The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-11 00:00:00

Mr. lAayard and his Constituents.

Ls.st evening Mr. A. H. Layard, M.P., for South-
wark, met his constituents at the Bridge-house
Hotel, London-brid,9,e, for the purpose of rendering
an account of his Parliamentary conduct, and ex-
pressi.ng his views on the present state of public
affairs. T'ae meeting was very numerously attended.
On entering the room the hon. member was loudly
cheered. He was accompanied to the platform by
many of his most influential supporters in the
borough.

Mr. G. NEWMAN occupied the chair, and briefly
intredviced the business.

times, often on behalf of crowned heads and against
peoples; but he held that England, if she would re-
tain her position as a first-rate Power. most exert
a moral irfluence on the questions of European con-
cerns which affected;her interests. To do that how-
ever, she must be prepared to incur h -avy expenses ;
and that expense, he believed, Engliat men would
not grudge. The Government possessed the best
information of what took place on the Continent,
and could alone know the state of foreign arma-
ments. In 1861, Mr. Cobden wrote a pamphlet,
entitled " The Three Panics," in which he tried to
persuade us that our armaments were too large,—
infinitely larger than those of France ; and he
quoted returns to show what the French armaments
were. Now, curiously enough, an official report of
the state of the French navy at that time, to which
anybody could refer, had been published, and he
would quote a few facts from it. In France they
had a system of what were called " supplemental
credits"—that was to say, a certain estimate
was taken for the year for the fleet, the
manning, the building of vessels, and the rest; but
I beyond that, the Minister had the power of drawing
extra credits, which did not appear in the estimates.
Now, in the House of Commons the mistake had
been made of taking the French estimate alone,
without the supplemental credits. But the real state
of things was as follows:-1861—Vessels estimated
for, 171; number actually armed, 315; estimated
expenditure, £4,999 948; supplemental credit,
£3,350,000 ; total, /8,349,918; men
on shore, esti-
mated, 4,259; actual number, 8,113; excess,
3,854; at sea, estimate, 26,366; actual number,
42,840 ; excess, 16,474; total excess over estimate,
20,328 ; excess of expenditure in dockyards,
£1,800,000. He mentioned these facts to show how
careful our Government ought to be, and how heavy
a responsibility for the defence of the country rested
upon them. In Europe the elements of disturbance
were to be seen on almost all sides. The French
Emperor had proposed a Congress for their settle-
ment, and Englishmen, being a practical people,
always looked to see whether any project that was
proposed to them was likely to promote or defeat
its end. Having given every consideration to the
Emperor's scheme, her Majesty's Government,
acknowledging the good intentions of his Imperial
Majesty, had yet come to the conclusion that a Con-
gress would not practically attain the object in view.
The argnments of Lord Russell's despatch on that
head were, he thought, unanswerable. The good
sense of the English people had at once seizcd the
drift of those arguments and recognised their force.
Secret diplomacy had often been denounced, and in
diplomatic negotiations a certain amount of secresy
was indispensable to their success; but in this case
the official despatches were submitted to the public,
and on the whole, approved by them, almost as soon
as,they were written. It Russia would not give up Po-
land under pressure of the three Powers, she would
not do so under the pressure of a Congress. Austria
would not give up Galicia, nor would:Prussia give
up Posen. Neither was France likely to give up
Savoy and Nice, whatever might be the decision of
a Congress. But if these questions were raised, how
could animosities be avoided, ending most probably
in war ? No country had less to fear in going into
a Congress than England ; none less of selfish inte-
rest to seek. Selfish feeling, also, was utterly alien
to the decision which the British Government had
taken in this matter. He was surprised that their
Italian friends had jumped so quickly at the proposal
of a Congress. Of all the countries which had most
to lose from a Congress Italy was the first, because
the majority of the Catholic Powers would, no
doubt, have decided that Rome should remain in the
hands of the. Pope against the wishes of the Italian
people ; and Venetia, also, would have been worse
situated than ever. (Cheers.) He woula not at-
tempt to explain the Danish question to them, be
cause, perhaps, he did not quite understand it him-
self—(a laugh)—but her M.tjesty'S Government bad
there likewise endeavoured to persuade the con-
tending parties to come to an amicable understand-
ing, and to respect treaties, which after all must be
=he bases of all peace. He trusted that that warning
voice would be heeded, and that a fruitless war,
perhaps involving untold calamities to Europe and
'o the Powers immediately concerned, would be
averted. (Hear, hear.) He approached the subject
of Poland with feelings which he could not well
describe. History scarcely furnished a case more
deplorable, more horrible, or in which the Powers
had been more helpless. A po;icy almost of exter-
mination was being carried out in that unhappy
country, enforced relentlessly against young and
old, woman and man. The contemplation of it natu-
rally made an Englishman's blood run cold. (Cheers.)
But with all their sympathy for that down-trodden
race, the English people felt that they would not
be justified in going to war for them. Short of that

