We understand Mr. Lancaster, of New Bond-street, has invented a PATENT BREECH, which greatly increases the power of any gun it may be applied to. The improvement we hear is in making five tubes or antichambers, instead of one, as in the old plan. We shall feel greatly obliged to any of our correspondents who have made a trial to furnish us with the result. A woodcock was killed by a single ball, in the Park Wood at Nettlecombe, by the keeper, while killing does, on Tuesday the 22d of January. The keeper is upwards of seventy years of age. Pugilism. Neal and Baldwin.- The match with these men was originally fixed for the 11th of March, Neal to fight 2501. to 2001.; but, owing to "unforeseen events," it is postponed by consent till the 22d of April; the cause of which is as follows. A dispute originated between two respectable coach proprietors of Leicester, and a regular trial of skill between the partisans of each for the possession of a disputed coach took place. Baldwin happened to be present (a looker-on merely, as he says), and was held to bail by the local Magistracy to answer to the assault at the Sessions to be held on the 15th of April, and consequently is bound over to keep the peace in the intervening period towards all His Majesty's lieges, till his recognisances are discharged by due course of law. At the meeting to make the fifth deposit of the stakes, Baldwin stated the dilemma in which he was placed; and having a great respect for the law, and not wishing to fly in the teeth of the Magistrates, he hoped Neal would take the matter into his consideration, and allow him to appear at the Sessions; in other words, to postpone the appointed day till he could meet him without forfeiting his recognizances. Neal had said he meant fighting; so did he, and nothing else; and he hoped the stakes would be permitted, under these circumstances, to remain till the event came off.Neal replied, that as far as he was personally concerned he was willing to give his antagonist every indulgence, and to meet his wishes to the fullest extent; but the fact was, he was backed by a number of individuals not overburthened with goldfinches, and whether they would sing to the same tune he could not sayhe must act according with their judgment and discretion. Some objections were started by Neal's friends against delay, when Baldwin urged, that it might have been Neal's fate to have met with af similar misfortune; and if he had, he certainly would have granted him every indulgence, independently of his backers. But I'll tell you what I'll do," said Bob; "as I mean fighting, rather than you or the public should suppose that I wish to retreat, I'll fight you on the day (11th of March); and, if I must, I'll go to prison, and meet all the consequences like a man. Nevertheless, I should wish to arrange the matter amicably, and am content to throw off the odds at which you fight me (2501. to 2001.), and fight you even.' Still Neal's friends hesitated, as they considered nothing was granted by this proposal; and waiting was a bad spec. "Well, then," said Bob, "I'll add 501. to my deposit, and fight 2501. even, upon condition that you agree to postpone the fight to the necessary period.' -"But," said one of Neal's backers, "suppose you are again held to bail to keep the peace when that period arrives?"-"Why, then," replied Bob, "if I am, but I do not anticipate that I shall, I will pay Neal's expenses, and go and fight him in France." The decision in which he spoke gave great satisfaction to the room, and elicited bravos even from his non-supporters. Still there was one caviller. "How," said he, "is it to be if you should be sent to prison?"-"Oh!" replied Bob cheerily, "if I am, which I think in common justice is utterly impossible, I'll agree to forfeit 2001. of the battle money." This was so manly, fair, and liberal, that all farther objections ceased; the articles of agreement were accordingly altered, embracing all the terms proffered by Baldwin, regularly signed, and the parties shook hands, all joining in the customary toast, "May the best man win!" A scene, as disgraceful to the name of Pugilism as it was to its promoters, was allowed to take place on the 5th of February at Whetstone, on the Barnet road, under the imposing designation of a "Lilliputian Mill.” We naturally expected, on the announcement of the match, that the set-to was to be between two "boldfaced sons of the science," whose embryo talents were thus called into play in emulation of their fathers' he roic achievements; and however we might regret that youth should too soon usurp the privilege of manhood, yet we felt that the characteristic bravery of the "scions of a noble stock" might be permitted to shew excellence in the ring-ed field, without detriment to the manliness of the art. But it was not so. The combatants in this instance, so far from being "chips of the old block," were objects of pity in the eye of humanity, the very abortions of nature-they were two epitomes of men! and yet, "tell it not in Gath,” a numerous assemblage of spectators were present to witness the disgraceful exhibition! The parties were, David Morgan, a Welsh dwarf, three feet nine inches in height, aged twenty-seven, and Peter M'Bean, a Scotchman, three feet six, aged thirty-seven. We should be ashamed to pollute our pages with an account of so disgusting an exposure; suffice it to say, Taffy was declared victorious after thirty-seven minutes' pummelling each other; and the poor creatures were taken away, the one exulting in his prowess, and the other cheered in defeat by the condolence of his supporters that he was not a favorite of fortune! TO CORRESPONDENTS. Thanks to "Oxoniensis" for his communication (we hope it will not be his last). Our sole reason for declining to insert it is, that the party to whom it more immediately relates is, alas! no more. Feeling under heavy obligation for his generous services, and the utmost respect for his memory, it would but ill accord with our present sentiments now to insert what he cannot answer. We dare not trust ourselves farther on this head, having (for causes already explained in private) declined to give insertion to communications containing just and well-merited encomiums to his talents and memory, by those friends from whom he did not disguise that he was an "Amateur Contributor" to this publication. "Scarlet's" Hint to Young Sportsmen as early as possible. "Cricketer's" Remarks on Mr. Knight's Proposal of a New Law for Bowling in our next. He may possibly now have something farther to offer on the continuation of the subject, which appears in our present Number. We are obliged to "A Subscriber" for his hints; his wishes shall, if possible, be complied with. To" Audi alteram partem " we say, that, desirous as we are of giving original communications on the Game Laws, and other topics, we do not think it fair to copy from other periodical; therefore must decline inserting what he wishes from Blackwood. "Trojan" and "No Vulpecide" came too late: they shall certainly appear next any month. "V. S." on Capp'd Hocks, and several other communications, are under consideration. We cannot make the request "A Sportsman" suggests. Our Correspondent from Penrith must excuse our inserting his letter, without its being authenticated by his name and address. "Septentrionalis," on the Breed of American Horses, came to hand at the moment of our going to press. The first volume of a "Treatise on the Management and Training the Race Horse," by R. Davell, V. S., has recently been published. Not wishing to judge hastily of the merits or demerits of a work, the subject of which is so interesting to the Sporting community, we shall delay making any comment till we see the work completed. THE VOL. XXI. N.S. APRIL, 1828. No. CXXVII. . THIS engraving, from a painting by Mr. W. Nedham, of Leicester, represents Jack Stevens, first whipper-in to Mr. Osbaldesdon, on Dick Andrews, an excellent leaper, and one of the best thorough-bred horses in the Hunt. Stevens is an excellent horseman, rides well to hourds, knows his business well, and is of the first class of whippers. The hounds are Rambler, Gaiety, and Nabob, all great favorites with the 'Squire.-NIMROD, in his YORKSHIRE TOUR, (see p. 416 of this Number,) says "Jack Stevens is a tough one. He broke a blood vessel last year, but only lay still a few days for it, saying, 'It was no use living if he could not go with the hounds.'' HUNTING IN WINDSOR PARK. SIR, N these times, when that truly English sport (fox-hunting) stands in need of every support, I take pleasure in announcing to the friends of the Chase, that the foxhounds have met, and found twice within the last month, at Windsor Park. "THE KING'S NAME IS A TOWER OF STRENGTH." His Majesty patronizes the sport-the Royal Command is issued-FOXES ARE TO BE NO LONGER KILLED ON THE ROYAL DOMAIN. Let us hope the command will be obeyed, |