The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

BETTING-HOUSES.

We have been requested to publish the following
reasons which have been respectfully submitted to the
Attorney-General against the bill for the abolition of
betting-hotises :-
1. Because the preamble states matters which are, to a
great extent, exaggerated as to the tendency of a system
which has long been in existence without any law against
it, and which has been and is extensively patronised 4t
only by many noblemen and gentlemen, members of the
Legislature, personally as well as through their agents, but
by merchants, professional men of all grades, and trades-
men of every denomination.
2. Because the principal establishments have been
formed and are carried on by persons of probity and capi-
tal, whose transactions have invariably been conducted in
the most open and legitimate manner, without any attempt
at unfair dealing, by means of which they have secured
the confidence of all classes of the sporting community.
3. Because the national sport of horse racing has be-
come in degree a general necessity, the furtherance and
success of which are matters of increasing national in-

terest.
4. Because embarking in legitimate speculation has ever
been the characteristic of Englishmen, and enterprises of
this description are no more demoralising in their tendency
than " Freehold Land" and similar societies, which noto-
riously evade existing statutes, and rely upon the ballot
and the general doctrine of chances for success, which are
not only unrecognised by law, but, with the exception of
the Art Union of England, are actually prohibited.
5. Because there ought not to be one law for the rich
and another for the poor, which would practically be the
case if the bill should be passed into a law in its present
form, enabling the man of wealth and leisure to frequent
and bet upon races either at the post or at Tattersall's, or
some two or three similar places in London 9 particular
days and hours; while the less fortunate individual, whose
avocations prevent his absence from home, would be de-
barred his favourite amusement.
6. Because the journals of the House of Commons, upon
reference, will prove that not more than half-a-dozen pe-
titions in the aggregate have been presented against the
present system, with signatures not exceeding a hundred
in the whole, and which have been chiefly prepared by
persons inimical to the general recreation and amusement
of the less favoured classes.
7. That the learned introducer of the measure must
have been misinformed about the fact, that there was
" not a Prison or House of Correction in the country,
there was not an establishment for the punishment of
offenders, but furnished abundant and conclusive testi-
mony of the evils that had resulted from betting houses,
and of the vast number of persons that had been led into
dreadful temptation by moans of these houses; for,
speaking from memory only, it is believed that even
from " confessions," obtained from persons committed to
prison for trial in the metropolis, averaging more than
6,000 annually, there have not been above twenty who
have attributed, or rather have had their unfortunate
position attributed by others, to frequenting betting
houses, although it may have happened that inducements
had boon held out equally more alluring in other esta-
blishments, which have been carefully concealed.
8. That the most prominent, and indeed the chief case
of the kind in the metropolitan districts, was that of a
butler, who had robbed his master from having injudi-
ciously betted on horse races, and was convicted. But
many persons have become ruined from time to time among
the higher classes of society—men of mature years and
standing, from over indulgence in the system which is pro-
posed to be exempted from the operation of the Attorney-
General's measure, which has terminated in suicide ; and
the melancholy result has also occasionally occurred from
pecuniary liabilities of other kinds, both from the Stock
Exchange and numerous speculations authorised by law.
9. Because it is a pure error to suppose that the system
of betting has been established for the encouragement of
youth ; on the contrary, the great majority of persons fre-
quenting betting establishments are persons of mature
years, who have brought experience to bear on their in-
vestments ; and the presence of a youth under twenty-one
years is the exception, and not the rule.
10. Because even assuming some few clerks have, through
infatuation, been led into a departure from the paths of
honesty, and have made occasional bets on horse races, it
does not follow that the system should be suddenly prohi-
bited on that account ; for it would scarcely be argued
that if a servant had embezzled large sums of money, and
had subsequently been discovered with an inordinate
quantity of apparel and jewellery, the proceeds of the
plunder, that the vendors of such apparel and jewellery
should be stigmatised as having by the vending of their
wares indiscriminately conduced to the ruin of the thief,
which would be precisely as inconsistent a course as the
sweeping charges now made against persons who have in-
vested their time and capital in an honourable occupation.
11. Because there never has been any good without some
alloy, and although it is readily admitted that there have
been from time to time a few dishonourable persons en-
gaged in the pursuit, yet the system has grown so thoroughly
in improvement, that such persons have now no chance
whatever of gaining a livelihood, and their practices as in
other cases have been gradually finding their proper level.
12. Because there are during the present and the next
two months many heavy sporting events to be decided,
upon which large sums of money have been deposited by
the public, and if the system of business ba suddenly
stopped, without enabling both sides to " hedge*" accord-
ing to custom, the greatest injustice will arise ; for which
reason, should the Legislature in its wisdom see ;lit to pass
the measure complained of, it is hoped that may not
come into operation, at all events, until after the 1 foughton
Meeting at Newmarket, which closes the regulr br Racing
Season.
13. Because the bringing in of a Government; measure
at so late a period of the session does not afford the requi-
site time for calm deliberation on its provisions, especially
where interests of such magnitude and general popularity
are concerned ; and that time ought to be 94 forded for
giving the requisite explanations, urging objections, and
calling evidence in support thereof, by a reference to a
select committee.
14. Because vested interests are invariably respected by
the Legislature, which never willingly sacrifices without due
notice any class of her Majesty's subjects, and it. would be
a very serious matter to a great number of gentlemen
engaged in this puruit, if sufficient time be in ,t afforded
to enable them to satisfactorily wind up their business
according to the present system.
15. Because many gentlemen, who have rec eived and
are now occasionally receiving large sums of mo any in the
aggregate, from backers of horses upon future events, by
commission and otherwise, although deposited in idividually
in small sums, have contributed mainly towards the estab-
lishment and support of well-known, prominent, and popu-
lar stakes at the Spring Meeting at Epsom, and l they are
among others entitled to be protected and hea rd. against
the measure as affecting future betting generally..
16. Because if a select committee of the 'house be
granted, the parties interested will be enabled to prove the
truth of the preceding objections,—that hundred's of thou-
sands of pounds have yearly changed hands with unerring
punctuality where the law would not enforce the payment
of a shilling, thus showing a degree of honour and honesty
in the sporting world, wholly unparalleled in. the general
dealings of life, in matters supported by the strange st legal
protection.
London, July 19,1853.