'Mr. LAYARD then presented himself, and was
greeted with vehement cheering. He said it was a
custom among the ancient Egyptians when a man
died for his friends and enemies to assemble to say
all the good and evil they could of him, in order to
see whether he ought to have a ticket for crossing
the gulf which separated him from the realms of
the blessed. With us it was a custom to go through
thot ceremony during a man's lifetime, if he hap-
pened to be a member of the Legislature; and ODer..l
a year he was obliged to appear before his friends
and enemies to submit to all manner of cross- ques-
tionings and examination, in order, if possible, to
obtain a ticket which should carry him over the
gulf of a general election to the happy period of a
new Parliament. (Hear, and a laugh.) If he were
fortunate enough 'to obtain that pass from them he
should feel amply rewarded for presenting himself
to them on that and other occasions. It had been
a frequent pre ctice with public speakers to abuse
the late session, and assert that nothing had been
done by Pexliament. He did not quite agree with
that state'tent, but even if it were true there would
not, after all, be very much to complain of.
Parlia-
ment must be a reflex of public opinion in
bent
is
country, end if public opinion were anxiously
e
on the carrying of any great measure, they
might depend upon it that an opportunity would
be given in Parliament to those who were really in
favour of them to make their influence felt. To use
a common expression, they could not have sensation
Parliflraents if they had no sensation questions in
rahge e
d o
did
d amend
not
infer the
the country. Certainly, in the late session nothing
had been done to extend the suffrage
of the people ; but
from that that the Liberal members who had pre-
viously taken a deep interest in those measures were
now less inclined to support them than they had
been a few years ago. Mr. Bathes and Mr. LtAke
Xing had both thought it unadvisable to ptess their
.proposals relating to the borough and the county
franchise on the attention of the House. To have
done so might hale damaged instead of promoted
the cause they sincerely had at heart ; and
no doubt
they had shown a wise disoreton Scarcely any
allusion to the extension of
the suffrage..
was to be
net with in any of the recent "extra Parliamen-
tary u t terances." He did not argue from that that
such an "tenaiwo was not necessary ; on the con-
trary, he belie,. ed that it would be a wise course to
concede it, anal that it was eminently deserved by
the Pe°Pl.e. At former periods of our history, when
unexpected distress occurred among the community,
violent 'scenes of disturbance were witnessed and a
=Qua], estrangement of classes. That was because
the pemple then had not the advantage of a free
prQss and a widely-spread education. They did
not know exactly what their rights and their re-
lations to the rest of the community were, and
they immediately attributed to wrong causes the
sufferings which pressed upon them at the moment.
Now, however, 'he people were intelligent, and
instructed in the maxims of political economy, and

did not ascribe to the Legislature or the Govern-
ment a distress which neither could prevent. The
noble 'attitude of the cotton operatives of Lanca-

shire 1... ad brought into prominence the high quali-
ties of the British workman. He regretted deeply
the Erpeeches lately delivered by two eminent men,
"no:1g personal friends of his—he meant Mr. Cobde❑
and Mr. Bright. They were painful speeches. (No.)
He was expressing his own opinion—(cheers)—and
must say he thought his hon. friends greatly mis-
'understood the position of the people of England.
Having had some experience of most countries in
.Europe, he maintained that, notwithstanding the
evils which existed in England—and God knew he
did not seek to make light of them—our labouring
classes were infinitely better off than the labouring
clas3es of many other European countries. He did
not now speak of our colonies or of the other side of
the Atlantic. It was stated in the speeches to which
he referred that it the working man had political
power he would have land, and that if he had land
he w ould. be prosperous. Now, reversing that, did
the ..vorking man who had land necessarily enjoy
poYLtical power? Would those acquainted with the

