The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-07 00:00:00

SATURDAY EVENING„IANUARY 7, 1865.

Naval and Military Intelligence.
..

Instructions were yesterday received at Chatham
dockyard from the Admiralty directing the sailing
frigate Vernon, 50, attached to the reserve in ordinary,
to be brought forward and fitted as a flagship at
Woolwich, to take the place of the Fisgard, 42, which
for some time past has been unfitted for that duty.
The Vernon will be at once taken in hand at the
dockyard, and rigged and masted, her services being
required as soon as she can be got ready. The Fis-
gard, On being relieved, will be attached to the
squadron of sailing vessels reserved to be broken up.
The screw corvette Cadmus, 21, 400-horse power,
Capt. A. C. Gordon, was yesterday swung for the
adjustment of her compasses by the officials con-
nected with the master shipwright's staff at Chatham
dockyard. She will ship her powder and filled shells
on Monday, in readiness for taking her departure
from the Nore, and will call in at Spithead for final
orders.

Two of the large bower anchors, together with the
chain cable and other portions of the heavy gear
belonging to the line-of-battle sailing ship Superb,
80, which has recently returned to Chatham, from
the Thames, where she was employed as a receiving
ship for the officers and crew of the Turkish war
steamers Estourel and RelepersNursett, during the
time they were being fitted with the machinery,
were landed at Chatham dockyard yesterday. The
operation was expeditiously accomplished by means
of the steam traction engine recently introduced
into the dockyard for this description of work.
In consequence of there not being a dock at Sheer-
ness sufficiently large to take her Majesty's iron
screw steamship Valiant, 24, 4,063 tons, 800 horse
power, orders have been received that her fitments
are to be completed at as early a period as poSsible,
in order that she may be taken to Devonport to be
docked, and the bottom of the vessel cleaned.
The Barracouta, 6, paddlewheel sloop, 1,053 tons,
300 horse power, which was recently paid off by
Commander John D'Arcy, after having been in
commission four years on the North American and
West Indies station, is again ordered to be refitted,
and brought forward for commission on the same
station, in place of the Vesuvius, recently paid off.
The Barracouta has been taken into No. 2 dock at
Sheerness, and had her boiler and engines taken out.
A considerable number of engineers, shipwrights, &c.,
are employed on the necessary repairs both in the
machinery and hull. The vessel will not be again
ready for the pennant till the end of March.
Her Majesty's ship Formidable, flagship of Vice-
Admiral Sir C. Talbot, K.C.8., Commander-in-
Chief at Sheerness, was paid off at the close of the
year ; but was immediately recommissioned with the
same officers and men. On the occasion of the pay-
ing off the Lords of the Admiralty presented Michael
Bir, chief quartermaster, with the long service and
good conduct medal, and 151. gratuity ; Geo. Col-
lins, armourer, and Win. Scott, captain of the hold,
with the long service and good conduct medal and
101. each gratuity ; Wm. M'Kee, ship's steward, and
Wm. Matthews, gunner, with the long service and
good conduct medal.
A reduction of the 4th division of the depot Royal
Artillery, in command of Lieut.-Col. Gibbon, C. 8.,
at Woolwich, is stated to be ordered to take place
in April next, when the officers and men of the divi-
sion will be absorbed into others, many of which are
at present considerably below their•allotted strength
from casualties in India and otherwise.
The following case is attended with extreme hard-
ship :—Thos. Martin, now 34. years of age, served 12
years and nine months in the 69th, 60th, and 49th
Regiments of the Line, was 8 years and 11 months
in Malta and the Crimea, and was severely wounded
by grapeshot in the right foot at the taking of the
quarries on June 7, 1856. For his conduct on that
occasion he obtained Crimean and Turkish medals
with clasps for Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
He afterwards enlisted in the Royal Artillery, in
which he served 4 years and 11 months, and he is
now discharged as unfit for further service, owing
to blindness, .the result of his wound. As a total
reward for his lengthened services and wound he has
been awarded. a pension of 6d. a day for the term
only of 15 months, when he will become utterly
destitute. His discharge ticket is marked " good."
A number of mechanics and labourers have been
discharged during the week from the factory de-
partment of Woolwich dockyard, and others are
announced to follow shortly, owing to a reduction
ordered by the Board of Admiralty to meet the
estimated allowance:

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

.tEALING STEEPLECHASES.—FRIDAY.
With five races set for decision and a delightful day, a
strong muster was expected, as the programme promised a
good day's sport. The Castlelar Plate, set for 12.30,
brought but seven runners, and was won by Polly Hop-
kins, and the Hunters' Stakes was won in a canter by

