The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THB TIMES.

Sir,—On reading your correspondent's letter dated
the 28th ult., I can vouch for the truth of what he
writes as to the inutility of the entrenching and pioneer-
ing tools issued to the army from the timo I joined it to
the present date.

The tools slung upon the backs of the pioneers of re-
giments, as seen marching past at reviews, would not
stand 15 minutes real work, for which they are intended.
Let the Quartermaster-General, to test my statement,
send to one of the battalions of Guards, and order the
pioneers' tools to be put into the hands of any gasfitters
or pipe-layers who may be at work in,the streets near
the Horse Guards, and, if one of the pickaxes or mat-
tocks will stand the work required of them, what I state,
of course, goes for nothing.
There is a discharged pioneer from the Grenadier
Guards now working as a gasfitter at the west-end of
London, and I saw him at work in Grosvenor-square last
week. Ilia name is John Sherwood ; let him show off
his old tools. These articles are furnished to regiments
colonels, and areone uotfttehrelysentsoeolelsssa;s naogaifgrt
iifcuhletuwraasl
labourer tee
would
forced to
gain his week's wages by task or measure-
work.—Your most obedient servant,

J. M. B.

GENERAL POST-OFFICE, ju
1854.—Letters Ad-
Canada will in future
asina elette letters
for. soldiers in
bdere treatedss ed t o
j etirtrtohle l esd a
me pensioners
m a u ner
her Majesty s service, and will
liable to a
rate of postage of one penny only,
following regulations be duly observed,provtded the
1. The penny must be paid at the time the namely_letteris -
put
into the post-office. 2. The name of the enrolled pen-
sioner, his class, or description, and the name of there-
giment, corps, or detachment to which he belongs,
i
must be specified n the direction of the letter.
S. The letter must not exceed half an ounce in weight.
4. The letter must relate solely to the private affairs of
the eritolreit Vensihet. ' Theme utters" will be forwarded
by way of Halifax only.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

ASCOT HEATH RACES. -THURSDAY.

THR ROYAL VISIT.

The settled appearance of the weather yesterday led
us to indulge in the pleasing hopes of a fine day for the
great event of the meeting, but they were completely
dispelled by the gloomy aspect of the morning. Heavy
clouds surcharged with rain blotted the sky, and afforded
a cheerless prospect to the pleasure-seekers who arrived
in small detachments by the early trains on the Great
Western and South-Western lines. Nothing, indeed,
could be more dreary during the first part of the morn-
ing than the streets of Windsor, except the faces of the
lodging-house and hotel keepers, who unanimously de-
clared that this was the " worst Ascot" they had ever
seen—a complaint that was echoed in every varied form
of grumbling by omnibus-drivers, fly-men, correct-card
vendors, and the multitude of persons who look forward
to these races as to an annual benefit.

A drizzlin,,, incessant rain had been falling since day-
break, and showed no disposition to leave off as the
morning advanced ; steadily and perseveringly it des-
cended, and at ten o'clock it was generally thought to
be a hopeless case, and that the Queen had for the first
pine been beaten by the weather. We had, however,
faith in her Majesty's proverbial good fortune, and the
result proved that it had not quite deserted her, for at
one o'clock the rain had ceased ; the sun, however, did
not condescend to gladden the heath with his shining
countenance, but the air was nevertheless warm and
pleasant, and the landscape, from which the heavy
mists were now clearing, appeared rife with beauty and
freshness.

Notwithstanding the 4npropitious state of the weather
in the forenoon, and the complaints which were heard
on ;all sides, by the time the bell rang for the first race
tbo assemblage of general company on the heath was
very great. The receipts at the Grand Stand were, we
believe, quite equal to the amount on the occasion of the
Czar's visit in 1844.

