The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

THE DAY OF RECKONING.

The settling of the Epsom accounts still occupies the
time and engrosses the attention of turfites. Yesterday _
the business of " squaring" was commenced, but it was si
conducted with little briskness. Few persons seemed
inclined to " part," and the majority of turfites evidently '-
deemed " hold fast a good dog." The leviathan book-
maker, however, was discharging his liabilities with his
wonted promptness, and indeed with him it seemed to
be all paying and no receiving. He had no easy time
of it at Epsom ; it is calculated that over the Derby
alone he lost about 20,0001. On the Oaks, too,
he was a heavy loser. Any other animal in the race
would perhaps have " suited" him better than Mince-
meat. Many probable and actual defalcations are
hinted ; certain City men are already numbered '
among the " hit and missing." Still the extent of
their liabilities is comparatively insignificant, and
their non-payment is likely to occasion only a slight and
temporary inconvenience. Had Dervish won the Derby
the cases of default would doubtless have been many and
serious. Indeed it is said that several persons " tra-
velled "on him. Be this report as it may, the individ-
uals under suspicion were at the Corner yesterday,
ready to meet all demands. I am, therefore, disinclined
to refer more explicitly to their somewhat equivocal con.
duct. Nothing definite as to the nature of the settling
will be discovered until this afternoon.

The incidents connected with the " Oaks " were re-
markable only for the second defeat of John Scott. The
success of Meteora was deemed a certainty, and so good
a thing that odds were freely betted on her. Her trainer
placed implicit confidence in her ability to achieve
success, and it was boldly asserted and widely believed,
that she would meet no opponent in the race within 91bs.
of her ! Her defeat, however, was signal ; indeed she
seemed disinclined to make a finishing effort when called
upon by her jockey. No sooner did Mincemeat lead
her than she " shut up " like a jade. For some unac-
countable reason Ternpleman was "taken off"" Meteora
to ride Sortie, a proceeding which created no little sur-
prise, and which was, by many persons, deemed likely
to hurt the feelings and damage the reputation of a long-
tried, honest jockey. The Derby and Oaks Stakes
—a recently established Selling Race—will perhaps
not be readily forgotten by certain parties. Never
was the adage of the biters bit more strikingly
exemplified. Vaultress, a mare that was brought in on
Wednesday, after winning the Durdan Stakes for 260
guineas, was entered to be sold for 501. The field was
bad, and her victory " bar an accident" seemed certain.
5 to 2 was consequently betted on her, but the " pot
boiled over." Child of the Mist, whose number had
been removed from the telegraph board, and who, it was
given out, would not start, not only appeared in the
race, but, to the surprise of the spectators and the con-
sternation of the Vaultress party, actually beat the ft►-
vourite. The scene of riot and confusion that ensued in
the weighing room was disgraceful. The race was
claimed for Vaultress, on the ground that Child of the
Mist had been duly scratched. The men whose duty it
was to attend to the telegraph, asserted that they were
ordered by some gentleman to withdraw Child
of the Mist's number. To add to the confusion,
however, and to the utter dismay of the Vault-
ress party, the owner of the Child of the Mist
declared in the ring that he bad given no orders for the
withdrawal of the number. The case was referred to
the stewards, whose decision is not at my present writing
known. No doubt exists, however, with the public ad-
mission of Mr. Walker before them how they will award
the stakes. A more facile expedient for victimising the
public was perhaps never devised than a selling race, and
unless some law for the better regulation and conduct of
these " events" be not framed and enforced the sooner
they are abolished the better.
The Ma❑chester Meeting will take place to-morrow
and on the two following days. The programme presents
a formidable array of stakes and nominations, and pro-
mises some important and interesting sport. The fields,
too, especially for the handicaps, will doubtless be
numerically strong. At present, however, so limited has
speculation been on the principal events set for decision,
that it is impossible to discover either the probable
starters or the intended animals.
The Meiklam Handicap comprises 21 entries, Cathe-
rine Parr and Peggy looking as worthy of an investment
as anything on paper. Both these animals are, how-
ever, also engaged for the Union Cup, for which their
chances may be, by their respective owners, deemed
more favourable. Should they therefore be reserved for
the Cup, Braxy and Hazlenut must represent my interest
for the Meiklam Handicap. To select a winner for the
Union Cup out of the 89 names set down, would indeed
puzzle a conjuror. I shall, therefore, merely indicate a
lot that I consider well in, and leave my reader to back
his fancy :—Koh-i-noor, Vanderdecken, Snowdon Dun-
hill, Typee, Catherine Parr, and Peggy. For the Pro-
duce Stakes—St. Clair and Punch Box will perhaps be
the foremost competitors. Lord Alfred and Yeutick are
the most attractive nominations for the Sapling Stakes.
Jouveuce has bee❑ somewhat spiritedly backed for the
Tradesmen's Cup. She has, it is said, been tried with
Adine most satisfactorily. Still, should Adine start, I
shall be induced to give her the preference over the
French mare. Peggy's running will materially depend
upon the result of Wednesday's races, but on paper her
chance does not appear insignificant. Lady Palmerston
and Lord Alfred will, should they meet, make an " inte-
resting match" for the Two-year-old Stakes. The other
races viiil be so influenced and regulated by the running
to-morrow and Thursday that it is impossible to enter
into a calculation of their probable result.
A FRESH MAN.
June 6th.

