The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-12 00:00:00

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 Os to £4 4s Od ; clover,
do., £3 lOs to £5 15s; and straw, £llos to £1 18s per load.
A fair demand.
CUMBERLAND..—MoIvIow hay, £2 2s to £4 6s; clover,
£3 lOs to £5 12s Od ; and straw, £1 12s to £1 188 per load.
Supply moderate.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 Os to £4 4s; cloves
do., £3 lOs to £5 15s; and straw, £1 lOs to £1 180 per load.
Trade rather dull,

READING ST EEPLE CH ASE S--WEDNESDAY.
The genial weather and the promising appearance of the
programme tempted a very large number of spectators, both
local and metropolitan, to visit the steeplechase ground, and
the company present were well rewarded, for the sport was
of a fair average description, and the general management
of the meeting unexceptionable. The line of country was
the same as last year, about one mile and a half from the
town of Reading ; and the fences, without being particu-
larly formidable, were sufficient to test the stamina and
racing qualities of the competitors. It will be perceived,
from the return of the sport given below, that the well-
known Ben Land was in " great form," winning three of
the events, and running second for the fourth, with horses
from his stable, The betting ring was tolerably were filled,
and during the afternoon a demonstration was made in fa•
your of Satellite for the Liverpool Grand National Steeple-
chase, who, after being backed for all the money that could
be got on at 100 to 8, closed at no higher offers than 10 to
1; Jealousy was also supported at 25 to 1, and finally 20 to
1 was the longest price obtainable.
Mr. W. Hibburd, the clerk of the course, deserves especial
credit for the manner in which the whole of the business of
this capital afternoon's sport was conducted. Subjoined are
full details of the running :
A Sweepstakes of 5 soya each, 1 ft, with 25 added; gentle-
men riders ; 13st each, winners extra. About three miles.
8 subs, one of whom declared. •

Mr. Fetherstonehough's Windsor, 13st .. (Owner) 1
Mr. T. Duffield's Skirmisher, 13st 71b (inc. 71b extra)
(Owner) 2
Mr. G. R. Gross's Gameboy, 13st (Mr. Henry) 3
The Dutchman and Lemon Oliver also ran.

Betting-6 to 4 agst Windsor, and immediately after start-
ing he was backed at evens against the field. Directly the
flag fell the favourite went to the front, and leaving his
horses whenever he pleased, sometimes taking a lead of a
hundred yards, he went on from end to end and won by a
distance. Lemon Oliver stopped after going little more than
half the distance, and The Dutchman fell at the brook
jump near the finish.

The Great Berkshire Open Steeplechase (Handicap) of 15
sovs each, 5 ft, and only 2 ft if declared, with 100 added ;
winners extra. About three miles and a half. 22 subs,
13 of whom paid 2 sovs each.
Mr. B. Land's Ascot, 12st llb (B. Land, jun.) 1
Mr. T. Redford's Omar Pasha, list llb (Palmer) 2
Capt. Cooper's Cockatoo, list 41b (John Nightingall) 3

The following also ran : —Playman, Supperton, and Wil-
ful.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Ascot, sto 2 agst Omar Pasha, 3to
1 agst Cockatoo-100 to 15 agst Sapperton, and 8 to 1 agst
Playman.

Ascot rushed to the front, Sapperton lying second, and
the rest close together, led by Omar Pasha. After passing
the Stand, Sapperton, at a merry pace, headed Ascot, who
was followed by Omar Pasha, Playman, Cockatoo, and
Wilful, in the order named. No alteration occurred during
the first mile and a half, until ascending the hill beyond the
Stand, where Sapperton, who had just previously been
passed by Ascot, again assumed a clear lead, Cockatoo hav-
ing taken third place, being at the time completely in a
white lather. The Playman at this time occupied the fourth
place, Omar Pasha fifth, and Wilful many lengths in the
rear. At the jump out of the ploughed land, Ascot went
to the fronto whilst Sapperton suddenly stopped, evidently
beaten, and dropped into the fourth place. Ascot was fol-
lowed by Omar Pasha, Cockatoo being third, Sapperton
fourth, with Playman and Wilful bringing up the rear.
About three fields from the finish Ascot held a strong lead,
the only other horse near being Omar Pasha. Without any
effort Ascot maintainad his own, and won easily by a dozen
lengths; Cockatoo was a bad third, and Sapperton walked
past the post fourth; Playman and Wilful trotted in some
minutes after.