THE NAVAL ENGINEERS AND THE ADMIHALTY.-.

We regret to find the recent Admiralty arra ngernents
for the retirement of this now valuable class of officers
has, whether intentionally or otherwise, been made the
occasion of another slight, not to say insult, to the
whole class. Instead of placing them in the same posi-
tion as other officers of similar rank, pensi on-tickets
have been issued to them, as in the case of a ship's cook,
and which compel the holder to go to the superin-
tendent of the nearest dockyard for his signature,
before the pension can be received. It is no use—the
stiff back of the " executive officer," even though a
Lord of the Admiralty, must bend. The " rutl Jess hand
of science" has levelled sterner stuff than a bluff I old com-
modore, or snarling, waspish admiral in office,, and they
must yield to the march like all others. It may be morti-
fying to find all the pomp of circumstance with. which a
ship was hove-to, stayed. or box-hauled, supplanted by
the simple cry of " stop her," " turn ahead,"' or " turn
astern ;" but there is no avoiding the changes, and if for
the safty of our shores we must have a steam-ileei, and,
consequently, men to rule the newly-adopt ed power
whose education and knowledge of their profession com-
pel their being paid as, and ranked with, "w ard.room9,
officers, there is a littleness in yielding what', is due to
them with a niggardly spirit, or in attempting: to make
or keep up distinctions which create a distaste " for the
service. Rear-Admiral Berkeley may talk of hik; Eton,
Harrow, and Rugby " acquirements until he empties
the House of Commons benches ; but corn.caon sense
will soon teach him that the efficiency of the service de-
mands that he be not allowed to empty the ateam-ships
of their engineers, by giving way to his conceits or his
prejudices. He will find that the hospitals a.nd the fac-
tories will make short work of his impetuous- and loud-
mouthed oratory, and the public will not confound our
intelligent scientific marine engineers with hiis " drivers
and stokers ;" nor the M.D.'s and members of medical
colleges that are now in the navy with the. " doctor's
mates of his overbearing age.--Plymouth,
h 1 ail.
THE MILITIA ESTIMATES.--Yesterday the militia
estimates for the year ending March 31, 1854, were
printed in a Parliamentary paper. The estimate to the
31st March, 1854, is 478,7401., and the numbers to be
raised 91,812. For the past year, ending the 31st March
last, the numbers were 56,746, and the estimate 386,7151.
BENEFICES.—According to a return printed on Wed-
nesday, six benefices have been united, under the 13th
and 14th Victoria, chap. 98, since May, 1851, all within
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