The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11; HOC

THE WAR IN DENMARK.

THE NEW OPEXAM BETTING GROUND-

DIXIE'S LAND:

(sina's =Jolux.)
EIRRLIN Amos? 10, Ensure.

The student of life and manners who wends his
way to Great Saffron-hill, will find ample food for
reflectiOn in the peculiarities of its people and the
a:lthey furnish of the stringency of acts of Far-
I, and the dread majesty of the law. If
gifted with much faith and of a speculative turn, he
may ,io to chew the cud of sweet and bitter,
espeasihy bitter, fancy, if he will but yield to the
influences of the place, and invest his money an a
favourite tip. First, es to the whereabouts of the
site we write of, and the particulate hohrs at which
nil beautiet may be seen. 6 Dixie's" is a publie-
house, and "Dixie's Land" is a piece of waste 'ground
in front of it, which may be approached in this wise.
Let the explorer turn from Fleet-street into Far-
ringdon-street. keeping on the Aide opposite to the
site of the old Fleet prison ; let him note the first
group of blackguard-looking men who are whisper-
ing mysteriously, and let him follow them directly
they begin to start off at the double towards Her
born. He will not have to waitlong. From the door
of one of the public-houses, or wog in at some of
the shop windows, he will soon see large-eared,
fleshy, thick-necked, tight-trowsered, dirtily-
thaby men, who after hungrily fingering bits of
erumpbd tissue paw,. and pzin atAgem on tip-
toe overreach other's shoulders, will hasten off with
preoccupied mien the instant they have mastered
their telegraphic contents. Remarking that the
shop windows, in their plenitude of note-books,
metallic and otherwise, in their dog's-headed and
borne's-hoofed sham jewellery, and in their slop-
clothes-tickets belabelled "Down the Road,""Tbe
Cheese," and " The St. Leger," tell a perfectly
consistent story, and extenaively aim at supplying
what are called "sporting wants," wed cross
Holborn, and find ourselves in the continuation of
Farringdon-street, known as Farringdonsoad.
Before us is the station of the Metropolitan
Railway, on the right is the Field-lane Refuge for
the Homeless Poor, while to the left is a large and
barren shoe of waste ground, the spot we have
come to see. There is a half maritime look about
this neighbourhood, as if a section of Batcliff-high-
way had being mixed up with one of the streets of
the docks, and the amalgam had been transferred
for some inscrutable purpose to the E.C. district.
There are two or three timber merchants' yards;
there are huge blocks of wood, like peeled trunks of
trees, lying uselessly in the midst, whereon idle
loungers rest, and about which ragged children
play ; on the railings further on are festoons of
blue, brown, and white canvas shirts, which are
guarded by the plaid-lined peajackets waving from
the windows of the house beyond ; and the inevitable
old iron and glass bottle warehouses jostle with the
petty hucksters' shops, and with hotels having
"Lodging establishment, one night 4d., seven
nights Zs.," for their sign. But the ancient glories
of Field-lane have fled. There are now no silken
trophies waving from windows and doorways, and
the peculated pocket-handkerchief business seems to
have given way to the exchange of rusty chains and
keys, and to the extensive vending of old boots.
Great Saffron-bill rises from the timber yard of
Dungey, and in the centre of an enclosed spine,
with the busy thoroughfare leading from Holborn
to Olerkenwell in their front, and a German baker's,
"Dixie's" and another publio-houae, and some
small shops in their rear, are from two to three or
four hundred men and boys: earnestly pursuing the
calling they have chosen. The three men whose
unmistakeably turfy look struck us in Farringdou-
street, separate the instant they reach the ground,
and whisper something in the ears of .their friends
and partners,who are standing upon small bits of
board, and who promptly alter the figures in a
kind of open pocket-book held up by the boy at
their aide. There are many men standing upon
boards, and there are many attendant apntes
whose sole duty it is toact like the Paris hunchback
in the days of Law as human reading-stands and
writing-desks. The men we have watched have
