The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 21, 1863.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING.
MONDAY.

From half-past one till five o'clock th's afternoon the
racing public have been engaged here in looking at nine
struggles between horses which would not attract any at-
tention at a third-rate country meeting. It is needless,
therefore, to occupy valuable space with any remarks upon
them, and we shall confine our attention to the motions of
which notice has been given at the meeting of the Jockey
Club on 'Wednesday. The first of these is by the Earl of
Glasgow, who, with his characteristic love of fair play, is
natut ally enough horrified at the disorderly scenes which
have lately almost constantly occurred at the start for half-
mile races. He intends, therefore, to move " that after the
termination of the First Spring Meeting, 1863, no race
shall be run at Newmarket, over a shorter distance than
the Two-yr-old' course, with the exception of Two-yr-
old' plates and stakes, run between the commencement of
the Craven, and the end of the First October meetings,
which may be run not less than half a mile." An amend-
ment will be moved to this
.by Admiral Rous " that the
stewards be requested to give no public money for a shorter
distance than the' Two-yr-old course,' excepting for two-
yr-olds," which has the same tendency as Lord Glasgow's
motion, in doing away with half-mile races, but does not go
to the same length. The gallant Admiral has written to
a weekly contemporary in support of short races as the
only means of encouraging the owners of speedy jades
which cannot run further under any racing weight; but
we confess that in our judgment, if this is the best argu-
ment in their favour, it is a very poor one, Unless rac-
ing ,can be shown to encourage the breeding of horses
useful for other purposes, the sooner it is abolished the
better, for there can be no doubt that it is accompanied
by a most fearful amount of demoralisation. We think,
however, it might be shown that half-mile races, with a
fair start, are useful in selecting the best mares among
those which cannot stay, and as the breeder must fall
back upon some of these, if so large a number as
2,000 foals are to be reared each year, it is well to
give him this line to act upon. Admiral Rous argues
strongly in favour of the possibility of effecting that desir-
able feature, a fair start even in half-mile races, and here
we agree with him in his conclusion, though we cannot
quite go the length of admitting that "no animal is so
thoroughly under command as a race horse fit to run, and
well prepared by the strongest exercise," if by the latter
part of the sentence we are to understand—sufficiently well
prepared for a half-mile race, which is the point at issue.
Admiral Rous must be aware that many young horses, and
even old ones, when trained only for a short race, are so full
of life as to be ready to jump out of their skins, and hence
we see so many of their riders unhorsed before they start.
Nevertheless, we believe that by the co-operation of the
trainer and the jockey, 99 horses out of 100 may be walked
quietly to the post, and started fairly enough for all common
pm poses, and if so, the difficulty altogether disappears, and
under the new rule of the Jockey Club, properly carried out,
we believe it will. On the whole, therefore, we trust that
the amendment of Admiral Rous will be carried, and that
the stewards will be permitted to use their own discretion in
arranging the programmes of their future meetings, From
the absence of rain the Heath is, if possible, harder than at
the Craven meeting, and this will have a tendency to dimi-
nish the fields not only for the two great features of the
week, but for the secondary stakes.
Handicap Plate of 50 sow. R.M.
Mr. T. Hughes's Miss Emma, 5 yrs, Bst 31b .. (Hughes) 1
Lord Stamford's Revolver, 3 yrs, 7st 91b .... (Edwards) 2
Mr. P. Price's The Maltster, 3 yrs, 6st 71b.... (Hunter) 3
Capt. D. Lane's Glance colt, 3 yrs, 7st 21b.... .(Daley) 4
Betting-6 to 4 agst Revolver, 7to 4 agst Miss Emma.

The Glance colt made play to the bushes, where the lot
closed and ran together down the hill,at the bot tom of which
the two favourites drew away, Revolver taking a slight
lead. Within the cords Lord Stamford's colt was challenged
by Miss Emma, who got the best of it in a few strides, and
won a good race by a head ; two lengths divided the second
and third, and a neck the third and fourth.
A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each for 3-yr-olds ; colts Bst
71b, and fillies Bst 41b ; the winner to be sold for
200 sovs, if demanded, &c. Bedford Stakes Course. 5

subs.
Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Santhal, Bst 71b (Fordham) 1
Lord Stamford s /Etna, Bst 41b (Edwards) 2
Baron Niviere's Columbine, Bst 41b (Watkins) 3
Betting-5 to 4on !Etna, 7to 4 agst Santhal, 4to 1 apt
Columbine.

