The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Her Majesty's paddle sloop Alecto, Commander
W. H. Blake, from the south-east coast of America,
yesterday landed her guns and war stores at the
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and proceeded to the
dockyard to be paid out of commission.

The Blakely ordnance gun, proved a few days ago
at the Woolwich butt, and which has since been
mounted on a carriage and platform, the patented
invention of the company, was on Thursday fired
six times to test its efficiency and endurance. In
spite of the incessant rain, and the total want of
shelter, the officials of the garrison and the Ord-
nance Select Committee were present in large num-
bers. The platform is made of wrought iron, on the
box girder principle, and weighs eight tons. The
carriage is constructed of double plates of wrought
iron, and weighs three tons. The crane used in lif t-
ing the monster shot, for loading, together with the
windlass and appendages, add other three tons to the
weight of the fittings, which, together with the gun
itself, amount in the aggregate to 29f tons. Mr.
Campbell, acting on behalf of the company, who has
superintended the manufacture of the machinery,
pointed out the extraordinary facility of working
the gun, in spite of its great weight, now within the
power of a single gunner. By a simple movement of
the windlass the gun was traversed and placed in
position for firing by himself alone, to the manifest
approbation of the officials present. The first round
was fired with a charge of 301 b. of powder and a
5001 b. shot, which was intended as a test of the
pressors in checking the recoil, and was found satis-
factory. The second charge was increased to 451 b.
of powder, with the same sized shot. This being
the ordinary service charge, four additional rounds
were fired without an increase. The sixth and last
round was fired with 481 b. of powder. The gun,
carriage, and the whole of the appurtenances, under-
went a rigid examination at the conclusion of each
round, and were found free from blemish or
gun or any
r
signs of having suffered from the test.
and fittings will be shipped in a few days for St.
Petersburg. "
In the Army Estimates for the year 1865-6 the
sum of £3,000 is taken by the Government, among
various other sums, for the purchase of additional
land, and the extension of the rifle range for the use
of the officers and men at Chatham garrison, as
original
well as providing lint accommodation for 700 officers
and men while under instruction. The
estimate of the undertaking was £64,000, but
up to
the 31st of December last £75,800 had been voted,
and £56,000 expended. Among the largest s
ums
taken by the War Department is one of £30,000 for
the erection of additional quarters for married non-
commissioned officers and men, as well as for the
enlargement of the existing
bding. A similar
sum of £30,000 is also required for Simproving the
sanitary arrangements at the several barracks, in

d/Z.ce

- -
accordance with the recommendation of the
Sanitary Commission. Regimental sehcols
chapels absorb a sum of £7,000, and a nek_vote,
which has only appeared in the Estimates fo!if late
years is one of £4,000 for the establishment and sup-
port of military gymnasia, after the model of that
which has been so successfully established at Chat-
ham. A sum of £5,000 is also taken for the im-
provement of military reading and recreation rooms.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LINCOLN RACES, SATURDAY.

A very sharp frost during the night did not prevent the
running to-day, the sun quickly dispelling all traces of the

enemy.

Of course the Lincolnshire Handicap was the event of

the afternoon, the four others on the card not causing much
speculation or calling for any special remark. The accept-
ance was about the best ever known, and indeed, considering
the time of year, an extraordinary one. The French mare
Heurlys had, on the first appearance of the weights, been
selected as the favourite, but she did not go at it kindly in
the market, and in what little speculation there was the
public went for Manrico, whose appearance at the post fully
justified his backers' confidence.

The large number of 24 horses, one rarely equalled, and
never, we believe, exceeded, for this event, came to the post
on this occasion.

The issue of the race was, however, disappointinginevery
way. After a tedious delay of close upon an hour, the lot
was despatched to a very unsatisfactory start, the favourite
being left at the post, and the field getting away in very
straggling order. The second favourite, Idle Girl, made a
good race of it with Gaily, who at 20 to 1 landed "the
fielders" about the best of the many coups the meeting has
given them. Despite the unfavourable weather and the
postponement, the success of the Lincoln spring, both as
regards attendance and number of horses engaged, has been
unprecedented.

