The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-12 00:00:00

PORTING NOTES.

HARPIES AT HARROW.

"People went on anyhow" at Harrow yesterday.
The business of the meeting was most inefficiently con-
ducted, and the proceedings, which were occasionally
marked by incidents ludicrous and amusing enough,
ultimately became tedious and wearying. So long and
unnecessary were the delay between each race that the
patience of the spectators was sorely tried, and indeed
the few bookmakers whom the fineness of the day had
tempted to make the trip from London, took their de-
parture tired and disgusted before the termination of the
sport. The opening event--the Trial Stakes—showed
how matters were to be arranged, and the prin-
ciple by which the races would be regulated. Three
animals went to the post—Criterion Sophistry, and
Edward of York. Odds were laid on the first-
mentioned, who started with the lead and won in a
canter. Few people, however, knew the race was
over when the horses passed the winning-post ; for
from start to finish no change had been made either in
the pace or their positions. Even the judge was puzzled ;
he seemed totally unaware that the horses were pulled
up, and in blank amazement strained his sight in expec-
tation of their approach the second time. The "chaff"
and jibes of the spectators, however, ultimately informed
him that the race was done, and he then recorded his
decision with Clark-like gravity and unruffled counte-
nance. The Metropolitan Steeplechase brought out a
somewhat large field, and I am not prepared to state
that the race was not fairly contested. The running
certainly appeared to be regulated by an honesty of pur-
pose which is seldom displayed among the " jumpers,"
and which was perhaps in consequence the more appre-
ciated. A good race in between Gaylad and Nom
de-Guerre ended in favour of the latter. The winner
was ridden by Green, who, by the way, has so
regained the reputation which was well-nigh lost in con-
sequence of certain memorable doings at Epsom, that
he now never rides but the belief obtains that the horse
which he mounts will go for the money.
The adage of the biter bit, was never more agreeably
exemplified than by the race for the Stewards' Plate.
The doers, in fact, were done at their own game. And
a pretty game was intended to be played. Four horses
started—Cotton Lady, Hotchpot, Prevarication, and
Nerve. Speculation on it was significant. Any odds
from 2 to 1 up to 6 to 1 was freely betted on Prevari-
cation, while against each of the others, with perhaps the
exception of Hotchpot, who belongs to Prevarication's
party, 20 to 1 was offered. The start was made, and Pre-
varication and Hotchpot went off together and a wide inter-
val soon separated them from the other two. On reaching
the far side of the course, however, near the brook,
both bolted, and Cotton Lady went on with the lead.
The shouting and laughter then became uproarious. As
Cotton Lady passed the stand the second time, her
rider was bawled to go on, and on he went, and not-
withstanding the vigorous effort which Prevarication and
Hotchpot made to recover their lost ground, Cotton
Lady came in first, amidst the cheers of the spectators.
A scene of confusion then ensued ; people hurrahed and
screamed with laughter, so great was their delight at
the unexpected result ; and, in the full flush of their
pleasure, they sent round the hat of the rider of Cotton
Lady, and the silver tumbled into it with amazing rapi-
dity. It is questionable whether Hackett ever had so
many half-crowns as was then collected for him. During
the progress of this business, however, a " diversion'
was made by a very pretty quarrel that sprung up be-
tween two persons in the " Ring." Blows soon fol-
io wei words, and the row was not stopped until one of
the belligerent parties lost his wig.
In sober seriousness, however, the affair of the
Steward's Plate was most disgraceful, I am informed
that persons were " put in" to back Hotchpot, al-
though Prevarication was the intended animal, and that
the " getter up" of the meeting lost upwards of 1001.
in consequence. Even the honesty which proverbially
exists among certain characters was not observed on
this occasion. Two Selling Races brought the proceed-
ings to a conclusion. The sport which takes place to-
day possesses no attraotions for me, and I remain in
town.
This attempt to get up flat races at Harrow has failed
signally ; still, with proper management, a good steeple-
chase meeting may yet be established there. Things,
however, must be conducted quite differently before the
sporting public will either patronise or encourage the
the undertaking.
April 12.

