The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-05 00:00:00

BETTING AT MANCHESTER-TUESDAY.

There was very little done on any future evert. For
the Little John Stakes nothing was invested upon, but
Livingstone. For the Grand National Steeplechase, Harry
was freely supported at 25 to 1; and the same price would
have been taken about Brunette,_• but 20 to 1 was declined.
Closing prices :

•'
•
LITTLE JOHN STAKES.
7to 4 eget Livingstone (taken)
4to 1 agst Princess Louisa (offered)
GEAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE.
13 to 2on the field (offered)
20 to 1 agst Brunette (offered, take 25)
25 to 1 agst Harry (taken)

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

SMALL-BORE COMPETITION.

The trial of the rifles is at length concluded, after six
days spent as much in quarreling as in shooting. Yester-
day the competitors went in at one o'clock, Mr. Ingram,
who retired on the previous day, of course excepted. At
the close Mr. Whitworth was understood to be ahead, Mr.
Turner being second, and Mr. Henry third ; another autho-
rity, however, reverting the position of the latter gentle-
man. This evening, it is to be hoped, the computations of
the values of the various diagrams will be ready, and we
expect to be able to give them in our impression of to- ,
morrow. After the last diagram had been checked, Lord
Elcho, calling around him the council, the competitors,
and the representatives of the press, said that the trial
was over, but that there was no definite results as yet
attainable. Some statements had been made in the papers
to which the council took strong and just objection.
The council wished the competition to be carried on
openly, but they wished it to be accurately reported, and
this some of the papers had not done. The council objected
that unfounded statements should go forth to the public,
for their only object had been to conduct the trial fairly
and impartially. When Mr. Ingram objected, the council
offered to cancel Mr. Whitworth's diagram, but to this Mr.
Ingram would not consent. The matter of the two shots
in that diagram was the only tangible objection which had
been raised. He wished to know whether the competitors
would sign the letter (a copy of which we gave yesterday)
acquitting the council of all partial dealing.
Mr. Terry objected to sign the paper, and handed in his
protest.
Lord Elcho said that the substance of the complaint of
Mr. Terry was about the use of the ehnometre by
Mr. Whitworth. The council were accused of permit-
ting advantage to be taken of the ignorance of the five
competitors. 'Why, the council had done good to those
gentlemen in teaching them their trade I The rests used
were no secret; there were drawings of them published,
and they were widely used. The council had thought it
best that every competitor should bring his own rest, and
that one should be provided for any gunmaker who did not
bring his own. The trade had remonstrated against the
use of different rests, and the council, to please them, had
altered their rules. Now they were complaining of the
alteration in the rules, If there was any partiality shown
it was by the target, and not by the council.
General Hay indignantly repudiated
theimputation
partiality. He himself had taken tho trouble of
f showing of
Mr. Henry, at Hythe, how to. bring
g Htheenrybe,sstrioflue a ia
tofdhis.
gram, and had there produced witti
showing a deviation of only 1.941 Did that look like
partiality.
Lord Elcho said that Mr. Turner admitted that the coun-
cil had taught him something, and last year he sent
three of his riles as prizes to 'Wimbledon as a reward.
Would Mr. Turner's representative sign the paper?
General Hay said that the competitors had really had
everything their own way.
Some angry conversation having ensued respecting a dis-
puted shot of one of Mr. Turner's rifles,

Lord Elcho said that the council would on another occa-
sion object to any but principals appearing as competitors.
Mr. Turner's representative having declined to sign,
Mr. Henry said that he was satisfied the council " wished"
nothing but fairness, although much unpleasantness had
arisen. He offered to sign the paper if it were altered so as
to convey that the council "desired to see fair play," As
that was not agreed to he declined to sign it.
General Hay, who here completely lost his temper, said
that the plain English of it was that Mr. Whitworth's was
the best rifle, and they were all afraid of it; therefore they
accused him of favouring it,
A stormy discussion ensued, Lord Elcho saying that Mr.
Whitworth really had all, the other competitors at a disad-
vantage, for he had all the appliances and machinery. (A
Competitor—Yea, bought with the nation's money !) Mr.
Whitworth's rifle was made 'ey the rules of science, the
others by the rule of thum. (Oh, oh I)
en its reappearance it contained
Mr. Rigby having volunteered to amend the paper, it
some of whom,
was taken into the tent, and
the names of all the oompetitors present,
however, immediately afterwards protested that they did
not know what they had signed, and when they were told
it was substantially the same as the former paper, they were
much annoyed, and declared themselves, to use the phrase
of one of them, "diddled."
We leave the matter with the simple observations that if
the gunmakers And themselves beaten and lowered in pub-
lic estimation they have but themselves to thank. It is a
pity that some men have not the courage to adhere to that
which they conscientiously believe, and which they
given to Mr. Whitworth, coli
finite to declare to be right. We question whether we have
now;
r. Henryofheardtlehlaaslg
this
a document.challenge
the Whitworth Rifle Company have addressed a letter to a
contemporary accepting the challenge, and Mr. Henry yes-
terday stated his intention of adhering • to his original offer ;
so that at Wimbledon, next July, there will probably be
added to the other attractions a match between the two
most famous gUlllaakers is England.