The Sun. — 1837-12-28 (London, England)

THE HARE'S LAW.—The following is from a letter of Sir W. Scott to the editor of the Courscu's Manual. I cannot help adding to the last:Words of Bonney Heck,' a sporting anecdote, said to have happened in Fife, and not far from the residence of that famous greyhound, which may serve to show in what regard the rules of fair play between hound and hare are held by Scottish sportsmen. There was a coursing club, once upon a time, which met at Balchristy, in the province, or as it is popularly called, the kingdom of Fife. The members were elderly, social men, whom a very moderate allowance of sport served as an introduction to a hearty dinner and jolly evening. Now there had her seat, on the ground where they usually met, a certain large stout hare, who seemed made on purpose to entertain these moderate sportsmen. She usually gave the amusement of three or four turns as soon as she was put up—a sure sign of a strong hare when practised by any beyond the age of a leveret—then stretched out in great style ; and after affording the gentlemen an easy canter of a mile or two, threw out the dogs by passing through a particular gap in an enclosure. This sport the hare gave to the same party for one or two seasons, and it was just enough to afford the worthy members of the club a sufficient reason to b© alleged to their wives, or others whom it might concern, for passing the day in the public house. At length a fellow who attended the hunt nefariously thrust his plaid, or great-coat, into the gap I mentioned ; and poor puss, her retreat being thus cut off, was, in the language of the dying Desdemona, basely—basely murdered.' The sport of the Balchristy Club seemed to end with this famous hare. They either found no hares, or such as afforded only a halloo and a squeak : or such, finally, as gave them farther runs than they had pleasure in following. The spirit of the meeting died away, and at length it was altogether given up. The publican was, of course, the party most especially affected by the discontinuance of the club ; and regarded, it may be supposed, with no complacency the person who had prevented the hare from escaping, and even his memory. One day a gentleman asked him what was become of such a one, naming the obnoxious individual. He is dead, Sir,' answered mine host, with an angry scowl, and his soul kens this day whether the hare of Balchristy got fair play or not.' " On Thursday, as J. Sly was driving a bullock up Church-street to the Shambles, when near the hospitals it made a sudden bolt up one of the narrow passages adjoining that place, and, unable to return, mounted a grass plot elevated on a level with the tops of the neighbouring houses, end from thence sprang upon the roof of the shop occupied by Mr. Humphrey, painter, and succeeded in gaining its summit. Here it remained a second or two, as if considering what next. The roof, however, unable to bear so protracted and unusual a pressure, gave way, when bullock, roof, rafters, and tiles, all made their disappearance, to the no small astonishment of a number of spectators outside, and to the very great wonder of the painter inside, who was busily employed at work; unable to account for so singular an occurrence, and alarmed for his safety, he ,dropped his muller and pallet-knife, and sought safety only in flight. Much did a Southcotian marvel at the sight of " cow upon the top of the house"—oft and anxiously did Jemmy Sly inquire after " his ous"—uproariously did the bystanders laugh at the bullock's extreme altitude and sudden disappearance, and many were the surmises of injuries done to paint-pots and brushes. All was, however, speedily put to rest by the animal's deliberate exit out of the painter's shop, uninjured and unhurt, and submitting quietly to be driven to that bourne from whence " no fatted ox returns."— Hull Observer. A large cotton manufactory, belonging to M. Van Hoegarde, at the gate of Brussels, was entirely destroyed on the 21st instant, by fire, in the short time of three hours, nothing but the walls having been left standing. The loss is reported to have been considerable. Several workmen lost their lives through the catastrophe, and upwards of one hundred are out of work by it.