The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-19 00:00:00

The Oxford and Cambridge Billiard Match,

The first of "the events" came off last evening, viz., the
four• handed billiard match between the chosen " champions
of the board of green cloth," At eight o'clock play began,
Messrs. Payne and Home representing Cambridge, and
Messrs. Starkey and Hobbs pleying for Oxford. The game
was 500 up, Cambridge playing first, and giving a miss,
Mr. Hobbs followed, and did likewise. Payne followed suit,
and then Staid-eel made a pretty break of 14, including some
neat cannons, They alternately scored a few t.ll the game
was cal led 12 29, when 2 to 1 was laid on Oxford • They all
played badly, but the Cambridge side got a little the best
of it, Mr. Home commencing some beautiful cannons, which
he continued to play throughout the evening. When the
game was 29 to 39, and, as Cambridge commenced, we will
give their score first throughout. Mr. Starkey increased
the advantage to 45, when Mr. Horne got the first decent
break, numbering 17, Hobbs then added a few, and, after
the other players had had another turn, Payne carried the
game up to 58 all. A miss having been given, Horne made
the Cambridge score 10 a-head, a fluke assisting him, and
again made some beautiful cannons when it came to his turn
increasing the majority for the Light Blue, the numbers
being 93 to 81. Up to this time the odds had been 2to 1
and 6 to 4 on Oxford (taken) ; but £5 even on Cambridge
became current. Horne passed the 100, and get up to 118
92; and, assisted by his partner, went still further ahead,
the marker calling 140 105. Mr. Home, who did the lion's
share, had a nice break for 22, including a beautiful
"jenny," and a lucky red hazard, his total being 162 ; and
Mr. Hobbs, on the part of Oxford, picked up 129,
Each adding somewhat, they continued to score, the Cam-
bridge representatives steadily increasing their advantage
until the game was called 210 164 (5 to 4 on Cambridge
taken). Starkey, from whom great things had been ex-
pected, played beautifully for 25, but Horne, determined to
be with him, neatly added 17 to the Cambridge lot. With-
out any notable additions in number, but realised by the
beautiful cannons made by Horne, the brilliant hazards
made by Starkey, the rapid scoring of Payne, and the
judgment and careful play shown by Hobbs, the game pro-
ceeded until 253 223 WAS announced, the Oxford having
slightly diminished their opponents' lead. Careful play was
the order of their going, and it resulted to the benefit of
Cambridge, who again crept on and on until they made
their majority 40 when they passed the third hundred,
which Mr. Payne did in a pretty break of a dozen, the score
then being 307 267. Again Horne went on, and added 10,
and so did his antagonists, and when they added 7 he added
12 more, so that the figures became 329 to 279. This majority
of 50 raised the hopes of the light blue, and Payne's ad-
dition of some more rattling hazards put them into a majority
of 60. With very little variation the game continued, Mr.
Starkey playing unluckily, and Mr, Hobbs, although
making some good strokes, failing to continue an opening
successfully whin he had one. Mr. Payne having con-
tributed 24, the marker called 355 290, and 2 to 1 was offered,
but 3to 1 wanted. As the game proceeded, the Oxford
men fell still farther astern, until Mr. Starkey seemed to
recover his form and reduced the majority to 50. At this
period both sides played rather fast, Mr. Payne and Mr.
IStarkey especially, and when the first-named gentleman
passed the four-hundredth point 70 ahead, he was loudly
cheered, and 3to 1 was offered on Cambridge. From that
point up to 422 365 nothing of especial notice occurred,
but the Oxford players recovered themselves, and when
the masker annnounced 427 377 Starkey had the cue, and
4 to 1, which was offered on Cambridge, was taken.
From then to the end of the game the match was intensely
exciting. Gradually but surely the Oxford players re-
covered their lost ground, Mr. Hobbs especially playing
with great care, while Mr. Home on the part of Cam-
bridge, it must be said, certainly fell off somewhat. At
475 426 the interest was very great, and Mr. Starkey
playedarty ,and at 48 with a 54 brilliancy 4 9 h
ehadthat
a chance
revivedat
thethe
redwhich
hop es of his
party, it
required a Roberts to make use of, and his letting his
opponents in (in a different sense to what the champion
would have done) was not surprising. Each player missed
many easy strokes, and the merriment that arose from
flukes being designated as flee play, and similar exhibitions
of University wit—always, be it observed, at the presumed
expense of an anta;;onist—was exceedingly amusing.
The players themselves were very anxious, Oxford to win
a game if po:eible " out of the fire," and Cambridge to score
the first of three events out of the week. The dark blue,