acquired later intelligence of the state of the odds,
or the condition of the horses, or the rumours of
the stables, from the touts in their employ, or with
whom they are in partnership, and have hastened
back to have the prices altered upon the ground
we are in. There is no disguise or secrecy about
this crowd, though we are bound to say there is but
little noise. It is the greet outside betting ring,
the fifth-rate Tattersall 's of the East, and the people
before us are small book-makers, low frequenters of
races, petty gamblers, handicraftsmen, shopboye,
and clerks. The open pocket-book is not unlike'
the folding leather cases for caress des visites. It'd
holds from six to eight printed cards, the size of
which strengthens the comparison, each containing&
list of the horses in the forthcoming racing " events,"
with marginal notes as to the price at which
they can be backed. This frequently varies to the
extent of one or two points, and intending in- '
vestors may be seen hastily examining list after
list, and even chaffering with their principals until
what they consider satisfactory terms are obtained.
The list keeper holds in one hand a bundle of red,
blue, or green bits of pasteboard, of the she and
shape of • railway ticket, and on the person who
consents to beck a particular horse giving him the
sum agreed on, the card is made out for the amount
of the odds laid, plus the amount already banded
over. Thus, • youth who has a "good opinion" of the
"performance s"of, we will say, Brother to Bluenose,
and who agrees to back that noble steed for one
shilling, at four to one, deposits his twelvepence,
and receive* • written guarantee, probably from a
man be does not know, for five shillings in cum the
bet is won. And it must not be thought that we
haveover-stated the posaibilities of British gambling.
After an intelligent boy of fourteen or so—whose
pencil and scissors peeping from his waistcoat
pocket bespoke his calling, had concluded his
investment, and received his ticket from a
sunken-cheeked, red haired, restless-eyed, black-
celled, bejewelled Jew, whose dirty blue satin,
gold flowered waistcoat, broken gibus, crumpled
shirt, bulging boots, and greasy garments, seemed
somehow to bespeak his calling too, be moved to
another list-keeper, and, calmly tendering one
shilling, received a second bit of pasteboard is
return. He thus doubled his investment, and de-
creased the chances of default, but it was obvious
that he bad to pick his men ; for, at the head of one
of the lists, under the name and address of its
keeper, we reed, "Nothing under 5.. taken ;" and on
another "From 2001. to 2s. &L" Few things were
more striking than the indifference and noncha-
lance of the list-keepers. They keep their ground,
and the people wishing to entrust them with money
have to seek them out. The supremely careless
way in which a tall, half-rustic looking man kept
dropping sums of from half-a-crown toe sovereign
into his trousers-pocket, while his sub made out the
, necessary ticket', and eager baud& were forcing
upon him other coin, was an instructive thing to
' see. The talk is all of odds, and " crosses," and
"information ;" and queries as to "going down to-
, morrow," are varied by whispers of successful bet-
making, and of crafty arrangements for obtaining
I longer odds than are sanctioned by the market
price. The very walls and hoardings seem to par-
take of the character of the district, for a huge,
torn, and ragged poster ostentatiously and oracu-
larly proclaims its knowledge of " All about it ;"
whilst ' The Discarded Wife" contends foe publi-
city with " The Streets of London " on the shabby
wall beyond. During this time the customers con-
stantly change, and the industrious merchants
and their colleagues and hangers-on keep at their
posts, i. e., on their boards. These standing-places
are to preserve them from the damp earth in wet
weather, and the huge gig umbrellas now folded up
are also used as a protection, being held Indian-
slave fashion by one of the boys. We note the
names and addresses of the list-keepers, find many
of them to be tavern landlords, who have " and at
the Anna" added thereto ; but see in more ,
than one instance there is no address, and that the
name is moveable, as if the posketbouk were Meer

