The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-04 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

ASCOT HEATH RACES.sWEDNESDAY.
For the second day of Ascot races the attendance was
extremely good, particularly in the Grand Stand. The
weather, also, was most charming. The Royal Hunt Cup
produced the large field of 29, but after the Queen of
Trumps had taken her preliminary canter it was discovered
that she was lame; consequently she did not go to the
starting-post. The race was won M a very easy manner
by the favourite Victor. In the Ascot Derby, Wells had a
narrow escape from being badly hurt. The horse he was
riding in the race, Brother to Morocco, having been crossed
by Blue Mantle, the former struck into his heels, which
caused him to fall, breaking his leathers and the bridle
coming completely off his head. We are happy to say
Wells did not receive any injury. For the Fernhill Stakes
Tomato came in first, everybody at the same time believing
it to be the Baron's other colt Hippolyta, as from some
stupid blunder the latter's number was exhibited on the
telegraph board instead of that of Tomato. The mistake
caused an objection to be made against the winner, wich was subsequently gone into by th®
stewards, who awarhded
the race to Tomato, but the subject of bets will be gone
into at Tattersall's on Monday.
The Coronation Stokes of 100 sovs each, h ft, for 3-yr-old
fillies ; Bst 101 b ; winners extra ; maidens allowed 71b.
Old mile. 25 sovs.
Lord Derby's T
—ady Augusta, (31b extra) Bst 131 b
(Edwards) 1
Lord Exeter's Fantail, Bst 101 b (Boyce) 2
Baron Rothschild's Crafton Lass Bst 101 b. • • • (Ashman) 3
Lord Stamford's Cerintha Bst 1011)..
Sit J. Hawley's Columba, Bst 10lb (Wells) 6
Betting-5 to 4on Lady Augusta, 4to 1 agst Fantail.
and 6 to 1 each apt Columba and Crafton Lass.
and
Columba w
Las the first away, closely attended by Fantail
Crafton ass, the favourite with her stable companion,
lying off. On crossing the road Crafton Lass went to the
front
th and came on
te with a clear lead, Fantail going second,
next, Columba at the same time
dropping into the rear. On entering the straight Lady
e favouri
Augusta went up to Fantail, with whom she ran to half
way up, then quitted them without an effort, and won in a
canter by a length •; half a length between the second and
third. Cerintha was a bad fourth.
The Ascot Derby Stakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for 3-yr-olde;
colts Bst 101 b, fillies Bst 61b ; winners extra ; maidens
allowed 71b. SwinlsY course. 23 subs.
Lord Stamford's Onesander, Bst 101 b
.... (A. Edwards) 1
Mr. T. Valentine's Queen Bertha, Bst 111 b (inc 51b extra)
Captain Lane's Blue Mantle (Aldcroft) 2
,icotora, Bst 31b .. (W Bst 10lb (Lyninsch) 3
Count F. de Lagrange's Jarn
The following also ran :—Newsmonger, Warhorse, and
Brother to Morocco. Watkins) 4
Betting--2 to 1 agst Onesander, 3to 1 agst Queen
Bertha, and 6 to 1 each agst Jarnicoton and Blue Mantle.
At the fourth attempt they got away upon equitable
whe
termn
h Bluelue Mantle making the running for a few strides,
passed by the Frenchman, Blue Mantle going
on second, who was followed by Onesander and Brother
to Morocco—Newsmonger, Warhorse, and Queen Bertha
lying several lengths in their rear. Passing the Kennels,
Onesander took the second place, and came on in atten-
dance upon the leaders,
followed on his whip hand by
the Baron's colt into the straight, where they were joined
by Queen Bertha, the lot running in close company to the
distance, where Onesander drew away, followed next the
rails by Queen Bertha, Blue Mantle at the same time
giving evidence of his currish temper by running all
over the course, and in so doing crossed Brother to
Morocco in his attempt to get through, and brought horse
and rider to the ground, fortunately without injury to
either. Onesander retained his advantage to the end,
and won in a canter by two lengths; a bad third. Jarni-
coton was fourth. The others pulled up and did not pass
the post.
