The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-18 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

No. CCCXXIX,
PONTEFRACT AND lIOLYWELL HUNT
MEETINGS.
(To the Editor of the Sun.)

SlR,—The racing commences at Pontefract with the
5 scvs. Handicap, with 50 added by the Members of the
Borough (once round and a distance, about two miles),
which will, in all probability, be carried off by Little
Davie, 3 yrs, 5 at 13 lb, or Paquette, 4 yrs. 6 st 3 lb.
The Park Hill Stakes from the Wood-End, (about
three quarters of a mile) reems destined to be carried
off by Master Norton, or Landlords.
The Pontefract Stakes (one mile) seems manufactured
for the particular behoof of Dawson or Osborne : the
Twin, 4 yrs, 6 st 3 lb, bring, not unlikely, the winner.
If either Ttckton or Luxurious start for the Castle
Stakes I need look no further for the winner.
Of the Holywell Hunt Races two only will require
any comment.
The Mostyn Stakes (over the Moystyn mile) will, I
presume, have Lady Amyott and the Little Fawn first
and second.
The Holywell Hunt Purse looks uncommonly pro-
mising for Lady Bibina, 6 yrs, 6st 101 b, or Wilmont,
5 yrs, 6st 101 b. Ibis is not badly in at 6st 21b.
Cock Pheasant, after winning the 10 Says. Sweep-
stakes for two yrs old last Thursday, was claimed for
40 Sovs., and goes into Martin's stable, Horseheath.
Lapidist, whose reserved price at the sale of Col.
Peel's Stud last year was 3,000 guineas, was claimed by
Mr. S. Merry for 300 Soya. after winning the 10 Soya.
(first half Ab. mile) Sweepstakes on Thursday last.
Gorgey was introduced into the market last week as
Dawson's Derby horse. If he has nothing better for
that race, his chance of carrying it off is small indeed.
The animal bids fair to be a tolerable second rate, but
nothing more.
postponed until
MoTnhdeayE, dNgowvearmebeSrtethepelestbC.htlTsehs are
Haendicap closes to-
morrow, weights to appear on Saturday, and accept-
ances declared on the 2ittla instant.
George Bless of Newmarket, who until lately had the
care of Sir R. Pigotts's horses, has been engaged by Mr
Mare as his private trainer.
Owners and trainers of horses are reminded that the
Paddock and Selling Stakes, the Durdans Plate and
Scramble Steeple Chase, at the Epsom Autumn Meeting,
the Two year-old Stake at the Spring Meeting, 1853,
and the Woodcote Stakes for two years old at the Sum-
mer Meeting, 1853, also several stakes at Doncaster ;
close and name (the first four to Mr. Darling, and the
remainder to Messrs. Weatherby) on Tuesday Novem-
ber the 2d.

The weight for the Epsom Autumn Steeple Chase
and Free Handicap Hurdle Race are to be published to-
day ; and acceptances must be declared by 6 o'clock
p.m. on November 2d.

- Several of the:Stakes—the Great Warwick Handicap,
Leamington Welter Cup, Hurdle Race, and Grand Open
Steeple Chase at the Warwick and Leamington Novem-
ber Meeting close on Wednesday ; the weights to be
published on Saturday.
Cambridgeshire " waifs and strays" le-morrow, I
am, &c., THE SPIRIT OF TUE TURF.
Oct. 18.

THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAGES -At the West End
yesterday, Babett was backed freely at 5 to 1, and 20 to
offered against Lady Evelyn.

RACING FIXTI
OCTO

URES FOR 1852.
IBER.

Holywell Hunt
Richmond .. .
Brighton 22
NOVEMBER.

Worcester Autumn 2
Epsom 4
Liverpool Autumn 9
Cowbridgo Hunt
Northallerton... ll

Stretford
Warwick
Aberystwith
Shrewsbury Autumn 23

NEW NIGHT-SIGNALS.

RETTIE'S AND NOT THOMPSON'S.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

Sin,—You give the above as Thompson's. He may
just as well claim Mr. Rowland Hill's penny postage
system as the " Telegraphing by Coloured Lights.
That they are mine solely, and will be brought out at
the next meeting of Parliament, you will see by
the printed document now sent you. And Mr.
M.'Crregor, M.P. for Glasgow—who is determined that
the party, under the " Russell Admiralty," who hsve
allowed certain underlings to take and use up, and
abuse a system, to the great loss of life, and de-
prive the real inventor of the credit, which even your
own paper, years ago, allowed him—can bear testi-
mony that I am the " Original Inventor of all
Coloured Light Telegraphing Signals." I trust in
justice to me you will give this a corner.—l am, Sir
yours, &c., R. RETTIE, C.E.

TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Petition of Robert Rettie, Inventor and Con-
sulting Engineer, from Glasgow (Crystal Palace,
Class 7, No. 159, Engineering Department),
Humbly sheweth that he is the original Inventor of
all the Red, White, and Green Signals, now in use upon
the railways and the ocean, by day and night, for the
safety of life in the preventing of " Collision on Rail-
ways and at Sea," " Shipwrecks," showing " Signals of
Distress" at all hours of the " night," also the uepth of
wstor at all the ports and harbours throughout the
world, with a universal code of Signals for ail Nations.
That your petitioner was written to, when in Scot-
land, by the late Sir R. Peel's Government as far back
as the year 1842.3, when engaged in business, and re-
siding in Glasgow, as the proprietor of the "Glasgow
Brass Foundry"—and assured, that should his system of
using Colours and Signal Lights succeed, after trials to
be made at Woolwich and Portsmouth—which trials
were successfully accomplished—l should be provided
with an appointment to carry out the same under Go-
vernment. _

That this was accomplished successfully, I need only
refer your attention to the Government Report, No. 568,
August 3, 1846—laid before your Honourable House in
1846, clearly showing that these trials were not only
highly successful, and also approved of by the Govern-
ment authorities appointed by Sir Charles Ogle, Bart.,
Port Admiral at Portsmouth; but also the various har-
bour and port commissioners throughout England and
Scotland, whom the petitioner visited personally 1845-6,
and explained them; all presented memorials and peti-
tions, and documents to the inventor and the Board of
Admiralty:—
And the Peninsular, Dublin, and Scottish navigation
steam companies, with Lloyd's and the General Ship-
owners' Association of London, cordially joined in ex-
pressing with others, their general utility for the safety
and protection of life and property (see printed work
" Bettie on Marine Night Signals," 1847). Your me-
morialist therefore humbly lays before your Honourable
House the plain facts of his case;—Alter having thus
served faithfully my Lords of the Admiralty—during Sir
R. Peel's Administration—at the dockyards of Woolwich
and Portsmouth, and then returned to Scotland, when
your memorialist was again sent for a third time by
Captain Hamilton, R.N., secretary to the Admiralty,
who, when I arrived, told me, I was entered now on
board the Rattler steam frigate—(entered on board 15th
November, 1845)—and that I must again proceed to
Portsmouth, and that I was to be paid for my services
as an officer, and having gone to Portsmouth and re-
newed a series of new trials and remained upwards of
eight weeks on board and twelve months on shore—and
leave of absence granted by Sir Charles Ogle, Bart.,
Port Admiral—at en enormous expense and neglect of
my business, and after all have never received one far-
thing of pay while there 1 And these trials were then
so successful that all parties admit, and to prove they
were so, they have actually carried out and used my plan
by alterations so evasive, that much loss of life and pro-
perty has been the result by using three different lamps
at a great expense—from 1001. to 1501. each steamer--
when one lamp at 101. to 301. would have been sufficient
as to expense and sure in safety for life.
Thus was my time engaged away from home, and I
was obliged to sink my little capital for the Government
service, and for six years have I been kept waiting, day
after day, expecting justice being done use, by the partyiu
who had then assumed power under " Lord
johad
ock.-
sel Commodore Houston Stewart, at Woolwich
butLo r
evasion,d J hn
yard. When my trials were concluded
ing daily for three years at the " Adrairs Y," I was sent
anitdafter attend-
nlgtohave been b
to the " Board of Trade," and bdyntmthohet,abrati
Russell, and from all I have
affluence to poverty.y
tthhoeuirghtroenaetmaenndt 1
1.
brought
r okhmea know
the Admiralty have wrong a )
P.aving paid 3001,and expended up-
fer.my. patentcr rights (which they
the Admiralty,
ustice from
and have wards of fifteen hundred pounds sterling, besides years
of labour and fatigue,, had no redress nor
" Captain Den-
but
remuneration, "jf
Vretdheoneploacetheappnuaimntee of
wßhallfrot:hfatoime, to carry out these indvenbtyienSstr R. Peel,
slllyillmera,keintnPr ictchaedmil,lya,nad
; and they
ehaanvdeleamlsaokeern,cotunraeguerdreaptiAtileru.
manufacture, sell, and infringe on my
o
for the navy and commercial marine, undercl o utrhed their
r lights,enun.
histe nanzarn
eian,dtrahunappotrhte povertyl
Your memorialist humbly urges
h i
and injustice have brought
uponw ehim;h t these proceedings
re
aaeh along
period he has been kept out of business, and ruined by
the Lords of the Admiralty
proceedings, and he feels
assured that your Honourable House will hear the
prayer of ono whew labours have so much contri-
buted to the safety
of all nations, both by railway and at
sea, as it is universally acknowledged by all nations.
That your memorialist is the " only true inventor who
gave to coloured lights a signification and meaning for
day and night," and that without these lights and colours
they could not travel by day or night one hour in
safety.
That your memorialist having spent his all for the
good of his country, and the sole object in saving of the
lives of our seamen and vessels-600 sailing vessels,
100,670 tons, and 11 steamers, 1,306 tons, having been
wrecked and run down during the last year, 1851—and
for seven years since this plan was brought out and
tried, and kept back by parties for interested purposes,
to the sacrifice of human life, demands at least investi-
eation to the fullest extent ; also that due reparation
may be given for himself and family., &c.,
Your memorialist will ever pray,
ROBERT RETTIE, Consulting Engineer.
M.P.
Sir,—Asa motion upon the subject of this petition
by John 111'Gregor, Esq., M.P. for Glasgow, stands in
the votes of theg
our friendly aid is respectfullTy solicited in
oose of Comons for hursday, the
and justice.
2b7ehthalfMofalhumyanity