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

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NOTTINGHAM SPRING RACES—TUESDAY.
Stewards—Lord Uxbridge and Count Bathyany, Judge—
Mr. R. Johnon, of York. Starter—Mr. M'George.
Clerk of the Course—Mr. J. Bradfield.
The T, Stakes of 6 soya each, with 25 added, for 3 yr-
olds and upwards; mares and geldings allowed 31bs;
maiden allowances; winners extra, &c. One mile and a
quarter. 10 subs.
Mi. Osborne's Weatherden, 3 yrs, Est 41b . (Whiteley) 1
Mr. Savill's Vertumna, 3 yrs (maiden), Est 11b..(‘avis) 2
Mr. Monday nd Gavazzi, 4 yrs, 7st 131 b (Edwards), 3
Mr. Lincoln's Ross, 3 yrs, Est 41b (H. Taylor) 4
Mr. Fitzhugh's Commander, 3 yrs 6st 41b.... (Pearson) 5
Mr. Godding nd Lady Derby, Bst 21b (W. Cotton) 6
Mr. Shelley's Mirglip, 3 yrs, Est 41b (Midgley) 0
Betting-6 to 4 agst Weatherden, 4to 1 agst Vertumna,.
6 to 1 agst Commander, Bto 1, bar three (offered). The
favourite went to the front, was never headed, and won by
four lengths, the same between the second and third. Ross
was a bad fourth. Mirglip, on rounding the Mansfield
turn, bolted, jumped the rails without injuring horse or
rider, and was walked back.
The Stand Plate of 50 sous, added to, Sweepstakes of 5

sove each ; winners, &c., extra. Half a mile. 35 subs.-
Lord Stamford's Little Lady, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b.. (Edwards) 1
Mr. Barber's Abron, aged, 7st
Mr. Saxon's Penalty, 6 yrs, Bst
Captain Christie's Spicebox, 5 yrs, 85t.... (G. Fordharn) 4
Mr. J. Osborne's Maid of the Mist, 6 yrs, 7st 81b
(Challoner)
Mr. T. Cliff's Grant, 3 yrs, bet 71b (H. Taylor) 6
Mr. J. Daley's Blacklock, 3 yrs, 6st 21b (carried 6st 41b)
(J. Daley) 7
Mr. G. M. Sadd's Commander, 3 yrs, Est 121 b (Pearson) 8
Betting-7 to 2 agst Spicebox, 4to 1 each agst Little
Lady and Abron ; 7 to 1 each agst Blacklock and Maid of
the Mist. After a long delay at the post, Abron went away
with a slight lead on the far side of the course, having Little
Lady in the centre, and Blacklock, ne it the rails, second and
third, Spicebox next, and the others all abreast in the rear.
Opposite the distance post Little Lady and Abron were
abreast several lengths in front, and a good race was wit-
nessed, Little Lady winning by a length, the same distance
dividing the second and third. Spicebox was beaten from
Penalty by a length and a half, and the other three followed
nearly abreast, Commander bringing up the rear.
The Nottingham Spring Handicap of 5 sous each, with 50
added; the owner of the second horse to save his stake;

winners extra, &c. One mile and a half. (32 subs.)
Mr. Godding's Miss Eva, 4 yrs, Est 121 b.... (T. French) 1
Mr. Savill's Conundrum, 4 yrs, 7st (car. 7st 2h)
(A. Edwards) 2
Mr. Lincoln's Nightingale, 5 yrs, 7st 51b (car. ist 61b)
(Fordham) 3
Mr. Hodgman's Furious, 5 yrs, Est 101 b .. (Midgley) 4
The following also ran :—Doncaster, Zingari, Weather-
den, Thunderstorm, and Harmony.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Nightingale, sto 1 each agst Conun-
drum and the Miss Eva colt, 7 to 1 agst Thunderstorm, and
Bto 1 each agst Furious and Weatherden. At the second
attempt they all got off on good terms, Furious and Har-
mony having a slight advantage. As they passed the back
of the stand Weatherden ook the lead, with Furious, Zin-
gari, Harmony, and Nightingale side by side, next, On
reaching the distance, Miss Eva colt and Conundrum took
close order, and a most exciting race ensued, which resulted
in favour of the Miss Eva colt by a head. Nightingale was
third, a length and a half behind Conundrum; Furious was
fourth; and Weatberden next; Thunderst,rm and Don-
caster bringing up the rear.

The Innkeepers' Plate (Handicap) of 50 sous, for all ages;

- -
winners extra, &o. One mile.
Mr. G. Smith's Sacerdos, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b.... (Fordham) 1
Mr. J. Osborne's Maid of the Mist, 6 yrs, 7st 21b
(Challoner) 2
Mr. Nightingale's Liberality, 3 yrs, 6st 41b
(J. Nightingale) 3
Col. Towneley's Humming Bird, 3 yrs, Est 101 b _

(Hardcastle) 3
Mr. J. Daley's Blacklock. 3 yrs, 6st (Bradfield) 4
Mr. W. Martin's Ladybird, 4 yrs, 7st 21b (J. Daley) 5
Betting-3 to 1 each agst Maid of tho Mist and Sacerdos,
4 to 1 agst Humming Bird, 5 to 1 agst Ladybird, and 7 to 1
agst Liberality. Maid of the Mist, with Humming Bird and
Liberality next, made the running at the commencement of
the race, but the latter shortly after went to the front, and
carried on the running until in the straight. He then
dropped away, boaten, and Mr. Osborne's mare again took
possession of the lead, of which she was dispossessed by
Sacerdos at the stand, who won in a canter by three lengths.
There was half a length between the second and third.
Ladybird brought up the rear throughout.
The Park Stakes of 5 soya, with 20 added, did not fill.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY.
There was very little done on any future event. For
the Little John Stakes nothing was invested upon but
Livingstone. For the Grand National Steepleehase, 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 agst Livingstone (taken)
4to 1 agst Princess Louisa (offered)
GRAND 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, reversing 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 Eleho said that the substance of the complaint of
Mr. Terry was about the use of the chnometre 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 thead
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 the imputation of
partiality. He himself had taken tho trouble of showing
Mr. Henry, at Hythe, how to bring the best out of his
rifle, and had there produced with. Mr. Henry's rifle a dia-
gram 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, Lora Elcho saying th at Mr.
Whitworth really had all the other competitors at a disad-
vantage, for he had all the appliances and machinery. (A.
Competitor—Yes, bought with the nation's money 1) Mr.
Whitworth's rifle was made by the rules of science, the
others by the rule of thum. (Oh, oh I)
Mr. Rigby having volunteered to amend the paper, it
was taken into the tent, and on its reappearance it contained
the names of all the competitors present, some of whom,
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 find themselves beaten and lowered in pub-
lic estimation they have but themselves to thank. It is a
wpihtyt someichthathoycoomseein hentaiovnesnlyotbtehlieevceo,uroang tode
which
abiodbhetrbeetyo that
con-
tinue to declare to be right. we
question whether we have
now heard the last of this document,
Mr. Henry having given a challenge to Mr. Whitworth,
the Whitworth Rifle Company have addressed a letter to a
contemporary accepting the challenge,
and Mr. Henryyes-
terday stateivdh imisbiledn
intention of adhering to his original offer ;
Wimbledon,
so that at neata July,m tohteerhe
betweenwill pr
theoblytwboe
added to the other attractions'
most famous gtuunakers in England,