The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-27 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Moniteur Tuscan of the 21st has the fol-
lowing :—" Last Saturday took place the imposing
ceremony of laying the first stone of a canal, which
is to pass under the bed of the Arno, for the pur-
pose of draining the lake and marshes of Biantina.
The Grand Duke was present. Cardinal Pontesia,
in giving his benediction to the works pronounced
a very edifying discourse. Commander Manelli
then addressed the Grand Duke, and was replied
to by the President of the Council, who pointed
out the great importance of the works intended to
protect those vast and fertile plains from any future
inundation, at the same time they would give great
eclat to the Government of the reigning Duke."

SPORTING NOTES.

FROM NEWMARKET.

The first of the series or October Meetings was in-
augurated right merrily ; the air was clear and fragrant,
and an unclouded sun shone with true autumnal bril-
liancy. The quickening genial influence of the atmosphere
disposed all persons to enjoyment, and the interest of the
sport was pleasantly sustained to the end. The proceed.
ings commenced at half-past twelve o'clock, and were
brought to a termination at half-past four. They
were, however, marked by few incidents of
prospective importance. The encounter between
Dirk flatteraick and Rambling Katie was, perhaps, the
most interesting event of the day. 6to 4 was betted on
Dirk, but his partisans were not remarkably "fond."
He certainly appeared winning within a few strides of
the chair ; he ran the strongest, but Katie ran the longest,
and after a rousing race defeated him by the shortest of
short heads. Indeed so " close a touch" was it that
neither jockey knew which won. This performance is
by many persons regarded as furnishing a decisive proof
as to the comparative insignificance of Dirk Hatteraick's
Derby pretensions ; but although I do not fancy that in
Dirk Hatteraick Lord Eglinton will find either a Van
Tromp or a Flying Dutchman, yet I believe that in him
he possesses a horse likely to winter well and train on to
a high degree of improvement.
The Eastern Counties Handicap brought out only ten
runners. Alembic was made the favourite, and but for
the badness of his start some people were inclined to
think he would have carried the "straw" in triumph.
Old Rowley, however, was "turned loose," and won
without an effort. It will be seen by a reference to The
Sun of Monday night, that in the "lot" which I indicated
to be favourably handicapped, were the first, second,
and third horses.

Alembic made ample " compensation " for not winning
the Handicap by carrying off the Triennial Stakes. This
achievement, however, scarcely satisfied his party, and
he was again brought out to do battle for the Grand
Duke Michael Stakes. Although his two former per-
formances were calculated to " take the steel out of
him," yet he proved a troublesome opponent to the
Trapper, and was with difficulty.stalled off. Alembic
has evidently regained somewhat of his two-year-old
form, and his chance for the Cambridgeshire must not be
slightingly regarded.
In accordance with my anticipation, Clotilde won the
Hopeful Stakes. The betting on the events decided to-
day was very limited, and speculation on the Cesare-
witch and Cambridgeshire was at a stand still.
Now for a dip into the future. All persons seem
agreed that Bonnie Morn and Rifleman will meet on
Thursday for the Triennial Stakes for two-yrs-old, but
their opinions as to the relative chances of these horses
are widely different. That Bonnie Morn has not yet
been pitted against animals of a very high order of merit
is unquestionable, yet his victories have always been so
easily achieved as to warrant the belief in the superior
stamp of his pretensions. Rifleman, however, has twice
successfully encountered large fields composed of
" youngsters" of much mark and likelihood, albeit
he defeated them with apparent difficulty. In
support of this assertion I may merely refer to his
performance at York. Still he will prove a dangerous
antagonist to Bonnie Morn, but I shall scarcely be pre-
pared to see him vanquish the " gallant grey."
The Jockey Club is, it is wllispered, about to astonish

the sporting world by passing some xew resolutions for

the better conduct and maintenance of horse-racing.
Several abuses connected with the turf will, it is uader-
stood, be inquired into, and, if possible, mitigated or
reformed altogether. So disgusted are certain members
of the club with the specimen of handicapping recently
published, and for which they are in a measure
responsible, that I believe a resolution will be moved
for the appointment of a " public handicapper," a resolu-
tion which will, I trust, be carried acd immediately put
into operation.
Like the puddle of foul water, the more people stir the
Acrobat affair the more offensive it becomes. A. certain
gallant admiral is, it is reported, threatened with an
action for libel by John Scott, for writing a letter t o
Lord Derby about the proceedings at Doncaster, and
expressing his opinion in it with more of the freedom
and bluntness of a sailor than the reservation and cau-
tion of a lawyer.

