The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-07 00:00:00

EVENING,

THE MILITIA BILL.
In certain parts of England there is kept up at par-
ticular seasons what is called the game of toot-ball, but
which has no other resemb'ance to the sport commonly
known by that name than that there is a ball, two par-
ties, and two opposite goals. Instead of the light and
elastic fabric which alternately rolls in the mud and
soars to the clouds, the ball is of a gravity and consist-
ence only less than that of a sixty-eight pounder. From
the moment that it is thrown into the crowd to that when
it is dregT-Al to a goal, it is the centre and object of a
struggle that may be compared to the ancient Panora-
tium. The party in possession enjoys its precarious
triumph at the expense of suffering every violence and
indignity that may be applied to wrest the prize out of its
hands. It is rolled in the dust, crushed under the weight
of its surging antagonists, pushed into rivers and pica,
rolled down banks, and compelled to resign the
ball or be smothered, torn to pieces, or drowned.
The assailants, being perfectly unembarrassed, take their
choice of operations, and make themselves as dangerous
and disagreeable as they can. Now, that is the game
which has been played in the House of Commons the
whole of this session. The proposal of a militia is just
such a heavy, tough ball as that we have de.;cribcd. We
will not say—for, indeed, we hardly know—who first
threw this apple of discord among the rival goddesses,
but Lord John Russell first appeared as the party in
possession. After a great deal of hard usage, by a sudden
agglomeration of rivals and foes the ball was wrested from
him rather unhandsomely, and fell into unexpected
hands. It was indeed a very heavy blow that
compelled him to relax his usually firm grasp, and
surrender the prize. Since that he has done his
best to revenge himself, hitherto with no great suc-
cess; but the sufferings of the party now in posses-
sion have been, and still are, considerable. As the
temporary holders and defenders of the measure, they
have to encounter the whole weight of its odium. They
are charged with an idle panic, with subjecting free
citizens to military discipline, with bribery, with con-
scription, with extravagance, with the vanity of a super-
fluous armament, with the sin of gratuitous provoca-
tion, and with making the very name of Government un-
popular. All this, be it observed, they suffer, not for
their own sakes, but for a measure which they certainly
would not have originated. By the laws of the game it
has fallen into their hands, and they aro bound to retain
it as long as they can, in order that they may carry it
to their own goal.

That is the scene we are likely to witness night
after night in the House of Commons till either the
goal is reached, or, through failure of sinew, bone, or
wind, the ball is relinquished by its hard-pressed
possessors. As the struggle last night was compara-
tively trivial and mild, consisting rather of petty
skirmishes on this or that point of the measure,
we will ge back to the closing scene of Tuesday night.
What a tussle was that ! What close quarters they
came to! What home thrusts were exchanged ! What
truths were then spoken, that are not to be spoken at all
times ! The scab was of the true Homeric character,
as if it had been the body of Patroclus for which they
were contending. Mr. Bright, standing, as the poet
would say, on the body, called his myrmidons from afar
to the attack. " Let us postpone the measure," that is,
prolong the fight, "in order that the opinion of the
country may be expressed for or against the Bill. When
that opinion is expressed," that is, as soon as you feel
the pressure from without, " you will be obliged to
abandon the measure." Mr. Disraeli's reply was to the
purpose, and would have been irresistib:e had his
own hands been moderately clean. Besides
the general understanding that the necessary
business of the country was to be expedited
with the utmost dispatch, he urged that it was uncon-
stitutional to permit a delay, not for the purpose of ex-
amining the provisions of a Bill, but to give time for
agitation out of doors. There can be no doubt that this
was to the point. What Mr. Bright and his friends
want, is not the opinion of the country en a measure
which substantially has been three months before the
country, and which the country has taken very mildly,
even in its first form, when the proposition was to raise,
mainly by ballot, near twice the number of men now
proposed, but a good noisy agitation against the present
proposers of the measure. That they personally deserve
it on the principles of party warfare might be readily
conceded; but it we are to take a constitutional view of
the question, it certainly is most preposterous that,
when the present measure is only a much milder version
of one that was brought before the public three mouths
since, delay should be demanded for the express purpose
of asking the people what they think of the measure, or,
in other words, getting up the steam in the provinces
against it.— Times.

SPORTING NOTES.
No. CCXXII.
i HINT OR TWO ON THE NEWMARKET

SECOND SPRING MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The Dee Stakes were won, after a close con-
test with the Princess colt, by Attack, which does not
say much for the winner's Oaks chance, especially as that
very inferior animal, Kiteflyer, was a good third.
The sport at head quarters on the three days of the
ensuing week will be of a more wretched description
than that at either the Craven or first Spring; for which
reason I shall merely give a glance at those stakes al-
ready closed.
The Champion Stakes, of course, the Duke of Bed-
ford pockets.
The Sweepstakes of 50 Sovs. will be a walk over or
Mr. Stanley's Teddington or Mr. Magennis's The Ban.
The Sweepstakes of 10 sous. each for two yrs old is
a bit of a mystery, but I strongly fancy that PELION or
BOUNTY may turn up tolerable good ones from the dark
division. I should have selected Placid for my abso-
lute winner bat for the penal 51b.
The Suffolk Stakes may possibly fall to the lot of
ST. ANTONIO; one of the extreme light weights, Maria
or Hugo, occupying the second position.
I am, Sir, yours, ice.,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.
May 7, 1852.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
CHESTER R ACES.-WEDNESDAY.
THE CQP.

