" he'll not be placed any where, I know," ob-
served a yokel, one of the originals of the Bay,
" Tom was never good for any thing but to
bray; he's a stubborn animal. I never saw
any one that could make Tom GO as yet."
Smiler, Black Tom, and Swing Tail, were
looked upon by the crowd, completely as
* out siders,' of no use that is to say * neither
rum 'uns to look at nor good uns to move :' a
bad lot altogether ; and not to be mentioned
when a race was the subject.
Rose and Lion, were also amongst the et
ceteras of Jack Asses stubborn to the end of
the chapter, and no mistake ! defying spurs or
a mop-stick to get 'em on the toddle /
Dusty Bob and Black Sal, "sure such a
pair was never seen !" Bob looked summut
like a hero, and Sarah that of a heroine ; and
as old acquaintances they were backed either
one, if not both, to prove themselves winners.
Six Crowns to four against the field.
Thespis was quite of the hunt the spec-
tators had no touch of the draro-a-tic about
their compositions ; indeed, it was thought
poor Thespis would be sent back to the barn j
or, according to a sporting phrase draivn.
Chammy, not known ! a sort of hedger and
ditcher, a travelling donkey, one of those sort
of hanimals, as his Propper-itor said, "as
how, he vas here to-day, and gone to-morrow."
And, with a grin upon his mug, he said, to an
old itinerant tinker in the crowd, " that he
thought Chammy would hedge to it !"
Sukey, poor Susan, like many other females,
was without a friend to put her forward in
the race ; but her master said, " never mind
that ere, she could push-along, and keep
moving- with the best of any of 'em and he
vou'd bet his ould castor, which had been ail
over the County of Kent for the last twenty
years, to a quartern of Max, that Sukey would
be somewhere in the race ! D'ye mind me,"
said he, " I mean Suckey will be placed /"
The STARTS were rich in the extreme ; and
to the admirers or lovers of kicking and pranc-
ing, they proved quite a treat ; indeed, the
ludicrous appearance of the affair altogcthei
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
367
forcibly reminded us of Joey Grimaldi's cele-
brated comic song :
Don't I look spruce on my Neddy !
In spite of his kicking and prancing !
Gee up ! Gee Woo ! Here we go 1
But the whole ended in something like a
wrangle as to coming in ; but on hearing the
glad tidings announced, that dinner was on
the table, which, to the hungry person super-
sedes almost every other consideration. We
left them to settle their differences, amongst
themselves or refer them, like the great pro-
prietors of horses of another description, to
the members of the Jock no, I beg pardon,
an appeal to the nobs of the Jacfc-Ass Club !
Maximus in minimis.
Upwards of 150 persons sat down to a most
splendid dinner ; in short, the Hotel was full
from the top of the house to the bottom, so
anxious were the Men of Kent, and those of
London, to celebrate the opening of the Pier,
with spirit and good cheer. Upon the cloth
being removed, * God save the King' was sung
with considerable talent by Mr. Smith, a pro-
fessional singer from London ; a number of
loyal and patriotic toasts and sentiments were
drank with enthusiasm ; and the cheers that
followed some of the local toasts respecting
the Pier, &c. were almost deafening. In the
course of the evening, Mr. Brain entertained
the company with an original song, written by
a Mr. Fyle, " The Pier that weathered the
storm," and which was loudly encored in
consequence of its allusions to Herne Bay.
Mr. Briant, the well-known comic Irish singer
also introduced a song of his own writing,
full of point and puns about the Pier, and
several comical allusions respecting the Ba-
lustrades,* which belonged to Old London
The above transfer of the BALUSTRADES of the
late London Bridge, 'most certainly in times hereafter
will be viewed as a ' great relic ' of that Bridge
which not only cai ried safe over it so many thousands
daily ; but it will be also remembered as the direct
road to industry, honors, and renown, leading to the
first commercial city in the world, for enterprize,
ability, and integrity. We must observe, that who-
ever the idea originated with in the first instance, it
was a good one ; and may ultimately, become a great
curiosity and source of attraction when the writer of
this paragraph, and also the proposers of the PIER
are "gone to that Bourne, from whence no traveller
returns !" in order to induce a number of Persons to
visit Herne Bay, only as it were to take a peep at the
BALUSTRADES OF OLD LONDON BRIDGE. However,
we are not led away so strongly as to suppose that
the citizens of London will pay so great a veneration
to them as the Mahometans considered it their duty
once in their lives to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, to
do homage to the coffin of Mahomet; but, neverthe-
less, the above Balustrades may become a very inter-
esting object to the inhabitants of Herne Bay, by the
gre.it influx of visitors. We remember, when quite a
child, the following verse of part of a song respecting
Old London Bridge :
London Bridge is broken down,
Danoe o'er my Lady Lea,
London Bridge is broken down,
A gay Lady !