A FRESH MAN.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS —(YESTERDAY.)
THE WAR.
Lord BEAUMONT—I avail myself of this opportie
nity to put some questions to my noble friend the Secre-
tary of State for Foreign Affairs. lam unwilling— as I
am sure he must be aware—either to pay much attention
to the telegraphic messages which are constantly arriv-
ing in this metropolis from various parts of Europe, or
to place too much confidence in rumours founded upon
those messages. The noble lord must be very well aware
that, even when some of those rumours or reports have
assumed a certain degree of consistency, I, at least,
have generally abstained from any interference with the
proceedings of Her Majesty's Government in the present
serious position of affairs. I have felt confidence in
their judgment, and I have abstained from putting in-
opportune questions relating to the great subject which
now engrosses public attention ; but as this is the last
day of our meeting before the vacation, and as the re-
ports to which I have referred have assumed a very se-
rious character, and as, moreover, those reports are not
only repeated in the public journals, but have, to my
knowledge, been partly confirmed by private letters, I
am induced to ask my noble friend whether, for the sa-
tisfaction of your lordships, and, I think, even for the
advantage of Her Majesty's Government themselves,
he is able now to lay before Parliament any docu-
ments or papers which will explain the actual state of
our present relations with the German Powers ? I
allude to this portion of the question in particular,
because I believe there can be no doubt that a
new and recent protocol—more recent than that con-
tained in the last papers laid before Parliament—had
been signed by the parties who formed the Conference at
Vienna. lam further inclined to ask this question,
because the rumours and reports to which I have alluded
have had a tendency to induce some persons to believe
that our relations with the German Powers are not quite
so satisfactory as might have been hoped and desired.
Even this day a report has been spread that Prussia, or
the Prussian Government, has broken with the Western
Powers, and has actually joined the Emperor of Russia.
Of course, such a report as that can gain no credit ; but
I have seen with some pain a report of the debates which
took place in the Second Chamber at Berlin, and I am
sorry to say that there seems to be a strong party in that
Chamber very hostile to the Western Powers, and ex-
tremely favourable to an alliance with Russia. I con-
ceive, also, from what passed in that Chamber, that those
who took the opposite view did not actually carry the
proposal they thought proper to make. These circum-
stances, which appear to be authentic, and with which
many noble lords whom I am addressing, are, doubtless,
acquainted, from the report to which I have alluded, seem
to me to have a very dangerous tendency, and it would be
very advantageous to her Majesty's Government if my
noble friend should he able to give a positive contradictio I
to the statement. I have also seen with pain—and
fear there is more truth in this report—that a distin-
guished diplomatist, who has long resided in this country,
who has most worthily represented the Court of Prussia,
and who enjoys a high reputation as one of the first
scholars in Europe, is about to be recalled by his Go-
vernment. Ido not know whether that recall has any
political meaning with regard to the relations
.between
Prussia and this country—whether it may be conse-
quence of some private affairs, or whether rt is merely
occasioned by considerations affecting the internal ar-
rangements of Prussia. So far, then, with respect to
Prussia. I think, also, that we ought to have some in-
formation with regard to our relations with Austria,
because it seems apparent that an alliance, offensive and
defensive, has been proposed and signed between the
two great German powers. Whatever that treaty may
be, its terms have most likely been communinated to her
Majesty's Government, and it would be satisfactory to
know that there is nothing in that treaty which can, in
any way, injure the co-operation—if it should be neces-
sary—of the two German powers with the two great
western powers in case the war should continue. There
are also other reports from Austria of a very serious ten-
dency. There is a report that a portion of Servia, which,
although still under the suzerainty of Turkey, has always
been treated by Turkey as a quasi•inc:lependent power,
has been occupied by Austrian troops, in consequence of
certain Russian troops, or of persons who are agents, or
who are supposed to be agents of Russia, having passed
the frontier for the purpose of raising troubles in
that country. This is the report. I have not the slight-
est idea whether it is true or not ; out I think it would
be satisfactory to know whether her Majesty's Govern-
ment are in possession of any information on the sub-
ject. I should further like to know—but this is, of
course, a question upon which the noble earl will exer-
cise his judgment whether he thinks proper to answer it
or not--whether instructions an
been given to our
fleets now to take an active part in the war ? I ask this
ratherpainful feeling
that, up to the moment at which they were written, no
00-operation or assistance had been afforded on the part
of our fleets to the r ght wine of the Turkish army, which
is now engaged in a very severe contest with the Russian
Arley under General Luders.
Tile Earl of CLIRENDON—My lord
Tile I do full jus•
tice to the forbearance of my noble friend, and I admit
that he has in general carefully abstained from putting
to her Majesty's Government any questions that might
lead to embarrassment. I must say, however, that on
the present occasion he has made up for any forbearance
lie has hitherto exercised by putting to me such a series
a I think the
..
of questions that my principal difficulty is not in answer•
ing, but in reinembsring them. (Laughter.)
first question of my noble friend referred to the protocol
, and hich he
which, he says, has recently been signed
desires to have produced. Now, thatprotocol wwas only
,igned the day before yesterday at Vienna, and as yet
we have only seen the draught of it, which arrived yes
i -
terday. I think that protocol s of a satisfactory cha-
acter. It is not precisely that which we originally de-
sired, or that which the Austrian
:Governmentmet agreed
to in the form of a convention, but
the form of a protocol to meet the wishes of the
Prussian Government, and I may say that it substan-
tially contains all that was included in the convention,
'The assent of Prussia was readily given to this protocol,
and, as I say, it was signed on Sunday last. It has not
yet arrived in a complete shape in this country, other-
wise there would not have been the slightest difficulty in
laying it upon your lordship! table, and as soon as the
house meets after the recess it shall be produced. With
respect to the first rumour to which my noble friend has