Santhal jumped off with a clear lead, Columbine lying
second into the dip, when she gave way to the favourite,
who, failing to reach Santhal, was beaten cleverly by half a
length. Columbine was a bad third. The winner was not
claimed.

Maiden Plate of 60 scvs, for 2-yr-olds ; colts Bst 10Ib, fillies

Bst 71b. Last half of RM.
Marquis of Hastings' Garotter, Bst 101 b .... (S. Rogers) 1
Mr. Savile's Rigolboche, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. Flutter's Cybele, Bst 71b (Long) 3
Baron Rothschild's Giraffe colt, Bst 101 b (Wells) 4
Lord Stamford's Diviner, Bst 10lb (Edwards) 5
Betting-5 to 4 agst Garotter, 3to 1 agst Rigolboche,
5 to 1 agst any other offered.

The lot ran abreast for the first hundred yards, when the
favourite went in front, attended by Cybele, Rigolboche,
and the Giraffe colt lying nearly together, and Diviner a
length or two in the rear. Nearing the bushes, Rigolboche
headed Cybele, and in the cords the Giraffe colt made his
effort, but, dying away immediately, Rigolboche was left in
attendance on Garotter, who won easily by three parts of
a length, Cybele being a couple of lengths behind the
pair. The other two finished together some distance in
the rear.

Free Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-
olds ; a winner of a 500 soy handicap after the declara-
tion of the weights (Feb. 13, at 10 a.m.) to carry 101 b
of all minor handicaps—once, 51b; twice, 101 b extra,

which is to be the extreme penalty. D.M. 4 subs.
Lord Glasgow's Clarior, Bst 61b
Plate of £5O; for 3-yr-Olds, 7st 71b; 4-yr-olds, Bst 121 b;
5-yr-olds and upwards, 9st 31b ; mares and geldings
allowed 31b. The winner to be sold for £2OO, if de-
manded, &c. ; if entered to be sold for £l5O, allowed 71b
if for £lOO, 121 b ; if for £7D, 161 b ; if for £4O, 211 b.

D.M.
Mr. R. Cooper's Bedford (late Peneus), 4 yrs, £4O, 7st 21b
(E. Martin) 1
Mr. Birne's Pera filly, 3 yrs, £4O, Sat 111 b .. (G. Clarke) 2
Mr. Goddard's Peru, 4 yrs, £4O, 7st 21b .. (Daley) 3
Torn King, and Foie de Gras also ran.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Peru, 2to 1 agst Foie de Gras, sto
1 agst Bedford.

Peru was first off, but she soon gave way to the Pera filly
and Bedford, the two lying together till half way down the
Bushes Hill, where Bedford took the lead and carried it on
to the end, winning easily by a length. Peru finished a
head from (he second, and Tom King was a moderate fourth,
The winner was not claimed.

Sweepstakes of 20 sous each, for 2-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ;
fillies and geldings, Bst 31b. A winner to carry 51b extra.
New Y.C. 6 subs.
Mr. W. G. Craven's Practitioner, Bst 71b (J. Goater) 1
Lord Stamford's Chicquot the Jester, Bat 71b.. (Edwards) 2
Mr. Greville's Gossamer filly, Bst 41b (Challoner) 3
Mr. C. Rayner's Yates, Bst 71b
Betting-2 to 1 agst Chicquot the Jester, 3to 1 agst th e
Gossamer filly, 7 to 2 agst Practitioner, 4 to 1 agst Yates.
The favourite, closely waited upon by Practitioner, made
the running till within a few yards of the cords, when the
latter drew up, and a good race ensued, which terminated
in favour of Mr, Craven's colt by a neck. The Gossamer
filly was third, three-quarters of a length behind the second ;
and Yates, last throughout, was beaten two lengths fro m
the third.

Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs each, 5 ft, if declared, &c.,
for 3-y r•olds and upwards. T.Y. C. 5 subs., one of whom

pays 5 sous ft.
Mr. W. G. Craven's Almacks, 3 yrs, Est .... (Morgan) 1
Lord Stamford's Cerintha, 3 yrs, 7st 101 b.. (Edwards) 2
Mr, G. Bryan's Welland, 4 yrs, Oat 31b......(Custance) 3
Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Curie, 3 yrs, Est (Murfitt) 4
Betting-7 to 4 agst Welland, 2to 1 agat Almacks, 7to
2 agst Cerintha, 5 to 1 agat Curie.

Almacks got off in front and, attended by Welland, Curie,
and Cerintha in the order named, made the running to the
bottom of the hill, where Curie dropped behind Cerintha.
Almacks, however, held the command to the end, and won
in a canter by three lengths ; a head between the second and
third.

Free Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs each, 10ft ; for 3-
yr-olds ; a winner of a 500 sovs handicap after the de-
claration of the weights (Feb. 13, at 10 a.m.) to carry
101 b; of all minor handicaps once 51b, twice 101 b
_extra, which is to be the extreme penalty. T.Y.C. Six
subs.
Mr. G. Angell's Mountain Maid, 7st 121 b.. (Challoner) 1
Lord Portsmouth's Corroborator, Bst 21b ....(Fordham) 2
Count F. de Lagrange's Dirt Cheap, Bst 111 b (Watkins) 3
Betting-2 to 1 on the Mouwain Maid ffly, who waited
uron Corroborator and Dirt Cheap to the Bushes, where
she joined the former, and, passing him in the cords, won
easily by a length and a half, Dirt Cheap being a bad
third.
Plate of £100; for 3-yr-olds, Est 91b ; 4-yr-olds, Bst 71b ;
5-yr-olds, 9st; 6-yr-olds and aged, 9st 21b; the winner
to be sold for £3OO ; horses may be entered to be sold for
acanryrysu:b oefxmtrao7yAbuydiceayr.reynidngco2ulbrseex. extra for every in-
crease of claim of £lOO ; horses entered not to be sold to
6 yrs vzoo),
Mr. Fleming's Harvest Moon, 3 yrs (£300), Est 91b
Mr. G. Bryan's Millionaire,
,s(Ft 61iT'ouch) 1
Lord Stamford's Romanoff 3 yrs (£300), Est 9(
Ic?l(ll.7.tetoaalaese) Mr. Elphinstone's Lapidist, 3
Cyrs (£300), Bst 71b
yrs (£300) 9Y&3orrdwhiaen32) 45
Even on Millionaire, 4 to 31a) agst Romanoff, 5 to
Mrß.eßtti.nTge_n Broeck's Anay, 5
1 agst Amy, 6 to 1 agst Harvest Moon.
Amy led along the flat and round the new stand to the
hill, where isho Was joined by the others, the lot running

nearly abreast past the site of the old Duke's stand. At the
middle of the hill Harvest Moon took a blight lead with
Romanoff next on the upper and lower ground. Within
the cords the two challenged, and Millionaire, being unable
to get up, was defeated by a neck, Romanoff finishing a
head behind the favourite. Lapidist was a good fourth, and
Amy pulling up was beaten a long way.

The Seizure of the Peterhoff.

77, Cornhill, E.C., London, April 20, 1863.

Messrs. Bennett and Wake present their compli-
ments to the Editor of The Sun and beg to enclose
the correspondence relating to ,the seizure of the
steamship Peterhoff, and also the Sea Queen steamer
about to sail for Matamoras.

77, Cornhill, E.C., April 10, 1863.
The Right Hon. the Earl Russell, K.G., Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs.
My Lord,—We, the merchants and brokers inte-
rested in the cargo and crew of the steamship Peter-
hoff, have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your lordship's letter of the 3d inst., addressed to
Mr. G. P, Harding and others.
While thanking your lordship for the prompti-
tude with which her Majesty's Government has
acted in this matter, we are desirous of requesting
your lordship's attention to our position as explained
by the letter in question.
When sending the Peterhoff from the port of Lon-
don, we fulfilled every formality demanded by the
law, and satisfied every requirement of mercantile
custom. The legal nature of the voyage being thus
established, we respectfully submit to your lordship
that we are entitled to the protection of her Majes-
ty's Government in the prosecution of our ordinary
commerce.