The Royal Hunt Cup, a piece of plate value 200 soya, by
subscription of 10 sovs each, with 100 added, for all ages.
Winners extra. New mile, 77 subs.
Mr. Hodgman's Victor, 4 yrs, sst 121 b ........ (Morris) 1
Mr. R. Sutton's Glenorchy, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b .. omas
Mr. Merry's The Knave, 4 yrs, 7st 51b
(H. (Th
Covey) 3) 2
Lord Glasgow's Knowsley, 4 yrs, 4st 81b
•(Aldcroft)
The following also ran :—Umpire, Argonaut, Pri 4
nce Plausible, Exchequer, Oldminster, Queen of
Spain, Michel
Grove, Birdhill, Ace of Clubs, Bertha, Doncaster, Grey
Hen colt, Vilette, Poland, The Plover,
Bohemia, Tademus,
Cadeau, Michael Scott, Disappointment, Rubini, Merry
Maid, Indolence, and Nebula.
Tippler was struck out on Tuesday. Catch'em Alive at
12 40 p.m., Zelle and Polynesia at 1 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Queen of Trumps was weighed for by H. Grimshaw, 4 yrs,
9st 71b, but after taking her canter she pulled up lame, and
did not go to the post.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Victor, 6to 1 agst The Knave, Bto
1 eget Tademus, 100 to 8 each agst Knowsley, Ace of
Clubs, and Rubini, 20 to 1 agst the Grey Hen colt, 25 to
1 each agst Umpire, Argonaut, Indolence, and Bertha.
Precisely at 3 25 the flag was lowered to the most unsatis-
factory start of the meeting, the greater portion of the ani-
mals being left at the post. Bertha, as nearly as we could
make out, after running a few strides, took a alight lead on
the far side, with the favourite in the centre, close up with
whom were Prince Plausible, Knave, Glenorchy, the Grey
Hen colt, and Knowsley, the latter lying wide on the stand
side ; the others, who were headed by Exchequer, Umpire,
Doncaster, Tademus, and Rubini, following in two divi-
sions, some two or three lengths in the rear; crossing the
road, Morris brought out Victor and took a decided lead,
waitted upon by The Knave, Glenorchy, Lord Glasgow's
col, and Doncaster, who ran in company half way up the
hill, When the tailing commenced in earnest, the front divi-
sion alone having the slightest chance in the contest. The
favourite held his own to the end, and won with the most
ridiculous ease by four lengths, three lengths separating
the second and third, a like distance between the third and
fourth; Doncaster was fifth, Prince Plausible sixth, Argo-
naut seventh, and Tademus next, all close up. The last
yr. olds and upwards;
lot comprised Queen of Spain, Michel Grove, Birdhill,
Cadeau, Ace of Clubs, and Indolence.
A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, 5 ft, with 60 added, for 3-
T.Y.C. The
Winner to be sold for 200 soya, if demanded, &c. 6 subs.
Mr. Ten Breed's Santhal, 3 yrs (Fordham) 1
Mr. C. P.
(Challoner) 2
-..ayner's Dirt Cheap, 3 Yrs
Mr.
W' Bauce's Lord of Linne, 4 yrs.... .... (Hibbard) 3
weight for age.
Betting °pelted at even on Banthal, and closed at even on
Dirt Cheap,
•
Dirt
an
whereheap cut out the work to the Stand enclosure,
Sthal came out and won easily by three parts of
a length ; a bad third,
First Year of the Eleventh Ascot Triennial Stakes of 10
Bova each, with 100 added, for foals of 1861; colts, Bst
71b; fillies, Bst 41b. T.Y.C. The owner of the second
horse to receive
stake, and the third to save his stake. 67 subs.
Lord Portsmouth's Becky (J. Goater) 1
Sher
a sum equal to 10 per cent on the whole
Mr. Merry's Catastrophe filly P°
(H Covey) 2
Baron Niviere's Mademoiselle de Chesnois (E. Flatman) 3
Mr. T. Valentine's Alcyone - (ldcroft)
Count F. de Lagrange,
La Belle Feronniere ( Watkins) 5
Mr. T. Stevens's Fisherman's Daughter (dam, Idyl)
(Challoner) 6
Mr. H. Savile's Queen Lily colt (Custance) 7
Mr. Saxon's The Abbot c (Midgley) 8
Betting-3 to 1 each agst Fisherman's Daughter and
Becky Sharpe, and 4 to 1 agst Alcyone.