Spring Gun. Eleven went to the post for the Surrey and

Middlesex Steeplechase, and the uncertainty of jumping

events was illustrated by The Rogue (who was favourite)
falling when looking all over the winner, and after various
contretemps Piggy Wiggy followed up his success of yester-

day by winning- cleverly. The two other races brought
out all the competitors entered, with one exception. The
last event was a turn-up for the fielders, the favourite,
backed at 5 to 4, beiog 'beaten by six lengths. Full de-
tails of the running will be found below :
The Castlebar Plate (Handicap) of 40 sovs ; entrance 2
soya to the fund; winners extra. Two miles.
Mr. Ellison's Polly Hopkins, aged, lOst 71b (Owner)
Mr. Thumwood's Sinite, 6 yrs, lOst 131 b (inc 31b ex) 1
(Pickett) 2
Mr. Wells's The Donkey, aged, lOst (J. New) 3
The following also ran :—Piggy Wiggy, Puss, Flying
Spur, and Irish Boy.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Flying Spur, 3to 1 agst Puss, sto
1 agst Piggy Wiggy, 6 to 1 agst Polly Hopkins.
Irish Boy made play, attended by Piggy Wiggy, whose
immediate followers were Polly Hopkins, Donkey, Sinite,
and Flying Spur, Puss being last. Coming down the hill
Donkey went up to the leader and passed the stand in ad-
vance, followed by Irish Boy, Sinite, and Polly Hopkins,
Flying Spur and Puss still lying last. Rounding the turn,
Flying Spur took up the running, but was soon after-
wards passed by Sinite, who led over the next fence, with
Irish Boy, Donkey, and Flying Spur in close attendance.
Shortly afterwards, going up the hill, The Donkey assumed
the lead, but after takingthe third fence from home dropped
back beaten, and Sinite, with Polly Hopkins in waiting,
came on together till reaching the last fence, which was
first taken by Polly Hopkins, who eventually won cleverly
by two lengths ; Donkey a bad third, Irish Boy fourth, and
Flying Spur Puss, and Piggy Wiggy came in at intervals

in the order named.
The Hunters' Stakes of 5 sous each, with a Cup added, for
horses that have been regularly hunted, and never won a
steeplechase; weight for age. Three miles.
Mr. J. Gilke's Spring Gun, 6 yrs, 12st (Mr. Ellison) 1
Mr. E. Elphick's Flying Spur, 5 yrs, 12st (J. Searle) 2

Paleface and Lord Martin also ran.
Betting-5 to 4on Spring Gun, 3to 1 agst Flying Spur,
4 to agst Paleface.
Paleface took the lead, but swerving at the first fence
Spring Gun took up the running, and soon had a command-
ing lead. After passing the stand a second time Lord Mar-
tin came down at the third fence, and J. Knott had a heavy
fall. Spring Gun from this point was never caught, and
won in a canter by six lengths ; Paleface was beaten a
quarter of a mile, and walked past the post.
The Middlesex Open Handicap Steeplechase of 7 sovs each
(2 sovs ft. to the fund), with 50 added ; winners extra.

About three miles and a half.
Mr. Saltmarsh's Piggy Wiggy, aged, list 51b (in. 31b ex
(Pickett 1
Mr. Belham's Sly Fox, aged, list 71b .........(T. Ablett 2
Mr. Linton's Shuttlecock, lOst 71b (W Griffiths 3
The following also ran :—Portland, Dobbyn, Gorsehawk,
Bravo, Ivanhoff, The Rogue, Overton, and Attaman.
Betting-7 to 4 agst The Rogue, sto 1 each agst Piggy
'Piggy and Attaman, 6 to 1 each Bravo and Gorsehawk, 8
to 1 agst Shuttlecock.
Bravo was first off, with Rogue in attendance, followed
by Goisehawk, Piggy Wiggy, and Dobbyn, the others in
a cluster. Before reaching the stand The Rogue took up
the running, and led out of the straight, his immediate fol-
lowers being Gorsehawk and Piggy Wiggy, the others well
up, with the exception of Ivanhoff, who was 100 yards in
the rear, and refused at the next fence. No noteworthy
change took place the next time round, when the leaders
passed the stand in the same order, but the others were
tailed off at long intervals. At the fourth fence the third
time The Rogue fell, and was not further persevered with.
Gorsehawk, who was now in command, came to grief
at the next fence, and left the lead with Piggy Wiggy,
who was not afterwards headed, and won by six
lengths ; Sly Fox was second, four lengths in advance of
Shuttlecock; and Overton cantered in some distance in

