The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-21 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

THE SPRING HANDICAPS.

The publication of the Spring Handicaps is always
regarded as an important sporting event ; but this year
the declaration of the weights was expected with a deeper
interest and a more eager curiosity than ever. For
many days rumours had been rife respecting the probable
imposts distributed to certain animals entered for the
Chester Cup, and the betting on them had been con-
ducted with peculiar spirit and confidence. These pro-
ceedings excited suspicions that the weights for certain
horses had been improperly divulged before the stated
time for declaring them—suspicions, too, which, for the
credit of the handicapper, I am sorry to say, the publi-
cation of them has not tended to dispel. The handicap-
per's estimate of the relative merit of Newminster and
Goldfinder was, I have no hesitation in saying, known
to many individuals in London at the commencement of
the week ; and the determined opposition which Virago
encountered would seemingly indicate that some ink-
lings of his intentions respecting her had been received
before the weights were published.
The handicap for the Chester Cup is scarcely satisfac-
tory. It appears to have been framed in a capricious,
arbitrary mood, and with only one guiding principle—
that of weighting the three-year-oid horses as favourably
as possible. An exception to this rule was, however,
Made to the disadvantage of Virago, for whose heavy
Weight no reasonable justification can be found. From
the short price at which she once figured in the betting,
the handicapper would of course exercise a proper dis-
cretion in placing a heavier impost on her than her
known racing ability would perhaps warrant ; but the
Weight which he has in his wisdom imposed upon her is
glaringly contrary to every principle of justice and fair
play. Virago is made to concede 101 b. to Wild Hunts-
man, who has been backed at 22 to 1 for the Derby ;
and she is also made to give " lumps of weight" not
only to animals of her own year, but to older horses.
lief chance of success is now utterly extinguished.
Odds were freely betted that Goldfinder would be
More heavily handicapped than Newminster, although
the latter's superiority was unquestioned. Newminster
is weighted at 21bs. lighter than Goldfinder ; but this
estimate of their comparative merit is peculiar to Ches-
ter, for at Northampton Newminster's weight is 11b.
heavier than Goldfinder's, at Epsom it is 21b., and at
York it is 51b. That errors of judgment are almost un-
avoidable in constructing a large handicap I readily
admit ; but in the allotment of weights for the Chester
Cup there are discrepancies that can scarcely be attri-
buted to their influence.

Speculation on the Chester Cup was commenced in
earnest in the City on Friday, but it was too unsettled
to give any indication of its ultimate tendency. Among
the animals backed were Newminster, Marc Antony,
Black Doctor, Miss Sellon, Catspaw, Tom, and Duchess
of Lorraine colt, all of whom are unquestionably handi-
capped on advantageous terms.

The Great Northern Handicap, perhaps, of all its
spring rivals, contains the most favourable evidence of
a discriminating and impartial judgment. It has been
framed with laborious care, and it is likely to afford a
most interesting betting race.
Much talk has been occasioned respecting the handi-
cap for the Liverpool Steeplechase. Miss Mowbray's
Weight, in particular, is regarded as being unduly
heavy ; but in my opinion it is in accordance with her
boasted pretensions, and is not calculated to destroy her
chance. To the Marquis of Waterford's horses, how-
ever, a considerate favour has been extended.

OUNDLE STEEPLECHASES are announced to take place
on Monday and Tuesday next, but the supply of sport
IS likely to be scanty and the encounters unexciting.
Topsy, The General, and A. Y. are the only animals
that have been backed for the GRAND RACE, and the
first mentioned is said to be a " good thing." To those
'who have more cunning in the ways and means of the
"jumpers" I shall leave the task of selecting the winner.
Friday night. A FRESH MAN.

HO3fE COUNTIES AND METROPOLITAN
FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.

On Thursday a meeting of the shareholders and sup-
porters of the Home Counties and Metropolitan Free-
hold Land Society was held at Radley's Hotel, Bridge-
Street, Blackfriars.

J. P. MuRRouGH, Esq., M.P. for Bridport, in opening
the proceedings of the evening, said, in the absence of
his noble friend, now at Varna, it afforded him great
gratification in being selected to occupy the chair that
evening. In so doing he felt he would not he called
upon to enter at any length into the working of freehold
land societies in general. Since the firs" society founded
by Mr. Taylor, all the prejudices, which he was sorry to
rsay had been excited, and had greatly detracted
from freehold land societies, had been allayed,
and now they bid forth to be of immense good
to the country. This was indeed a poor man's
society, and he was sure every gentleman present would
comprehend what he meant by that assertion. (Cheers.)
In this society there was one great and important ad-
vantage, and that was, that no ballot rights were created
until there was land to satisfy them. Where this fact
Was not the case, he considered it to be a vicious state
of thing
s—a state of things that led to a system of stock
jobbing, which was highly to be reprehended. Most of
those present would call to mind that savings banks re-
stricted themselves to a per centage of 2/. Bs. on money
ulvested, but this society doubled that sum, and more,
lunar month, was the sum paid, a rate far superior.
!/aving's banks he had no doubt were useful
Institutions, but freehold land societies he thought
Were to be preferred. Another feature was that in case
Of arrears there was no forfeiture. A member had but
to pay up his back subscriptions and he possessed a
light equal to any of the other members to go to the
Allot. In the short time this society had been founded,
1800 shares had been taken, two estates had been
bought, and from his experience he would say well
ought. lie scarcely thought it was incumbent on him
o !flake a long statement of the machinery of these
societies—they all well understood their minute parts,
and the
great advantages to be derived from joining
them.