-At twenty minutes before two o'clock the royal cox,
tdge was sighted from the stand entering the New Mile.
The display of well dresied and fashionable people in the
stands and• private carriages had at this time a striking
and picturesque effect.
The carriage of. her Majesty, an open landau andfour,
was preceded by the Earl of Bessborough (master of the
royal buckhounds), and a number of the Queen's hunts-
men and giooms, in the royal livery, on horseback.
In the carriage with the Queen were the King of Por-
tugal, the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke of
Oporto • five other carriages, three pony phaetons, and a
char-a-hanc, completed the brilliant cort6ge. The princi-
pal occupants of the carriages were his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the
Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Mary of Cambridge,
the Duke and Duchess .of Wellington, the Duchess of
Sutherland, the Duke of Terceira, the Austrian and
Portuguese Ministers, and other distinguished personages
whose names will be found in the official court circular
of the day.
The reception of her Majesty and the royal family was
most enthusiastic. No sooner had her carriage arrived
opposite to the Grand Stand than hearty • cheers ourst
from the crowding spectators, and were carried forward
and continued on both sides of the course, amidst the
waving of hats and handkerchiefs, until the carriages had
turned round the end of the New Stand.
It was no hollow expression of formal greeting—no
conventional tribute to royalty—but the rough welcome
of thousands of loyal hearts, uttered in honest unison
with their feelings. Truly, it was a glorious sight—that
of the Queen of a free people receiving the spontaneous
homage of all classes of her subjects ' • and proud might
she be of such a demonstration of love and loyalty
offered in the presence of her royal guests.
The cheering of the crowd on the course was renewed
when her Majesty and Prince Albert appeared at the
window, whilst West Australian, the winner of the cup
was led past the Royal Stand.
During the race for the New Stakes, an incident oc-
curred which was fortunately attended with no other
result than a hearty laugh. Just as the horses had
reached the Royal Stand, her Majesty, in her eagerness
to see the race, not perceiving that the window where
she had been standing had been put down, leaned for-
ward rather hastily to look out, and broke a pane of glass
with which she came in contact. The occurrence was
perceived only by a few persons on the course, but it
produced a great deal of merriment among the royal '
party ; the Queen herself setting the example of laughing
with the greatest good humour at the mischance.

Besides the royal and distinguished personages whose
names we have mentioned, we observed among the
fashionable company :—The French Ambassador and
the Countess Walewski, the Duke and Duchess of Beau-
fort, the Duke of Montrose, the Marquis of Breadalbane
(Lord Chamberlain), the Marquis of Exeter, the Mar-
quis of Abercorn, the Marquis of Downshire, the Mar-
quis of Anglesea, the Marchioness of Aylesbury, the
Marquis of Clanricarde, the Marquis of Granby, Earl
and Countess Granville, the Earl and Countess of Wil-
ton, Earl Powis, the Earl of Exmouth, Earl Bruce,
Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, Earl of Derby, Earl
of Jersey, Earl of Zetland, Earl of Howth, Earl Strad-
broke Earl Spencer, Earl and Countess of Clarendon,
Viscount Newport, Lord C. Manners, Lord Hill, Lord
Giffard, Lord H. Lennox, Lord Ward, Count Batthyany,
Lord John Scott, Lord Clifden, Baron Rothschild,
Baron de Sarmento, Baroness de Speth, Lady Keene,
Sir Robert and Lady Pigot, Sir George Armitage, Sir
George Houston, Sir Williamson Booth, Hon. Admiral
Rous, Hon. Cecil Forrester, the Chevalier de Mello, Sir
Edward Smythe, &c.
Her Majesty took her departure from the heath pre-
cisely at 25 minutes past four o'clock, followed by de-
monstrations of affectionate loyalty similar to those by
which she was welcomed on her arrival.
The Ascot Cup was the important prize of the day ; it
is a large and handsome piece of plate, manufactured
from a design by Mr. Cotterill, and represents Charles of
Luxembourg, the blind and aged King of Bohemia, who,
having caused his horse's bridle to be made fast to the
bridles of the horses of two knights between whom he
rode at the battle of Cressy, thus dashed sword in hand
upon the English troops. The name of this prize was
altered from the Ascot Gold Cup to the Emperor's Plate
in 1845 in compliment to the Emperor of Russia, who,
being present at the race the preceding year, gave 5001.
annually for a piece of plate to be added to the stakes.
Under the circumstances of the war with Russia, the
gift of the Czar has been declined this year, and the
prize has reverted to its original character and title.
The races, of which there were seven in the programme,
commenced with—

The ST. JAMES'S PALACE STAKES of 100 soya each, h ft,
for three-year-olds ; colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 41b. Old
Mile. 18 subs.
Mr. F. Knowles's Baalbec, by lon, Bst 71b...(Burnby) 1
Mr. Howard's Prince Arthur, Bst 71b (Wells) 2
Mr. J. M. Stanley's Lincoln's-inn, Bst 71b (J. Marson) 3
Betting-5 to 2on Prince Arthur, 3to 1 agst Baal-
bec. Won very cleverly by a length. Bad third.

