The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-29 00:00:00

SPORTING NOT ES.

THE CESAREWITCEL-UNCONSIDERED
TRIFLES.

"The boys" were jolly enough at Newmarket, and
what with touting and racing they found pleasant em-
ployment. Every morning they mustered numerously
en the Lime Kilns, to "take stock" of the different
animals at exercise; and, if they did not derive much
information, they certainly obtained plenty of health
from their early rising movement. The breakfasts that
were devoured at Newmarket were enormous, and the
consumption of sausages went on at a rate which threat-
ened destruction to the entire porcine race. The pro-
ceedings each day were not sufficiently long to excite
weariness, or uninteresting enough to produce indiffer-
ence. The performance of King Tom and the running
of Boer on Tuesday introduced two formidable
favourites into the Cesarewitch betting. Notwith-
standing the former's crushing weight, shrewd
and experienced judges entertain sanguine expectations
of his success for the Great Handicap, expectations
which are certainly justified by the horse's sound appear-
ance and long sweeping action. On paper, however,
Boer seems to be a veritable " good thing ;" and, should
his party try him satisfactorily, he will doubtless be-
come an immense favourite. John Daley fancies he
shall be able to upset all " pots" with his Black Swan,
who is a light, wiry mare, and well seasoned in her train-
ing. Should the ground be hard she will be a formi-
dable competitor, albeit I scarcely deem her " class
enough" for a Cesarewitch contest. The success of the
plater, Mrs. Taft, may be paralleled by the triumph of
Black Swan. Siding is " bonetted up" in the market
unceasingly ; but too much noise and fuss are made
abciut him to induce me to believe that his party
are in earnest. They nevertheless "mean mis-
chief ;" but I fancy they will find their interest more
wort'iily represented by Early Bird. The " demon-
strations" which caused the retrogression of Robgill and
Scythian are somewhat unaccountable. Mr. Parr's
horse has, however, returned into favour, and the hos-
tility which he encountered may, after all, have its
origin in a money-getting movement. Still many people
believe that Robgill will ultimately give way to Sauce-
box, and that he will be reserved to do battle for the
Cambridgeshire. Time may remove the uncertainty
which at present surrounds Scythian. The cause of his
sudden unpopularity is beyond my ken. Monarque ie
said to be as good as Hervine at even weights. Now,
were Hervine handicapped at 7st 41b, I should not be
inclined to place faith in her pretensions. Monarque
ought to be a good three-yrs-old indeed to give lumps
of weight to other and older horses in the race. He
now en route to Newmarket. Sultan is backed
somewhat freely, but he also appears to be t( •
heavily handicapped. Weathercock is not "fancied"
by the Newmarket folk ; he certainly seems
very "fishy" in the turf market. Does the owner
of Mr. Sykes intend to give the ring " Jack
up the Orchard ?" If Mr. Sykes be really meant, he
will unquestionably be among the foremost flight of com-
petitors. John Scott's horses have been sadly knocked
about, and his stable may be without a single represen-
tative. Mr. Morris will doubtless have something in
the betting, and Messrs. Barber and Saxon may have
"a shy, though they lose their stick."
The Rifleman controversy should be closed as soon as
possible. It is calculated to destroy all confidence be-
tween owners and trainers of horses. The charge of
"getting at horses" is now repeated whenever a favour-
ite is beaten, and nine times out of ten it is unfounded.
Although Rifleman was unfit on the St. Leger day, it is
yet to be proved whether there was any foul play, or
whether his defeat by Saucebox was a mistake. Amongst
our usual sporting intelligence will be found a letter from
Mr. Osbaldeston on this subject. Had not Flacrow wen
the Eastern Counties Handicap would not he have been
pronounced by general consent a " dead 'un," especially
as he receded so rapidly in the betting ?
Sept. 29. A FRESH MAN.

SALE OF COMMISSIONS.

( Prom the Ayr Advertiser.)

In considering the various proposals made from time
to time for tho improvement of our military system, it
has often appeared to us singular that so little attention
has been directed to an anomaly which, for its glaring
injustice and its pernicious tendency, is unsurpassed by
any grievance in any department under State control.
We allude to the simple fact that, after war is declared
—even in the face of the enemy—an officer is entitled to
sell his Commission, pocket the money, and toast his
toes quietly at home : while his brother officer, who
answers to the call of duty, goes tato action, and falls
in defence of his country, not only loses his life, but
loses to his family the price of his Commission !
Take, for instance, a Captain's commission. In the
Life Guards it costs 3,5001. ; in the Foot Guards,
With rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 4,800/. ; and in the.
Line, 1,8001. In many an instance in England, Scot-
land, and Ireland, these Commissions have been slowly
acquired by young men whose parents have impoverished
themselves and their families to help one member of that
family to honourable distinction; or in other cases they
may be held by married men, with families dependent
upon them, whose whole property is the father's Com-
mission. War is declared. Some men sell out—the
cause is immaterial to the point at issue. We need only
the fact,—they sell out, and retire with the full value of
their Commission in hard cash. How fare the others ?
What says the bugle when it mounds such charges as
at Alma, Inkerman, and Balaklava ? Why, the rob-
ber on the highway, in mercy, gives an alternative,
" Your money or your life." But the British bugle
has no note of compassion. It is, " Your money and
your life too." And think you, refective reader, that on
the eve of battle, when companies are told off for next
morning's assault, brave officers. whose circumstances
are such as we have described, would not contem-
plate the, morrow with a lighter heart if they were
pot aware that with the life they are ready to offer for
their Queen and country falls the money of near and dear
relatives, or the whole means of subsistence of their wives
and families. Foreshadowing dreams of innocence and
helpless youth cast destitute on a cold world are not the
most likely emotions to nerve even the bravest men 'in
the hour of imminent peril. Is not this a premium to
cowardice at the expense of mirage ? It may be sug-
gested that widows of fallen officers receive pensions ;
but these are not adequate to the loss. They may stand
as an unwelcome solatium for the loss of the life, but the
price of the commission is stdt due by every law of hon-
our and justice. It does not admit of a question put in
this simplest of allforms—" Why should the officer who
retires from the field while the country is at war get the
full value of his commission, while the family of the
officer who fights and falls for his country loses the value
of his ?"

Those who point out a grievance should suggest a
remedy. In default of a better, we would propose that
on the approach, or during the continuance of war, those
who prefer to retire from the service should leave the
value of their Commissions behind them ; and that this
fund should, if necessary, be supplemented out of the
Exchequer to give to the representatives of officers slain
the full value of their Commissions.