The French fillies made the running until crossing the
road, with the Catastrophe filly and Becky Sharpe fol.
lowing on the whip hand.
At the distance Fisherman's
Daughter and Le Belle Feronniere were beaten, and Becky
Sharpe and the Catastrophe filly went to the front, the for-
mer winning by
a neck , a bad third.
The Fern Hill Stakes of 15 souseach, 5 ft, with 100 added,
for 2-yr-olds and upwards. Weights for age. About
half a mile. 11 subs,
Baron, It ethschild's Tomato Est 131 b (Niehtingall) 1
Mr. W. Bevill's Lady Abbe'ss, 3 yrs, Bst 11Ib(Fordham) 2
Count Batthyany's
(Wheatley) 3
Lord Stamford's Flying Fish, 3 yrs, Bst I Ilb (Edwards) 4
Count F. de Lagrange's Vivid, 3 yrs, Bst lllb (Custance) 5
Betting 5 to 4 agst Flying Fish, 5 to 2 agst Lady Abbess
Midnight Mass, 2 yrs, 7st 21b
4 to 1 agst Midnight Mass, and 6 to 1 agst any other.
Midnight Mass made running to the distance, where the
Baron's filly went to the front, was never afterwards headed,
and won very easily by four lengths, a length between the
second and third. After the race Mr. Bevill made an objec-
tion against the winner, inasmuch as the wrong number was
exhibited on the telegraph,
which was entertained by the
stewards, Admiral Roils giving their decision in favour of
Tomato. The question as to which way the bets are to be
decided will be settled at Tattersall's on Monday.
Second Year of the Fifth Ascot Biennial Stakes of 10 sovs
each, with 100 added, for 3-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; and
fillies, Bst 61b, Old mile. The owner of the second horse
to receive 25 sovs out of the stakes. 65 subs.
Lord Strathmore's Saccharometer..
. (Watkins) 4
T. Parr's Judea, Bst 61b (Fordham) 2
Mr. E. E Brayley's Tom Fool (Cowley) 3
Count F. de Lagrange's liospodar
Mr.

The following also ran :—The Old Orange Girl, Tademus,
Stoekowner, Craften Lass, and Spitfire Kitty.
Challoner weighed for Carnival and A. Edwards for One-
sander, and their numbers were up, but subsequently taken
down.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Saccharometer, sto 2 agst Tom
Fool, 7 to 1 agst Old Orange Girl, and 9 to 1 agst Judex.
The Orange Girl carried her colours to the fore immedi-
ately after they left the post, with Tom Fool, Judex, and
Hospodar in close attendance, the rear being brought up by
Tademus, who laid away upwards of half a dozen lengths
to the bend into the straight, where Tom Fool took up run-
ning, with Judex and the favourite in close attendance, to
the half distance, when Lord Strathmore's colt went up and
won in a canter by three lengths; half a length between
the second and third; and two lengths separating the third
and fourth. Spitfire Kitty was next, and Tademus last
throughout.

The Visitors' Plate of 100 sous, and 25 for the second horse

(handicap), Once round and a distance. 19 subs.
Mr. Bryan's Millionaire, 6 yrs, Bst 131 b (Custance) 1
Lord W, Powlett's Paste, 5 yrs, 9st (S. Rogers) 2
Lord Portsmouth's Vinegar Hill, 5 yrs, Bst 3lb _

(Fordham) 3
The following also ran :—Gardener, Flirtation, Gorse,
Dux, Necklace, and Wasp gelding.
Betting-4 to 1 each agst Gardener, Paste, and Million-
aire 5 to 1 agst Flirtation, and 6 to 1 agst the Wasp c.

