The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-16 00:00:00

SENT TO COVENTRY.

The meeting at Coventry on Tuesday was a marked suc-
cess. Tho course was crowded by people of all classes and
conditions, and the muster of the betting brotherhood was
comparatively large. Fine weather, too, rendered the pro-
ceedings doubly attractive and pleasant. For the legiti-
mate events the fields were good and the racing interest-
ing, but the steeplechases were decided and unmitigated
failures. Indeed, until the telegraph board announced
three runners, it was generally expected that Bourton
would be left alone in his glory to walk over for the Craven
Steeplechase. Spring, however, was started to oppose the
winner of the Liverpool Grand National; and Vainhope,
although evidently " unfit " and lame, ran to assist his
stable companion Bourton, and to secure the added money.
3 to 1 was laid on Bourton ; but so numerous were the
takers, who, doubtless, .alculated on the many probable
accidents and the glorious uncertainty of the sport,
that those odds were at the start reduced half a
point. Bourton's success was not for an instant jeo-
pardised, although, on making the turn for home,
a simultaneous shout of " Spring wins" was raised on the
Stand. After charging the last flight of hurdles, however
Bourton went up to Spring, passed him without an effort,
and won in a canter !

Seven started for the Selling Flat Race, which was the
first event decided. The encounter was remarkable only
for the defeat of the favourite, Telegraph, and the some-
what equivocal running of the Spanish .lack filly. Bull's
Eye, the winner, was not mentioned in the " ring."
Battery made nearly all the running, and won the Co-
ventry Handicap somewhat cleverly, beating a field of
eight. Georgey was the favourite. He lay off until ap-
proaching the distance, when he failed in his effort to reach
Wellsbourne and Battery, who were then settling down
in earnest to their work. Carroll, who for many months
has been suffering from severe illness, rode Little Davie.
He is now almost restored to health, and is quite capable
of again figuring with effect in the pigskin.
The Selling Steeplechase occasioned rare fun. Slashing
Painter, Stretford Lass, and Widow Machree were the
only starters. They ran without let or hindrance to the
Radford Brook, where Widow Machree fell, and Stretford
Lass, who was following close behind her, struck her on
landing, and also came heavily to the ground. Slashing
Painter was then put at the water, but he displayed a
decided disinclination to face it. Tasker spurred and
whipped him, the spectators hallooed and hounded him
on, but all in vain, he could not be got over. In the mean-
time Sait had scrambled up and remounted the Widow
Machree, and was more than half a mile head. Slashing
Painter was then not persevered with. Shetford Lass,
too, was missing, and her rider was lying stunned upon the
ground. Widow Machree was thbn, therefore, left alone
to go over the course. On being put at the Radford-
brook the second time she had not forgotten her former
disaster. She refused, and could not be persuaded to leap
it. After a lapse of about five minutes, during which time
every effort was made to get her over, the Stretford Lass
suddenly showed again in the race, and went to work to
catch the Widow before she leaped the brook. In this
effort she nearly succeeded, but when within a short dis-
tance of her, Sait, who had dismounted to clear the way,
succeeded, with the willing help of the shouting spectators,
in dragging the Widow through the water. Shetford Lass,
however, went on in hot pursuit, cleared the brook, but at
the very next fence again came to the ground. The Widow
then passed the post alone, amidst the decisive cheers of
the people. On returning to scale an objection was made
to Widow Machree, but this, like the horses, also fell to
the ground. It was, however, supported for a time with
many noisy protestations, but the owner of Widow Machree
declared, with much feeling, that he had not won a race
for eight years, and the consideration of his ill-luck evi-
dently silenced the objectors. Tom Gurney won the Free
Handicap Hurdle Race, and Theodine the Handicap, which
closed at three o'clock on the day of running.
March 16. A FRESH MAN.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TADCASTER RACES--YESTERDAY.

STEEPLECHASE.

Diana 1
Maley
Won in a canter by eight lengths. The folio wing also
ran :—Blue Bonnet, Priam g. Juan, St. Mark, and
Mary Barnton.

WARWICK AND LM
CHASES.-
ACCEPTANCES for the GR.