^n the conclusion of Mr. Eriant's Song, which
gave rise to the following impromptu by a gentleman
present, it was immediately handed over to us:
Bridge, being transplanted to commence the
Pier head at Herne Bay. Several members
of the Corporation of Canterbury were pre-
sent, who warmly professed themselves to be
friendly to the undertaking, and who, likewise,
gave their promise of support. The company
was highly amused by a professional gentle-
man from London, of the name of King, with
two songs, in which he introduced some ex-
traordinary powers of ventriloquism his
imitations of the dog and cat quarreling over
a bone, were of the most natural description,
and produced for him one of the loudest
encores we ever remember to have heard.
The fire-works, which were let off at eleven
o'clock, at the extremity of the Pier, had a
very pleasing effect ; and not only delighted
the inhabitants of Herne Bay, but also the
visitors from London, who were accustomed
to this species of amusement. The Chairman
was so much devoted to harmony and good
fellowship, that he never left the chair until
day-light peeped into the room ; in short, the
whole evening was kept up with great sport
and harmony, and a number of excellent songs
were sung, that would not have disgraced the
boards of either of the Royal Theatres. But
beds were not to be had for Lore, at all events,
at Herne Bay ; NO, nor for money either ; the
Hotel was crowded to excess, so that all ac-
commodation as to resting places were over-
done at a very early hour ; and not a bed or a
sofa were to be had any where in the town of
Herne. But those gents, who were deprived
from going to roost, kept it up like game cocks
of the highest breed, crowing with delight at
the numerous jolly fellows that were thus
accidentally thrown together, although they
were oust ed from the comforts of Bedford-shire.
But the above circumstances to them, were
* trifles light as air,' and the song, jest, and
tale, most amply compensated for the loss of
a ' few winks' at most, which might, in the
course of a few hours, be repaid with interest.
Therefore, in the words of the well-known
parody, it was thus sung one to another over
the enlivening glass :
Go not yet, for now's the time
The "boys" are all bang-up and prime,
Full of spunk ripe for a lark.
" D n the expense !" exclaims each spark,
In spirits every one !
But on the rising of the glorious sun, who not
only displayed her own beauties, but also
that of nature the ocean and picturesque
scenery of Herne Bay, the company separated
London Bridge is come to HERNE BAY
By the DIRECTORS sent?
Giving ! yes I so the Wise Ones, say
ANTIQUITY to Kent.
Not so! assert the MEN of KENT,
A hold-fast to the PIER
Can money thus be better spent?
'Gainst winds and storms no fear !
Far better still ! " those BALUSTRADES f*
Fine remnants of renown :
Great ornament to the Parades
Of HEKNB BAY, PIER, and TOWN.
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
for an early toddle some scoured the fields,
and others, parts of the town, while a few of
the gents, on the look out for their lost com-
panions, went and overhauled the Venus, who,
it appeared, had furnished lodgings for a
number of gay sparks, who felt themselves so
fully contented, and without the least com-
plaint in being admitted in the characters of
6oard-ers for that night only !
At length, the sound of the gun announced
the departure of the Venus for the return to
London, and
The last boat destined from the Pier !
soon arrived with her compliment on board.
The salutes were repeated at all the places as
before ; another pleasant day occurred a
capital dinner was provided by the steward of
the Venus for his guests and over a glass of
good wine, we joined in the toast of " Success
to the Pier at Herne Bay, and the rising town
of St. Augustine!" Several excellent anec-
dotes well told, passed between a few gentle-
men, who never saw each other before, and,
perhaps, may never see each other again, and
which made TIME, fly as it were ! Such are
the delights of refined and enlightened con-
versation ; and the recollection of such plea-
sant moments, are invaluable. Greenwich
Hospital, that immense ornament to Old Eng-
land, appeared sooner than was anticipated by
' the pleased eyes of the Cocknies such a
monument of natural grandeur must be always
gratifying to the "heart that can feel for
another" the Pools were cleared without the
slightest difficulty ; and the jolly crew of the
Venus arrivedsafe and sound at St. Kath .vine's
Dock by six o'clock on Tuesday evening.
