The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-04 00:00:00

NEWTON SECOND SPRING MEETING.

SATURDAY.
The GRAND STAND HANDICAP of 3 sovs. each, with 20
added. Second to save his stake. One mile. 11

subs,

Mr. Tempest's Jupiter, 5 yrs
Mr. Moore's Ploughboy, 4 yrs
Four others ran.
FREE HANDICAP SELLING STEEPLECHASE Of SOVS. each,
with 30 added. About three miles.
Mr. H. Harding's Royal Blue, aged 1
Mr. H. Harding's Miss Purdon 2
Two others ran.

The Newton Selling Race was won easily in two heats
by Augean, beating Cripple Kate, Ploughboy, and
Fusilier.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE LESSEE OF DRURY-
LANE.

On Saturday afternoon the corps dramatique of Drury-
lane Theatre presented Mr. Smith, the present lessee,
with a very handsome gold snuff-box, of fifty guineas'
value. The inscription on the inner lid ran as follows:
" Presented by the ladies and gentlemen connected with
the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, during the season "
1853,
as a mark of respect to E. T. Smith, Esq., lessee.
Mr. STIRLING, the stage-manager, in presenting Mr.
Smith with the box said, amongst other things, that
their speculations in 'Gold had been eminently success
into
ful,
and that when the old ship " Drury " wa.s
such sands,
" running
shallow water, and shoaling upon " Sandd
outs, su
as
instead of proving quicksands, had turne
ferous as the modern "diggings."
Mr. SMITH, in returning thanks, gratefully acknow-
ledged the compliment paid him, and spoke in the high-
est terms of the cordial unaniwmit that
had the honour existed amongst
the ladies and gentlemen by homy he
be then surrounded, and through whose exertions the
old " craft" had been so gloriously kept afloat. He
alluded, in most mipressive language to the cruel and
arbitrary conduct pursued by the " controlling powers"
over theatrical establishments, and mentioned a recent
instance of it as exercised towards himself, when, after
he had gone to considerable expense in getting up a new
piece, they interposed at the eleventh hour, and inter-
dieted its performance, although, in a communication he
had received from their office, they admitted that the
version he had transmitted to them fordpre-perusal was
amidst much
dveer do his duty to
whollyapplause, u nboyb j
hopingecti ona btra. t
hHeeshcoounldc ever
his best friends, the public, and, by so doing, long merit
a continuance of their patronage.—Sunday Times.

TAE OVERLAND MAIL.--STATE OF TRADE.—The com-
mercial advices by the Overland Mail were again rather
discouraging, the markets for manufactured goods both
at Bombay and Calcutta showing continued dulness,
notwithstanding an abundant supply of money. From
China the accounts are rather more favourable, and al-
though at Canton business had been suspended by holi-
days, at Shanghai there were symptoms of improvement,
and prospects were considered good. A notification had
appeared in the Pekin Gazette, which was looked upon
as indicating a disposition on the part of the Govern-
ment to legalize the
opium
bteradreegabrydedsubasstituting
increased fines, which may
equi-
valent to Customs' duties in place of the exist-
ing punishments for its
Imperial Treasury
inconsequence
thes
rebellion
document
cumhaenvt
in-
questioning ‘On suested the al
the
Subjoined i
27th day of the 11th moon the
high cominands were received as follows : A memorial
has been presented by the Censer Chang-Wei, stating
that the laws against opium are inoperative by reason
of their excessive severity, and proposing to abate the
punishments and increase the fines. Let the nine Great
Ministers and High Chancellors of the General Council
of State take this matter into mature consideration, and
report the result of their deliberations to us. Respect
I this.'