The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-29 00:00:00

BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TuEsDAY.

Speculation this day was again important. For the
Northamptonshire Stakes, John Davis, Skeffington, and
HartlerWere steady, but the principal feature ih en/men-
tion with the race was the support awarded to Swords-
man, who opened at 20 to 1, but closed at 100 to 7 (taken
freely). Dreadalbane was heavily backed for the Two
Thousand Guineas, and at the finish had the call of Lid-
dington, 4 to 1 being accepted about Breadalbane, and
offered against Mr. Merry's colt. The Lion was supported
at 100 to 8 for Chester Cup. Closing prices :

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.
15 to 2 agst John Davis (taken and offered)
9to 1 agst Skeffington (taken)
100 to 8 agst Hartley (taken)
100 to 7 agst Swordsman (taken freely)
100 to 6 agst Spring Guh (taken)
100 to 3 agst Lion (taken and offered)
CHESTER CUP.
10 to 1 agst Lord Zetland (offered)
100 to 8 agst Lion (taken)
20 to 1 agst La Toucques (taken and offered)
THE TWO THOUSAND.
4to 1 agst Breadalbane (taken)
4to 1 agst Liddington (offered)
11 to 1 agst Chattanooga (offered)
20 to 1 agst Zambesi (taken and offered)
DERBY.
11 to 2 on the field (offered)
25 to 1 agst Zambesi (taken)

The University Boat-Race.

PUTNEY, Tuesday.

Contrary to general expectation, and in defiance of an
ugly mist that hung about the river like a pall, and gave
a taste of ague to the shivering bystanders, at a quarter to
six on Monday evening the Oxford men turned out for
their first breathings on the metropolitan course, and in
a paddle from Putney to Chiswick and back tried how
they liked it. They were accompanied by Mr. G. Mor-
rison, who did his work in the saddle, and again, with
his stentorian tones, aroused such echoes as happened
to be in waiting for him. By way of compliment, two
eights •of the London Rowing Club followed at a
respectful distance ; and so, as far as the wretched,
depressing weather would allow, the river assumed
a dull air of gaiety. When the Oxford crew came back
they seemed a trifle blown, stroke showing unmis-
takable signs of having gone "hotly" to work. The
occurrence of a dies non, so far as rowing is concerned, may
account for this. To-day the word of command was given
for half-past three o'clock (just before high water), and the
crew, in a spin over the entire length of the course, were
to afford the cognoscenti a chance of seeing what kind of
" form " Oxford really possesses. Of course, like Napoleon
on the Alps, and the little boy who was backward in his
grammar, they were stopped " by the elements," for at half-
past three a hail and snow storm of a pitiless, wet-you-
through-and-through-in-no-time character, ending in heavy
rain, made rowing a madness. The morning had baen bright
and sunny ; the afternoon was winter in its worst aspect.
It was enough at any rate for the writer of this article.

