The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-25 00:00:00

CANTERBURY RACES.

These races took place yesterday, on Barham Downs,
about three miles from the inetropolitical city, iu the
presence of a large concourse of spectators. The
stewards were Lord North, Colonel Reginolds, C. 8.,
18th Royal Irish ; Major Gilbert, R. H.A. ; and Capt.
Davenport, Royal Dragoons. The sport came off as
follows :

A SWEEPSTAKES of 2 sovs each, with 15 added, for
two-yr.olda, 6st ; three, 84 ; four, 84 121 b ; five, 9st
41b ; six aged 9:4 121 b. The winner to be sold im-
mediately after the race. One mile.
Mr. Rayner's Lady Constance, 3 yrs (Marlow) 1
Mr. Murray's br m Bess, aged, Bst 51b
Mr. Garrett's Brutus, 3 yrs, 7st llb
Mr. Sherrard's Prevarication, 3 yrs

Mr. Forinby's Diminutive, 4 yrs, 7st 51b
Five started, Mr. Woodbridge's br g refusing. Lady
Constance won easily.

The CANTERBURY HANDICAP of 5 sovs each, 2 ft, with
50 added. The winner of a handicap after the weights
are declared to carry 51b extra ; of two, 7th extra.
The second horse to save his stake. About one mile
and a half.

Mr. Meser's Perfidious, 4 yrs, 7st and 7 lb extra
(S. Steggles) 1
Mr. Sherrard's ch f Merrythought, 3 yrs, Est 91b 2
Mr. Formby's Lady Blanche, 5 yrs, Est 91b 3
Mr. Sherrard's ch .m Miss Emily, 6 yrs, 7st 21b
Perfidious was closely pressed by Merrythought.
SWEEPSTAKES of 2 sovs each, with 15 added. Heats,
about a mile and a distance. Gentleman riders. Pro-
fe,sionals, 61b extra.
Mr. Sherrard's ch m Miss Emily, 6 yrs (F. Sherrard) 1
Mr. Formby's Lady Blanche, 5 yrs
Mr. Sherrard's ch f Merrythought
The whole run was in favour of Miss Emily won by
a length easily.

DONCASTE
ACCEPTANCES for the GRE

It RACES.

AT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.

Age st lb
Orestes
King ofTrumps 5 8 6
Hungerford
The Riever 4 8 0
Typee
Bourton (h b)
Kohinoor ..... 5 7 9
Vindex
Grapeshot 4 7 8
Aquila
Et Lelwolf
Scarecrow 5 7 0
Eulogist 4 7 0
Lindrick
Cathermo Parr
Scythian
Brto Grey Tommy 4 6 9
Merry Bird
Cock Pheasant
Dove
La Belle.
ACCEPTANCES for the I

Age st
Apollonius 3 6 2
Lady Vernon 4 6 0
Cuornburland
Stathesmon
Newbold
Dr. O'Toole
Seducer 3 5 12
Calamus 3 5 12
Honeysuckle 3 5 11
Gamekeeper
D O. 3 5 10
Hercules
General Ereezo 3 5 8
Gamelad
Empress Catherine 3 5 8
Grand Inquisitor 3 5 8
Rabgill
Epinician
Amalgamation
Julius Agricola 3 5 3
Rodomeli
ILEVELAND HANDICAP.

Age st lb'
Rataplan
Ariosto
Hunca Munca
Snowdon Dudhill 4 8 0
Orinoco
Vindex
Captagn Cornish 4 7 6
Maidstone ..... 5 7 4
Guicowar
Eulogist
Hobby horse
Canuto

Age st lb
Annie Sutherland 4 7 0
Jack-the• Gian-
t 4 7 0
Kiteflyer
Dornedia
Lancashire Lass 4 6 11
Falcon
B aer
Cheshire Marquis 3 6 1
The Jealous One 3 •5 12
Sweet Agnes 3 5 9
Maud Mary

BRITISH ARCII2EOLOGICAL ASSO-

CL4 T/()N.