One word as to the starting. The season has commenced
badly in this respect. The wearying delays at the post
caused by the behaviour of some of the younger jockeys,
which was as bad as bad could be, has caused public
attention to this crying evil. Is it too much to ask of
the Jockey Club to face the difficulties with -which the
subject is surrounded, and devise some means of correct-
ing a custom (for bad starting has almost grown into that)
which tends to rob racing of half its pleasure, gives undue
advantages to one horse over another, sets all calculation
at nought, and is injurious in every way to the sport of
which it is so important a feature ?
The Blankney Handicap, 50 sovs., given by Mr. IL Chaplin,
added to a sweepstakes of 3 sovs. each, for all ages.

About half a mile.
Mr. Graham's Medicis (J. Grimshal 1
Major Fridolin's Fleur de Bois (Goodwin 2
Mr. Coney's Hecate (Carroll 3
The following also ran—Cronstadt, Tomfoolery, Sister
Mary, Virtuous, and Newminster colt.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Sister Mary, 4to 1 agst Medicis, 9
to 2 agst Virtuous, and 11 to 2 agst Fleur de Bois.
Tomfoolery jumped off in front, but was soon after
headed by Medicis, who went on with the running, attended
by Fleur do Bois, Hecate, and Virtuous ; a good race from
the distance ensuing between Medicis and the French filly,
the latter failing to get up, and being beaten cleverly by a
length. Hecate finished the same distance behind her ;
Virtuous was fourth, Tomfoolery fifth, and Sister Mary
sixth. The Newminster colt was last.

The Innkeepers' Selling Stakes of v 5
sous. each, with
40 added. About half a mile.

Mr. Hodgman's Vedette—Pasquine (Ileartfiell 1
Mr. Pardoe's Tragedy (Loates 2
Captain Machell's Lord of the Isles (Elphick 3
Betting-5 to 2on Tragedy.

The Pasquine filly took a slight lead, attended by Tragedy,
and a good race between the two ended in the favourite's
defeat by a neck ; a bad third.
The Lincolnshire Handicap of 5 sous. each, 3 forfeits with
100 added, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. 113 subs. One

mile.
Mr. John Osborne's Gaily, 5 yrs, 7st 4lb (Carroll) I
Mr. J. R. Preston ns Le Marechal, 7st 71b (Perry)) 2
Mr. Saxon's Idle Girl, 4 yrs, 6st 91b (J. Grimshaw 3

The following also ran—Donnybrook, Twilight, Stock-
inger, Dr. Syntax, Historian, Manrico, Volnptas, Heurlys,
Gownsman, Charming Woman, Lapidist, Shakespeare,
Goldylocks, Benazet, Forester, Alpheus, Mongrel, Terror,
Nu, La Gloriette, and Grace Darling.
Betting-100 to 30 agst Manrico, 7 to 1 agst Idle Girl,
12 to 1 agst Dr. Syntax, 100 to 8 each agst Le Marechal and
Twilight, 100 to 6 each agst Heurlys and Benazet, 20 to 1
each agst Gaily, Alpheus, and Terror, 25 to 1 each agst
Mongrel, Nu, and Donnybrook.

