The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-24 00:00:00

SEVERE CONTEST FOR A CHURCH RATE

AT GREAT MARLOW.

On Friday, the 21st inst., the ratepayers were called
together for the purpose of passing the churchwardens
accounts, and levying a rate for the ensuing year. The
Rev. F. Bussell took the chair as the clock struck
twelve, and proceeded with the accounts, in which many
illegal charges were included, such as for bell ringing.
bellows blowing, organist, choir, holly and ivy to deco-
rate church, &c. &c., to these items no objection was
insisted on, as the churchwardens had paid them, and
would be out of pocket if struck out of the accounts.
The friends of civil and religious liberty, consisting of
liberal Churchmen, Dissenters, and Catholics, only
wishing to give support to Sir W. Clay's motion, for the
total abolition of church-rates, by moving an amendment
in vestry, and trying the question in a peaceable and
good spirit, consequently on the churchwardens asking
for a rate of threepence in the pound, without producing
an estimate of expenses. Joseph Wright, Esq., moved,
as an amendment, "That the consideration of the rate
be adjourned to this day twelvemonth," which was
seconded by Mr. Wane, and carried by a large majority,
on which a poll was demanded, and fixed by the chair-
man to commence at four o'clock and close at eight that
evening, and to re-open at ten the next morning, and
finally close at four o'clock. The result of the first day's
poll gave a majority of 33 in favour of the amendment.
This drove the church party frantic, and they immedi-
ately resorted to all the old and vile practices of
electioneering, such as intimidation, eoercion, &c. ;
early in the morning landlords were hunting their
tenants, employers driving their workmen, brewers
clerks scouring out dependents ; to the poll they must
come, like sheep to the slaughter. Mother Chnrch
could not even spare the sick ! from their beds they must
come, to assist in taking the poor man's pittance for
the support of the rich man's church. By such
means a majority of 10 was secured, after one of the
fiercest antests in the annals of parish vestries. The op-
ponents of church-rates resolved not to sully their
cause by the use of foul weapons, and proudly boast
that only one shilling was spent by them in the contest,
and that to pay the town crier, to give public notice of
the poll being opened.

Amdt. Agst
255
Close of the poll 143
, first day .......... •
Final close

---
GRAND FETE AT THE FLORA GARDENS, CAMBER
WELL,—A fete of a novel character, and on an extensive
scale, is to be given at these gardens to-day, to-morrow,
and Wednesday, by Chief Baron Nicholson, of the Coal
Hole Tavern, Strand. The principal entertainments
are to consist of hurdle and other races, with lady
jotskrsy„ fcr ter:,•, r considerable Between the
heats of each race there will be music, rustic spurts, &c.
In the evening there is to be a magnificent equestrian
cavalcade, by torchlight, of Lady Godiva's ride through
Coventry. The fine weather will no doubt attract a
large aasemblage.

SPORTING NOTES.