EYKELBoscri said he had had so often the plea-
"re of addressing meetings like the present, that on many
of those occasions he had been at a loss for something new
to say to them. This was not the case that evening
l
had to congratulate them on the excellent address
""ey bad heard from the hon. gentleman who had done
them the honour of presiding over their deliberations
that evening. Every man was the centre of a circle,
and it was his duty to see that his circle was well worked.
It Was his pleasing duty to inform them that the society
now had it in its power to pay a per centage of 51. Bs.
upon all past subscriptions, and he thought that such a
fact was sufficient of itself to induce every man to urge
the matter strongly among his friends. In the savings
hank account there was at the present time a deficiency
of 800,0001., and it was the duty of every working man,
when he went to the poll, to remember that fact, and to
ascertain how that deficiency was to be met, whether it
was to come from the saving bank fund, which was the
property of the working man, or whether it was to conic
hom the consolidated fund. Many persons thought
that Go-comment guaranteed the depositor from all loss,
but they now found there was no responsibility ; in fact,
it was a complete case of repudiation, neither the
trustees nor the Government being liable for a shilling.
Mr. Eykelbosch then alluded to interest given by savings
banks, and said this society have resolved to give in-
terest at the rate of 51. Bs. 4d. per cent per annum on
all future subscriptions. The great art of saving money
was, "begin at once, and pay as you go," and the best
man was the man who did the most under the greatest
difficulty. With these remarks he begged to move the
resolution which he had just read. (Cheers.)
Mr. KINTREA had great pleasure in seconding the re-
solution, the sum that they could now pay as interest,
he assured the meeting had been really and truly earned.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the meeting,
and declared it carried.
The ballot then commenced, and the following are the
successful numbers :-63, 64, 167, 133, 286, 264, 373,
322, 449, 472, 572, 566, 628, 684, 774, 712, 807, 891,
936, 993,1,035, 1,007, 1,187, 1,141, 1,261, 1,266, 1,395,
1,354, 1,498, 1,410, 1,546, 1,537, 1,643, 1,608, 670, 168,
3,520, 1,465, 817, and 165.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
proceedings terminated.

DEATH OF THE HON. R. H. CLIVE, M.P.—We
regret to state that the Hon. Mr. Clive, M.P. for
Louth Shropshire, who has been seriously ill for some
time past, died at Shrewsbury yesterday afternoon. He
Was deeply respected throughout the county, not only
for his man rivate virtues, but for the straightforward
which
manner in he at all times advocated the main-
tenance of sound principles of political government.
THE OPENING OF PARLIAIIENT. —The Queen will
?Pen Parliament in person. The usual preparations for
Le
Lords

A 1;-0IING MAN MISSING.—Thomas Jones, a young
tan, aged 22, clerk in the employ of Messrs. Farebrother,
the auctioneers, has not been heard of, either by his em-
Voyers or relatives, since the 4th instant, when he left
nndon for Westerham, in Kent. As no cause is known
w!iy he should have absented himself, his einployers and
friends fear that some accident must have happened to
him A reward of 51. has been offered for any informa-
tion respecting his whereabouts.
A DISCOVERY.—The Frenchman Mariette has at
last succeeded in discovering the long-sought-fur en-
trance into the Sphynx. The entrance leads into beau-
tiful marble rooms, which are supposed to be connected
by subterranean passages with simi:ar chambers in the
adjacent pyramid. There is but little travelling this
Year in Egypt.
APOTHECARIES' HALL.—Names of gentlemen who
Passed their examination in the science and practice of
medicine, and received certificates to practise, on Thurs-
day, Jan. 19, 1854 :—William Thomas Fernie, Yelden,
Bedfordshire ; James Keife Lane, Grosmont, Hereford-
Shire ; William Wilking Stabb, Ilfracombe, Devonshire ;
Arthur Anthony Harris, Wadrington, Oxon ; William
Day Walker, Battesford, Leicestershire ; James Field,
Leeds School of Medicine.