The VISITORS' PLATE (handicap) of 100 sovs., and 25 for
the second horse, by subscription of 5 sovs. each.
Once round and a distance. 25 subs.
Mr. E. R. Clark's Jujube, 3 yrs, 4st 101b.(J. Rogers) 1
Mr. H. W. Des Vceux na Little Jack, aged, 7st 71b

Charlton 2
Count Batthyany's Ethelwolf, 3 yrs, 7st 101(b. (Wells) 3
The following also ran Jacqueline, Massarone,
Vingt-un, Mulligrubs, Jennala,
Betting-5 to 2 agst Jujube, 4to 1 each agst Ethel-
wolf and Little Jack, 5 to 1 agst Jacqueline, 6 to 1 each
agst Jennala filly and Lincoln's-inn. Massaroni led off,
Mulligrubs, Lincoln's-inn, Jennala filly, and Jujube
following in order named. At the Swinley Post Jujube
took third place, with Ethelwolf fourth, Lincoln's-inn
and Jennala filly dropping back. At the foot of the
hill Jujube was second, and on reaching the Brick-kiln
road, she took up the running from Massaroni, followed
by Ethelwolf, Little Jack, and Vingt-un. A very inte-
resting race from the half distance, with the three placed
ended in favour of Jujube by a length—the second beat-
ing the third by a head. Vingt-un, Mulligrubs, Jacque-
line, and Massaroni were next.
The GOLD Cur, value 300 soya, the surplus in specie, by
subscriptions of 20 sovs, with 200 added ; three-yr-
olds, 6st 101 b ; four, Bst 51b ; five, 9st ; six and aged,
'9st 31b ; mares and gelding allowed 31b. About two
miles and a half. 18 subs.
Lord Londesborough's West Australian, 4 yrs, Bst 51b

(A. Day) 1
Mr. Morris's Kingston, 5 yrs, 9st (J. Marson) 2
Mr. T. Parr's Rataplan, 4 yrs, Bst slb (Flatman) 3
The following also ran :—Orestes, Nabob, Talfourd,
Cobnut.

Betting-6 to 4on West Australian, 3to 1 agst Ra-
taplan, 6 to 1 apt Kingston, 14 to 1 agst Orestes, 20 to
1 each Nabob and Cobnut. Having taken their pre-
paratory canter up the course, they were paraded as
usual round the inclosure of the Queen's Stand, and were
evidently regarded by the Royal circle with much in-
terest and admiration, after which they were called to
the post, and at the first signal they started in line.
Kingston jumped off in front, but the lead was quickly
taken by Cobnut. Kingston, Rataplan, Talfourd, Ores-
tes, West Australian, and Nabob following in the order
named, until they arrived at the Brick Kiln road, where
Cobnut declined, and Kingston went on with the lead.
After rounding the turn into the straight, West Austra-
lian, Rataplan, and Orestes drew together, and made
towards the front. Kingston, however, maintained the
lead to the Stand, where West Australian went up, with
Rataplan and Orestes in close attendance. After a most
exciting set-to, West Australian won by a head. Rata-
plan finished a length behind Kingston ; Orestes was a
good fourth, Nabob fifth, Talfourd sixth, Cobnut last.
The pace WAS very moderate throughout.

The NEW STAKES of 10 sovs. each, with 100 added, for
two-yr-old colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b. Certain
_ _

winners extra. T.Y.C. 44 subs.
Mr. Drinkald's Monge, Bst 71b (A. Day) 1
Mr. C. Fenning's Border Chief, Bst 71b (Wells) 2
Mr. T. Powell's Flatterer, Bst 121 b (Yates) 3
The following also ran : Shoreham, c by Annandale,
c by The Libel, c by Joe Lovell, Daisy, Catastrophe,
Rifleman, Blue Peter, Brother to Twinkle, Mary.
Betting---6 to 5 agst Border Chief, 3 to 1 agst Flat-
terer, 4to 1 agst Mary, Bto 1 agst Monge. C by Joe
Lovell and Catastrophe made most of the running until
they arrived at the Stand, when Border Chief came out,
followed by Monge and Flatterer. The Chief made a
gallant effort to retain the lead, but was defeated by a
neck ; the second beating the third by a length ; Catas-
trophe, Shoreham, and Riflemen were well up at the
finish. Blue Peter broke down when near the distance.
The WINDSOR CASTLE STARES of 10 soya. each, with
100 added, for three-year-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies,
Bst 41b. Certain penalties and allowances. The
owner of the second horse to receive 50 soya. out of
the stakes. One mile. 24 subs.
Lord Zetland's Hospodar, Bst 71b (J. Maroon) 1
Mr. J. Brown's Balmoral, Bst 41b ... . . (S. Rogers) 2
Mr. R. E. OooperziWcacotei, BstlollD' 3l
Betting-3 to lon Hospodar, 4to 1 agst Woodcote,