GUESSES FOR GOODWOOD.
This year at least no diminution is likely to be dis-
played in the varied " glories" of Goodwood. The
meeting about to be celebrated will doubtless be marked
by incidents as interesting and important as any that
characterised its predecessors. Although the list of at-
tractions is not so numerically strong as that of some
preceding anniversaries, yet it promises a supply of
sport sufficiently ample to satisfy the most ardent turfite.
Thirty-seven items are distributed over the programme,
nine being appointed for Tuesday, nine for Wednesday,
eleven for Thursday, and eight for Friday. Relative to
the number of events to be decided no shortcomings
will be perceptible ; in certain instances, however, the
fields will perhaps be small and insignificant. Still,
among the competitors for the principal stakes will be
found the " flower" of our turf celebrities.
Speculation on the Good wood Stakes has recently
undergone several perplexing changes. Relative to the
leading favourites in particular its fluctuations have
been frequent and extraordinary. Tros is perhaps the
only animal whose upward tendency in the betting has
been steadily sustained. Diana and Heapy rise and
fall in the Turf Market in a manner little calculated to
engender strong confidence in their respective backers.
Neither of them, in fact, possesses sound pretensions to
a very prominent position in the list of quotations.
Diana's running has been of the veriest leather-flapping
mediocrity. She ran somewhat forward for the Oaks,
it is true, but her supporters are likely to derive little
encouragement from an impartial consideration of that
performance, Bribery finished in advance of her for that
event, and although she is handicapped to give Diana
6lbs., yet, if a starter, she will indubitably " make her
safe." Diana's most noteworthy achievement was per-
haps at Ascot, where she ran a dead heat with Kenny-
side Hero for the Great Western Stakes. Is this
performance sufficiently important to warrant a
belief in her boasted pretensions for the Good-
wood Stakes ? Report, however, assisms other
reasons for deeming her chance formidable. It
states that she was tried with Little Harry and " did all
that her party required of her." Whether this rumour
be true yet remains to be seen ; at present I am not in-
clined to place faith in it. Although a demonstration
was again made in favour of Diana at " the corner"
on Saturday, yet, it was not sustained with much spirit.
Indeed so scantily was the room attended that the
seeming effect which it produced on the state of the odds
was perhaps, after all, merely temporary and negative.
To explain satisfactorily the sudden retrogression of
Heapy is somewhat difficult. Does his owner premedi-
tate another Liverpool coup? People connected with
the turf are daring enough to follow up any bold and
successful stroke of policy. Still lam not prepared to
say that such are the " intentions" relative to Heapy,
and even my suspicions may in this instance be unjust.
Heapy's claims to support are seemingly somewhat
negative. They do not rest entirely upon the respecta-
bility of his public performance, but they are apparently
put forward because he has not run well when he evi-
dently had a chance of distinguishing himself. The
opportunity which will be afforded him on Wednesday,
for a creditable display of what racing ability he may
possess, is unquestionably favourable; his lenient im-
post ought certainly to enable him to figure promi-
nently in the encounter. All sorts of rumours are cir-
culated to account for his downward tendency in the
betting ; some state that he pulled up lame after
galloping ; others have a touch of sarcasm and badinage
in them, and are to the effect that the Duke of Rich-
mond may deem him not qualified to run, according to
the strict spirit of the Goodwood conditions, because he
has not yet won a race !
Tros is an animal seemingly much improved on 'his
two-year old form. They who have bad frequent oppor-
tunities of seeing him at exercise are loud in their
praises of his style of going and general appearance, and
indeed declare the race " all over but shouting." Tros has
a steady weight upon him that will enable a lad and
not a mere child to ride him, a great advantage over so
severe a course as that at Goodwood. By the way, it
is probable that Carroll will have the mount. lam in-
clined to place some confidence in the formidableness of
Tree's chance, not only because he has maintained his
position in the betting with firmness, but because not a
doubt exists as to his " going for the money." The
white and red spots of Lord Zetland, then, I shall ex-
pect to see borne prominently in the van.
Much uncertainty exists as to the intended animal
of Messrs. Payne and Greville's lot. No determined
demonstration has yet been made in favour of one of
the animals which comprise it. A few investments
have at various times been made on Muscovite, Adine,
and Cock Pheasant ; bbt no disposition has been evinced
to keep them in the market. To use a slang phrase in
common use on the Turf, an opinion prevails—an opinion,
too, which I am inclined to entertain—that the intended
animal will be a " hot 'un." The betting at present,
however, gives no indication As to which animal will be
selected to do battle for the party. A vague rumour is.
afloat, to the effect that the " lot" was tried with Bri-
bery, who proved the best of the bunch. Be this as it
may, I shall deem the trusted representative of Messrs.
Payne and Greville's interest a most dangerous antago-
nist. Were Adine or even Cock Pheasant to be the in-
tended animal, I shall not be surprised.' Muscovite I
cannot stand. He has too, it is said, been recently in
•physic. .
The Duchess of Lorraine colt has been much talked
about, and he has been more than once expected to
achieve some important victory. Whether his good
time is now come is in my opinion somewhat doubtful.
I must confess that for me his stable companion Jacque-
line has greater attractions. This mare is weighted at.
11b. less than when she won the Northumberland Stakes,
and with little Ashmall's assistance her success is not a
matter of remote probability.
Notwithstanding his crushing impost, Rataplan has
many supporters who deem his chance by no means
" out." I, however, am compelled to doubt his ability
to pull through. He will, nevertheless, run well and
gamely. It is said that his owner, Mr. Tom Parr, will
be " up."
The confidence which certain parties again place in
. Nancy. is really. extraordinary. lam compelled to ac-
knowledge that it sorely puzzles me, for they have now
no apparent purpose to answer in supporting her in the
market. That they do support her, is undeniable. The
" Man in the Street" too unhesitatingly expresses his
belief that Nancy is again in her old form. I must,
however, regard her with doubt and suspicion, and can-
not allow her to influence the conclusion at which I may
arrive as to the result of the race. I shall not extend my
observations to the other animals comprising the "out-
side division," but shall merely indicate the following to
be the most note-worthy names among them :—Cobnut,
Jouvence, Exeter, and Miss Tennyson.
Having " summed up" as briefly as the subject would
admit the pretensions of the principal horses handi-
capped, I will without further preamble express my
deliberate -opinion that TROS, the BEST OF MESSRS.
GREVILLE AND PAYNE'S (PERHAPS ADINE), AND HEAPY
will be the foremost competitors in the race. Should
these hopes be wrecked, Jacqueline and Jouvence shall
form a " cockboat " which may carry me successfully
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With. The owner of Virago has, too, it is said, an
interest in Rataplan. Should the favourite not be quite
so good as when she won the Metropolitan, Muscovite
may have a chance. These remarks are written on the
presumption that Stockwell will be an absentee.
The great length to which my observations on the
Stakes and Cup have extended compels me to dismiss
the minor items of the programme in a few words .-
1 West Australian will, of course, win the 300 sovs Sweep-
' stakes ; the Gratwicke Stakes will I expect be won by
the best of John Scott's, or Boer ; the Ham Stakes I
assign to Dirk Hatteraick, and the Levant to either
Kingstown or Lord of the Isles. Of the seventy-five
handicapped for the Stewards' Cup, I shall " stand on "
the following—Ephesus, Brocket, Vaultress, Narcissus,
Nelly Hill, Glenstrae, A.nteverta, and El Dorado. For
the Matches, Diomedia and William Rufus are my
" fancies." Acrobat may go through .his "Drawing
Room" performance successfully. Marsyas will, per-
haps, win the 300 Sovs Sweepstakes, Craven Course.
Dirk Hatteraick, Paletot, and Joshua, are my selec-
tions for the Great North and South of England
Biennial Stakes. Andover will doubtless win the 50
Sovs Sweepstakes on Thursday, Lord of the Isles the
Molecombe Stakes, Scythian or Acrobat the Racing
Stakes, and Dirk Hatteraick the 200 Sovs. Sweepstakes.
The three Bentinck Memorial Stakes will, I anticipate,
be carried off respectively by West Australian, Mar-
syas, and Paletot.
July 24.