condition of the labouring man in France, for ex-
ample, assert that he enjoyed or exercised political
e power ? He said that he did not, and granting that
the franchise did not go so low with us as it should
do, -yet he maintained that, indirectly, our working
cla,,ses exercised more political power than was
wi e.l?..ed by the same classes in any other country in
Ear ope. (Hear, hear.) Messrs. Cobden and Bright
had denounced the want of education in this coun-
ts y, affirming that our people were not educated up
'to the level of other nations. (" They are not.") It
might sound like a paradox, but that arose from the
eree.. ,sa,amount of liberty enjoyed in England*
a I:,:s:tnstr any other continental State might pass
eelle,3l:3bhging every man to send his children to
thie „al
tt it was impossible to pass such a law in
twis matter A large portion of our people insisted in
coria;:ion being left atone, they would not have
educate their
per, and claimed the right to
per. But thou education
as they thought pro-
forced upon the education in England could not be
Prl
greatly left to l'e,°Ple by the State, and must be
vut_
-Was really opposed
t: effJrt, nobody amongst us
that could be said Etba its diffusion, and the worst
at
the aristocracy did not in-
cludesuch an aceusatio
hear.) They heard a geZthat against them. (Hear,
educated" democracy. No dda'ibsal of talk about " an
, it was the highest
desideratumdesideratumof any pbilotiophert
to have such a do-
mocracy ; but then it should be tthoenlly educated, so
as to enable it to recognise
owed
to the rights moral restraints
some
countries
which made a man feel what be
acy
swamped
of others as well as to himself, In
they had seen the educated detneer
the uneducated. To him, indeed, question
by
the franchise was a question of education
give the suffrage to the man who had
gence to use it, but not to him who had not Eme," ,
intelligence. (Cheers.) The last session Could not
altogether be called a useless session. for it had wir..
nessed the springing up of a desire for economy.
The -great object of Mr, Geedstone had been to in-
caleate the importance of a reduction of expendi-
ture; and last session he had been enabled to lower
the tea duties and the income-tax. True, the pro-
posal to deal with public charities had to be with-.
drawn ; hut all who beard or read Mr. Gladstone 's
masterly speech on that subject would feel that an
alteration in the discreditable state of these institu-
tions must one day be attempted. (Hear.) Having
alluded to the removal of St. Thomas's Hospital
from that district ass gross violation of the founders
will, Mr. Layard proceeded to the foreign questions
which had been discussed during the past session.
Nlessrs, Cobden and Bright told them that they
°ught to have nothing to do with such subjects, yet,
strange to say, two-thirds at least of their own re-
speeches were devoted to foreign politics. (A
" Don% run them down.") He did not run
Yoasr down, but met argument by argument.
It '
was :In
11), nAgn
I,,ll,isible to keep this country from foe
Englishmen were determined to
maintain ee„,B. .
Pace among the nations of the world
to which they
were
entitled by their intelligence
and their noble traditions,trsuffrage Did they believe that
with an extended su
they would have no in-
terference with for,ir,
lately show, for q_eeestions ? 11rhy, the sym-
pat ,rotand had emanated
more
from the lower classes that, from the high
so far from the Government
taking
the l
er and,
they
had, as it were, been
eemPelled to restrain the popu-
lar ardour. (Hears hear.) It was often
said
that
the United States did not meddle
""u other
them to -r people's
affairs, but kept butthemselves.
Lem, Was That
might be possible for them,
-ut possible
fEuropean family, for
us. As a member the "Y, we We,
in a totally different category from Ame • --
1.1
was not advocating the odious policy of interven-
tion, a policy adopted by this country in former

