The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-15 00:00:00

DONCASTER RACES.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
(THIS DAY.)
SCARBOROUGH STAKES.

Filbert
Snowdon Dunhill

Four ran.

SPORTING NOTES.

THE ST. LEGER DAY.

That great authority the "oldest inhabitant" would
be puzzled to parallel in his long remembrance a more
interesting and exciting "Leger Day" than that just
celebrated. The elements were propitious ; throughout
the afternoon the sun shone with true autumnal bril-
liancy, imparting cheerfulness to the spectators, and
heightening the enjoyment of the sport. The attendance
of all sorts and conditions of people was unprecedentedly
large, the spectators lining each side of the running
ground from the Red House to the London-road.

The fluctuations which the betting underwent at its
close stimulated the interest which attached to the race,
and excited expectation to its highest pitch. So deter-
mined was the hostility of his opponents on Tuesday
night, that West Australian gave way several points,
and loud were the boastings in certain quarters of
his "rottenness in the market." The powerful
demonstration, too, that was made in favour of Sitting-
bourne, had a prejudicial effect on West Australian's
position ; indeed, so heavy and frequent were the in-
vestments on him, that at one time a probability ex-
isted that he would deprive West Australian of
the "premiership." The Reiver went up and down in
the market like a bucket in a well; but after a big bet
of twelve " unonkies" had been taken about him on
Tuesday evening, he was supported somewhat more
steadily. Cineas was comparatively deserted.
West Australian achieved an easy victory, amidst a
demonstration of delight seldom witnessed. The cheers
which greeted his success were loud and long, and it
required considerable exertion to clear a passage for him
through the crushing crowd that surrounded him on
entering the saddling enclosure. Up to the hour of
starting the most ill founded prejudice had existed
against him, and the most ridiculous reports were
circulated respecting him, his' trainer and jockey.
His success, however, effectually silenced the " op-
position" party. The Reiver surprised me by
obtaining the barren honours of second place, and I am
compelled to admit that I was not prepared for his dis-
play of superior racing qualities. To account for Sit-
tingboutne s inglorious exhibition is very difficult ; it
was utterly incompatible with his "antecedents." The
work which this horse has accomplished since the Derby
perhaps tried his constitution too severely, and rendered
him incapable of sustaining a contest under the disad-
vantages of being compelled to make his own running.
His defeat dismayed and astonished his party. Rataplan
justified the favourable opinion which was entertained
of his chance ; but Cineas proved himself to be a horse
of only moderate pretensions.
I never once regretted the confidence which I placed
in West Australian's success. In my " Sporting Notes"
I frequently expressed my opinion that he would prove
the winner of the St. Leger—an opinion which I steadily
adhered to through evil and through good report.
I am now writing in the Betting Room, and from the
busy conversation that is carried on on all sides, I can ga-
ther sufficientto induce me to believe that the settling will
be heavy and unsatisfactory. Subjoined is an acrostic
on West Australian : the original, written in a "legible
court hand," is now in circulation in the room, and is
occasioning much amusement and curiosity. My readers
may form their own judgment on its merits :

W hat crowds throng the race course, what shouts rend
the sky,
E ach neck is bent forward, and strain'd is each eye :
S hout, shout, men of Yorkshire, your rightly-named steed,
T he Doncaster nugget, 'lath won—'tis his meed.

A nd now the news flies through the wonderful wire,
U p bill and down dale upon pinions of fire.
S ail not, my brave boys, to Australia's fair strand,
T he " diggins" are here in your own native land.
R ight royally rode he—Frank Butler the bold—
A Bowes to the rescue, for honour and gold :
L ike Wellington's Duke, a proud victor is he—
I nscribed on turf annals his conquest shall be ;
A nd stout West Australian, the cherished of fame,
N ew Laurels shall twine round Scott's worthy name.
No betting has yet taken place on the Doncaster Cup.
The Reiver, however, is likely to be the favourite. He
has incurred a 31b. penalty, but the extra weight will
not be deemed sufficient to militate against his success.
The horses which I shall take against the field are Hun-
gerford, Goorkah, The Reiver, and Rataplan. The last
two mentioned, will, perhaps, occupy the foremost places
in the race. Calculating upon the absence of West
Australian, I have purposely omitted all mention of his
chance.

The St. Leger winner is also engaged in the Don
Stakes, and 200 Sovs. Stakes on Friday ; for the former
he may walk over, and for the latter, he will not, per-
haps, start, his stable companion, Umbriel, being likely
to do battle in his stead.
Doncaster, Wednesday Night.

A FRESH MAN.

STRAND THEATRE.