But your lordship informs us by your letter that
it is the right of a belligerent to capture all vessels
reasonably suspected ;" and again whenever such
cause of capture is alleged the case cannot be with-
drawn from the consideration of the prize courts."
We do not seek to avoid the operation of the right
of search, but we contend that what we have done
excludes any reasonable doubt or suspicion. If after
all legal and commercial formalities have been duly
fulfilled, our vessel going to Matamoras (a neutral
port), may notwithstanding be legally seized and
detained by a belligerent on a mere allegation of
, whatever her des-
eh seizure and stinns
apti
icoi
no no,
r theca nr
go, anyis Blri tbi sl
eh vesseltosu
de-
tention, and a belligerent has the right, whenever it
suits his convenience, to interrupt, harass, and
practically stop our trading with any neutral port
he pleases. This position, resulting from the opinion
communicated in the letter of your lordship, is one
we are unwilling to accept as final, inasmuch as it
places the whole commerce of the empire at the
mercy of the discretion or indiscretion of the officers
of any belligerent Power.
This renders it necessary that we should further
inform your lordship that some of us have large in-
terests in the Sea Queen, now loaded and lying in
the port of London, and also in other vessels under
engagement to follow the Peterhoff to Matamoras.
Mr. Bennett, of the undersigned firm of Bennett
and Wake, through whom the line has been estab-
lished, is now at that port, awaiting the anticipated
arrival of the Peterhoff, and arranging for the
reception and despatch of this and succeed-
ing steamers. We earnestly solicit the protec-
tion of her Majesty's Government for these vessels.
Their capture and detention, and the consequent in-
terruption to our commerce, would produce far more
serious loss than could be compensated by any da-
mages hereafter to be awarded.

We are desirous of acting on any suggestion which
your lordship may be good enough to make in order
to more completely satisfy the authorities of the
lawful nature of our operations; but we believe
ourselves entitled to protection, and earnestly beg
your lordship's favourable attention to this subject.
Already are we called up m to pay largely increased
rates of assurance in consequence of the opinion an-
nounced in your lordship's letter, and the imme-
diate result must be to embarrass and materially
diminish the extent of our operations.

There is another consequence ultimately arising
which we approach with regret, but we think it
our duty to inform your lordship that vessels of a
neighbouring natio❑ have been observed to pass the
American cruisers unchallenged,and that a tendency
has been already-shown to divert this stream of
commerce from our ports, and to seek under the
French flag that protection which has hitherto been
found under that of our own country. We respect-
fully solicit the honour of an interview, in order
that we may more completely explain to your lord-
ship the extent to which our commercial interests
are affected by the vexatious interruption to which
we are subject, and in the hope of obtaining from
your lordship some protection in our future opera-
tions.—We have the honour to remain, my Lord,
your lordship's most obedient and humble servants,
(Signed) G. P. HARDING,
I. J. BENNETT AND WAKE,
AND OTHERS.

77, Cornhill, E.C., April 11, 1863.
The Right Hon. the Earl Rusaell,_K.G., Secretary

of State for Foreign Affairs.
My Lord,—We have the honour to enclose a list
of vessels advertised in the New York Shipping
and Commercial List of the 18th, 21st, and 25th
March last, to sail for the port of Matamoras.
We desire to call the attention of your lordship
to the fact of merchant vessels being allowed to
clear from the port of New York for this destina-
tion, while British vessels (as the Peterhoff
steamer) are seized and detained when engaged in
the legal prosecution of the same voyage. This
would seem to imply a desire on the part of the
Federal Government to retain for its own subjects
the monopoly of this trade. _ _

We respectfully submit to your lordship that the
advertimments in question, taken in connection
with the late proceedings of Admiral Wilkes, esta-
blish the flagrant injustice of the acts of that officer.
—We have the honour to remain, my Lord, your
lordship's most obedient and very humble servants,
(Signed) JAMES J. BENNETT and WAKE.