THURSDAY.—Yesterday the membera met at nine
o'clock, and went on an excursion to Matherne, where
they inspected the remains of an episcopal palace and
church, and also the old mansion of St. Pierre, in the
chapel of which are somo very curious old monuments.
Afterwards they proceeded to Portskewet, to inspect a
tumulus ; a Roman encampment at Southbrook also
engaged their attention, besides Caldicott Castle and
several old churches. At the Tuesday evening meeting,
a very excellent lecture upon the architecture of Chep-
stow Castle %lie given by Mr. Wakeman. This magni-
ficent pile of building appears to have been erected on
the solid rock, on the brink of a stupendous cliff which
forms the western bank of the Wye. Although little re-
mains but the outer walls and the round tower, it still
presents an imposing appearance, for which, in a great
degree, it is indebted to the completeness of its ex-
terior and the good repair in which it is kept by
its noble owner, the Duke of Beaufort. It is per-
fectly roofless, the large halls and court yards being
converted into green slopes, in which on festive
occasions fetes are held by the townspeople. Mr.
Wakeman observed that, considering the circumstance
that the Roman road passed the river in this neigh-
bourhood, be thought that in all probability the Castle
of Chepstow was erected on the site of a Roman fort ;
and If, on their inspection 'in the morning of what was
generally termed the chapel, though there is no reason
to suppose it ever was one, they narrowly observed the
walls, they would find a row of Roman bricks. It was
not likely that these bricks would be found in such a
po-
-ition in a Norman castle, and he could not help thick-
, ing that it was an ancient Roman wall which bad been
preserved, and in all probability the only part left of a
Roman fort there. Old traditions were often very ab-
surd, but, being subjected to rigid examination, it was
generally found that they contained some grains of truth
in them on which an immense superstructure of fable
was raised ; and it was a very remarkable fact that
there used to be a generally received tradition among
the common people of this neighbourhood that Chep-
-4 'yr Castle was built by Julius Caesar, which perhaps
sounded ridiculous enough, but when they found that
it was constructed on the Julian way, the manner in
which the error had crept in was palpable ; they
had evide Aly mistaken one thing for another. He
then pr. seeded to refer to the history of the Norman
castle erected.sinoe the Conquest. It way built by Wil-
iiarn Fitzoshorne--Eerl William as he was called—who
was in great favour with the Conqueror, who gave him
a large portion of the conquered land in this neighbour-
hoed, and appointed him governor of the Marches. He
was always considered a great man, having many ships-
of-war. In f ict, he had the command of the whole
country in this district, and he was mentioned iu
"Dootneday Book" as the possessor or builder of the
Castle of Striguil. the Norman appellation of Chepstow.
The case le, after the death of the Earl William, who was
killed in Flanders, descended to Roger, but he, being
attaieted of treason and condemned, it came into the
family of Gilbert Strongbow. And here be might re-
mark that it was a very common error to suppose that
the nanie of Strongbow was confined to one person ; on
the contrary, it was a family name, and therefore the
story Of its being given to Richard en account of the
length of his arms and his great skill in archery was
a mere fable. He then traced it throu!li the. posses-
sion of the Lord Marshal of England, William, who
espoused the daughter of Strongbow, and, on the divi-
sion of his immense property among his daughters,
the male issue having failed, it fell to the share of Maud,
who, marrying Hugh Bigod, E'irl of Norfolk, con-
veyed the Castle of Striguil into that family. He died
in 1269, and is supposed to have built all the habitable
part of Chepstow Castle, and, although he did not re-
collect where that fact was recorded, it would pro-
bably be confirmed on reference to the architecture of
the castle. On that point, however, he would leave
persons who could speak more positively about the
erections of different epochs to enlighten them. He
thought that the Priory of Newchurch, situated three
or four miles from this place, must have been the one
indicated in the old chronicles as not being far from the
Castle of Striguil, or Striguy. The town walls enclosed
an area of 92 acres, which showed the importance of the
ancient place, it being the largest area within walls in
the county of Monmouth, Caerleon, the next in size,
being only 50 acres, Caerwent not so much, and New-
document that led to the inference that the meadows
port only about ten. He did not find any tradition or
within the walls, and now known as the meads, had ever
been built upon, and it certainly seemed strange that
they should have enclosed so larget ama walk,piet.oeof open
ground, but there was a bridge a
and
another one lower down, some remains of approaches
to which, before the construction of the railroad, were
visible. Mr. Wakeman then gave some interesting de-
tails
of the small priory of St. Kiogrnark, in the heigh-
t nnoetofshuiffichcitehnetrme
demand a visit from the association. o rremainstance to
The CHAIRMAN then expressed the thanks of the meet-
tgwtenrietusdoemeorsminailpt
ing to Mr. Wakeman for the interesting paper he had
read, and the proceedings were adjourned.

"TAM SAMSON."—The namesake and son of the hero
of Burns' poem was on the moors on Saturday last, for
the 55th season. The patriarchal sportsman, we be-
lieve, proved himself as good a shot as of yore. Mr.
Samson, who is a seeds►iian in Kilmarnock, is probably
the oldest man Oil the Scottish moors in 1854.—G1a8,7010
Chronicle.