According to our immortal Bard :
Parting is such sweet sorrow !
but no matter, we were compelled to part with
several interesting persons, positively, with
regret yet, unlike Johnny Gilpin, we did not
go further than we intended ; and found our-
selves comfortably seated at home, yes " Sweet
Home," enjoying our Twankey before seven
o'clock, and relating our adventures, not ex-
actly with the flourishes of a Don Quixotte ;
but, nevertheless, delighted with our excur-
sion the opening of the PIER AT HERNE
BAY, and to make it more lasting in the tablet
of our memory its being coupled with the
passing of the never to be forgotten REFORM
BILL. Dum vivimus vicamus !
THE PEDIGREE OF AN ARABIAN HORSE.
Bought in Egypt by an English Nobleman, for
the price of 1000 Guineas.
[Translated from the original Arabic.]
In the name of God, the merciful and com-
passionate, and Sid Mahomet, the agent of
the High God, and of the Ali of God, and the
companions of Mahomet, and Jerusalem, by
the grace of God, the Author of the creation.
This horse, the sire of Rabhamy, equal in
power to his son, is of the tribe of Zazzalah,
and descends from the uncle of Lahadah, the
sire of Alket is of a fine figure, and fleet at
an ostrich ; herewith is his tooth, when a colt,
in a bag, with his pedigree, which a Caffre
may believe. Among the honors of relation-
ship he reckons Zalwah, the sire of Mahat,
who was the sire of Kallak, and the unique
Alket, sire of Manasseh, sire of Alsheh, from
generation to generation, down from the noble
horse, Lahalala. And upon him be green
herbage in abundance, and the water of life
with an edifice enclosed with walls, a reward
from the tribe of Zoab, for the fire of his race ;
and let a thousand cypresses shade his body
from the hyena of the tombs, from the wolf,
and the serpents of the plain ; within the in-
closure a festival shall be kept, and at sun-
rise thousands shall come, and observers
arrive in troops, whilst the tribe exhibits,
under a canopy of celestial signs, the saddle,
and the name, and the place of the tribe of
Bek Altabek, in Mesopotamia, and Kulasla
of Lutarek of the inspired tribe of Zoab.
Then shall they strike with a loud noise, and
ask of Heaven, in solemn prayer, immunity
for the tribe from evil, and the demon of
languor, from pestilence, from wandering
from God, from scabby camels, from scarcity,
from perplexed congregations, from the spleen,
from the fiery dragon, from commixtion, from
beating on the feet, from treading out with
the feet, from Heiubnu, or the unknown son
of an unknown father, from lameness at birth,
from imposthumes, from seclusions, and from
fascination, from depression and elevation,
from cracks in the feet, from numerous assem-
blies, from importunate soothsayers, from the
offspring of prophets and nocturnal travellers,
from diviners of good opportunity for a pur-
pose, from relations and degrees of affinity,
and from rash and inordinate riders, deliver
this tribe, O Lord, and secure those who are
slow to follow and slow to advance, who guard
the truth and observe it. Court Journal.
THE STAG OUT OF HIS ELEMENT.
Not long since the attention of the inhabit-
ants of Itchenor was attracted by the appear-
ance of a stag on the opposite shore of the
river, which, after taking a survey of this arm
of the sea, without ceremony took soil and
swam across, a distance of about six hundred
yards ; he then majestically crossed the park,
and made his lair in an adjoining covert. The
keen sportsmen of the united parishes in the
neighbourhood, had speedy information of this
unexpected visitant, and the harriers were
collected with speed, and laid on his slot.
The animal was soon roused, and broke
cover in the most gallant style, and, during a
chase of two hours, topped every fence in his
way, showed capital sport, when, being
pressed by his staunch pursuers, he once
more attempted to cross the river at West
Wittering, but the tide being ebbed, he got
embayed in the mud, from which he was ex-
tricated unhurt.
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
%\Kv
. r/-'
PIGEON SHOOTING.
THE PIGEON SHOOTERS' GLEE.
THERE'S no rural sport surpasses
Pigeon shooting, circling glasses,
Fill the chrystal goblet up,
Fill the chrystal goblet up.
No Game Laws can ever thwait US;
INor gut tarns nor Habeas Coipui.
For our license Venus grants,
Let's be grateful ; here's a bumper ;
In our bounty, here's a bumper.
Listed under beauty's banners,
What's to u* freehold or manors ?
Fill the chrystal goblet up,
Fill the chry.-tal goblet up.
No suspense our temper's trying,
Endless sport our trap supplying;
No ill state 'twixt hove and fear
At magic word our birds appear;
Fill the chrystal gobtet up.
