The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

NOVEMERR int

SPORTING NOTES.

SOMETHING ABOUT SHREWSBURY.

The character of the Shrewsbury Meeting was not a
little extraordinary ; it differed widely from that of any
other race gatherirg in England. The course was
crowded with thirubierriggerg, who plied their trade
openly, and without let or hindrance from the police,
'and in and out the stand were roulette tables, on which
people made their game seemingly with the full conni-
vance of the authorities. *Baden-Baden liberty and
Hamburg freedom for the nonce prevailed at Shrews-
bury, and the scene on the race-course reminded one of
the times when the laws relating to gaming were naught
and policemen were not.

Things, too, were cleverly managed at Shrewsbury—
albeit, good intentions were marred by foul weather and
unforeseen occurrences. 0 xners of horses had little to com-
plain of. Mr. Frail evinced every desire to accommodate
and give them good terms, but circumstances unexpec-
tedly defeated his efforts. Favourites whose success
was reduced to seeming certainties were bowled over,
until backers became weary of the sport. Fielders were,
however, fortunate enough, and at.few meetings during
the season have they had such a long run of good luck
as at Shrewsbury; Selling Races were the leading items
in the programme, and after each event the winner was
promptly put up for auction. Of the many sales, how-
ever, certainly not more than three were genuine, and
the race fund was not therefore enriched to that large
amount which the return of the salessetforth. Horses too
were sold with wonderful rapidity. Rosaline, for instance,
was "put up" at thirty guineas, and knocked down
for thirty-five before bidders could open their mouths.
In fact, persons were appointed to buy in the winners.
A curious anecdote is, by the way, told respecting the
modus operandi: At the Summer Meeting two men
undertook this office,- and when a certain animal was
put up they unwittingly began bidding against each
other, and had run the auctioneer up -to an alarming
price, and would have gone on bidding all day had not
the clerk of the course been informed of the proceeding,
and given them the whispei to stop. This blunder caused
much merriment at the time.

Of the sport it will be sufficient to say that for the
period of the year it was too abundant. It now requires
no lengthened comment: The principal races were won
by "outsiders." Pantomime, the sometime favourite
for tLe Shrewsbury Handicap, was scratched, because
the publio forestalled his owner in "getting on."
Some heavy forfeits were paid before Catherine Parr
was allowed to start fur the Column Handicap. She,
however, was easily defeated by lanthe, who was well
served by the weight and the deep ground. In my
" notes" of the meeting, lanthe was among my " picks."
A strange rumour was circulated in the "sporting
circles" at Shrewsbury, to the effect that Knight
Errant and Maid of Golborne, who had engagements at
this meeting, are the property of no less a personage than
the Grand Duke Constantine ! However ridiculous this
.report may appear, some people are credulous enough to
believe that it is not utterly without foundation.
A muddle was made of the steeple chase. " Black
Peter," who jumped in capital style, and looked as
fresh as a three-year-old, was disqualified, because he
west on the wrong side of the turning flags to the right
of the race course. Escape was, therefore, declared the
winner. This horse is by no means a bad jumper, and
in the present scarcity of good steeple chasers he will,
doubtless, be useful.
Mr. Frail certainly deserves well of the sporting com-
munity and of the town "of Shrewsbury for the energy
and tact which he displayed in conducting this. meet-
ing. From his own private purse he supplied the chief
"means and appliances" for carrying out the proceed-
ings, although it must be acknowledged that certain
innkeepers contributed liberally to the fund. Still, Mr.
Frail does not receive from the inhabitants generally
chat support to which he is justly entitled.
Mr. Tophatn again solicits the patronage of the
turfites, and has prepared a programme of sport, which
will be celebrated at Hoylake over the Liverpool Hunt
Club Course on Wednesday and Thursday next. The
list contains ten items, the principal of which are; of
course, handicaps. I am informed that Boddicot is a
"good thing" for the Visitors' Plate, and that Ferdham
will ride him. The events appointed for decision have
not sufficient importance to warrant my extending my
notes to them.
Nov. 20.

A FRESH MAN.

1-ZAIL Y INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH LONDON.

It is intended to apply to Parliament in the next ses-
sion for an act to incorporate a company to make a rail-
way from the West of London and Crystal Palaco Rail-
way at Battersea, via Wandsworth, Clapham, Lambeth,
Brixton, Walworth, and Peckham, to the South-Eastern
Railway at Deptford, near the Grand Surrey Canal ; also
to enable the company to enter into agreements and
arrangements with the London, Brighten, and South
Coast, the South-Eastern, the London and South-
Western, and the West-end of London and Crystal Palace
Railway Companies, in reference to the management of
the proposed railway, and the working of the traffic
thereon.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE AND BLACK-

BURN.

