The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-13 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SHREWSBURY.

John Frail, of Shrewsbury, is a clever man. From
an election down to a race meeting he manages every-
thing with wonderful tact and ability. Here, at the
back end of the year, in dreary dark November, he
has made preparations for holding a large and im-
portant gathering, and has issued a programme which
for the numerical strength of the entries set forth in it
could not have been made more attractive for a mid-
summer meeting. The failures, too, which have marked
recent Autumn Meetings are not likely to be so broadly
displayed at Shrewsbury, where so many "good things"
in connection with the sport are invariably supplied to
the cognoscenti who, in the expectation of them, congre-
gate there in considerable force.
The formidable array of nominations renders it not a

little perplexing to indicate, with any degree of accu-
racy, the probable result of the races. In the absence
of all trustworthy inforniCatlion as to the intended ani-
mals, or precise knowledge of private arrangements, the
task, indeed, is one of no ordinary difficulty. Fifty horses
are entered for the Shrewsbury Handicap, and the proba-
bility exists that a large field will be brought out to con-
test the stake. The weights have been fixed in accordance
with the low standard BOW generally adopted by handi-
cappers, but the distribution of them has scarcely given
universal satisfaction. Mr. Frail, however, more than
any other man, knows the itupessibility of pleasing all
parties, and he has more than once t'• tlared that all the
abuse hurled at hint by disappointed people is
not sufficient to take his hair out of curl. 0a
casting my eye over the Shrewsbury Handicap,
my attention is arrested by the names of the
undermentioned animals, which form a lot " well
Jack Leeming, Joe Miller, Sleeping Partner, Panto.
mime, Candlewick, The Alp, Gamelad, and Boddicot.
Could I calculate with certainy upon a start, I should
select from this lot Sleeping Partner, Pantomime, and
Candlewick against the field.
_

For the Nursery Handicap the Conmore's dam filly,
Cock of the North, and the Ino colt stand foremost in
my estimation. On the Welter Cup it is impossible to
express an opinion, the " selling prices" not having yet
been declared.
Alonzo, lanthe, and Catherine Parr are unquestion-
ably favourably weighted for the Column Handicap, and
one of them will, I anticipate, prove the winner.
I shall, as usual, decline interfering with the Steeple-
Chases. Should I, however, hear anything worth com-
municating from Shrewsbury to-morrow night, I will
throw some rough notes together for Wednesday's
paper.
NOT. 13.

A FRESH MAN.

REINFORCZMENTS FOR THE CRIMEA.

The total of the infantry reinforcements now on their
way or about to embark for the Crimea may be said in
round numbers to amount to nearly 7,000 men. It was
stated about a fortnight since that detachments from the
regimental depots, amounting in the aggregate to 4,000
men, would proceed to join their respective service com-
panies now on active service. These 4,000 men have all
by this time left England and Ireland in the Queen of the
South, Cleopatra, Ottawa, Robert Lowe, and other
steam ships. The 97th Regiment, numbering about
1,000 electives, have been ordered up front the Piraeus
as soon 'es replaced by the 3d Buffs from Malta, and the
62d Regiment, numbering about 1,000 strong, has left
Malta for the Crimea. Besides these reinforcements,
further drafts fremthe different depots, to the amoant of
9 officers and 790 men will embark is a day or two at
Portsmouth, in the screw steamers Adelaide and
Brandon. Thus, as we have said, an addition will be made
of nearly 7,000 men to the forces before Sebastopol.
Considerable drafts are also about to embark for Malta,
Gibraltar, and the lonian Islands, in order to keep the
regiments quartered in those garrisons in a state of per-
fect efficiency for any service that may be demanded of
them.
We were enabled to state some days since that it
was the intention of the Government to reinforce largely
the cavalry in the Crimea, and as soon as ships suited
for the safe and expeditious transport of that branch of
the service can be procured the intention will be carried
into effect. -There is great difficulty in procuring suit-
able shipping, as none of the transports in the Black Sea
can be spared by Lord Laglan, and this difficulty
will, we fear, cause a great deal of delay. It has been
stated by some of our contemporaries that por.
tions of the let and 2d Life Guards and Royal
Horse Guards (Blue) would form part of the rein-
forcements ; but this statement is incorrect. The house
hold cavalry, though, doubtless. as brave and ready to
serve her Majesty anywhere as any of her troops, are, to
speak the truth, physically unfit for such service as would
be required of them in the Crimea. The household cavalry
from their great weight, if brought fresh and fit into the
field, could do immense damage to an enemy in a pitched
battle, but they are not calculated to accomplish the
rapid movements and endure the constant hardships of
the war. They will, therefore, remain on home service.
The regiments to be sent out, as we have before indi-
cated, will probably be the Carabineers, 3d Dragoon
Guards, 7th Hussars, and 16th Lancers. These regi-
ments are all in admirable condition, and the 16th
Lancers is, perhaps, the finest light cavalry regiment
in the service.

Besides reinforcements in men, the public will be glad
to find that the most vigoreul efforts are being made to
provide for the safety and comforts of the men who are
now engaged. The quantity of stores which daily leaves
the Tower is astonishing. Amongst other things, a few
days ago, 90,000 pairs of the best lamb's wool drawers,
200,000 pairs of gloves, 200,000 pairs of stockings of the
best lamb's wool; also 50,000 morning gowns for the

hospitals, lined throughout with flannel, and- 30,000 great
coats, to be used over those worn on ordinary occasions,
when on guard or on piquet, were.;,shipped. There is
also a large quantity of militia clothing shipped for the
army, as the regular c:othing is not ready. 50,000 fur
caps are to be at once sent out for the general use of the
troops. The cap to be worn by the officers is composed
of fine brown fur, "helmet shape," and lined with brown
silk. A large flap falls under the bac.: of the;neck and
under the chin, so that very little of the face is exposed.
The cap to be worn by the private is of the same shape,
less refined, though as strong in texture. The cap has
been pronounced by several officers and noa-consmis-
sioned officers to be an article which combines warmth
with ease. The cavalry officers and nen are to have
supplied to them each a pea-jacket, thickly lined, dark
blue in colour. This will cover the uniform. The trou-
sers, same as usual, will be covered as far as the knee by
thick leather overalls. The scarlet cloak for heavy ca-
valry, and blue for light cavalry, will be continued. It
is also intended to supply each man with a scarf, but no
final decision has as yet been come to on this point.