Alike all seasons in our favour
O'er vales and hills, no toil or labou.
No alloy our pleasures yield ;
No game-keeper e'er employing
Skill'd in art of game destroying,
Free from trouble, void of care,
We set at nought the poacher's snare.
Fill the chrystal goblet up,
No blank days can ever vex us,
No false points can e'er perplex us.
Fill the chrystal goblet up.
Pigeons swift as wind aboundiry-',
Detonating puns resounding,
See the tow'ring victims fall.
With Apollo science vying,
View the heaps of dead and dying,
Forc'd to pay the debt of nature,
Matters it or soon or later ?
Fill the chrystal goblet up.
2 B
70
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
UPWARDS of forty years ago PIGEON SHOOT-
ING was in high repute ; and from that date
up to the present period, it has not lost a jot
of its celebrity as a SPORT, in which some of
the first rate shots in the kingdom are repeat-
edly engaged in various matches; nay, on the
contrary, it has increased in a very great
degree ; and, amongst some of our noble DONS
in society, PIGEON SHOOTING has become quite
a favorite pursuit.
But it would far exceed our limits, were
we to attempt to enumerate one half of the
crack shots that are to be met with in the
Sporting World ; therefore, a few of the high
sounding names, which we shall quote for our
purpose, we trust will be quite sufficient :
Lord Kennedy, Captain Ross, Mr. Osbaldes-
ton, Lord Ranelagh, Hon. G. Anson, Mr.
Shoubridge, Mr. Gillmore, Mr. Arrowsmith,
&c.,who have merely to hold up their guns,
as it were, when destruction and death follow
the sound of their pieces to the feathered tribe :
but, added to the judgment and skill which
the above sporting heroes possess ; also the
repeated training they are continually under-
going, or immense practice, cannot fail to
render them perfect to bring down a bird, or
shoot at a mark ; and, if PERFECTION can be
obtained in any pursuit, we verily believe,
few opponents can be found, except amongst
themselves, to compete, with any thing like
a chance of winning, with the above truly
celebrated PIGEON SHOOTERS ! Independently
of gamekeepers, whom we should term as
professional* shots ; or, in other words, if the
above phrase should prove objectionable to
a peculiar class of society men who have
been reared to shoot at GAME and other birds
from their cradles !
PIGEON SHOOTING is kept up, not only with
great spirit, but splendor; and Gold Cups,
Silver Tankards, and other prizes, are shot
for continually, in some instances for Two
Thousand Sovereigns, One Thousand, down to
1Q aside. Also, a great variety of Sweep-
* We have consulted Dr. Johnson on the subject,
and find that PROFESSION is defined to be " a calling;
vocation; known employment." We have also con-
sulted the word professional, and which Dictionary
states the meaning to be " relating to a particular
calling, or profession ;" therefore, we have not strayed
much out of the right path ; but we have little doubt
tli at even the most fastidious character will pardon
us for using at most, a doubtful phrase, to convey our
11 leaning intelligently ; one of those sort of doubtful
tilings described by the facetious George Colinan, in
his Newcastle Apothecary :
BOLUS arriv'd, and gave a doubtful tap,
Between a single and a DOUBLI: rap ;
Knocks of his kind
Are giv'n by gentlemen who teach to dance
By fiddlers and by Opera singers ;
One loud, and then a little one behind,
As if the knocker, fell by chance
Out of their fingers.
Therefore, at times, most writers are rather at a loss
to cou\ey their intentions accurately to their readers,
without the .sli;.',liU-st \\ish to give offence ; however,
the term, perhaps, might have been expressed better,
," frejtud SHOTS r
stakes, under the management of Mr. Swaine,
the very able and well-conducted proprietor
of the Red House, Battersea, and the Enclosure.
Indeed, shooting at pigeons is quite a tip-top
sort of thing altogether in the Sporting World ;
and the Swells, who are the principal actors
in the scene, are of the very first quality in
the fashionable world. We have noticed
amongst the visiters the Duke of Riche-
lieu, Lords Sefton, Jersey, and Belfast, Sir
Watkin Williams Wynn, and several other
persons of distinction. A military band may
be found here at times to enliven the scene ;
perhaps furnished on the old adage :
" That music hath charms to doothe "
and why may not Pigeons be induced to stay
a little on the wing, to be delighted with
" Meet me by moonlight!"
