The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-03 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

THE METROPOLITAN STAKES.
The race for the Northamptonshire stakes exercised
little material or perceptible influence over the betting
on the Metropolitan. Still speculation was marked by
several significant incidents. Royalist received increased
support, and the running of Rataplan and Defiance oc-
casioned a still stronger desire to " get on" Jonathan
Martin. The demonstration which was made in favour
of Royalist has been sustained with spirit and effect, and
no movement, however well directed; is likely to drive
him from the position to which he has been advanced.
Report states that Royalist has been most highly and
satisfactorily tried, and the betting seemingly attests the
truth of this rumour. This circumstance, and the light-
ness of the weight at which he is handicapped, induce me
to estimate his chance more favourably than his publio
performances warrant. Indeed, were his pretensions to
success founded solely on his running last season, they
would be of the slenderest and most insignificant cha-
racter. Still, notwithstanding the boasted improve-
ment in his form, I regard doubtingly Royalist's ability
to achieve success.

Jonathan Martin has received almost equal support
with Royalist, and their recommendations to notice are
somewhat evenly balanced. Both horses belong to
" stables" that seldom make a mistake in their calcula-
tions, and both have been backed with a spirit and fre-
quency that indicate extraordinary confidence on the
part of their respective supporters. But of the lightly
weighted division, notwithstanding the growing popu-
larity of Royalist and Jonathan Martin, I deem St.
Clair the most fairly entitled to notice. The manner in
which 'ue won the Spring Cup, at Liverpool, is sufficient
to warrant high expectations of his chance.
From the top weights I shall select Muscovite and Hace
to represent my interest. Of late many heavy invest-
ments have been made on Muscovite, who, it is said, is
about to fulfil the expectations which have for some time
been formed of him. Soon after the publication of the
weights, I expressed an opinion that he was handicap-
ped on advantageous terms, and stated that if intended
he would prove a formidable competitor. Circumstances
have confirmed that opinion, and, with Flatman's assist-
ance, I shall expect to see Muscovite figure prominently
in the race. Haco has been carefully prepared for this
engagement, and since last autumn a marked improve-
ment has been effected in his form. His owner
has backed him for 4001., and calculates with con-
fidence upon the ultimate profit of his investment.
Annie Sutherland was advanced prominently into
notice during the recent meeting at Northampton,
and her alleged pretensions to support are not incom-
patible with her public performances. She has frequently
displayed racing merit of more than a second class order,
and the comparatively favourable weight at which she is
handicapped will doubtless enable her to show to advan-
tage in the encounter. The chances of the other ani-
mals likely to compose the field I shall not now bring
under notice. I have merely confined my remarks 'to
those horses whose titles to consideration I deem the
soundest. Muscovite, Haco, Annie Sutherland, and St.
Clair are, in my opinion, those whose chances to success
°
appear to be Most formidable. To-night I start for
Croxton Park, whencemyfintahlese,g
l,eeeitletii
"gentlemen shalle ribdeercsourai
municated. There, among
may hear of something to my advantage.
The City and Suburban Handicap is likely to occasion
an encounter of perhaps more enduring interest than
that for the Metropolitan. The field indeed is likely to
be numerically stronger, although speculation on it may
be less actively pursued. On examining the list of ac-
ceptances, the eye is attracted by the following names :
Orestes, Adine, Catspaw, The Friar, Itch, Merry Monk,
and Lysisca ; and these horses appear to be the most
favourably weighted. From the lot I shall select
Orestes, Itch, and Lysisca to occupy the foremost places
in the race.

At present I shall not extend my remarks to either
the Railway Plate or the Two Year Old Stakes ; indeed,
so little is yet known about the probable starters for
either event, that it would be ridiculous to attempt to
select the winners.
The Croxton Park Races will commence to-morrow,
but the approaching "doings" of the .thib have yet ex•
cited no attention among betting men. Bourton seems
likely to follow up his recent successes by winning the
Granby Handicap, although his defeat by Titterstone
would occasion me no surprise.
April 3.

A FRESH MAN.

SERIOUS FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.

Yesterday morning, about one o'clock, information
was received at the fire-stations, that an alarming fire
had broken out in a range of premises, let out in tene-
ments, situated at 15, Tottenham-place, Tottenham-
court-road. To that spot the engines of the parish,
London Brigade, and West of England started, upon
reaching which, the firemen found that the whole of the
upper portion of the building was in flames, and the fire
was rising so high through the roof as to illuminate the
surrounding districts to such an extent as to draw some

thousand persons to the scene. Fortunately, an abun-
dant supply of water was at once procured, and, no time
having been lost in setting the engines to work, and the
help afforded by hired assistants, the water thrown upon
the flames soon began to tell with amazing effect, and
in less than an hour the conflagration was entirely ex-