mreasonsble conclusian-that. as
men gifted with ordinary caution, the Oxford crow would
not go out in search of rheumatics and pulmonary disease.
In this, however, he was disappointed. There was a
lull in the rain, hail, and snow storm, and taking advan-
tage of it the crew came out gallantly, pulling with every
appearance of improvement upon their first effort. It may
be safely asserted, however, that Oxford has not sent us
such an exceptionally fine eight as she did last year. We
could hardly expect it, perhaps, when we consider that the
stroke of last year is out of the competition. There is the
old dash and "go" in their free, high action; but the " vis"
does not seem so complete as it has been for the past four
years. Much has been said about Mr. Brown's (stroke)
rather elaborate way of falling back, and it must be con-
fessed that in this respect there is room for alteration, if
not improvement. At tho same time, there is an un
doubted vigour in the "drag ;" and a man's style of rowing
may by any radical attempt at correction in this way lose
much more than it gains. One thing is greatly in favour of
Oxford. The crew will have nearly a double allowance of
practice over the actual course, and there will therefore be
plenty time to alter and amend, where alteration and amend-
ment may be necessary. That they preserve the traditions
of their success; in other words, that they maintain the
lofty, bold stroke, which has hitherto been in such forcible
contrast to the lower and more studied stroke of Cambridge,
is a favourable feature of their aquatic training. Cambridge,
however, may take heart of grace this year. It will not
have quite so difficult a task set before it as on former occa-
sions, when Oxford has gone right away, and left its oppo-
nent to make the best of a bad defeat. Indeed, the Oxford
crew of this year looks marvellously like a Cambridge crew,
such as the Cam has of late sent us; and therefore if the
Cantabs can improve only a little upon their customary
form, they may set the balance right on the Bth proximo,
and be able to credit the light blue colours with the same
number of victories that now go to the account of the darker
tint. Reports from Cambridge, however, are not of that
thoroughly cheering character which would authorise san-
guine predictions. The crew does not please everybody, and
there is a notion that the bow side of the boat might do
a little better in the way of quickness and precision. Still
everything points to an open race, a contest about which
there can be a fair division of opinion. Oxford would
scarcely have the advantage in the betting but for the
prestige of a quadruple success, a four years' tenure of the
"proud position," and when the Cambridge crew " come
to town," it is more than probable that prestige alone will
not keep things of a speculative nature as they are. There
will most likely be takers at "evens," and the "point" now
existing may disappear. One fact is greatly to the disadvan-
tage of both crews, and that is, the weather. Could not Ad-
miral Fitzroy do something to make the arduous open-air
work of these gentlemen a trifle more pleasant ? A
little less Boreas and Pluvius would be highly accept-
able just now ; while an approximation of the atmo-
sphere to a few degrees above the freezing-point
would be thankfully received by gentlemen waiting their
turn on a muddy river bank, or sitting patiently in an eight
oared cutter, with only a thin textile fabric between the
wind and their nobility. Perfect training and great careonly can keep men thus exposed from the penalties of
which this inclement season has been fruitful. However,
what is bad for one crew is bad for the other ; and so,
,though. the glass may point to anything but "fair," the
comp
„titers are fairly placed as to foul weather. The Ox-
ford men, af,ter their first paddle on Monday, exhibited a
very proper appret,Lltion of the unfriendly elements ; their
rapid resort to the thick cuter jersey being especially notice-
able, and greatly to their credi,:.as judicious athlete. It may
be remarked that Putney always sLOWS itself awake to the
gravity, or rather the life, of the occasion, the early arrival
of the Oxford crew on Monday being duly ackOwledged by
a display of bunting that gave the north wind goZiething
to vent its humour upon. At the head-quarters a the
Oxonians mine host of the White Lion hung out the
triumphant insignia of dark-blue with his customary cele-
rity, and the welcome without was supplemented by a busy
devotion that proved the substantial welcome within. Put-
ney is never so well pleased as when the two shades of
blue tinge, as it were, the house-fronts and the pavements,
and give the whole place an air of University life in flannel
undress. Could not Putney, however, do something to-
wards making its river a little less like a dismal swamp, or
a slough of despond, in which men wade ankle-deep in
mud ? By way of improvement, it would appear, a mass of
loose spongy rubbish has been cast down on the tow-path
in which those who wish to follow the progress stick at
starting. Add to this, snares in the way of chains and ropes
across the pathway, and loose boulders of a limestone cha-
racter to trip up the unwary, and it will be seen that a
voyage from Putney to Hammersmith-bridge on the Surrey
shore is la pilgrim's progress of no pleasant nature.—
Herald.

CAMBRIDGE, Tuesday.

Our crew rowed in their new boat for the first time yes-
terday, and went to Clay House. To-day they rowed from
Clay House to Ely, a distance of 13 miles, returning to
Cambridge by train. To-morrow (Wednesday) they will go
down by rail, and row up to the railway bridge at Ches-
terton, about 16 miles, and as there are several good long

"Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi,
in the Field, Feb. 24, 1865.
" Lieutenant-General Wade Hampton, command-
ing cavalry forces, C.S.A.
" General,—lt is officially reported to me that our
foraging parties are murdered after capture, and
labelled Death to all foragers.' One instance of a
lieutenant and seven men, near Chesterfield, and
another of twenty, near a ravine 80 rods from the
main road,' about three miles from Feasterville.
have ordered a similar number of prisoners in our
hands to be disposed of in like mannw.
41111611 abotit I;ooo7TiOners captured in various
ways, and can stand it as long as you ; but I hardly
think these murders are committed with your know-
ledge, and would suggest that you give notice to the:
people at large that every life taken by them simply
results in the death of one of your Confederates.

" Of course you cannot question my right to
forage on the country. It is a war right as old as
history. The manner of exercising it varies with
circumstances ; and if the civil authorities will sup,
ply my requisitions, I will forbid all foraging. gat
I find no civil authorities who can respond to mils
for forage or provisions, and therefore must collect
directly of the people. I have no doubt this is the
occasion of much misbehaviour on the part of our
men, but I cannot permit an enemy to judge or
punish with wholesale murder.
'• Personally I regret the bitter feelings engen-
dered by this war ; but they were to be expected,
and I simply allege that those who struck the first
bow and made war inevitable ought not, in fairness,
to reproach us for the natural consequences. I
merely assert our war right to forage, and my re-
solve to protect my foragers to the extent of life for
life.—l am, with respect, your obedient servant,
" W. T. SHERMAN, Major-Gen. U.S.A."
GENERAL HAMPTON'S REPLY.
" Headquarters, in the Field, Feb. 27.
"Major-Gen. W. T. Sherman, U.S.A.
"General,—Your communication of the 24th inst.
reached me to-day. In it you state that it has been
officially reported that your foraging parties were
' murdered' after capture, and you go on to say that
you had ordered a similar number of prisoners in
your hands to be disposed of in like manner.' That
is to say, you have ordered a number of Confede-
rate soldiers to be murdered.'