the Government had done what it could in their
behalf. He wished it could have done more. The
opponents of the Government said in one breath
that it had done too much and that it had done too
little, saying at one moment " Why did you say you
would not go to war ?" and at another, " You gave
encouragement to the Poles." These two things
were irreconcilable. If the Government said at
once that it would not go to war, how could it have
given encouragement to the Poles ? Some argued
that it ought to have done nothing ; but if at the
time the insurrection broke out her Majesty's Go-
vernment had not remonstrated with Russia, as it
was warranted by treaty in doing, would it not
have been visited with the reprobation of the
country ? Sad as was the position of Poland, he
did not despair. The history of nations showed
that great crimes always brought about their own
punishment. The result of the great deportation
of the Polish people, instead of destroying disaffec-
tion in Poland, would be to carry disaffection else-
where; so that the cruelties now committed by
Russia might ultimately bring about their own
punishment. For the policy of strict neutrality
pursued by the Government in regard to America
he confidently claimed the approval of the country.
That policy could not be carried without extreme
difficulty, as was exemplified by the case of the iron-
clads. It had been often asked why our merchants
should be allowed to supply munitions of war to
one of the belligerents and not allowed to supply
ships to the other. The answer was very simple—
the law prohibited the sale of ships, but did not
prohibit the sale of munitions of war. The Govern-
ment had endeavoured to enforce the law to the
uttermost, but without straining it one tittle.
The Government was bound to protect the
rights of British merchants ; but on the
'Mier hand, those merchants had likewise a
luty resting on them as honourable and up-
right citiz:.ns. For the sake of private gain they
Zht not to expose their country to the risk of
Re l'lrilunged in war with a kindred nation. (Hear)
turned from the West to the East. Mr.
''-heetha tai
511,the chairman of the Manchester Cotton
Assoeiat
country vitde'°ll4l3' that morning told him that the
eimicy of that had done most to supply the
articledefi-
in oar markets, and which had
been most liberal
;vas Turkey. The nuances
the cultivator and the buyer,
exte::inces of that Power had also
and
its
awhuich even he cow(' not have
improved to an
ti
gild were putting
ltaoterdt,he
first
efts
theira Budget exhibiting to
He mentioned these thr.evenue and expendi-
ture.
him b g% in answer to the
tcfc:renwtwealliordrPld the state
attacks made upon Mr. Gold
win
Oxford, who had prostituted the
chair
fbnaHit.h o, of
by mingling ill the dirty a.reott of party et rifrey
Coining to China and s he read With astonish-
ment Mr. Cobden's statement that we had gone to
and P'zarro
" loot,' and the inevitable $
our only object being
those regions in the spirit of Cortes
' to make us re-
sult of our policy beingmasters of
China. The truth was that our policy no,
con_
sisted in avoiding quarrels with the provincial go_
vernors of China, and in having recourse
,htot
n the
Central Government, with the view
toany.
should
derstanding with it, treating it as We
civilised nation, admitting our own obligations to-
wards it, and expecting from it, in turn, respect for
our treaty rights. In regard to British officers en-
tering the service of the Chinese Government, they
were to all intents and purposes Chinese officers
while they continued in that employment. The
same practice had been followed from time imme-
morial. Peter the Great, whose empire was very
much in the same state as China now was, organised
r
his fleet, his army, and his civil administration,

with the assistance of Englishmen, Frenchmen, and
Germans. An Englishman at present held the
post of admiral in the Turkish navy. We had an
enormous trade with China, and the Taepings, a
ruthless horde of marauders, threatened its destruc-
tion by seizing the treaty ports. We had interposed
to protect our trade, and that was the entire extent
of our interference. Our exports to China had risen
nnttoafktehneftrroamdethweitThaHe;nnkgos wansdinocpeetnheadt
to our commerce.
from £1,027,000 to £5,451,000 in six years. Here
hstatement
ebme es
was
placea

" Hankow, 1862.—Total value of trade, 1862, £6,189,951,
showing an increase of £3,011,482 10s. over previous year.
Of tonnage—Aggregate, 290,536, of which British 128,478,
showing increase of 1,061 vessels and 196,103 tons over
previous year. At Shanghai, again, the duties collected
in December, 1869, were £122,000; in December, 1861,
£281,500,"

would do, otherwise they would have no business
to be in office. The acts of Government were marked
by liberality and patriotism. In placing Mr. Stans-
fsld at the Admiralty, in choosing a man like Sir J.
Lawrence as Governor-General of India—(cheers)
—and in their other appointments, he believed they
had earned the approval of the public. For these
and many other results of their administration of
public affairs he thought he could therefore con-
scientiously claim for them the support of their
countrymen. (Loud cheers.)
Several questions were then put to the hon. mem-
ber by persons in the hall, most of which were of
local interest. In replying to his interrogators, he
said that considerable progress had lately been
made in the abolition of the lash in the army and
navy, and that the destruction of the dwellings of
the working classes for metropolitan railway im-
provements had led to evils which called for serious
public attention.
A resolution thanking Mr. Layard for his address
and expressing approval of his public conduct was
then adopted by the meeting, amid loud cheers, and
the proceedings terminated.