Millionaire made play, with Gorse and Paste in close at-
tendance, to the top turn, when Paste went to the fore, and,
with Mr. Bryan's colt and Vinegar Hill in waiting, de-
scended the hill in close company ; but on reaching the bot-
tom the lot closed up, and ran to the old mile-post, where
Paste gradually increased her lead, which she retained to
the distance, when Custance brought out Millionaire, who
at the stand obtained a clear lead, and won very easily by
a neck, Paste defeating Vinegar Hill by a neck for second
place. Gorse was fourth, Flirtation fifth, Gardener next,
the 'Wasp colt last.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.— A great blow has been struck against a
favourite of Fortune. Paris—busy, thronging
Paris, without pausing for a moment from her per-
petual pursuit of fashion, while her broad Boulevards
were still streaming with pleasure-seekers, while
new splendo'irs rise about her with rapidity of stage
effect, while all her population seemed engrossed
with the enjoyments created for them,—this petted,
coaxed, well-dressed, well-jewelled Paris has, in
saucy wantonness or in well-hidden thoughfulness,
suddenly turned upon her lord and master and has
inflicted upon him the most emphatic slap in the
face which confident man ever received from a capri-
cious mistress. Too certain of the answer, he has
asked her a presumptuous question, and he has got
his reply. Paris, with all the forms of electoral
legality, and with all the energy of universal suf-
frage, has protested against the Empire. Looking
upon the surface of Parisian life, who would have
prophesied this ? It is quite evident that neither
the Emperor nor his Ministers had the least notion
of such a reverse. Up to the very day which pre-
ceded the elections Paris rattled on gaily in her
perpetual revel and seemed to have no taste for
political excitement. A stranger might have walked
round all the Boulevards without seeing a dozen of
those little square-coloured ajiches which simply
told that "M. Thiers" was a " candidat." It was
necessary to go over the Pont Neuf to read any-
thing like a printed appeal, even on behalf of the
virtues of peace and retrenchment. People did not
gather round the few placards that existed. There
were no little knots of men gesticulating in the
streets ; and the folk who sat outside the cafes and
sipped their absinthe before dinner did not seize upon
the papers greedily, as in the old days before 1851.
The Charivari and L'lllustration and L'Entr'acte
were more in request than the Siecle. The little boxes
in the Tuileries gardens were not surrounded by ear-
nest politicians, like those who in old times used to
abonizer themselves for a sou upon the whole Paris
press, and walk about in a St. Vitus-like excitement
ejaculating their political aspirations to the heroes
and goddesses around. It was while all things were
tranquil and placid that this shock came. But the
fact remains. Paris has suddenly seized an oppor-
tunity, and,speaking by universal suffrage, has pro-
tested against the Empire. This is not a simple de-
feat. It looks more like a formal repeal of the great
vote of the seven millions. Paris, although unani-
mous in nothing else, is unanimous in rejecting
every Imperialist candidate. Even in the Sixth
Arrondissement, where two editors and a " homane
de bzen" divided the Opposition votes between them,
the Government candidate had no chance. It is
not an Orleanist demonstration, nor a declaration in
favour of the old Parliamentary system ; for M.
Thiers, who may be considered as the most special
representative of these ideas, and to have been most
able to develops their full force, had the least re-
markab'e success of all. M. Thiers obtained a ma-
jority over the Government competitor of only 1,255
votes, whereas Emile 011ivier and Ernest Picard had
majorities of nearly 9,000, and Jules Favre beat the
Government candidate by more than 10,000 votes.
The voters do not seem to have asked wrist the prin-
ciples of the Opposition candidate might be. It
sufficed to place him high on the poll that M. de
Persigny did not patronise him. The Opposition,
as an Opposition, was certainly not adapted to se-
cure any great respect. It was not a thing having
any unity of thought or any common object. For
some time the Opposition papers refused to publish
the Opposition addresses. Each had its one Oppo-
sition candidate, who was not uncommonly the
director of the patronising journal, and each de-
nounced in unmeasured terms the principles and the
practice of all other Opposition pretenders. The
only fact quite evident to a looker-on was that if the
Opposition hated the Government much they hated
each other a great deal more. It is true that, to some
extent these personal contests ceased under the ridi•
cule of the Parisian public; and that latterly the Op-
position papers consented to insert the Opposition
addresses and make semblance of a sort of sympathy.