Duc-an-Dhurras took the lead immediately after
starting, and made the running at a good pace, followed
by Cardinal Wiseman, Alonz ) View Halloo,
and IT rdTurnugtehrf;°Joe Miller and Benita lying in the centre;
and in the rear Stilton, Nancy, Hothorpe, Richard Prim-
mer, Hippolytus, Barley-sugar, end Birmingham, all of
whom, besides several others, got off very badly. At the
workhouse turn, Cardinal Wiseman closed with Due-an-
Dhurras, headed him, and went in advance to the back
of the course, where he gave precedence to Hungerford,
who in his turn gave way at the bridge to Benita, Joe
Miller, Scarecrow, and several others. Benita now took
up the running, which she maintained to the upper turn
in the second round, where Joe Miller closed, and head-
ing her opposite the railway bridge, went on with a
strong lead, and won in a canter by half a length, Stilton
beating Poodle as far, Benita well up with the latter, the
Black Doctor was fifth, and Lady Evelyn sixth. At the
end of a tremendous tail were Nancy, Ulriea, Sister to
Fencer, Barley-sugar, and Birmingham. Run in 4 min.
6 secs, _ _ _

There cannot be two opinions as to the fact of this
having been the greatest "Cup-day" ever known at
Chester, whether we look at the unprecedented number
of starters or the almost incredible concourse of spec-
tators assembled to do it honour. For hours previous
to the commencement of the races, trains-some with
upwards of forty carriages-came fn from all quarters
at the shortest possible intervals compatible with
safety, pouring forth continuous streams, and ren-
dering the streets almost impassable. The scene
on the Roodee beggars description ; the stands
were crammed to suffocation, and on the course,
as well as on the city walls and the slopes,
dense masses met the eye in every direction, and from
first to last the excitement was intense. Extraordinary
as was the multitude, it was not less so that the day
should have passed over not only without accident, but
with the most perfect good humour and regularity. The
great race, which came off shortly after four o'clock,
resulted in an easy victory for Joe Miller-Stilton, by
whom he was defeated for the Metropolitan Handicap,
obtaining on this occasion only second honoure; Poodle
was third, Benita fourth, Black Doctor fifth, and Lady
Evelyn sixth-the rest tailed off an immense distance;
Richard Primmer fell over the rails at the workhouse
turn in the second round, but neither himself nor his
rider received any serious injury. The excitement pro-
duced by the arrival of thousands of Nancy's admirers
from Hull and Beverley, and the reckless profusion with
which their money was laid out on her, was increased
by a report that some Yorkshire " roughs " intended by
some manceuvre to get some of the clothes from the
jockey before mounting, and so reduce the weight she
ought to carry, and return them on his dismounting to
return to scale! Had such an absurd idea been enter-
tained, the vigilance of the stewards would have pre-
vented its being carried into execution. Her defeat was
unequivocal; she never showed in any part of the race.
As some curiosity may be felt to know the positions. of
the horses at starting, wo subjoin tho order in which
they were regulated by the draw:-
Front Rank-1, Russborough; 2, Redmond 01181110 n!
3, Scarecrow; 4, View Halloo; 5, Goldfinder; 6, Alo.ro,
7, Black Doctor; 8, Sister to Fencer;
10, Joe Miller; 11, Wilmont; 12, Koh-i-Noor;
16
Car-
dinal Wiseman; 14, Indian Warrior; 15, Bre a,.
Duc•an-Dhurras; 17, Old Dan Tucker; 18, IllirnPeThie'r,
9, Ilderr3ybld
Benita; 20, Truth; 21, Hyppolytus; 22,
Rear Rank-1, Poodle; 2, Retail; 3, R6ic srd
Dulcet • 7,
Prim-
mer; 4, Birmingham; 5, Lady Evelyn;
'lO Ghoilab
Hesse Homburg; 8, Hothorpe; 9, Mothinta_ .0
le
snow;
11°,
6,
14, Lady Amsott; 15, High Sheriff; 0
o lia-kbiter; 21,
Hungerfo'
Singh; 11, Le Jeuf; 12, Cockcrow; rd
f; •
17, Stilton; 18, Nancy; 19, Once;
Vampyre.
rd
a few y a s rote the
messages from Middle Crane-street,
The arrangement for the dispatch of telegraphic
Liverpool M course, were completed this morning, Liver and the result of
the great race made known in London,.o
..me
jce,m
lain-
chester, &c., within 10 minutes utter tn
instrument in all
stohactteleleacarirtr,ant
the
er
unlikely the company will have an passed the winning-chair; next year it is n:it ti
ghed,
grand stand.
ed to and from without
rn
tiss a
t gratifyingth e c h
Chester
ebre e u
stationle d to
e add
accident, and with no other annoyance
hor
.cenfusion then
50,000 persons were convey
necessarily arose from the genera rus tor tha elation
after the termination of the races.
THURSDAY'S RACES.
The Scurry Handicap of 5 sous. each, 3 ft, with 20
added, for all ages. Three-quarters of mile. (13
Subs.)
Mr. Merris's Ilungerford, 4 yrs, Sat 41b ...(A. Day) 1
Lord Clifden's Molesses, 2 yrs, 43t........ (Forilham) 2
Mr. Owen's Welsh Harper, 3 yrs, 63t ...(D. Doyle) 3
Lord Chesterfield's Senorita, 3 yrs, 6st 81o...(Wells) 4
Mr. DaViCS'S Gaylad, 6 yrs, 86t 41b ~.(Whitchouse)