That increase to our commerce had been most valu-
able at a time when our cotton trade was paralysed.
He now turned to Japan—a subject which no doubt
would give rise to many important discussions. Some
200 years ago, the Japanese admitted Euro-
peans, chiefly Catholic missionaries, into their ter-
ritory. Religious dissensions, afterwards springing
up, the Government thought the Christians were op-
posing their authority, and a massacre took place,
when many of the missionaries were slain and the
rest expelled the country. From that period until
very recently there was scarcely any intercourse be
t ween Japan and the outside world. He did not
know whether in these days any nation could com-
pletely isolate itself from the rest of mankind, but
that was not the question. But it was the Russians
and Americans who first broke through the isola-
tion of Japan by obtaining treaties from its rulers
on behalf of their traders; and he maintained
that our Government, under those circumstances,
had no alternative but to establish similar rela-
tions with that country. Had they refused
to do that they would have been told that
whenever there was a fight they were sure to put
their noses into it—(a laugh)—but that when trade
only was concerned they would do nothing to secure
for our merchants the privileges enjoyed by Russians
and Americans. Well, Lord Elgin had negotiated
a treaty with the Tycoon, placing us on the same
footing as those other nations. We commenced no
aggressions on the Japanese, but simply established
ourselves where we had a right to be. Sir R.
Alcock had scarcely taken up his residence in Japan
before the British Legation was attacked, one inter-
preter and two foreigners murdered, and several
other persons dangerously wounded. We, however,
made allowance for the difficulties of the Japanese,
who asked us to defer going to certain ports
to which we we /toe admitted by treaty, and they sent
a mission to the British Government to make that
request. We received their embassy with every
mark of friendship, and not only granted their re-
quest, but prevailed on other Powers to do the
s me. The treaty gave foreigners the right of tak-
ing exercise on the high road to Jeddo. One day
three Englishmen and a lady were riding there,
when they fell in with one of the Daimios, who
appeared to have hated foreigners, and who conse-
quently gave orders to his followers to attack these
innocent strangers, who had drawn up on the side
of the road to avoid his party. The lady and the
other gentlemen escaped with their lives, but Mr.
Richardson was most barbarously murdered. For
these outrages we demanded reparation from the
Japanese Government, together with the punishment
of the chief by whose orders they were committed.
The Japanese Government made an apology and paid
over a large sum of money, but said they could not
punish that independent Daimio, who did not re-
cognise their authority, but must leave us to deal
with him ourselves. Our only course then was to
tall them that if they could not control him we
would punish him ourselves. If we had not done that,
and any further outrages occurred, the Japanese
Government could easily have again urged chat they
were powerless to coerce the wrongdoer, and British
subjects might have been murdered with impunity.
Admiral Kuper was accordingly ordered to go to
Kagosima and punish the Prince of Sutsuma. Re
dress having been refused, our squadron took
possession of three steamers belonging to that
prince. Much misapprehension existed as to the
conduct of the Admiral on that occasion. It had
been said that having seized these three steamers
he flaunted them before the Japanese, that they
naturally fired on him, and that he had no right to
put himself in the way of making them fire upon
him. Now, the bay or harbour of Kagosima was
very narrow, or not more than 4,000 yards wide at
its broades' part. It was blowing a gale, and the
Admiral went into the bay to get out of the gale.
He seized the vessels, and could no get out
again without passing the batteries, which fired on
him as he came out. What could he do under those
circumstances ? If he had allowed the Japanese
to injure his vessels and kill his men without re-
senting it, everybody would have said he had acted
a part unworthy of a British officer. Moreover,
the Japanese would immediately have said that the
English fleet had been beaten, and there probably
would have been a general massacre throughout
Japan. He was therefore bound to return the fire.
The castle of the Prince was immediately in the
middle of the town. A Japanese town it should be
remembered was built of lath and plaster. A con-
flagration ensued—a great calamity which no one
deplored more than her Majesty's Government. He
was not there to defend it for a moment; but it was

impossible to return the fire of the batteries without
running the risk of setting fire to the town, built of
such inflammable materials. It was most lamentable
that a large number of innocent people should have
been exposed to that misfortune, and it was
most unfortunate that an English fleet should
have been the cause of it ; but the thing was
inevitable, and they ought to give some credit to our
naval officers, and wait till they had had an oppor-
tunity of giving an explanation of their acts. Hon-
ourable men at a distance from England, discharging
difficult and responsible duties, ought not to be con-
demned hastily or accused of cruelty and barbarity
until they had had a fair hearing. (Hear.) The Go-
vernment were not responsible for these things, but
there were other persons really responsible. He,would
speak with tenderness and respect of British mer-
chants, but the greatest difficulties of the Govern-
meet in these matters originated with our merchants.
Great houses like the Lindsays, the Jardines, and
others would not do anything calculated to involve us
in war ; but the moment the Japanese ports were
opened there rushed thither a swarm of adventurers
who thought the only use of a British Minister or a
British fleet was to enable them to secure their dis-
honest gains. These adventurers went there, looking
upon the people as their lawful prey, and did things
some of which might make men's blood ru❑ cold.
The blue-books showed how they put forward ficti-
tious and monstrous claims in unreal and even in-
decent names. When these men, who were a dis-
grace to the English name, got into trouble, the
first thing they did was to call on their own Govern-
ment to defend them. If they were not listened to,
they raised a loud outcry, and wrote home com-
plaints against our official representatives. The
British merchant was entitled to protection for his
lawful, but not for his unlawful trade. (Cheers.)
Our countrymen were bound to respect the native
population among whom they lived, to act like honest
traders, and abstain from injustice and fraud.