MANCHESTER, RACES.
ARRIVALS (THIS DAY).—Braxey, Patience, Hazlenut,
Black Bess, Nelly Hill, Bianca, Indian Warrior, Tom,
Vanderdecken, Captain Cornish, Eulogist, Octavia, The
Cripple, Voucher, Brother to Andante, Juliet, Jetty
Treffe, Assayer, Midsummer, Punch Box, Monimia, St.
Clair, Sister of Mercy, Culcairy, Blooming Heather,
Jouvence, Professor Buck, Mary, Lady Palmerston,
Lord Lieutenant, f. by Don John out of My Dear.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The King of Portugal and the Duke of Oporto, at-
tended by the Duke de Terceira, Viscount de Carreira,
Baron de Sarmento' Chevalier de Mello, and Lord De '
Tabley, and Colonel Wylde, went yesterday morning to
the London Docks, and were conducted through the
different warehouses of that extensive establishment.
His Majesty and his Royal Highness afterwards pro-
ceeded to the Tower of L ,ndon, where they were re- 1,
ceived by the Lieutenant-Governor, Major-General Sir 11
George Bowles, who attended the Royal visitors during
their inspection of the fortress. The King and the Royal
Duke returned to Buckingham Palace soon after two
o'clock. •
The Duke and Duchess of Nemours visited the King 11
of Portugal and the Duke of Oporto yesterday.
Prince Albert, accompanied by the Prince of Wales,
rode on horseback yesterday, attended by Captain Du
Plat.
Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold took a drive in an
open carriage and four.
The King, Prince Albert, and the Duke of Oporto,
attended by the Vicomte de Carreira, the Chevalier de
Mello, Colonel Folque' Colonel Wylde, and Captain Du
Plat, visited the New Palace of Westminster and the
Royal Chapel at Whitehall in the afternoon.
The Queen and Prince Albert, with the Prince of
Wales, and Prince Alfred, accompanied by the King of
Portugal and the Duke of Oporto, honoured the per-
formance of the Philharmonic Concert at the Hanover-
square Rooms with their presence in the evening. The
Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting were the Duchess of
Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes ; the Viscountess
Canning, Lady in Waiting ; the Honourable Eleanor
Stanley, and the Hon. Beatrix Byng, Maids of Iloanur
in Waiting ; the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord
Chamberlain ; the Duke of Wellington, Master of the
Horse ; the Duke of Terceira, Vicomte Carreira, Baron
Sarmento, Chevalier de Mello, Colonel Folque, Lord
de Tabley, and Colonel Wylde (in attendance on
the King of Portugal), the Marquis of Ormonde,
Lord in Waiting ; Lord George Lennox, Lord in Wait-
ing to Prince Albert ; Mr. F. Cavendish, Groom in
Waiting ; Major• General Buckley, Equerry in Waiting ;
Captain Du Plat, Equerry in Waiting to Prince Albert;
and Mr. Gibbs, in Waiting to the Prince of Wales. The
august party left the Palace in seven of the Queen's state
carriages.
The Duke and Duchess de Nemours visited the
Duchess of Kent yesterday at Clarence House, St.
James's.
The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Anna Maria
Dawson, and Lord James Murray, honoured the Hay-
market Theatre with her presence last evening.

Viscount Palmerston has left town for his seat Broad,
lands, Hants.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—The recent rains
in the west of England have been succeeded by warm
forcing weather, which has had a most gratifying effect
upon the cereal and other crops. In Devonshire the
wheat and barley are very fine, the latter being in ear
in some parts of the county. The apple crop is not likely
to be so abundant as was anticipated a short time ago ;
the blossom in many places having been severely injured
by the recent frosty nights. Potatoes look very healthy,
and there is every prospect of an abundant crop. The
pasture fields have a most luxuriant appearance, the
grass being both plentiful and rich. In Cornwall, also,
the crops look promising, the late rains having had a
surprising effect upon them. The wheat, which on clay
soils looked thin before the rains, now presents a most
luxuriant and healthy appearance. Some fine fields of
wheat in the neighbourhood of Truro are already in ear.
Farm stock and produce in both counties are selling at
high prices, corn being from 10s, to lls, per bushel, and
cattle from 10s, per score.

Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yester-
day from the Governors of the North American Pro-
vinces, and the Governors of the West India Islands.
Yesterday afternoon it was stated, in reply to in•
quiries at Devonshire-house, that the Duke of Devon
shire continues in the same state on Sunday, no un
favourable symptoms having taken place.
Chevalier Bunsen's eon (the Rev. H. G. Bunsen, 1,
M.A., Vicar of Lilleshall, Shropshire, and domestic
chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Sutherland), has been
appointed " Lecture Secretary" for the Church Mis-
sionary Society in the diocese of Lichfield.