.MINGTON STEEPLE-
-MA.Ron 24.
,ND ANNUAL. About four

st lb
Oscar ll 8
Lord George ll 0
Agis
Vainhope
Peter lO 6
Spring
Trout
Need wood 9 10
Lobster
ACCEPTANCES for the FRE.
Two

st lb
View Halloo 9 10
The Marquis 9 6
Crabbs
J umpaway 9 2
Star of England
Princess 9 0
Comeaway 8 12
Burnt Sienna 8 li
Seaman
C HANDICAP HURDLE RACE.
miles.

st lb
The Alp 9 12
Star of England 9 7
Geraldus 9 6
May Day 9 5
Sir Philip
ACCEPTANCES for the FREE
Three
at lb
Cerrus (50/4 9 9
Dearest Mae (301.) 9 9
Graziella (601.)
Slashing Painter
(201.)
The Linnet (501.)

st lb
The Old Rake
Theodine
Gerard
Ringleader 8 7

I HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE,
miles. •

st lb

Widow Machree
(201.)
Stretford Lass, late
Take Notice (301.) 8 9
The Miner (201.)

EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCK
COMPANY.

The subjoined letter relates to the position of the East
and West India Dock Company. The points suggested
are such as might be discussed more appropriately at a
general meeting of the proprietors than in any other
manner, but, as this concern is among the few in Lon-
don who deem it desirable to avoid publicity, it is not
surprising that those who wish for inquiry or reform
should feel it necessary to adopt more efficient methods
of obtaining attention :

" Sir,—Some weeks back you noticed the meeting of the
East and West India Dock Company, the private nature
of which precluded your giving those details which are fur-
nished by other dock companies, and which are interesting
to a great number of your readers, as bearing upon the
trade of the country.
" This, and the reduced dividend, have attracted my
attention ; for as men's purses become lighter their percep-
tions are apt to grow more acute. A reduction in the
stock from 170 to 107 in a few months, and a diminution
of dividend from 64 to 5 per cent., at a time of unexampled
commercial activity and prosperity, are startling facts.
" I would ask, then, if the company participate in this
increase of trade ? I s there the same activity displayed,
amid the competition for business, in behalf of the interests
of the East and West India Dock Company as is exercised
in behalf of other dock companies? Do all the directors
give their warehousing business to the docks, and, if they
do not, because they find the wharves cheaper, have they
taken any pains so to modify their rates as to be satisfactory
to the merchants while remunerative to the docks?

"Has the enormous sum expended in making a commu-
nication between the docks been a judicious outlay? and
has it been done with the approval of the practical officer,
of the company ?
" Can the affairs of the company be more profitably con-
ducted by the constant attendance of three active and well-
paid directors, acting under a small board of general direc-
tors, also paid sufficiently to attend to its inter eats, than
by the present system of 40 directors, each rendered rather
supine than active, and perhaps less careful of the ten-
dency of his acts under his one-fortieth share of responsi-
bility ?
" These and other questions are well worthy of their at-
tention, and between this time and another general meet-
ing I advise their earnest consideration, when a discussion
in the presence of reporters may serve to elicit a knowledge
f their pos.tion, t.• ventilate the company by public opi-
nion, and place its interests on a surer foundation.—l am,
Sir, your obedient servant,
" A PROPRIETOR OF EAST AND WEST
INDIA DOCK STOCK.

" The London Docks pay a dividend of 5 per cent. on a
capital of 3,638,3101., while the East and West India Dock
Company, with superior accommodation and capabilities,
pay but the same dividend en a capital of 2,065,6681.!"

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

CUSTOM HOUSE, lams 15.

ENTERED INWARDS.—The Auguste and Meline, from
Bremen ; Hendrick Hudson, New York ; Schoonderloo,
Rotterdam ; Jane Cockerill, Kertch ; Tyro, Leghorn ;
Anne Sophia, Falkland Islands ; Cambrian, Jamaica ;
Delea, Gibraltar ; Mystery, Shanghai ; Robert, Newstadt ;
Orient, Valparaiso; Stratford, Sydney; Vrouw Aaljtie,
Ditzum ; Confidence, Galatz ; New England, New York.

ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Pembroke-
shire Lass, for Malta • Zwasntina, Konigsberg ; Sarah
Maria, Malta ; Concordia, Dantzic ; Cambrian, Jamaica ;
City of Hobart, Hobart Town and Melbourne ; Concord,
Constantinople; Hendrick Hudson, New York; Industry,
Dunkirk ; Hilda Charlotta, Buenos Ayres ; Orion, Gee-
long ; Stratford, Mauritius.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO.--The Oscar, for
Stettin ; Freundschaft, Ham burgh ; Maria, Stettin;
Jeannette Phelipinie; Port Adelaide ; Lucy, Trinidad ;
Hendrika Margaretha, Copenhagen ; Great Britain, Mon-
treal ; Queen of Britain, St. Lucia ; Barbaras, Cape of
Good Hope ; Roeharapton, Adelaide ; Brisk, do.