Names of vessels advertised in the New York
Shipping and Commercial List for 18th, 21st, and
25th March, as loading for Matamoras :
Steamer Tubal Cain.
Ship
Barque Salem.
Schooners

Foreign Office, April 15, 1863.
Earl Russell presents his compliments to Mr.
Harding, and with reference to the letter from him-
self and other merchants interested in the case of
the Peterhoff, will be happy to receive them at this
office to-morrow the 16th, at three o'clock p.m.

77, Cornhill, E.C., April 17, 1863.
My Lord,—We had the honour of submitting to
your lordship yesterday, our reasons for soliciting
the interference of her Majesty's Government to
afford some protection for the steamship Sea Queen,
now lying at Falmouth, and detained by the owners
in consequence of the capture of the Peterhoff. It
is not necessary for us to dilate on the inconveni-
ence and loss arising to us merchants, whose goods
are on board the Sea Queen, by such a detention
and stopping of our legal trade. We, therefore, re-
spectfully suggest to your lordship that the presence
of a mail agent on the vessel would offer a guarantee
to the Federal authorities that the vessel would
proceed to the port for which she was cleared; and
we earnestly solicit of your lordship the appoint
merit of such an official. Should our request meet
with the approbation of your lordship, we are pre.
pared ourselves to support any charge arising from
such appointment.--11'e have the honour to remain,
my lord, your lordship's most obedient servants,
(Signed) JAMES J. BENNETT and WAKE.
The Right Hon. Earl Russell, K.G., her Majesty's
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Office, April 18, 1863.
Gentlemen,—l have laid before Earl Russell your

letter of yesterday's date, requesting that instruc-
tions may be given for placing a Government mail
agent on board the Sea Queen, which is now at
Falmouth ; and I am directed to state to you in
reply that, at Lord Russell's recommendation, the
Postmaster-General will for the present relieve ves-
sels proceeding to Matamoras from the obligation of
carrying ship letter mails.—l am, gentlemen, your
most obedient humble servant,
(Signed) E. HAMMOND.
Messrs. James J. Bennett and Wake.

April 11, 1863.
Your Lordship,—We have this day received a
letter from Messrs. Spence, Pile, and Co., the
owners of the steamship Sea Queen, declining to
allow that vessel to carry the mail to Matamoras,
for which we applied to you on the 2d inst.
They state as their reason that they have been
unable to obtain any assurance of protection from
her Majesty's Government against the capture of
the vessel by Federal cruisers ; and further, that
" in the case of the Udela, captured on her voyage
from Bermuda to Nassau, and taken to Key West,
that the seals of her. Majesty's mails were broken
open by the authorities, and the Judge then in-
formed Capt. W. W. H. Hewitt, R.N., command-
ing her Majesty's ship Rinaldo, that he seals of all
bags and letters would be opened, and letters read
for information relative to vessels seized."
We also learn that in the case of the steamship
Peterhoff, despatched by us, and lately seized by
the Federal war steamer Vanderbilt, that the mail
had been taken possession of by the Federal autho-
rities.

In making this communication to your lordship,
we beg to point out the danger incurred under these
circumstances by taking a mail, as it is not in our
power, or that of the owners of the vessel, to control
the nature of the letters which may be forwarded
through the Post-office, and it would be quite pos-
sible for designing persons to forward by the Sea
Queen fictitious letters of the most compromising
character, entirely without the knowledge of our-
selves or shippers. We are, therefore, desirous of
ascertaining, in the event of illegal seizure of the
Sea Queen on her present voyage, whether such
violation of her Majesty's mails can be justified, and
whether we should, in that case, incur the risk of
having their contents produced to strengthen
alleged suspicion, and delay the release of the ship
and cargo.—We have tha honour to be, your lord-
ship's obedient servant,
(Signed) JAMES J. BENNETT AND WAKE.
To the Right Hon. Lord Stanley of Alderley,

Postmaster-General.

No. 77, Cornhill, E.C., London, April 15, 1863.
My Lord,—We had the honour of addressing a
communication to your lordship on the 11th inst.,
informing your lordship of the refusal, on the part
of the owners of the steamship Sea Queen, now de-
spatching by us to Matamoras, to carry mail bags,
under the impression that their contents, if opened
by the Federal authorities, might compromise the
ship and cargo.
We have not yet been favoured with any written
reply to our letter, but a messenger who represented
himself as sent by the Post-office authorities, called
on the 13th inst. to say that the mails had that
morning been placed on board, and wished to know
how they could be recovered, the vessel having left
the river.