Notice of application to Parliament in the next session
has been given for power to amalgamate these two com-
panies upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually
agreed upon.

THE BE INFORoBALENTS FOR TILE
CRIMEA.

The Guards conti: gent leaves, we believe, on Friday,
amount, 603 men.
Yesterday a detachment of the Royal Artillery,
escorting four tumbrils, arrived at the Tower to receive
stores for the companies of artillery and field batteries
from Norwich and Ipswich under orders for the Crimea.
They took away tents, canteens, and other essentials.
necessary for field service ; the novelty attracted a nu-
merous assemblage of the populace, who greeted the
escort most enthusiastically as it passed_over Tower-hill
on its return to Woolwich.
Captain Graydon's company, Ist battalion of Artil-
lery, and Captain Oldfield's company, 4th battalion,
each 150 strong, have proceeded to Portsmouth to
embark on beard her Majesty's screw steam-frigate
Dauntless, Captain Alfred P. Ryder, for the seat of
war. These two companies go out for service with the
siege guns.
_ _

Two hundred and six men from the depot of the
34th Regiment aro to proceed to the Mediterranean, to
join the service companies of that regiment, in the
Adelaide, hired steam-transport, which is daily expected.
The 34th is expected to go on to the Crimea.

The Drake, mortar vessel, shipped her mortar along-
side the dockyard this afternoon. It is a 13-inch one,
and weighs 5 tons and a half, and is en Captain Julius
Roberts' (of the Royal Marine Artillery) plan for sling-
ing mortars, by which the vessel on their discharge
suffers less recoil than by the old plan of fixing them on
deck in a bed. The entire weight of the mortar and its
appendages is about 71 tons. The Drake is expected to
go down to the Needles to-morrow to try this tremendous
gun, or rather the utility of Captain Roberts' plan.

CAVALRY TROOPERS.—Authority has been sent to the
depot, Newbridge, to give over immediately 28 young
three-year olds from each regiment on service, and take
over from the cavalry at home the same number of sea-
soned troopers.

• The Manilla, screw steam-transport, has arrived at
the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, to take on board a large
supply of powder, shot, and shell, and is ordered to have
her cargo put on board with the greatest despatch, and
proceed with the least possible delay to the seat of war
in the Crimea.

The Admiralty will receive tenders on tte 22d inst:
fcr the conveyance of 4,000 tons of stores to the Crimea
—2,000 tons from Portsmouth, and 2,000 tons' from
Southampton.
The Government are in a new contract for upwards of
150,000 articles of warm clothing, including wool jackets,
cow-skin boots and under-dresses, to be sent out imme-
diately.

THE VOLUNTEERS FROM CHATHAM.—The volunteers
from the provisional battalion at Chatham have all been
medically inspected, and are found fit for service. The
following routes have arrived from the Horse Guards to
take their departure to join the corps they have volun-
teered for :—Those for the 71st Highlanders proceed

this (Tuesday) morning to Canterbury, and there join.
the corps. The volunteers for the 34th embark to-mor-
row at Gravesend, on board the Dublin steamer, for
Plymouth, and there join their corps; and those volun-
teers to the 17th and 89th Regiments will proceed from
Chatham to Gravesend on Thursday morning, and em-
bark on board the Cork steamer for Cork, and thence
the former proceed to Kilkenny, and the latter to Wa-
terford, to join their corps.

RECRUITS FOR THE 23D WELSH FUSlLlERS.—Yester-
day afternoon a draft of fifty young men from New-
port, in Wale; arrived per railway at the military de-
pot, Duke-street, "Westminster, for the purpose of joining
the 23d or Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which played so
conspicuous a part at Alma.
The increase of the number of recruits into Chatham
garrison become greater week after week, and it is quite
surprising to witness the buoyant spirit that animates
the young men on their entering the barracks, and they
are received with cheers by the young recruits, who
assemble round them with their red drill jackets. It is
expected that the provisional battalion alone will have
from Liverpool above 100 young men per week.

THE STEAMERS FOR THE CRIMEA. LIVERPOOL,
Monday.—The Government, in addition to the Europa,
Niagara, and Arabia, royal mail steatii-ships of the Cu-
nard Company, have chartered the new screw Steamer
Imperatrix, of the South American Steam Navigation
Company, for the conveyance of troops to the Crimea.
This will cause a slight interruption in the despatch of
monthly mails from Liverpool to the Brazils, which will
in future be started on the Ist of each month, instead of
the 24th as formerly. Notices were to-day posted in
the Exchange-rooms here, asking tenders to be sent in
to Somerset-house, before 1 p.m. on the 22d inst., for
steamers to convey 4,000 tons of bats and stores to the
Crimea ; to embark them at Portsmouth and Southamp-
ton.