Still, however, they were rather like a " happy
family" exhibition, without a master to control
their instincts. It was not their harmony, or their
unity, or their strength which won their victories;
and still less is it their popularity which stands
proved by their great majorities. When Paris goes
forth, and when Lyons follows, and the departments
of the South and the great cities throughout France
make common cause, it is not that they are agreed
upon any positive position. They do not set up M.
Thiers because they desire the adoption of any spe-
cific policy ; and so well did M. Thiers and bis
friends know this no Thiers confession of faith ap-
peared. It must have been very hard to flesh and
blood, and especially to the flesh and blood of a
great orator and great writer, to stand before all
France and be pelted with sharp epigrams by a
Minister of State, and to make no reply. Yet M.
Thiers endured this rather than destroy the equivo-
cal position which his silence prolonged. If there
be any truth in the statement of the Constitutzonnel,
a council of his friends deliberately suppressed the
Circular he had prepared, lest the other sections of
the Opposition should be deprived of all excuse for
voting for him. So, also, the Republican candidates
who have succeeded, not because the voters who re-
turned them are all in favour of a return to a Re-
publican form of Government, but because they are
discontented with things as they are—the one bond
of union has been a protest against the Empire.
All this has been brought about by the blundering
of M. de Persigny. If Frenchmen have been found
wanting in the moderation and in the spirit of com-
promise which is necessary to Parliamentary go-
vernment, French Ministers have been found still
more lamentably deficient in the decent simula-
tion of official respect for the freedom of election.
The Minister's warnings to the Press at this ill-
chosen moment made him odious; his communicated
articles, forced even upon the poor literary jester
Le Charivari, made him ridiculous ; his obtrusive
dictation to the electors made him offensive, his
selection of candidates inspired contempt, This
is not the way to deal with such a population
as that of France. A more adroit man would
have adopted the popular candidates, and pro-
claimed the desire of the Emperor to have all
opinions represented in his Parliament ; but even
a moderately shrewd man would have seen that, if
it was not the moment for liberty of speech to all, it
was certainly the moment for silence in high places.
What will be the result? Will the Emperor trust
to the oath taken by the Opposition candidates, and
go on to free institutions ? It is true that, Or-
leanists and Republicans alike, they have all sworn
" fidelity to the Emperor."
oatee affect to find in
the Article of the Constitution which declares the
Emperor to be responsible a door of escape from
any oath of allegiance. But, however that may be,
can much trust be placed in any such bond as that
after what has so often happened in France and
elsewhere ? Even if the Emperor were inclined to
risk this course, what means has he of conducting
a Parliamentary Government with such men as
Thiers and Dufaure in Opposition, and with no
better debaters than his own mediocrities to set
against them ? In such a contest the Empire would
be talked down in a single session. If, indeed, the
Emperor had secured these men for the Empire
there would be something to hope in favour of a
policy of progress, but M. de Persigny has forced
them ostentatiously to take their place in Opposi-
tion. We shall be curious to note the next move
of the Imperial policy. Regard it from what point
of view we may, this is a very serious defeat ; and
the Emperor must feel some bitterness in the reflec-
tion that all its worst features have been called forth
b snobbyte undisguised partisanship of the Government,
the folly and insolence of the Imperial
Minister.

HERALD.--From the earliest times fish was a
favourite food with the inhabitants of these isles.

In the London markets, during; the reign of the
Plantagenets, and probably Peng "before, there
were to be found sturgeon, ex!, ray, herring (fresh,
aalted, and red), bass, conger, sole, mackerel, sur-
mullet, turbot, dory, porpoise, haddock, sea-ling,
sprats, salmon, shad, eels, pike, barbel, roach,
dace, dabs, flounders, lamprey, smelts, stickelings,
oysters; mussels, cockles, whelks, scallops, and
stockfish. The hon. member for Sunderland sighs
for such days of plenty, and with goad reason, for
unless the House of Commons helps us, we shall
see them no more. The sale of fish, as the medimvul
antiquarian, Mr. Riley, whose word is indisputable,
tells us, seems to have attracted the surveillance and
attention of the authorities to a greater extent than
that of butcher's meat; and fish, there can hardly be
a doubt, was much more largely consumed by the
middle and lower classes of the community than
butcher's meat, owing partly to its comparative
cheapness, and in part to the rigidness with which
the fist days of the Romish Church were kept. So
we are glad to see that the hon. member's motion
for an lnquirF by a Royal commission into the pre-
sent condition of our sea fisheries was successful,
though certain members of the Government, them-
selves well experienced in the uses and habits of
deep-sea fishing, thought proper to essay to upset it.