There being nothing in the appearance of the
messenger to indicate the authority under which he
professed to call, we waited some more official com-
munication ; but the vessel being now at Falmouth,
we hasten to inform your lordship that the owners
are aware they cannot legally refuse to carry a mail,
and being indeed desirous to give the service of their
vessel, if they can do so without undue risk, now ask
your lordship to place on board a mail agent to take
charge of the bags; and if your lordship consents
to their request, are willing with ourselves in the
interests of all parties to support the expense at-
tending on his voyage out:—We have the honour to
be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient and
humble servants, _

(Signed) JAMES J. BENNETT and WAKE.
The Right Hon. Lord Stanley of Alderley,
Postmaster-General.

P.—Registered No. 27,623.
General Post Office, April 16, 1863.

Gentlemen,—Reforrirg to your letter of the 11th
inst., respecting the steamship Sea Queen, about to
sail for Matamoras, I am directed by the Post-
master General to inform you that previous to the
receipt of that letter three ship-letter mails for Ma-
tamoras, containing eight letters and two news-
papers, had been placed on board the Sea Queen.
The Postmaster-General must decline to express
any opinion with respect to the question raised in
the concluding paragraph of your letter.
lam further to state that his lordship cannot
accede to the proposal made in your second letter,
dated the 15th inst., that he should place on board
the Sea Queen a mail agent to take charge of the
am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
(Signed) F. HILL.
Messrs. J. J. Bennett and Wake, 77, Cornhill.

p.—Registered No. 27,623.
General Post Office, April 17, 1863.

Gentlemen,—With reference to my letter of yes-
terday's date, I have further to inform you that if
the owners of the steamship Sea Queen shall desire
that the mails for Matamoras, which had been em-
barked before your letter of the 11th inst. reached
this office, should not be carried by that vessel, and
will instruct the corn mander to put them on shore
at Falmouth, the Postmaster-General will autho-
rise the postmaster of Falmouth, by means of the
electric telegraph, to receive the mails and return
them to London.—l am, gentlemen, your obedient
servant,

(Signed) F. HILL.
Messrs. Bennett and Wake, 77, Cornhill.

No. 77, Cornhill, EX., London, April 17, 1863.

My Lord,—We have the honour to acknowledge
receipt of your letters of 16th and 17th inst., No.
27,623, and in reply we beg to inform your lord-
ship that the shippers and owners of the Sea
Queen have applied to the Foreign-office for some
protection to their goods and vessel, and until the
reply has been received the owners are unwilling
to return the mails, in the hope that the extreme
position which caused them to dread having them
on board may be somewhat modified.
We may add that the letters and parcels of the
merchants in our care have not been posted while
the question remained pending, and we are also
aware of many houses anxious to avail themselves
of the opportunity of forwarding their letters by
the Sea Queen through the post it possible.
We have the honour to remain, my lord,

Your lordship's most obedient and humble servants,
(Signed) JAMES J. BENNETT AND WAKE.
To the Right Hon. Lord Stanley of Alderley,
Her Majesty's Postmaster-General.

British Steamship Peterhoff,
Key West,
11th March, 1863.
Sir,—We have the honour to address a note to
you to-day-as prisoners on board the British steam-
ship Peterhoff, requesting that you would use your
good offices to procure the removal of the restric-
tiont which has hitherto prevented us from going on
shore and having free access to you, a
ats Kegh e repre-
sentattve of the British Government,b'l'est.
We did:this in conjunction with other gentlemen
who are merely passengers from Plymouth to 1N iata-
rnoras, and not holders of bills of lading for any
part of the cargo on board the ship
We now do ourselves the honour to address you
again, having learned this evening, from Lieutenant
Lewis, United States Navy, that
that the Admiral on the
station has ordered the to Boston to have the
case adjudicated by the Unitedsl States Government.
We believe that the Peterhoff was on a lawful