Terror flung his jockey before reaching the post, and,
Sharp being rather shaken, Kenyon mounted and took his
place. After great delay and several false starts, in which
Alpheus, Forester, Donnybrook, Shttkspeare, Benazet, Dr.
Syntax, and Idle Girl were conspicuOusly in front, the flag
was lowered to an indifferent start, Le Marechal, Gowns-
man, and Donnybrook's colours showing in front for a short
distance, when Lapidist took up the running, followed by
Alpheus, Voluptas, and Donnybrook, behind whom were
'r wilight, Gaily, Terror, Idle Girl, Lo Marechal, Shakspeare,
Benazet, and a ruck of horses whipped in by Historian.
Coming into the straight, Idle Girl drew up in company with
Le Marechal and Gaily, Terror lying on the outside, and at
the distance the race was left to Gaily, Le Marechal, and
Idle Girl, a fine struggle ensuing between the first named,
which was decided in Gaily's favour by a neck. Idle Girl
was a length and a half behind Le Marechal, and Donny-
brook was three lengths behind the Frenchman ; Heurlys
was fifth, Terror sixth, Stockinger seventh, and behind
them were Benazet, Twilight, Charming Woman, La Glo-
riette, and Shakespeare. Historian trotted in with the
crowd. Manrico and Forester were left at the post.
An objection was made after the race by Mr. Samuel to
the start, on the ground of its being " a flying" one, and
the matter having been gone into by the stewards, they de-
cided that Gaily was the winner.

The Handicap Hurdle Race of 5 sous. each, 3 ft., with 40
added. Two miles, over six flights of hurdles.
Mr. Smith's Brown Stout, by Sir J. Barleycorn, aged, lOst
(Pa 1
Mr. T. Wadlow's West-End, aged lOst 41b (W. 'Whiteyne) 2
Mr. Brayley/3 Ibex (h. b.), 5 yrs, 10st 71b
-. (Page 3
Mr. Vaillant's Adrier, 6 yrs, 9st 121 b (W. Gunner 4
The following also ran :—Harlequin, Patience, Woodford,
The Rogue, Overton, Vision, and Wheldrake.

Betting-1 to 1 agst West-End, sto 1 each agst Whel-
drake and the Rogue, 6 to 1 agst Ibex, 8 to 1 agst Overton,
10 to 1 each agst Patience, Brown Stout, and Vision.
The Rogue made play in company with Brown Stout,
Adrier, and Overton, who were the leading horses past the
stand, after which Ibex went to the front, followed by The
Rogue and Brown Stout. Passing the mile post Brown
Stout took the lead, and at the turn West-End came up to
him, The Rogue and Wheldrake having gone the wrong
side of a post, and to the first-named the race was then left,
Brown Stout winning bya length and a half ; Ibex finished
four lengths behind West-End ; and tho French horse
Adrier was a bad fourth.

The Lincolnshire Hunt Steeplechase, of 5 sovs each, with

50 added. About 4 miles.

Mr. R. Walker's Cortolvin, 5 yrs, 12st 31b (§loperi 1
Mr. Richardson's Vienna, 5 yrs, 12st 31b (Mr. G Nelson 2
Mr. Heneage's Cadet, aged, 12st 101 b (Mr. Martin 3
The following also ran :—Morris Dancer, George, Vam-
pire, Wandering Willie, Speculation, llarshman, Gambler,
Watercress, and Clinker. t

Betting-4 to 1 agst Vienna, 6to 1 agst any other.
Gambler, Speculation, and Clinker were the first te show
front, followed by Marshman, Cortolvin, George,Vienna,in
and Cadet. Marshman fell at the second fence, but Mn
Goodman
quickly remounting, sent him along to the next
jump, which he refused, and was out of the race from that
point. Cortolvin in the meantime had taken up the run-
ning, and, passing the stand the second time, had Clinker,
Vampire, Speculation, and Vienna as his immediate fol-
lowers. Crossing the road, the leader fell back into the
second place, but Clinker going wide at the tarn on the top
of the hill, gave him again the command, and through the
bottom he led, closely followed by Vienna, Speculation,
Cadet, Morris Dancer, &c., the whole lot, indeed, being well
up. Approaching the last fence into the flat, Cortolvin
and the favourite were still close together, and came up
the straight run home with only Cadet near them. The
mare made a game et but could not succeed in
ruggl°,
reaching Mr. Walker's horse, who won easily by three
lengths, four lengths separating Cadet from Vienna ;
f The roe,u3rtth,puMlleodrriSu DancerPand
did
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post.