" You characterise your order in proper terms, for
the public voice, even in your own country, where
it seldom dares to express itself in vindication of
truth, honour, or justice, will surely agree with you
in pronouncing you guilty of murder if your order
" Before dismissing this portion of your letter, I
beg to assure you for every soldier of mine mur-
dered' by you I shall have executed at once two of
yours, giving in all cases preference to any officers
who may be in my hands.

"In reference to the statementyoumake regarding
the death of your foragers, I have only to say that
I know nothing of it ; that no orders given by me
authorise the killing of prisoners after capture, and
that I do not believe that my men killed any of
under circurastamtenn which it was
perfectly legitimate and proper they shotud
them.

" It is a part of the system of the thieves whom
you designate as your foragers to fire the dwellings
of those citizens whom they have robbed.

" To check this inhuman system, which is justly
execrated by every civilised nation, I have directed
my meh to shoot down all of your men who are
caught burning houses. This order shall remain in
force as long as you disgrace the profession of arms
by allowing your men to destroy private dwellings.
"You say that I cannot, of course, question your
right to forage on the country. 'ltis a right as
old as history.' Ido not, sir, question this right.
But there is a right older even than this, and one
even more inalienable—the right that every man has
to defend his home and to protect those who are
dependent upon him ; and from my heart I wish
that every old man and boy in my country who can
fire a gun would shoot down, as he would a wild
beast, the men who are desolating their land, burn-
ing their houses, and insulting their women.
" You are particular in defining and claiming
war rights.' May I ask if you enumerate among
them the right to fire upon a defenceless city with-
out notice ; to burn that city to the ground after it
had been surrendered by the authorities, who
claimed, though in vain, that protection which is
-always accorded in civilised warfare to non-comba-
tants ; to fire the dwelling-houses of citizens after
robbing them, and to perpetrate even darker crimes
than these—crimes too black to be mentioned.;
" You have permitted, if you have not ordered,
the commission of these offences against humanity
and the rules of war. You fired into the city of
Columbia without a word of warning. After its
surrender by the mayor, who demanded protection
to private property, you laid the whole city in ashes,
leaving amid its ruins thousands of old men and
helpless women and children, who are likely to
perish of starvation and exposure. Your line of
march can be traced by the lurid light of burning
houses, and in more than one household there is an
agony far mote bitter than that of death.
" The Indian scalped his victim regardless of sex
or age, but with all his barbarity he always respected
the persons of his female captives. Your soldiers,
more savage than the Indian, insult those whose
natural protectors are absent.
ct in conclusion, I have only to request that
whenever you have any of my men' disposed of,' or
murdered,' for the terms appear to be synonymous
with you, you will let me hear of it, in order that I
may know what action to take in the matter. In
the meantime I shall hold 56 of your men as hostages
for those you have ordered to be executed.—l am
yours, &c., _ _

" WADE HAMPTON, Lieutenant-General."

"And then he drew a dial from his poke,
And Tooking on it with lacklustre eye,
Says very wisely, 'lt is ten o'clock :
Thus we may see,' quoth he, how the world wags."
SHARSPEARE
Benson's Pocket Dials are artistic, accurate time
markers, made in every size, suitable for everybody, and
' 3' and 35 guineas in
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
are sent to every part of the kingdom, safe by post, at 5,6,
7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
2gold2sca, se
26,s ;2a7n,
and,
t 229,, 33,0,4,315„
63,27,8, 9, 4
, 3
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 guineas in silver
cases. A descriptjye pamphlet post free for two stamps.
_T. W. Benson, Ludgate-hill, watch and clock maker to
H.B.H. the Prince of Wales.
ARREST OF AN AMERICAN EDITOR.-On last
Thursday P. Gray Meek, Esq., editor of the Belle-
font (Pa.) Bratchnian, was arrested by the military autho-
rities and dragged from his home in Centre County to Har-
risburg, where he has been thurst into the common guard-
house among disorderly soldiers and deserters, without
even the common comfort of a bed to lie upon. What are
the charges against Mr. Meek we know not. We presume,
however, that he has offended some of the minions of the
despotism that now rules with a rod of iron over what was
once a free people. That his entire innocence of any crime
will be made to appear we have not the slightest doubt.
We know him well, and a purer nature or a braver spirit
than that of P. Gray Meek is not to be found in the State.
He is one of the ablest and most fearless writers Pennsyl-
vania. We are sure he cannot be long kept in custody.
The day for such infamous outrages must speedily pass
away.-Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

This DAT.—Morning, 3h. 20m.—Afternoon, 3h. 42m.
To-MORROW.-Morning, 4h. sm.—Afternoon, 4h. 30m.