(Cheers.) He had recently come from Italy, where he
felt proud to see that the sympathies of Englishmen
had not been thrown away, and that that great
country was making the most extraordinary pro-
gress. England certainly never stood higher than at
this moment in the estimation of the world. Her
influence was never greater, because she sought to
commit aggression upon none and envied none. She
t e
wished to see every country enjoying peace and
prosperity, and her independent position placed her
in the very front rank of nations. It was often said
that
Go-
vernment, t
that was in no degree due to the present Go-
and that their political opponents would
d o cEte
tly the same as they did. Now, everything
that
the Government did was censured and con-
dperemns.ed
Tnet;
opposite
than their opponents
South, and for s
Were blamed. for not recognising the
with
hd
o n
tPhPaltogt. the steam rams. Ought he
in)uot:6B:uor:tinGtfhoeervefrvr
uconuirse, and plunge the
manyted States ? He be-
coelairinyenc:aPenthe'at their opponents would
other questions the
pclioeruynetarythianttoonwtahrar

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1863,

(From the Saturday Review.)

If the Court is satisfied, we also are satisfied with its deci-
sion.

The President—Then the application is withdrawn ?
The Prosecutor—lt is simply withdrawn becauk it is
irrelevant.
The President—Yes ; the Court considered it irrelevant.
The Prosecutor—Then we simply withdraw it.
Atter a pause,
The Prosecutor—Will the Court allow me to ask one
more question of Ardessar before he goes ?
The Prisoner—May.l beg to ask the Court whether the
prosecution is not closed and the defence also ? how, there•
fore, is it possible to recall the witness?
The President—We will see what the question is.
Colonel Pipon (Judge Advocate)—Am I to understand,
then, that the Court has decided that this matter is not
relevant to the charges?
The President—Yes ; the Court decide that.
The Prosecutor—The prosecution feel themselves bound,
under those circumstances. to withdraw the application.
Prisoner—With great respect to the Court, I must be
permitted to observe that the prosecution is conducting this
case in a manner in which no criminal case has ever been
conducted before. If Ardessar is recalled and reques-
tioned, I must withdraw my statement that the defence has
been closed.
After a short pause,
The Prosecutor—We withdraw the application to recall
the witness.
The President—The Court is adjourned till 10 o'clock on
Thursday, the 17th inst,

THE RACING SEASON OF 1863,

gious customs permit that, after the accomplishment of the
pious duties, the rest of the day should be devoted to
repose and amusement, and we know of none more inno-
cent or more suitable to offer to a population than a
spsctacle which attracts by its magnificence and
recommends itself to notice by its usefulness." The Vis-
count goes on to urge, in effect, that as he and his French
friends have always kept Sunday in England, his English
friends ought not to insist on keeping it in France. He
considers that the same rule applies to either case—namely,
to respect and conform to the habits of the country where
one happens to be. He adds, that "in such a democratic
country as ours" it would be unwise to hold the races on a
day when only unoccupied persons could be present at
them ; and he concludes by expressing regret if the French
Jockey Club, on whose behalf he writes, should have
shocked anybody in England. The answer of Admiral
Rous to this letter, on behalf of the English Jockey Club,
admitted that the French Club were bound to name the
day most suitable to the gratification of the French public.
Thus it was arranged that the Grand Prix de Paris should
be run for a Sunday, although the principle of reciprocity
of habits propounded by Viscount Daru was not adopted by
Admiral Rous, who doubtless saw that it was question-
able, if not dangerous.