At present, as Mr. Fenwick unmistakeably proved,
our fisheries are almost universally falling off, year
by year, and unless something is done, the serious
contingency of a limited supply from all quarters
would appear to be threatening us. And this appre-
hended scarcity does not arise from the consumption
startling as that is as reported from London alone.
It is not owing to the City alimentiveness which
last year disposed of half a million and more of cod-
, fish, 25,000,000 of mackerel, 100,000,000 of soles,
35,000,000 of plaice, 200,000,000 of fresh haddocks,
oa the 300,000,000 of periwinkles, according to the
honourable member's testimony, that any serious
diminution impends. It is the reckless waste and
neglect, as Mr. Fen wick explained, of nature's own
laws, by the very men whose interest it is to main-
tain an abundant supply--the fishermen who are to
make a living by their trade—which have nearly
ruined our coast fisheries. The system of trawling
and the use of the seine net destroy or disturb the
spawn of the fish ; for strangely enough, and to the
hindrance of their own future business, the men are
accustomed, without heed or care, to take up the
spawn and cery it into deep water, or receive it
into their boats ,nd sell it as manure. Any one
who has seen the miscellaneous haul made by the
trawling net may,readily understand how it scrapes
up and unsettles everything it touches, and
when it happens to trave, over the shallow
breeding ground it necessarily becomes a ruthless
enemy to a great amount of fish life. The young
fry suffer a similar depredation from this rude and
exhausting means of capture. The takes ;we fre-
quently found to be too small in size for the market,
and are either accordingly tossed back into the sea,
dead or alive, it does not much matter, or are sold
in a mass as mere manure. "One afternoon, only a
few months ago," affirmed the hon. gentleman, " he
saw exposed for sale in a northern city two cart-
loads of codfish, the largest of which was not bigger
than his hand, and he appealed to the house if that
did not show a wanton waste of God's gifts." We
can endorse, from personal and repeated experience,
the hon. member's appeal as to the thoughtless
habits of the fishermen who use the trawling net all
round our coast. The captain of a trawler himself
acknowledged to the hon. member that "he had
sometimes thrown overboard as many as 7,000 or
8,000 fish at once after using the trawl. "As to
spawn, on one occasion," added this informant,
"while he had three tons of spawn, as he estimated,
by the weight of the trawl, in his net, he bad only
besides some crabs and a dozen fiat fish." From all
parts of England similar evidence had reached the
honourable member, which perhaps the honourable
member for Hull may study with advantage ere he
indulges a sneer against the value of an accurate
and assured inquiry into the reasons of the decreas-
ing quantity of fish caught on our shores. The
salmon fishery is itself a notable instance at the
present time of the pertinent worth of these parlia-
mentary investigations, and the recommendations
whic'i result from the comparison of the most reli-
able evidence furnished without fee or reward. The
act, which is but two years old, has, in Mr. Fen-
wick's own words, resuscitated the salmon fisheries,
and rivers previously destitute of fish are found to
be gradually and surely stocked. Even the Thames
is likely to resume its old reputation, and we may
soon hope to hear of a similar bit of news to that
which, even within the last 25 years, astonished
veteran anglers, that "salmon of 151 b. weight have
been taken as low down as Wandsworth." Salmon,
amongst all the more highly prized fish in the Lon-
don market, has actually fallen in price since the
operation of that act. The same regulations which
have answered so well in preserving fish in our
rivers, may, it is fitly argued, be enforced for the
preservation of our deep-sea fisheries. With respect
to the fisheries in the Channel and elsewhere, ac-
cessible to the French fishermen, no harm can arise
from this inquiry, and we dispose of the objections
of the President of the Board of Trade, that num-
bers of people would be much alarmed if such an
inquiry were set on foot, by assuring him that our
neighbours will thank us for any legislation which
is likely to improve the take of the deep waters out-
side the territorial limits from which they are pro-
hibited. We do not think that, with the means at
the command of the Admiralty, there need be any
difficulty in amassing such a store of sure and posi-
tive information as may be likely to benefit both the
fishing interest and the public generally. In this
important branch of industry, which commands a
capital of £10,000,000 sterling, and employs
240,000 men of hardy habits and mostly in the
prime of life, any long continued depression of
trade would not be very easily remedied; and there
can be no question but that the consumption of fish
as food for the working classes has, of late years, in
the towns especially, been considerably smaller
from the lessened supply.

