The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-26 00:00:00

national decrepitude. Between the two, we cannot
imagine to ourselves, that the more enlightened among
the possessors of the franchise can very long remain
undecided. Encouraged by the aspect of the future,
encouraged by the prosperity revealed in the past, the
Liberals must prepare themselves, at once and in
earnest, to fulfil the dictates of their consciences and
their patriotism.:, They must remember that the lan-
guage of encouragement has been virtually addressed
to them even by the Noble Earl at the head of the
present Government. Above all, they must remember
that the increased promise of advantage to their cause,
so far from justifying them in any diminution of
activity, tends only, and that very considerably, to
enforce their political duties and to enhance their
electoral responsibilities.

This day may fairly be pronounced to be par ex-
cellence the national holiday of--England. It is
expressly honoured by the Chambers of the Le-
gislature as sacred to recreation. It witnesses a
copious disemboguement of the metropolis to the
breezy downs of Epsom, where every rank, crass, and
age, is represented by an innumerable congregation
of joyous spectators, determined to " make a day of
it." High and low, rich and poor, Peer and peasant,
alike pay their homage to the genius loci. True it is
that, on the present occasion, the pleasurable antici-
pations of multitudes are, to a certain extent, literally
" damped," for, even as we write, the envious firma-
ment is voiding its rheum with cutting bitterness
from the bleak north-east.: But the unconquerable
enterprise and pluck of JOHN BULL is not to be
cowed by the angry elements, and we warrant
it that road and rail will transport a host, numerous
as our old friends the " leaves in Vallanabrose," exceed-
ing the ,population of man; a continental capital, not-
withstanding that

" The morning lowed, and heavily with rain
*ought in the day, the great, the important day,
Big with the fate of DAVIS and the Ring."

Those marvellous wights, the Sporting Prophets,
era doubtless at this hour perspiring with anxiety as
to the realization or confusion of their solemn vati-
cinations•; the minds of the layers and the takers of
odds from the Leviathan down to the costermonger in
his one-horse shay, are inspired with titillating soli-
citude. Is it LITTLE HARRY or CHILI BARON NI-.
CEIOLSON, or the formidable HOBBIB himself, or
some " dark" and deadly animal, whose victorious
strides are to make the circa acing medium fly
in large and rapid currents from the drained to
the replenished pockets ? Profeosing little insight
into Hippotrochical mysteries, we await the tidings of
the important result with serene equanimity, proffer-
ing a gentle ardent aspiration, "May the best horse
win !"