the rear.
A Selling Steeplechase of 3 soya each, with 20 added ;
weight for age, with selling allowances. Two miles.
Mr. Taylor's Dubious, aged, list 91b (301.)...(H01me5) 1
Mr. Saltmarsh's Betsy Baker, aged, list 91b
W `Brazier) 2
Mr. W. T. Cave's Lioness, aged, list 91b...(Mr. Ellison) 3
Betting-5 to 4 each agst Dubious and Betsy Baker, sto
1 agst Lioness.
Lioness made play, Betsy Baker going on second for the
first half mile, when the leader gave way to " Betsy,"
who, after passing the stand, fell at the next fence ;
Lioness from this time went on with the running till
within three-quarters of a mile from home, when Dubious
took his place with the leader, who retired beaten ; and
Brazier (who had gradually made up his lost ground),
hard pressed Betsy Baker, who, however, was never able
to overhaul Dubious, the latter winning easily by six
lengths ; Lioness beaten off. The winner was bought in
f0r,66 guineas.
A Sweepstakes of 3 sovs each, with a Cup added, for horses
• the property of Volunteers in the county of Middlesex ;
entrance 1 soy. Two miles.
Mr. W. Riley's White Stockings, 12st 71b ...(Mr. Grant 1
Mr. E. Green's Leicester, 12st 71b (Mr. Edwards 2
Mr. H. de B. Austin's Castle Hill, 12st 71b (J. New 3
The following also ran :—Dunstan, Polly Hopkins, and
Momus.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Leicester, 3to 1 agst Dunstan-7 to
2 agst Polly Hopkins.
White Stockings took up the running soon after starting,
and led into the straight, followed by Dunstan, with Castle
Hill next, Polly Hopkins and the others following. On the
far side, opposite the stand, Polly Hopkins fell and brought
down Castle Hill. The race from this point was reduced to
a match between the two leaders, but Leicester, never being
I able to get up, was beaten easily by six lengths ; Castle
Hill cantered in a bad third.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—YESTERDAY•
WATERLOO COURSING CUP.
100 to 7 agst Lord Uffington's nomination (offered)
100 to 6 agst Mr. Jardine's nomination (offered—take
20 to 1 freely)
25 to 1 agst Mr. Haywood's nomination (taken)
33 to 1 agst Mr. Bake's nomination (taken)
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STARES. •
10 to 1 agst Broomielaw (taken)
THE DERBY.
11 to 2 agst Liddington (offered)
10 to 1 agst Breadalbane (taken)
15 to 1 agst Chattanooga (taken)
25 to 1 agst Bedminster (taken)
25 to 1 agst Broomielaw (taken)

RACING FIXT

JRES FOR 1865.
ARY.

JANU.

Harrow
YEBRI

Birmingham l6
Lincoln Spring 2l

Derby Spring . 2
Liverpool Spring 7
Shrewsbury, Spring 9
Doncaster Spring l4

31.
TARY.
Nottingham Spring

Northampton 4
Croxton Park 7
Newmarket Craven l7
Durham

rsCH.
Warwick Spring
Chelmsford Spring
Barham

Newmarket Ist Spring
Chester 9
York Spring
Salisbury lB

'RIL.
Catterick Bridge
Abergavenny
Thirsk
Epsom Spring
AY.

Manchester 7
Chelmsford 7
Ascot l3
Alexandra Park 20
Hampton 2l
21
Newton

Bath
Harpenden
Epsom

Liverpool
Newcastle
Odiham
Bidbury
Stockbridge

JULY.
Newmarket July
Carlisle
Worcester
Pontefract
Abingdon
Stamford 3l Goodwood

Shrewsbury

13

STEEPLE CHASE FIXTURES FOR 1865,
JANUARY.

Aberystwith Hunts, 24, 26 I Harrow

- -
FEBRUARY.
Harrow
Carmarthenshire 7, 9 Datchet

~. AUGUST.
Brighton
Brighton Club 3 Plymouth
224
Huntingdon 8 Lichfield
Reading 10 Devon and Exeter 29
Egham l5 Derby Summer
3130
Oxford l7 Weymouth
SEPTEMBER. -
Leicester 7 Monmouth 2l
Doncaster .....................12 Manchester Autumn 22
Brecon ........................18 Newmarket Ist Oct. 26
' Richmond .....................19 Walsall.. 27
OCTOBER.
Northallerton
Newmarket 2d Oct 9 Worcester Autumn 3.
NOVEMBBR.