The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-04 00:00:00

STATES FLAG.

In reply to Mr. MAGUIRE,
Mr. LAYARD replied that this island was the propertY
of the British Crown. A British officer, on visiting the
island in his ship, found the United States flag displayed.
He desired it might be taken down, and on a refusal he
directed one of his officers to take it down, and this was
accordingly done.
PRISON MINISTERS BILL.
In reply to an Hort. MEMBER,
Sir G. GREY stated that he should proceed with this
bill on Thursday nextTH.
E SHANNON.

In reply to Col. Flumen,
Mr. F. PEEL said the report of the commissioners had
not yet been received.
AMALGAMATION OF THE CITY WITH THE
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Sir J. DUKE asked if, after the report of the standing
orders against this bill, he intended to proceed with it ?
Sir G. GREY recited what ho stated the other night,
that the committee of Standing Orders had reported that
as the usual notices had not been given in November, and which were requisite for a private bill, the orders of the
house had net been complied with respect to the bill. The
bill had been referred back to the Standing Order Commit-
tee,_ and until the committee again reported nothing could
be done.
THE "NO HO USE" ON FRIDAY
Lord E. NIONTAQUE called attention to. the ""no

house" on Friday, and moved the adjournment of the house
in order to enable him to do so. He urged that by the stand-
ing orders framed in 1862, which had been constantly vi o-
lated by the Government, the Government ought to have
made a house on Friday.
Mr. D. GRIFFITHS seconded the motion, and declared
that the Government must have made it known that they
did not desire a house, for there were several members in
the lobby.
Mr. B. COCHRANE spoke to the motion.
Lord PALMERSTON regretted that no house was
made on Friday, and therefore not enlightened by the con-
clusive answers which the Government would have given.
(Laughter.) It certainly had been understood that the Go.
vernment were to make and keep a house on Friday.
(Hear,) There was, however, a fellowship on the part of
hon. members in regard to making a house for members with
whose motives they sympathised, the Government contri-
buting its quota. It appeared on Friday that there were
several members in the lobby. But they had now been
-sitting three months. and this was the first time there had
been "no house." He might say, however, that the
Government would do their best to make and keep a house
on Friday. (Hear hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI thought that the motion would be
sufficiently answered by the promise of the noble lord. It
certainly was understood that the Government should se-
cure the house on Fridays.
THE CITY POLICE.
Col, FRENCH pressed the Government to state their
ultimate intentions with respect to the proposed amalgama-
tion bill.
Sir G. GREY replied that if the standing order com-
mittee reported against the bill it could not be proceeded
with ; but if they reported that the standing orders should
be dispensed with the bill could be proceeded with.
Lord R. MONTACU withdrew his motion.
VISIT OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF
WALES TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS THIS
EVENING.
Shortly before 6 o'clock the Prince of Wales, accompa-
nied by Lord Alfred Paget, entered the peers and diplo-
matic gallery. It was currently reported that the Princess
of Wales w,s in the Ladies' Gallery, over the Reporters'
Gallery. His Royal Highness appeared in excellent health
and spirits, and seemed very much pleased by his visit.
CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL.
On the motion of the CHNCELLOR of the EXCHECITER
the house went into committee on this bill.
Clause 1 was agreed to.
On clause 2,
Sir J. FERGUSSON called attention to the defective
mode of levying the income tax. He objected t the pre
sent plan of centralisation.
(LEFT SITTING.)

SPORTING NOTES.

The Chester Meeting commences to-morrow, and extends
over four days. The programme is very large, and as-well
arranged as Mr. Topham can devise ; but from some cause
or another, the prostige attached to it is fast declining, and
the Cup itself has dwindled into insignificance compared
with the position it held in the public mind a few years
back. This may be accounted for by the tricks and mal.
practices which of late years have taken place in connection
with the Ceetrian Handicap, and which have deterred the
public from touching it until the day. The tiring intervals
between the acts is another cause of the unpopularity of the
Chester Meeting, as invariably the interests of the visitors
have been sacrificed to that of the book-makers—a species
of policy which cannot command appreciation. For the
Palatine Stakes Stradella is engaged, but she is likely
to be reserved for the great event, and in that case Gar.
dener or Fantail ought to secure the stakes. The Wynn stay
Handicap looks a good thing for Johnny Armstrong or Ber-
nice. The Chester Cup, on Wednesday, will swallow up
the other races like a triton does a minnow, although it is
but a shadow of its former self. Of the fairness of the han-
dicap there can be no mistake,with the exception of the un-
intentional error relative to Stradella, whose winning at
Baden-Baden Mr. Topham candidly admits to have escaped
his recollection. To this, however, the failure of the race
must be ascribed, and the field looks likely to be smaller
than that of last of year, when 22 started. From all rea-
sonable calculations that can be made, the runners may be
selected from the following lot, viz.:—Asteroid, Caller Ou,
Buckatone (or The Knave), Zetland, Ben Webster, Cowley,
Haddington, Gardener, Stradella, Dusk, The Plover, Le
Marechal, Barchettina, Dunkeld, Weatherspy, Fantail,
Black Deer, Anfield, Amelia, Middlewatch, Can-
aonette, and Voluptas, Asteroid, Caller Ou, Buck-
stone, and Zetland are favourably treated ; but
I think the lighter weighted four and five year
olds will hold them safe. Haddington has recently been
amiss. Hartington cannot give the weight he has to do to
some of the three year olds, much less beat Stradella, whom
he meets on 291 b worse terms than for the Ceasarewitch.
Camerino is one of the most favourably weighted horses
engaged, and if he can be brought out in the same form he
beat Fairwater for second honours in the Epsom Cup,
must finish in the front rank, Gardener is not unfavour-
ably weighted. Black Deer or Anfield will represent Goil-
ding's stable, as both were backed soon after the appearance
of the weights. Stradella, one of those selected by ma when
the weights appeared, is a mare uniting the best qualifica-
tions of speed and staying powers, and is as well known on
the continent as in this country. By her easy defeat o

The Marquis, on whom the stable was so sanguine, she
looks able to go in alone ; but, without being too confident on
that score, I must say there is nothing on paper to beat her.
The Plover has been backed for heaps of money by some of
our shrewdest judges. His Irish running is certainly very
good, and they say he was very backward when he ran on
the Curragh. With such materials as Cliff has for trying
him, there ought not to be any mistake. Dusk and Le
Marechal are both very well in, but the latter has been

backed for the most money of the pair; and had he not

. . ....,.,
been bowled over so easily at Not thampton he would by
this time have been among the leading favourites. Dun-

keld, Amelia, Fantail, and one or two others may help to
swell the field, but with public running to guide me in my
selection I can see nothing likely to interfere with the

success of