when we are assured that Nightingales have
been so fascinated and overpowered with
musical sounds as to have expired with ecstacy ;
and that even stone walls have exhibited
vibration, and been seen to move with a
sort of indescribable sympathy at the sweet
concords of harmony. Men and women also
in the most rude state of civilization and
savage parts of the world, without knowing a
single note of music, have been seen to dance
with their feet and motion their hands on
hearing the fiddle or any other musical instru-
ment without any order or system ! Then
why not Pigeons, it might be asked, feel a
sort of inclination at the delightful air and
invitation of
" Away, away, to the mountain brow !
and PIGEON SHOOTERS too, by the same sort
of feeling and inspiration, bring down their
birds, a la Bishop, Barnet, Lee, George
Stansburg, &c., with
" Will you, will you, come to the bower 1"
PIGEON SHOOTING, is also followed as an
amusement in almost every part of the king-
dom ; and numerous clubs have been formed
in several large towns, although, perhaps,
not with the same means of support ; but,
nevertheless, with equal spirit and ardour, by
the Red House Club, the Rifle Club, &c. at
Battersea.
However, to show the spirit with which the
above sport was followed in 1793, we have
made the following extract from the Old Sport-
ing Magazine j in the month of February of
the above date, nearly forty years since :
" The great celebrity of this sport, in which
some of the first shots in England are so fre-
quently engaged, encourages us to communi-
cate an account of its fashionable influence
and increasing prevalence, as a subject appli-
cably entitled to a place in our sporting recep-
tacle.
" Matches coming under this denomination
are of two kinds : the first supported by
private subscription amongst such gentlemen
only as are members of their distinct and
separate clubs. Others of an inferior com-
PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.
371
plexion by public contribution from candi-
dates of every description, and is generally
excited and collected by the landlords ot
inns, to purchase different pieces of plate of
gradational value, for distribution amongst
the successful adventurers in such lottery of
hope and uncertainty. This practice is ex-
ceedingly common in almost every part of the
kingdom, but in none so frequently repeated,
or so fashionably followed, as in the counties
of Bucks, Berks, Hants, and Surrey, where,
at this season of the year, it is in perpetual
succession at one spot or another. But the
most respectable meeting for the eminence
and opulence ot its members as well as the
superior excellence of their shots, is held at
the Old Hats, on the Uxbridge Road, near
Ealing, at which many gentlemen of the first
fortunes constantly attend, and some from so
great a distance as Reading and Wokingham,
both which furnish a few of the most expert in
the circle. Amidst the respectability of this
meeting we have observed even a condescend-
ing relaxation from the fatigues of official
city dignity ; and never enjoyed greater fes-
tivity, witnessed more exhilarating convivi-
ality, or drank better Claret and Madeira than
upon this occasion.
" Having pointed out the two distinct
classes who appropriate a portion of their
time to this enjoyment, it becomes immedi-
ately applicable so to explain the sport, as may
render it perfectly easy of comprehension to
those who have never had an opportunity to
be present at so earnest a struggle for supe-
riority. In direct conformity with propriety,
we advert first to the match, as it is gene-
rally made and decided, between a given
number of gentlemen from different clubs
opposed to each other ; or members of the
same club, when by two tossing up for the
first choice they continue to choose in rota-
tion till the party is completely formed, which
may be contracted or extended to any number
required for the convenience of the company
intending to shoot. The match thus made,
and the names of the opponents arranged upon
paper by the arbiter, the sport begins in the
following way :
" Several dozens of pigeons having been
provided for the purpose, are disposed in
baskets behind the company, there to wait the
destructive crisis, the ' deadly level,' that
dooms them to instant death, or gives them
liberty. A shallow box of about a foot long,
and eight or ten inches wide, is sunk in the
ground, parallel with the surface, and just
twenty-one yards from the foot mark at which
each gunner is bound to take his aim. This
box has a sliding lid, to which is affixed a
string held by one appointed to that office,
who is placed next the person going to shoot,
from whom he takes the word of command
for drawing the string whenever he is ready
to take his aim ; another pigeon being so ex-
peditiously placed in the box, for the succeed-
ing shot who stands ready (by the runners
that furnish the pigeons) that ten, twelve, or
fifteen dozen of pigeons are deposited in the
box, flown and shot at in much less time than,
it is possible to conceive. The gunner is not
permitted to put his gun to his shoulder till
the bird is on wing ; and the bird must
fall within one hundred yards of the box, or
is deemed a lost shot. During this rapid suc-
cession (one of each side shooting alternately)
the arbiter is employed in penciling opposite
to each name the success of every individual,
by A 1, or, A 0; this, at the end of the match,
denotes the superiority, by demonstrating