It is a common error to exaggerate the importance of con-
temporary events, but if the racing season of 1863 has not
been of superior interest to many preceding seasons, it must
at any rate be allowed that, at the present moment, it is more
vividly remembered. It is always difficult to determine
whether the best horses of any particular year are excep-
tionally bad. Facts may be adduced in support of either
opinion, and thus, while one party insists upon the merit of
Lord Clifden's performance in the last St. Leger, another
party asserts that he had a very moderate lot of horses to
contend against. It will, however, scarcely be contested
that one event of the last season deserves to be classed among
the most remarkable which the Turf has known. The dead
heat between Buckstone and Tim Whiffler for the Ascot
Cup, and the deciding heat in which Buckstone was victori-
ous, afforded a spectacle never to be forgotten by those who
witnessed it. In spite of complaints that racing, as at pre-
sent managed in England, does net conduce as much as
might be desired and expected to the improvement of the
English breed of horses, it must be owned that the produc-
tion every year of two or three horses of the quality of Buck-
stone is a result which justifies a very large expenditure of
time, trouble, and money. That the result is appreciated
abroad is proved by the eagerness of foreigners to purchase
English horses which have attained to the highest reputa-
tion in their respective years. If, in order to produce a
small number of first-rate horses, it is necessary to make many
experiments, it follows that encouragement must be given
to breeding, and the best of all encouragements is to provide
plenty of stakes to run for. A justification is thus found
for the system of handicapping, which is designed to give
everybody a chance, and for two-yr-old races, which are in-
tended to offer what breeders of every kind of stock demand
—viz„ a prospect of some early return for capital expended.
It is perhaps doubtful whether the development from year
to year of the existing system of horse-racing is attributable
to its soundness or to that growth of wealth and population
which has introduced larger figures into many branches of
statistics. It is, however, certain that the number of horses
entered for the great races increases every year; and the
number of races, great and small, has become so large that
in eight months of incessant activity, extending from March
to November, it is scarcely possible to get through the
business of the regular racing season. The comparative
quiet of the four winter months is devoted to discussin g
the results which have been arrived at, especially with re-
ference to the two-year-olds, whose recorded performances
are anxiously compared in the hope of attaining some in-
sight into the chances of the ensuing season. Already the
newspapers contain regular returns of betting on the Two
Thousand and the Derby of 1861. The French Fine de
l'Air is first favourite for the Guineas, and if she were en-
tered for the Derby she would doubtless be first favourite
for that race also. In her absence, the first place in the
Derby betting is occupied by Scot, ish Chief, making the
fourth horse of Mr. Merry'B that the public has elevated to
that position in the last five years.
Steeplechasing,.mixed with a little fiat racing,was carried
on pretty steadily all through last winter and early spring.
The racing season proper may be taken to have commenced
at Northampton on the 24th of March. Even at this early
period of the season, two-year-olds run, and are watched
with interest only inferior to that excited by horses a year
older. The meeting at Northampton brought out that
splendid five-yr-old Asteroid, and one or two other veteran
performers of high merit ; but at this moment the most
interesting fact recorded as occurring at Northampton is
that the two-yr-old filly Molly Carew beat Midnight Mass,
an undeniable good cult of the same year, with tolerable
ease. The Newmarket Craven meeting, which began en
the 6th of April, was marked by two events which attracted
perhaps more, and a third which certainly attracted less,
attention than it deserved. The French mare Stradella
beat, in different races, two of the best horses of her year—
Buckstone and The Marquis—and thereby acquired a re-

Only one day intervened between the Paris meeting and
that of Ascot. The Cup day was graced by the presence of
the Prince and Princess of Wales, and it Eaw the finest race
of the year—such a race, indeed, as is only likely to be seen
once in many years. Tim Whiffler as a three-yr-old had
beaten everything he met. After winning the Chester
Cup and other races, he fairly ran away at Goodwood
from a field which comprised some of the best horses
then in training. At Doncaster he met Asteroid,
,the
best horse of his year, and•beat him. At the same meet-
ing he encountered Buckstone, and again triumphed. It
was natural to bet odds on such a horse against
Buckstone for the Ascot Cup, and the public supported
him enthusiastically. But Tim had not improved
with age, though his speed was undeniable and his action
as beautiful as ever. All that Rogers' splendid riding
could do was to bring off a dead heat. Nevertheless, in the
deciding heat, 6 to 4 was freely laid upon Tim Whiffler.
The same tactics were put into play in both heats. Tim
forced the running at a tremendous pace, and the second
heat was actually run in 14 seconds less than the first. But
it was evident, even as he came up the hill the first time,
that he felt the weight he was carrying, and his distress as
he climbed the hill to the winning-post the second time was
terrible. Buckstone, a far more powerful horse, beat him
easily. No one who saw that finish expected to see Tim
Whiffler at the post again, and indeed he has never started
for a race since that day, Mr. Merry's fortune on the great
day of the Royal meeting was remarkable. Besides the
splendid prize of the Cup which Buckstone gained for him,
he won a race with Scottish Chief, whose running on that
day is doubtless remembered by those who are now backing
him for the Derby, and another race with Gladstone. The
chief features of the latter half of the season, particularly
Goodwood, York, and Doncaster, will deserve notice on
some other occasion. There was fine racing at these three
places, but nothing so memorable as the two contests for
the Ascot Cup.