tinguished, but not until the upper part of the preMises
was entirely destroyed, and the lower part seriously
damaged. The origin of the fire is enveloped in obscurity
and unfortunately the sufferers were not insured for a
single penny.
A fire also happened in the premises of Mr. John
Jones, architect, No. 24, Margaret-terrace, Oakley-
street, Chelsea. It commenced on the ground floor, and
rapidly extended towards the upper floors. At the time
of the outbreak the inmates were in their beds asleep,
and it was a work of no little difficulty that the parties
were enabled to effect a safe retreat. The engines of
the parish, London Brigade, and that of the West of
England Office, attended as early as possible, and a
plentiful supply of water having been procured, the fire-
men and parish engineers managed to confined the de-
structive element to the premises in which it originated,
but not, however, until a serious amount of damage was
done to the premises and their contents. The origin of
the fire is unknown. Fortunately the sufferer was in-
sured in the Manchester Fire Office.
Another fire broke out in the premises of Mr. saber
(private), 37, Whiteeross-place, Nelson-street, Finsbury,
but, owing to the timely arrival of assistance, the damage
done was not very extensive, which was fortunate, as
the sufferer was not insured.
Between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday forenoon a
fire happened in the premises of Mr. John Hamblin,
carpenter and builder, 14, Dartlett's-buildings, Fetter-
lane. It commenced from some unknown cause in one
of the workshops on the first floor, and, owing to the
inflammable nature of the contents, a fearful conflagra-
tion was at one time expected. The engines of the
London Brigade and the West of England Office were
soon in attendance, and, owing to the exertions of the
firemen and neighbours, the flames were extinguished,
but not until that part of the premises in which the d►s-
aster commenced was all but burned out, and the re-
mainder of the buildirk greatly damaged. ft is un-
known at present whether or not the sufferer was

insured. -
Last evening (Sunday), just as the parishioners were
proceeding to church, the neighbourhood of Pitfield-
street, Hoxton, presented an unusual scene of bustle
and confusion, in consequence of the cry of fire being
suddenly raised. It was soon ascertained that a fire, of
rather formidable character, had braked out in the
premises a fancy bread
and biscuit
carryingr:n Henderson,
n;tlarg
large business at the
belonging
baker, to
3
corner of Queen-street and Pitfieid-street, nearly adjoining
Mr.
Mr. Alderman Lawrence's extensive timber-yard and
stores. The outbreak coMmenced in a flour store, over
the bakehouse litijoininig, but at the rear -of the front
preml. • 'ses Owing to the valuable contents of the sur-
rounding bmidinco, messengers were at once depatched
in sundry directions for the engines, to prevent, if pos-
sible, the conflagration from extending to the contiguous
premises. In the course of a few minutes the parish
engines attended, followed immediately afterwards by
31r• Baylis, the head engineer, with the Whitecross-street
engine and firemen. Several other brigade engines, and

also that of the West of England Company, arrived in
rapid succession, and owing to the exertions of the fire-
men, under the superintendence cf Messrs. Fogo, Con-
norton, and Baylis, the' fire was, in the course of an
hour or so, subdued, but not until the flour store in
which it began was burnt out, the roof destroyed, and
an adjoining store damaged by fire and water. Fortu-
nately the sufferer was insured in the Imperial and
Legal and Commercial and Manchester -United Fire-
offices. The damage done, however, it is stated, will
not prevent the business from being carried on as here-
tofore. The misfortune is attributed to some children
playing with some lucifer matches, and who had a
narrow escape from being burnt to death.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gen-
tlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for
the diploma, were admitted members of the college at tb•
meeting of the Court of Examiners on the 31st ult. :---
Messrs. john Dixon, Hemsworth, Yorkshire ; James
Robert Moriarty Pomery, St. Erne, Truro, Cornwall ;
Richard Buswell, Northampton ; George Stratten Sym-
mons, Sloane-street, Chelsea ; George Mainwaring Fast,
msey, -
army ; Thomas Dickinson, Sloane-street, Chelsea; Ro-
bert Henri Moon, Ilfracombe ; Wad del B
Htuizzettt,
E.I.C. Service •, George Berwick Mead, oath,
ingdonshire ; Christopher Thilteei, Plymouth, Devon
Robert Boxall, Guildford.
CAPTURE or A Russia= VEssEr.. —yesterday (Thurs-
in =kin, for Waterford harbour,
day) a Russian vessel,
was fired at from Duncannon fore and captured. The
which as corn laden, from the
master and crew were totally;gnrant of the declaration
of war. The vessel,
Black Sea, three months out, is at present in Water-
ford harbour, and the master and crew have been com-
mitted to gaol as prisoners of war.—Dublin Mercantile
"The first Prize,"
AtbderecltriaBtecriTor7/13/&le.:. hastbe thheeadfotwing paragraph :
" The Russian ship Norden, which arrived in this port
on the 27th from Odessa, With 2,550 quarters Indian
corn, and 800 quarters wheat, was sold on Wednesday
to Messrs. White, Brothers, for 2,0001., the captain
being under the belief, probably, that a seizure would
take place when war is declared. 'The. Norden is' 486
tons register, said to be only five years built;
.aid in
good sailing order."
•