POST.—The House of Commons yesterday showed
its good sense in rejecting, by a majority of two
hundred and seventy-eight to one hundred and
three votes, one of the most mischievous and ob-
noxious measures which has for many years past
been submitted for the approval of Parliament.
Indeed, it is difficult to understand how it came to
pass that the bill for closing public-houscs on Sun-
days found as many supporters as it did. That the
Temperance Association were enabled to induce
two gentlemen with extreme views on the subject
of Sabbath observance, and hazy notions of the
statistics of drunkenness as furnished by police re-
ports, to promote a bill embodying their peculiar
tenets is not wonderful; but it is truly astonishing
that one hundred and three gentlemen could be
found besides, who, so far as lay in their power,
endeavoured to pass a law which would have been
an insult to the character of the nation, as well as a
gross outrage upon the rights of its members. The
best excuse that can be found for these gentlemen
is that they failed to realise the consequences of the
measure to which they gave their advocacy and
support. We do not now refer to such consequences
as riots and disturbances; the assemblages of thou-
sands of industrious, sober, and well-conducted
men, to protest against being sacrificed for the mere
purpose of preventing habitual drunkards indulging
in their favourite vice upon the Lord's-day; the
ill-feeling which would be created between classes
between whom at present the most perfect harmony
subsists—to these consequences we do notat present
advert. We allude simply to the immediate effects
of the operation of the act. The man who is neither
blind, nor deaf, nor maimed, can form no concep-
tion of the disadvantages under which persons thus
afflicted are compelled to suffer; and in like manner
those who have well-stocked cellars or clubs to
vt hich they can resort, cannot possibly realise the
position of those who, during the only day in the
week permitted for rest and recreation, would be
debarred from all means of obtaining any refreshing
or invigorating drink. It is, however, fortunate
that these gentlemen, who were ready with such
precipitation to legislate for the millions whose
feelings and wants they failed to appreciate, were
in a minority, and that a bill which would never
have been sanctioned or tolerated by the English
people has not commanded the approval of their
representatives. It is much to be regretted that some
people will get drunk, just as it is much to be de-
piored that some young men will dissipate their for-
tunes But just as the Legislature would not be jus-
tified in depriving every one of the power of disposing
of his property as he thought fit, in orderto pre-
vent a few spendthrifts consummating their rain,
so it is not entitled to prevent nine hundred and
ninety-nine sober people from taking beer or wine
in moderation on a given day in order to prevent
one individual from drinking to excess. And yet
this was the path of the argument advanced by Mr.
Sornes in favour of his bill. But ill conceived as the
design of the measure was, in operation it would
have been found utterly impracticable. The excep-
tion in favcur of bona fide travellers would have
given rise to no end of litigation. Some of the
metropolitan magistrates have held that an excur-
sionist by rail on a Sunday is a traveller. If so, the
Londoner could still, we by producing the
half of his return ticket, have or wine with
his dinner at the Star and Garter at Richmond,
whereas the pedestrian or omnibus passenger would
be obliged to remain satisfied with a draught of
water. The traveller stopping in an hotel in Fleet-
street might still, we suppose, indulge in his pint
of stout, whereas the Templar, who dines habitu-
ally in the same coffee-room, though known to the
proprietor, would be compelled to forego his cus-
tomary tankard. And wherefore all this ? Simply
in order to prevent a few individuals getting drunk
an Sundays. The House of Commons has very
properly refused to victimise the many for the
benefit of the few.