IMPORTANT TO TURNPIRR Terse-I.—ln the act passed
the last session, cap. 80, intituled "An Act requiring manual
Statements of Roads to be transmitted to the Secretary of
State, and then laid before Parliament," some impol taut clause'
are introduced which would hardly be supposed from the title,.
but which require the attention all parties connected with the
hmanagement of roads. Ail annual meetings are in future to be
held before 25th March in each year; the annual statements
are to be made up before Ist January and 31st December in
'in each year, in a now form to what has hitherto been
used. The annual statements since 1821 are to be sent to
the Secretary of State, to whom a commission is to be
made when trustees have to apply to Parliament fcr a re--
newel of their act. The Clerks on each road are to prepare
estimates of the expenses of the roads for the current year,
under a penalty for neglect. How Clerks can be considered
the proper officers to prepare such estimates is most extraordi-
nary; Survegtrrs must have been meant, as the repairs are under
their management, and not under that of the Clerks.
VIRY EXTRAORDINARY.—OR Tuesday erce,ing last, about
seven o'clock, as the Leicester_mail-coach was on its way down
Whitwell-hill aboi.t seven miles from Stamford, the night being:
cloudy and dark, the vehicle came in contact with a waggon
proceeding in a contrary direction, and the concussion was so
severe that Berkeley, the coachman, and a gentleman sitting
with him on the box, were thrown on the wheel horses; the gen-
tleman escaped unhurt, but the coachman was kicked by nue of
the horses, and falling to the ground, the wheel passed over
him, and fractured his shoulder. He lay for some time in a
state of insensibility, and when he had recovered a little, was con-
veyed to the White Horse lon, at Empinghatn, where he still
' lies. The other outside paseengers, a lady and a gentleman,
jumped off the coach, without sustaining any material injury.
The horses immediately set off at a furicus rate, and before they
reached Empingliarn the guard was thrown trout his seat, rind the
leaders having broken away from the traces, the other two horses
proceeded through Empinghaat at full gallop, passing over the ,
and making all the turns without further tic-el:lent. .
fortunately, in coming dowu the hill to Scotsgate, at a rapid
rate, they met the York Express coach, goingout. The driver
of the litter, observing their approach, drew up to the left side,
when the mail horses, attracted by the lamps of the Exprean,
made a similar movement, and coming in contact with the other
horses, the pole of the Express penetrated the breast of one of
the animals, which, -driven forward, literally dashed its brains
out against the coach, shivering the footboard and the coach-
man's seat to atoms. The coaehtuan of the Expiess wae thrown
down, and slightly injured in the face, but was able tnproceed
on his journey. One of the Express horses, belonging to Mt.
Betts, had a hind leg broken, which rendered. it necessary to
destroy it. There were two inside passengers (lade:s) in the
mail; and strange to say, they were carried the whole way fora
the place where the accident happened, to Scotrigate, a distance
of semi miles, in total ignorance of any accident, and wholly
unconscious of their perilous situation. Mr. Waincup, of the,
merge, acrompacied by Mr. .Teckson, surgeon, immediately
ate red in a poetchaise, for Empinghate, and ss e-ntering; tact
valve 4 the cetr was upset by re:stung egtliast a poet, eta. eir.,
Jackson received is sever., Aria nor ilangerotts coulu6toii ott.tiio
(ThrisLide.