A FRESH MAN.

N ewmarket, Tuesday Night:

OUTRAGES IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND.-1 reward of
201. has been offered by the constabulary for the disco-
very of the writer or persons concerned in the sending
of a Rockite letter to Mrs. W. Gage, informing her of a
conspiracy to shoot W. C. Gage, Esq., J.P. A reward
of 201. has also been offered by the constabulary for the
discovery of the parties concerned in posting a threat-
ening
notice of a Rockite character on the gate post of
Michael King, Esq.,
_ Dungiven.
F
EAGER FOR THE RAY.—In a letter from one of the
79th Highlanders published in the Kelso Chronicle, the
writer says, "I earnestly wish we were somewhere out
of this ; for I believe there is neither luck nor grace in
this country. Our men have grown so wicked at the
delay, that you can scarcely hear a pleasant word going.
Warhawk' with the Russians, if they can get at them.
I believe plenty will throw down their fireloelte and 'fist'
them.",

BANKRUPTCY COURT.--:(THIS

(Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.)
IN RR CLARK AND INGLIS.

These bankrupts were described as of King's-cross,
Battle-bridge, drapers, and to-day was appointed for
their last examination.

Tho balance sheet prepared by Mr. Pettis, .Basingball
Chambers, commencing Nov., 1853, and ending Jane,
1854, shows debtor to creditors, 2,2271. ss. lid. ; capi-
tal, 3041. ; assets, good debts, 401. 195. 10d. ; doubtful,
1421. lle. 3d. ; property, 6761. ss. 3d. ; losses on trading,
511. 17s. 10d. ; losses (on sale of fixtures, fittings, &c.,
cost 4501..125. 3d., estimated to realise 2001, ; on stock
which cost 8881 19s. 9d., realised 5201.; on furniture,
251. is., &c. ; total, 6561. 4s. 3d.

Mr. Read was solicitor for the assignees, and called
the attention of his Honour to the memorandum on the
proceedings, from which it would appear that the last
examination had been adjourned on the 10th of August
last, on the ground that the accounts were not satisfac-
tory, and although they bad been amended! were still
unsatisfactory ; ho should, therefore, examine the books
as to all the points.

The case was not called on till half-half-past twelve,
and it was likely to last some hours.

IN RS HARRIS.

This bankrupt was described as of Kingston, iron-
monger, and this was a meeting for the choice of assig-
nees. From the preliminary statement prepared by Mr.
Pettie, it appears that the debts amount to about 2,5001.
Assets about 1,0001., principally stock.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET-(THIS DAY.)

CRUELTY TO A HOREE.—John Dyer, a cabman, waa
charged before Mr. Bingham with cruelly ill-treating
and torturing a horse.

Sergeant Burton, 82 D, deposed that, about 5 o'clock
this morning, he was on duty in Oxford-street, near the
end of Cumberland-street, when he heard the sound of
heavy blows proceeding from the direction of the Edge-
ware-road, and on going to the spot he saw the defend-
ant standing on the foot-board of his cab belabouring
his horse most unmercifully with his .whip. Witness
asked him what he was about, when he replied that the
horse was a little testy and would not go. The defendant
then_ struck the horse with more violence than at first,
and seeing that the poor animal was in a state of ex-
haustion and suffering, he took the prisoner to the sta-
tion, and the horse and cab to the Greenyard, where, on
examining the former, he found blood trickling down its
thighs.

In defence, prisoner said the horse was rather touchy,
and would not go, and in order to make it go he just
struck it lightly with his whip. Burton produced the
whip, the thong of which was tied in several large knots,
which appeared to be clotted with blood.
Mr. Bingham commented in strong terms upon the
gross cruelty practised by the prisoner in torturing his
horse, and as a warning to him for the future, he (Mr.
Bingham) should fine him 40s. or :a month's imprison-
ment.

The defendant not being provided with the money,
was then locked up.

EAST INDIA COMPANY.

QUARTERLY ANDHIS
DAY SPECIAL MEETINGS
T.

This morning the ordinary quarterly and a special
meeting of the proprietors in this company was held at
the East India House, in Leadenhall-street—Major
Oliphant, chairman of the Board of Directors, pre-
siding.
The CHAIRMAN said, he had to acquaint the proprie-
tors that the papers relating to the company, laid before
Parliament last session, were now before the Court.