A Selling Steeplechase of 5 sovs each, with 25 added, for 4-
lyr-olds and upwards. Selling allowances. About three

miles. 3 subs.
Mr. B. Land's Deceiver (£60.), 12st (J. Land) 1
Mr. John Nightingall's Orkousta, (£4O), list 91b(Owner) 2

The Tatler also ran,

Betting—Even on Deceiver, and 6 to 4 each against The
ratter and Orkousta. The latter made play until passing
the Stand, where Nightingall eased his mare, and Deceiver
ascending the hill took the lead, with The Tatler in close
attendance. On the opposite side of the course The Tatler
momentarily held the front position ; but half a mile from
home was beaten. Orkousta made her final effort after
passing the cottages, but never got up, and was beaten by
20 lengths. The Tatler walked in. The winner was bought
in for 66 guineas.
The Whitley Stakes (Handicap) of 5 soya each, in case of
acceptance, with 30 sovs added; entrance 1 soy; winners
71b extra. Two miles and a half.
Mr. Milton's Gladiator, aged, lOst 121 b.. (J. Nightingall) 1
Mr. B. Land's Oliver Twist, list 21b (B. Land, Jan.) 2
Mr. R. I'Anson's Glautias, lOst 71b. (Headland) 3
The following also ran : —Corkscrew, Alma, Python,
Long Odds, Gamecock, and Fairplay.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Oliver Twist, 2to 1 agst Glautias,
100 to 15 bar two, 10 to 1 agst Fairplay.
Fairplay, after going a short distance, took a command-
ing lead, but before half the distance had been run was
beaten; Gladiator, half a mile from home, came out, and
after an excellent race with Oliver Twist in the last quar-
ter, won by two lengths ; Glautias a bad third ; Long Odds
fell early in the race and except the first three nothing else
paneed the poet. -
LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
10 to 1 agst Satellite (take 12 to 1 freely)
12 to 1 agst Jealousy (taken)
LINCOLN HA.NDICAr.
10 to 1 agst Libellous

SCARBOROUGH STEEPLECHASES—WEDNESDAY.
The Scarborough Open Steeplechase (Handicap) of 10
soya each, 5 ft, and 3if declared, with 50 added. About
three miles and a half. 15 subs., 6 declared.

Mr.G.Simpson's Red Robin, aged,llst 101b(W.Simpson) 1
Mr. A. Dunhill's Endor Witch, aged, lOst 71b (Marson) 2
Mr.J. Cadman's Cherry Bounee,aqed, lOst 71b(Christian) 3
Mr. J. Hickes's Wild Flower, 6 yrs, lOst 71b .. (Dixon) 4

. .
The following also ran :—Joe Maley, Jessamine, and
Multum in Parvo.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Endor Witch, 3to 1 agst Jessamine,
5 to 1 agst Red Robin, 6 to 1 agst Joe Maley (off.)
Won by a length and a half ; four lengths between se-
cond and third; a bad fourth.
The Innkeepers' Plate of 1 soy each, with 15 added ; sell-

ing allowances. About two miles and a half. 10 subs.
Mr. Tindall's Crookshank, list (L2O) (Mr E. Ctawshaw) 1
Mr. J. F. Leighton's Sam Weller, list 71b (L3O)
(Mr. Leighton) 2
Mr. Wellburn's Cato, 12st (L4O) (Mr. G. Pearson) 3
The following also ran :—Widewake, Paddy, Seawar
Lass, Lord of the Tees, and Jeanie Deans.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Wideawake, 4to 1 agst Sam
Weller, 6 to 1 each agst Crookshank and Lord of the Tees.