putation which proved disastrous to those who backed her
afterwards for the Chester Cup. Macaroni, who was then
little regarded, won a three-yr-old stake with great ease,
and thus afforded a hint of his quality which only the dis-
cerning few turned to profitable account. The Epsom
Spring Meeting showed Molly Carew to be the best two-
yr-old then out. On the 21st of April, the race for the Two
Thousand Guineas taught the public what Macaroni really
was. He won this race rather easily, but it can scarcely
be doubted, aft 3r subsequent experience, that he had
a moderate lot behind him. The four days' sport
at Chester next claimed attention. That meeting did
not result in the discovery of any unsuspected prodigy of
1.4 three-year-old, but the race for the Cup was one of the
most interesting of the season. It was won, after 'A fine
struggle, by Asteroid, carrying over that severe course the
crushing weight of 9st 41bs, and giving nearly 2st for a
year to Stradella, who at Newmarket defeated The Marquis
at nearly equal weights. At the same meeting, however,
Asteroid failed to give Ist for a year to Buckstone, who
beat him very easily by a length. The nearly approaching
Epsom meeting now absorbed all attention. It will be re-
membered that Lord Clifden had held the place of first
favourite from the very commencement of the betting,
although at one time the French horse Hospodar came to
nearly even terms with him. The reputation of Hospodar
was founded on his having won both the Clearwell and the
Criterion stakes in the previous autumn, and it was de-
stroyed by his utter failure for the Two Thousand Guineas,
It is remarkable that Fille de l'Air, like Hospodar, has won
the Criterion and become first favourite for the Guineas.

It is justifiable to regard Hospodar as something of an im-
postor, but whatever may be the result of next year's racing,
File de l'Air has done this year several things which leave

no doubt of her genuine quality. Indeed, if one were called

upon at this moment to name the best two-year-old out, it
would be difficult, upon puolic running, to look anywhere
but to the French filly. But, dropping the prophetic, and
returning to the historic vein, let the mind revert to that
most miserable of holidays which Londoners endeavoured
to enjoy on the Derby day of 1863. The rain, the mud,
and the umbrellas—these features of that dismal festival
are remembered almost as vividly as the figure of
Challoner bringing up Macaroni to overhaul Fordhain and
Lord Clifden. There is no need to tell how that Derby was
won by a short head, and how the ring and Mr. Naylor and
his friends triumphed, while the public generally lamented
with Lord St. Vincent. The weather on the Oaks day was
as fine as on the Derby day it was wretched. The result
of the race was a surprise, even to many of those who ought
to have known something about the winner. Queen Bertha
was scarcely backed for a farthing, and 40 to 1 was offered
against her before starting. She was guided beautifully by
Aldcroft into the first place, defeating, among other com-
petitors, Isoline, who afterwards won the Goodwood Cup,
and Borealis.

From Epsom the scene changes to Paris, for now those
who make horse-racing a business attend meetings in France
as well as in England. Horses cross and recross the Chan-
nel with far greater facility than a few years ago they
found in moving from Surrey to Yorkshire, although the
most enthusiastic admirer of Mr. Cobden could scarcely
ascribe the opening of this branch of trade to his diplomatic
labours. The greatest international race-meeting hitherto
held was that which witnessed the contest for the Grand
Prix de Paris on Sunday. May 31. Then, for the first
time, did a quiet orderly French race-course resound with
all the babel of an English ring. " Parlez- yens frangais ?"
inquired an excited Yorkshireman of a native, " Oui,
monsieur," was the polite reply. " Then I'll lay agin the
mare to a monkey." It will be remembered that La
Toucques, "the French Blink Bonny," as she was called,
from having won both the French Derby and Oaks, was
the first favourite for the Grand Prix. Lord Clifden was
the next best favourite, but he was so evidently amiss
after his Epsom exercises, that his going was aptly com-
pared to that of a cat upon hot bricks. The race fell to
The Ranger, who had shown some form in the early spring,
and, as his friends averred, had been disappointed in the
Derby when Saccharometer and King of the Vale fell and
he had to come round them, The French mare sustained
her reputation by running second, and she afterwards in-
creased it by a performance upon English ground. It may,
perhaps, be interesting to notice the reasons adduced by
Viscount Daru, in a letter to Admiral Roue, for holding this
race on a Sunday. It appears that this arrangement had
been objected to in England, and the writer, "desiring
greatly to find an amicable solution," declared that "thellw
habits and social necessities of his country" did not allow
those with whom he acted to arrange otherwise. F
racing has not acquired the importance which
• institution, useful
Only for a small minority is it " a seriouusmi it deserves.
numb©r it is only an
to public interest." For the great,3rwina
give a holiday, but
agreeable spectacle, to which p
071° it would be an illusion
for which they will not make
Parliamentary adjournment for
the Derby. If a wee
to hope to see in France a
be chosen for the races, they
will attract no spectators, weekday
France, the social and reli-