. •
The titles of these papers were read by the SECRETARY.
The CHAIRMAN said he had also to lay before the
Court, agreeably to the by-laws, a list of superannua-
tions since the last quarterly Court to officers in Eng-
land. He had also to say that a copy of Sir George
Clerk's paper on Scinde was laid upon the table of the
proprietors' reading-room on the 7th of July.
Mr. LEWIN complained that although the paper had
been laid upon the table, it had since been removed. It
was not yet printed.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the paper was in course of
being printed, and would soon be ready for delivery.
Certain papers were laid upon the table relative to
Hayleybury and Addiscombe colleges.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting had been made spe-
cial for the purpose of submitting for adoption the alter-
ations in the by-laws of the company, recommended iu
the report from the committee of by-laws, which was
laid before the General Court on the 21st of June.

These alterations, which had reference to the payment
and election of directors, the penalties to he enforced
for violation of the laws by directors, the supply of
vacancies, and other matters bearing upon the general
management of the company, were agreed to after some
discussion, in which Mr. Jones, Mr. Lewin, and other
proprietors took part. The latter gentleman complained
of the course which the directors pursued of periodically
recommending, by advertisements, persons to be elected
directors, and moved an amendment upon one of the
clauses to that effect. It met, however, with very
little encouragement, and was negatived on a show of
hands.

Mr. JONES wished that all papers should be laid be-
fore the proprietors without the necessity of asking for
them. He thought that not only parliamentary but all
other papers relating to the company might be laid
before the proprietors.
The CHAIRMAN said that was the case already.
Mr. JONES moved for a list of the confiscated estates,
with their respective annual values, of the chiefs whose
property has been absorbed by Government since the
annexation of the Punjaub. The honourable proprietor
made a lengthened speech, and concluded by calling
upon the directors for full information upon the subject
to which his motion referred, and also for an explana-
tion on what conditions the arms had ibeen taken from
the inhabitants.
Mr. LEWIN seconded the motion, and considered that
the production of the information would be of especial
value. He believed that the terms on which the an-
nexation of many of the estates had been made were
marked by the grossest and most infamous injustice
that was ever perpetrated. He believed that the cir-
cumstances connected with the Koh-i-aoor diamond
were most disgraceful to the parties alike who presented
and accepted it. (Disapprobation.)
The CHAIRMAN said, the directors were of opinion
that there was no necessity for the production of the
papers for which Mr. Jones had moved.
.

- The motion was put to the meeting, and negatived.
Some notices of motion for the next meeting were
given ; and the Court adjourned.

LYCEUM THEATRE.

HENRY RUSSELL'S ENTERTAINMENT.

The return of autumn brings as Henry Russell at the
Lyceum, with his racy descriptions of transatlantic life,
and his delightful melodies, " familiar to the ear as
household words." The present year is no exception to
the rule, and Mr. Russell is nightly engaged in sending
hundreds of audiences to their homes cracking their
sides with laughter at his jokes, or weeping over the
pathetic incidents of his sentimental ballads. " Cheer,
boys, cheer," and the " Ship on fire," are again in the
ascendant; and it would almost seem that the more they
are sung by their clever composer the more they are
welcomed by enthusiastic bursts of applause. Pass
along the Strand any evening after ten o'clock, and you
will have proof positive that the popularity of neither of
these famous songs nor of Russell's nigger melodies is
an the wane. The strains of one or other are certain to
be heard above the din of cab wheels or the roar of om-
nibus traffic, and a lusty " Cheer, boys, cheer," is cer-
tain to greet you at almost every turn. The subject of
Russell's songs appeals to the hearts of the multitude ;
they stir up one's better feelings, reminding one now of
the comforts of home, and anon of the brilliant prospects
which far distant lands are opening up to industry and
perseverance ; that being so, who can wonder that they
should be in every child's month or on the keys of every
street organ l But their charm is greatly heightened
by the melodramatic style in which they are sung by
Mr. Russell ; in his hands they assume the form of
dramas abounding in startling incident and replete with
highly-wrought characters, whose peculiarities are vividly
brought out by the tact of the performer or the skill of
the musician. Henry Russell, in fact, is a play in him-
self, and nobody who desires to-get a correct insight into
the life of the negro or the career of the emigrant can
do better than pay him a visit at the Lyceum.