This neat little theatre re-opened for the season on
Monday last. It is still under the management of Mr.
E. W. Allcroft, the lessee, and the same class of enter-
tainments which were so successful during the preceding
season, is continued. The company is somewhat small,
but two artistes on the roll present a host in themselves,
and are sufficient to draw a goodly audience, taking the
size of the house into account. These are, Miss
Marshall, from the Lyceum and Princess's Theatres—a
very pretty actress and a general favourite with the
public ; and Mr. J. W. Sharp, who holds no insignifi-
cant place, in the eyes of Londoners, among the vocalists
who delight in the comic strain. The performances
during the present week consist of Captain Charlotte,
Rinks the Bagman, An Unprotected Female, the travestie
of Othello, and an excellent ballet, in which Maddle.
Palser takes the principal part. As " Captain Char-
lotte," Miss Marshall displayed much vivacity and dra-
matic skill, and Mr. Sharp made the character of
" Binks" as comical and amusing as it is capable to do.
On the whole, there is no place where an evening can be
spent more agreeably just now in the metropolis than at
the Strand Theatre.

THE TOMB OF THE LATE DUKE OF WELLINGTON IN

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.—During the last few days
several men have been at work in preparing the space
in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral for the sarcophagus
or tomb which is to receive the mortal remains of the
illustrious hero. At present, the coffin remains in the
same spot it was lowered into at the funeral ceremony,
on the 18th of November last, but it is expected that
early next week the tomb will be finished, and closed
for ever.

ACCIDENT TO SIR EDWARD COLEBROOKE, BART.—
Sir Edward met with a serious accident on Saturday,
his gun having gone off while he was in the act of load-
ing it, shattering his right hand so severely as to render
amputation necessary ; is now doing well.
THE CHOBHAM CAMP AT THE TOWER OF LONDON.—
Since the breaking up of the camp at Chobham, the
tents, mattresses, &c., have been sent to the Tower to
be returned into store for the ensuing encampment
next year. The Guards have struck a regular encamp.
ment round the dry ditch of the Tower, so as to
thoroughly dry the tents previous to being placed in
store.

THE NEW DECIMAL COINAGE.—During the last week
the employes at the Royal Mint, Tower-hill, have been
actively at work in striking off the new decimal silver
coinage, which, it was stated yesterday, will be issued
for public circulation as a currency of the realm at the
commencement of the next year, as they are stamped
1854, when the present old silver coinage will be called
in. The sovereigns, half-sovereigns, and florins, or tenth
of a sovereign, will remain without any alteration.
THE HACKNEY CARRIAGE FARE TABLES.—In conse-
quence of the Commissioners of Police issuing peremp-
tory orders to summon the proprietors and drivers of
all hackney carriages found plying for hire unprovided
with the approved fare tables ordered by the commis-
sioners to be adopted so far back as the 22d of August
last, these have begun generally to make their appear-
ance. The plates are eight inches by six ; the ground
colour being a deep brown, and the letters of gold. In
the Hansom cabs they are placed in the inside of the
vehicle, on the off side, close to the roof, and near the
front glass blind, and 'clear of the same when drawn up;
out, on the off side of the'back panel. In Clarence and
other cabs, inside, in the centre of the off door, imme-
diately under the window ; and outside, on the back
panel, in the centre, close to the roof. The table gives
a concise statement of the charge to be made by distance
and by time, for extra passengers, waiting, and luggage.
It has received the sanction of the law officers of the
Crown, and may be taken as a just interpretation of the
provisions of the New Hackney Carriage Act.
FOREIGN GOODS—BONDING PRIVILEGES.—The Com-
missioners of Customs have directed their principal
officers at the several ports throughout the kingdom to
be referred to the Consolidation Act, 16 and 17 Vic.,
cap. 107, with instructions to call upon the proprietors
of the warehouses at their respective port (not being
warehouses of special security, or for which general bond
has already been given) forthwith to enter into security
as required by the 11th section of the act, and in order
to avoid delay, and to facilitate the carrying out of this
regulation, the commissioners have authorised them, on
their being satisfied of the sufficiency of the sureties
named, to allow the bonds to be perfected, subject to the
board's final approval. A new form of bond, which has
been approved for the purpose, has been forwarded to
the several ports for their information, with instructions
to transmit, for the board's approval, the bonds as exe-
cuted. accompanied by a certificate of the sufficiency of
the sureties. The officers have, at the same time, been
acquainted that should any unavoidable obstacle occur
in perfecting the bond, they are not to refuse the ware-
housing of the goods, but are to allow them to be de-
posited temporarily in any approved premises, reporting
their proceedings to the board in each case.
ACCIDENT THROUGH MlSTAKE.—Yesterday morning,
between seven and eight o'clock, a man named Campion
was conveyed to King's College Hospital, under the
most serious apprehensions of not long surviving. He
had, it appeared, been at the residence of Mr. Hicks, a
druggist, in Drury-lane, where he remained last evening,
but, during the night, from having drank rather freely,
he awoke thirsty, and proceeding down to the shop,
drank off a quantity of laudanum by mistake. The
patient was kept walking up and down the hospital yard,
and serious apprehensions are entertained as to his re-
covery.