The semi-official Norcidest;che Aligeintsne Zeituny,
in an article on the occupation of Lauenburg by
the Federal troops, sart—" Prussia has for the
present considered it sufficient to demand explana-
tions of the step from the governments concerned.'

(now ooa ancia,

COPENRAGEN, Acotwr 6.

To-day his Majesty King Christian has opened
in person the Rigedag, or parliament of Denmark.
You will remember that the Rigaread, or legislative
assembly for the whole monarchy, commenced its
sittings on Juoe 25. Both bodice are now similarly
limited as to the territory which they will in future
govern, and it is probable that some compromise
may be effected uniting the two. I perceive by a
list of their names that each house contains the
NMI knot of politicians—Mourad, Alfred Hage,
Hall, and Bile, appearing as members of the
Falketking alike in Rigedag and sfgar•ad, whilst
the gentleman who is president in the one fills that
office also in the other. This meeting of the local
parliament is purely a matter of form, resembling
what takes place every November at Westminster.
The RMadag will be speedily adjourned, having
only met in compliance with constitutional usage.
Since I wrote, six weeks ago, to describe the open-
ing ceremony in June, a sad change has come over
Denmark. At that time, though war impended,
there was hope of foreign assistance. We seemed
upon the eve of great events. Lord Palmerston
had not declared undeviating neutrality, and moat
Danes firmly believed that Our Channel Fleet would
be the next arrival. In six weeks, however, they
have been roughly disenchanted ; I might have said
that they were in six days, for the remain-
ing interval has been filled with efforts at
negotiation. A new prime minister, pledged to
obtain pesos, has succeeded Bishop Monrad, and
preliminaries are already signed. From being com-
paratively confident and cheerful, public feeling is
settling down into hopeless dejection. Every one
knows that the blood and trearium expended to save
North Sleevig from alien rule have been thrown
away. Such a treaty as can alone be hoped for is a
mortifying confession of defeat, not on • mere point
of honour nor about the right to distant colonies,
but upon a question vital to the integrity of the
Danish nation. "It will be very hard for us,"
they say, " to see our countrymen in Flemsborg,
Aabenraa and Haderslev, in the Sundewitt and on
Als, forced to become Germans or else suffering
ill-treatment from the conquerors." Christian IX.
must fully share his subjects' gloom, because, setting
aside the natural unwillingness of every monarch to
be despoiled, he has an honest kind-hearted dis-
position that pities the unlucky Danish folk.
Moreover the King is seriously threatened by •
compulsory abandonment of the London treaty--an
abandonment that weakens his claim to obedience
in the remaining portion of his realm.
In the spacious apartment at Christianborg, once
before described, wen gathered members of both
houses, Lsndthing and Folkething, to hear the
royal speech. A crowd of spectators tilled the
benches set apart for them. There were ladies in
one gallery, diplomats, with stars and ribbons, in
the other. A carpet had been spread before the
throne, where usually stands the President's tri
buns, and on this carpet stood the three silver lions
of Denmark, summoned from their retreat in Ito-
senborg Castle to do duty for a single morning as
' attendants on the King. A crimson mantle, lined
with ermine, was laid upon the throne, and • seat
for the Crown Prince placed beside it. Presently,
1 when all were assembled, when courtiers and officers
! of state stood ins brilliant group on either aide the
central dais, Christian IX., accompanied by his
eldest son Prince Frederick, entered the hall. They
wore military uniforms, and the light blue scarf of
the Order of the Elephant. His Majesty, who
looked pale and anxious, mounted the throne,
received a roll of paper from his Horns
Minister, and read with • firm voice to the
Rigedag that stood listening attentively. The
address was abort and simple. It thanked
Denmark, through her representatives, for
patriotic efforts agaiost a superior enemy, praised
the army and navy for their valour, and regretted
that overpowering force had compelled great sacri-
fices to secure peace. In conclusion the King ex-
pressed a hope that be and his people together
might see • time of freedom and prosperity which
would heal the wounds inflicted upon their father-
land. Cheering then broke forth, and 'nit' Majesty,
bowing, withdrew. I heard it observed around
me that the public seemed coldly dispirited, and
that the cheers wanted heartiness. Of course they
did. Who would applaud with vociferous clamour
the announcement of national diameter 7 It is very
probable that nothing but personal respect for the
sovereign led to any cheering at all. I am con-
vinced of King Christian's sincere intention to do
his best, let us hope during a long reign, to main-
tain the freedom and independence of Denmark.
He has lost two-fifths of the monarchy, through
violence from without, and cannot come before
Danish opinion with the charm of soarer. But
Danes are very reasonable. They will give him a
fair chance, and will learn to appreciate the advan-
tage in time of peace of having a ruler who is neither
smateurdiplomatist nor martinet.
The third and eighteenth regiments, recently re-
turned from active service, and distinguished by
their resolute hearing on June 29th, were reviewed
this afternoon by King Christian. Their appear-
same is very serviceable. The men only require
good weapons and an equal battle to show that
Danes have not degenerated. " Magnificent raw
material" is the compliment of every professional
visitor to Denmark. It. is unfortunate that small
powers find difficulty in keeping pace with scientific
gunnery, breech-loaders, etc., as little armies most
need these advantages. lukermann would have been
a differentaffairhad the Russian columns fired three
volleys for one from our side. I trust that tbe re-
ported intention to provide British troops with
quick-shooting rifles may soon be carried out.

017TWLID BOMBAY MAIL —The Syria, from
Southampton, rib July, auselted Malta on the sth iestant,
at 10 a.m., sad left at 6 p.m., for Alemedrie. Tbe Bata&
from Marmallee a• t►e 6th instant, arrived at Yalta at 10
p.m. en the 7th Mutant, and left at 4 a.m. on the Bth, far
Alexandria.

ST. GILZOOIT Nozwren. —A oorrespondebt of
tits °turd fisaa: stater that tais Wilds al tie issdisval
dreasatioss d Ba. Gregory. Narstisb, days bass raisossd,
bided*, tie eras. easdiestielia albirellstb, sad 'Sher
base. lend. iliszoissard essells. do. Tbe wpm lies
basins s.. Ifissoned, sod the dowel stalls sesepied by
tie cosgrogsteos, Yr. Smitb, tits sbarebironiss, is pre.
pared to take prossedise ro tits sceissiastkel seed if sap.
ported.
LONDON Giacsam. OuNz sus Costrairy (Lnario).
indoidis Ira wog sod* August 7, 12,91114 Oa. Id.