But excellent and worthy of all support, as is the Na-
tional Sport of Horse- racing, there is one untoward cir-
cumstance to which it has given birth of late, which we
seriously and sincerely deplore. The town is swarm-
ing with betting-shops throughout its length and
breadth. It is all very well to say, " people are sup-
posed to be able to take care of their own affairs ; if
they choose to make fools of themselves, dropping
tit** money right and left, on this, that,'
and t'uther—why, let them—si populus vult
decipi, decipiatur." It, is, indeed, an even chance
that 'after the coming off of any.leading event, half
of the fungous list houses will shut up shop, and tho
worthy proprietors vanish with the " swag," leaving
their doilkeyfied dupes blaspheming in the lurch.
But the crying evil of the matter lies in this, that a
temptation lurks in every street and alley to induce
lax-minded youngsters to gamble with the cash of
their employere. Our readers may depend on it that
many and many a sad scrape has been got into, and
many a fair prospect blighted in this very way. It
is becoming an intolerable nuisance, a foul canker in
the commonwealth, that gangs of unknown penniless
caitiffs are permitted to start up in every vacant spot,
dragging the fair system of betting through the mire,
and scattering broadcast the seeds of dishonesty
and sorrow. The abomination has arrived at
such a pass, that public indignation is at
length beginning to be awakened. The public
journals—and we would appeal especially to those of
our respected weekly contemporaries who are staunch
and honourable friends to the national sports—ought
to take the matter up, and crush those men of straw.
How such pests of society are to be put down—for
put down they must(be—it is not within our compass
now to suggest, but there is no local social evil that
cannot be counteracted, if the adequate remedy be
but resolutely applied. If the existing law be found
insufficient the defect must be supplied, and the
power of repression conferred must be carried into
stringent operation in the proper quarters. The true
patrons of the Turf ought to bestir themselves without
delay, and purge the camp of such a scum of rascally
marauders.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
There is an article in the Constitutionnel showing
that the Government has resolved to make an experi-
ment of the free-trade principle, and that, at a mo-
ment when certain foreign journals represent it to be
entertaining ideas of war, it is earnestly engaged in
measures connected with international trade, which,
without the maintenance of peace, would be impos-
sible. The experiment now proposed is not a very
large one, but it is evidently too large to find much
favour in the eyes of the Conslitutionnel, which is an
advocate of the protectionist principle with all its
pressure upon the great body of consumers. The
Conslitutionnel endeavours, however, to a certain ex-
tent, to agree with the til-overnment; it will consent
to the abolition of the prohibition principle, but only
upon the condition that protection shall be afforded
with a greater degree of certainty. The arguments
of the Constitutionnel are those of the protective
schobl generally.
The PRESIDENT of the Republic, dressed in the
grand costume of a Councillor of State, presided on
Monday at a meeting of that body, to discuss the
Bill on Public Instruction. He was accompanied by
the Minister of State and the Ministers of the In-
terior, Justice, Finance, and Public Instruction, and
General DI.PINASSE, his orderly officer. The. Coun-
cillors of States and the masters of requests alone
took part in the deliberations ; the auditors were not
admitted to the sitting,
A ball will be given by the PRINCE PRESIDENT at
the Elyfee on Thursday. All the invitations have
already, been sent out, the small size of the apart-
ments rendering it necessary to restrict the number
of guests within certain bounds.
The Journal du Cher announces that three com-
munes of the Sologno have signed addresses to the
PRINCE PRESIDENT to thank him for what his Go-
vernment has already done, and what it proposes to
do for that part of the country.

The provincial journals which arrived yesterday
mention a great number of resignations of members
of councils-general, councils of arrondissement, and
municipal councils, to avoid taking the oath of alle-
giance. Amongst them are the Marquis DE BARTO-.
LEM" and M. DUFAURE.

The Lyons journals publish the following note :
" The Prefect of the Rhone yesterday (Sunday) re-
marked, with surprise, that workmen were engaged
on the repair of the road of Charpennes. He has
given orders that, conformably to the ministerial
circulars, the works shall be suspended on Sundays
ancif'ite days."
The Patric says: We are assured that it is pro-
posed to issue a -decree to prevent labour on Sunday,
and to compel tradesmen to close their shops on that
day and on the days of religious fetes."
The journey of the PRESIDENT Of the :Republic
to Channy is fixed for the month of September, at
which time the camp will be, established at Com-
pßgne.
It is said that a grand fat', which is to last three
days, is to be given in August by the City of Paris
and the National Guard. It is to commence, report
says, on the 15th of that month.
The sale of Count DE ZIORNY'S pictures took place
on Monday, in one of the new auction-rooms in the
Rue Drouot. A crowd of amateurs were present.
The whole sum received was 305,885 f.
Business commenced at the Bourse with an appear-
ance of briskness, but the prices of public securities de-
clined towards the close. The Four-and-a-Half per
Cents. Opened at 1001. and closed at 99r. 750. for the
end of the month; the Three per Cents. closed at 70f.
75e.; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,187 f. 503.; Rouen,
765 f.; Havre, 285 f.; Great Northern, 586 f. 250; Basle,
245 f. ; Bordeaux, 6171. 500 ; Paris and Strasburg. 555 f.
25c. ; Tours and Nantes, 3701. ; Paris and Lyons,
611 f. 25c,
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCKIECCIIANGE, MAY 25.
Great Indian Peninsula, sy—Grand Junction of France,
4—Namur and Liege, 6%—Orleans and Bordeaux, 15 Y 2—
llouen and Havre, 11—Sambre and Meuse, 47 —Tours and
Ivantcs, 11J/2—West Flanders, 3%—Western of France, 75/s.

SPAIN.
We have received the Madrid journals of the
20th inst.

The Maririd Gazette publishes a royal decree, ap-
pointing D 312 PERFECTO VALDES AEGUILLES
dent of the Court of Accounts in the ilavtiunab7 111