however, had too far to go; the counsels of Starkey failed
to endue Hobbs with a due capacity of performance, the red
was left over the middle pocket, and Payne made a brilliant
hazard, and doing ditto in the top pocket, game was ca.,ed,
the score standing at the finish
Cambridge
Oxford

The shouts of approbation that greeted the victors be-
tokened the generosity of their opponents, and with what
amount of applause victory would have been 'received by
the Oxonians those who know their capabilities can judge.
The Cambridge men were of courzie delighted at their vic-
tory, and it is no disparagement to Mr. Payne's invariable
fine play to s-ly that his opponent carried off the laurels of
the evening. _ _

The Siuile Batch will be played this eyenirg,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REITTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ST. PETERSBURG, MARCH 19.
The Bank of St. Petersburg has reduced its rate
of discount to 5,1 per cent. on bills at three months,
and to 6 per cent. on bills at six months, and ad•
vances on goods and securities.

PARIS, MARCH 19.

The Duke of Saxe Coburg had an audience of
the Emperor and Empress yesterday, in order to
take leave.

The Constztutionnel of to-day announces that M.
Frederic Levy has decided upon becoming a candi-
date at the election for the sth District of Paris.

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE PRUSSIANS
AND THE DANES.
SONDERBURG, MARcti 17, 10 P.M.
A severe engagement took place yesterday along
the whole line of the Duppel forts.
Early in the morning the Danes reconnoitred the
Prussian right wing.
Later in the day large masses of Prussians
attacked the Danish centre and right wing, and at
the same time a violent fire was opened upon the
left wing from the Broager batteries. One en-
trenchment alone received 250 projectiles. The
Danish works took an active part in the engage-
ment, which lasted until the evening.
The hardest fighting occurred near Avembjerg
and the village of Duppel ; the latter being held
by the Prussians. Several villages were burnt.
The Broager batteries did only slight damage to
the Danish works, all of which are still fit for

service.
The Danish loss was not inconsiderable, while
that of the Prussians was probably greater, as
many shells burst in the midst of their columns.
Four regiments were engaged in the action.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF DUFFEL,

COPENHAGEN, MARCH 17, 9 P.M.

A report of the Commander-in-Chief to the
Minister of War, published here to-day, states that
the batteries of the enemy stationed at Broager
opened fire yesterday at 10 a.m. on the Duppel en-
trenchments. The bombardment lasted till 3 p.m.
The enemy fired altogether 500 shots. We replied
occasionally in all 35 times. Our firing seemed to
be successful, as two of the enemy's batteries were
silenced for some time. Oar materiel has not been
injured, but our losses in men were not inconsider-
able, owing to an unfortunate explosion. We have
2 officers killed and 49 wounded, 16 privates killed
and 119 wounded. A large force of the enemy's
infantry, with 2 guns, was hurled against our right
wing. They attacked Ragebol, but speedily with-
drew.

The same report says :—" On Monday night 600
Prussians. covered by two batteries planted on the
Holateic coast, passed over in fishing boats to the
island of Fenleren, where they captured the gar-
rison, consisting of 90 men. An iron transport ship
was abandoned, but was retaken frcm the enemy,
by our gunboats on Taebday. The commandant at
Fredericia reports that the enemy approached the
fortress yesterday at various points, probably to
reconnoitre our positions. Our foremost works
were fired upon by the enemy's artillery.