Won by a length; a bad third.
The Yorkshire Hunters' Stakes of 5 sous each, 2 ft, with
50 added ; second to save his stake; weight for age;
selling allowances, &c. About three miles and a half,

13 subs_
Mr. W. J. Simpson's Rarey, aged, 12st 21b (J. Hopper) 1
Mr. Fernandez's Rook the Gardener, 6 yrs, 12st 21b
(Mr. Skipworth) 2
Mr. A. Dunhill's Endor Witch, aged, 12st 21b
(Mr. Leighton) 3
Mr. T. J. Smith's Sportsman, 5 yrs, 12st 91b (in. 31b ex.)
(Mr. Crawehaw) 4
Brompton and Cherry Bounce also ran.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Rarey, sto 2 agst Rook the Gar-
dener, 3 to 1 agst Sportsman.

Won by a length., six lengths between second and third ;
a bad fourth.

A BRIGAND'S Coup..—ltalian letters and news- I
papers contain excited accounts of the capture of
Marquis Avitabile by Pilone's band of brigands. Here is
one of the most graphic versions we have seen :—" The Mar-
quis Avitabile, president of the Neapolitan Bank, was on a
visit to one of his estates, situate on Mount Vesuvius, near
Torre del Grecco. On the morning atter his arrival the
Marquis proposed to one of his bailiffs to accompany him on
a shooting excursion in the neighbourhood. The two had
not proceeded far when they found themselves surrounded
by a company of armed men. The bailiff had scarcely time
to cry, Here is Pilone's band I' Iwhen one of the party,
approaching the Marquis, inquired, if he were M. Avita-
bile, and on receiving an affirmative reply, added, ' I will
trouble you to follow me.' The Marquis accompanied his
guide to a secluded spot upon the skirts of the mountain,and
was forthwith conducted into the presence of an individual
dressed in a red shirt, a hat a la Ballow, and displaying
three decorations on his breast. He was attended by about
)35 other persons accoutred in the same fashion as the first
batch. The protagonist, no other than the redoubtable
Pilone himself, then addressed his prisoner in the following
terms Marquis,—l am the commander-in-chief of the
outposts of the army of occupation, in the service of his
Majesty Francis 11, Without further preamble, I beg to
' inform you that as you could spare 60,000 ducats for Gari-
baldi, you certainly will not gruego the same sum to us.
You need not fear any ill treatment. We have orders not
to touch the persons of you dogs of Liberals ; but as
you do us much harm, intercept our correspondence, and
take our money, it is but just that you should be mulcted
in your turn." To this the Marquis replied that such a
sum as 00,000 ducats was out of the question either for
Garibaldi or any one else. To be brief, after some haggling,
it was agreed that the Marquis should pay 20,000 ducats,
£3,240, for his release. A messenger
was sent to Naples,
and the family of the hostage, after obtaining a promise
from the authorities that no attempts should be taken
against Pilone and his followers before the safe return of
the Marquis, proceeded to collect the money. 12,000
ducats were furnished by the bank, and the remaining 8,000
were raised by notes of hand signed by some of the Mar-
quis's family. The brigand seems to have treated his
visitor with great respect, invited him to dinner at a road-
side tavern, and in a convivial mement showed him a de-
cree bearing the signature of Francis 11, and nominatin g
the possessor, in fact, as he had stated, to the post of com-
mander in chief of the advanced posts, and among other
curiosities the brigand displayed a diploma investing him
with the dignity of a cavilicre. On the payment of the
money,all in nerd napoleons, for which all the money-
changers' ;lops in Naples had been ransacked, the Mar-
quisas set at liberty, and returned home in the evening
,
of the day of capture."