The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-22 00:00:00

DERBY.

9to 1 agst West Australian (taken to 1001.,
and afterwards offered.
13 to 1 agst Cineas (taken to 1001.)
16 to 1 agst Honeywood (take 17 to 1).
18 to 1 agst Umbriel (taken to se/.)
18 to 1 agst Ninnyhammer (taken and aft off).
25 to 1 agst Ethelbert.
2000 to 60 agst Vanderdecken (taken and aft off).
1000 to 30 agst Queen Colt (taken).
Mr. H Stebbing, the celebrated trainer, died on Sun-
day last.
Tavistock is declared not to start for the Somerset-
shire Stakes.

SPORTING NOTES.—No. CCCXCIV.
ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT NORTHAMPTON

SHIRE HANDICAP.

- -
In continuation of my analysis of this handicap,
Osborne's lot next claims my attention. To commit an
Hibernicism, however, it only consists of one, who, I be-
lieve, will run ; but the antiquated Alp, though lightly
weighted, can scarcely be deemed to have a chance.
Rogers has the Harrier, at 6st 121 b, and the King of
Troy, at Est 21b—the latter, in my opinion, being the
best.

Tremble will probably represent Godding's stable,
although the five-years-old May-day is, I think, the best
of the twain.

Hambletonian, from Bradley's, at 6st 51b, ought to
have a little chance over this course ; but I fancy all
the light-weighted four and five-years-old are completely
disposed of by Lumley's Maria, who, at 6st 41b, I have
no doubt will be one of the first four.

Madeline gave symptoms last year of being able to
carry a light weight successfully among moderate animals,
but I believe she is not quite forward enough in her
work to do anything this time.
Happy Joe and Lady Blanche, both four years old, at
the same weight (sst 121 b), are very indifferent animals,
and let loose occasionally.
Charley comes from Newmarket, but whether for this
Stake sr the Whittlebury I am not able to say ; his
chance, however, cannot be first-rate for this Stake,
when there is only a pound between him and Defiance—
the latter being by half-a-stone the best horse.
The Duke of Bedford has a couple of nominations who
have been doing good work lately ; but Gossip having
done more than his stable companion, Dabchick, will
probably represent the stable ; and as Defiance is sup-
posed to possess a fair chance, in the same strain of
argument, Gossip, at 51bs. less, cannot quite be on the
hopeless list.

Charles Marson has Polly at work, a mare with no
pretension, at the weight, to compete successfully with
either Gossip or Defiance.

The Bell Tinker is not forward enough in preparation
to have the shadow of a chance of winning.
Jacqueline, from Tom Taylor's stable, will carry Lord
Chesterfield's colours, and, at 4st. 121 b., will no dohbt
run very well.

The Intentions of the Llanforda party I have not been
able to ascertain ; but should their horse run, and be
meant, at sst. 21b., including 51b. for winning the Liver-
pool Spring Cup, I should even then entertain doubts
of her being able to win.
Lampedo, I believe, does not run.

Molasses, I should say, will be the representative of
Young Stephenson's stables, and will, as usual, be " no-
where" at the finish.

Tobolski, with 4st 51b up, the winning weight of lasi
year—is totally incapable of repeating the performance,
Chaffwax, with the feather of 4st 31b, requires no con.
sideration.

Gholab Singh has paid forfeit for this, and all his
other engagements, and is not likely to appear again in
public.
To sum up, I think the race will lie with Confessor,
Maria, Defiance, Gossip, and Hobby Horse ; and as I
entertain a slight doubt of the power of Defiance to
carry the'weight allotted to successfully, I must look for
the winner in HOBBY HORSE or CONFESSOR, if he should
represent the stable. The other three, I expect, will be
in very close attendance.
_ _

My final opinion on this stake will appear next Tues
day.

THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

HOTEL AND TAVERN-KEEPERS' PROVIDENT INSTITU-
TION.—The fifteenth annual meeting of subicribers to the
above institution was held yesterday at the Craven Hotel,
Strand, the object being to receive the annual report of
the committee, the auditors' report, and to elect officers
for the ensuing year. Mr. S. Lovegrove presided. From
the report which was read at the meeting the income
from all sources for the past ;ear appeared to be 4461. 3s.
'2d , and the disbursements fo 20 members and 12 widows
of members, 2291. 25.; and after deducting the current
expenses of the year there remained a balance of 1101.
10s. sd. The number of recipients and amongst increased from Bin 1847 to 32 in 1852, and a the
whole number relieved during that period the large sum
of 1,2641. 9s. had been distributed. The report further
mentioned two remarkable instances of the usefulness of
the institution. In one instance, where a subscriber had
paid in 81. Bs., .he had, on subsequently coming to dis-
tress, received up to the present time 1021. is.; and
anothek, who had paid in 91. 95., had received from the
funds 951. The report concluded with a grateful enu-
meration of the benefactors of the institution, and the
sP had consented
ii'val.—The Chair-
taonnporuesnicdeemaetntthethnaetxtManr.nivßeasrsas,ryMfe.
man, in opening the proceedings, briefly called at-
tention to the above facts contained in the report, and
moved its adoption. One or two questions were asked
respecting the mode of distribution, and were satisfac-
torily answered, after which the report was unanimously
adopted. Thanks were voted to Mr. Alderman Salo-
mons for his kindness in becoming a vice patron of the
association ; to Mr. Masterman, M.P., for his donation
of 51. 55., being the ninth sum of that amount he had
given to the institution ; and also to the honorary con-
tributors, whom the chairman informed the meeting were
principally ladies. OffiCers for the ensuing year were
then elected, and the proceedings terminated with the
usual vote of thanks to the chairman.
COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON A COMEDlAN.—Yester-
day, Mr. Commissioner Winslow held a court at the
Bridge House Hotel, London-bridge, to inquire into
the state of mind of Benjamin Crowther, formerly a
comedian, engaged at Astley's, arid more recently of the
Surrey Theatre. It resulted from the evidence of seve-
ral of the witnesses that Mr. Crowther was married to
Miss Vincent, lessee of the Victoria Theatre, on the
14 of February, 1852, when he was in full health.' After
the ceremony he proceeded to Brighton with Mrs.
Crowther, and was attacked with fever, followed by
what now appears to be a settled mental derangement.
He was at first sent to a lunatic asylum in Camberwell,
and subsequently to another, at Bethnal-green ; but at
teeth time of this inquiry, which was instituted by his
brer, • he was residing with his father, as before his
marriage. Before his removal to an asylum his behaviour
had been marked by great excitement, alternately with
depression, fear being the predominant emotion. In the
course of the inquiry the alleged lunatic was introduced.
Having rushed about the room, threatening to write
challenges and to shoot several people, using at the
same time very blasphemous and foul language, he was
turned a some
verdictdifficulty led out of the room. The jury re-
, " That Benjamin Crowther is now of
aunffaoisundan mind, incapable of managing himself and his
rs, ds been so since the 18th Feb., 1852."
THE LAW OF DIVORCE.—The first report of the Com-
missioners appointed by her Majesty to inquire into the
law of divorce, and more particularly into the mode of
obtaining divorces a vinculo matrimonii, has just been
laid before Parliament. After an elaborate summary of
the history of the law from the earliest times, and a
statement of the inconveniences occasioned by its present
state, the Commissioners proceed to make various sug-
gestions as to the alterations and improvements which
they think may be made in the law with prudence and
safety. The principal of these suggestions are, that the
distinction between divorce ei meusd et tho'.-o and divorce
vinculo matrimonii shall still be maintained, but that
the latter shall be allowed for adultery only, and that a
verdict at law and an ecclesiastical sentence shall not be
considered as preliminary conditions which must be
complied with before it can be obtained. They recom-
mend that the existing mode of oDNining a divorce a
vinculo shall no longer be continued, but that a new
tribunal shall be constituted to try all questions of
divorce, and also all matrimonial questions now deter-
mined in the ecclesiastical courts, and that this tribunal
shall consist of a Vice-Chancellor, a common law Judge,
and a Judge of the Ecclesiastical Courts. Listly, they
recommend that there shall be only one appeal from the
decree of the court, and that the appeal shall be carried
to the House of Lords.

SUICIDE OF A LIVERPOOL GENTLEMAN.- —A very pain-
ful affair has occurred at West Derby, near Liverpool.
Mr. Richard Benson Blundell Hollingshead Blundell, a
county magistrate, has been for some days missing from
his home, Deysbrook, West Derby, and, though diligent
search and inquiry were made for him, no clue was ob-
tained until Sunday morning, when his body was found
in a pond 'tot far from his own residence. It was at
first supposed that he had been murdered, but a further
examination of the remains tended to show that the in-
juries upon the person were self-inflicted, and "not such
as to lead to the supposition that a murder had been
perpetrated. The deceased gentleman, though very
wealthy, was labouring under the singular impression
that he should come to poverty, and this so weighed
upon his mind as to lead to the commission of the
me-
lancholy act described.