The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-27 00:00:00

THAMES POLICE.

Tti 131tITI6Li *JELIN STEAM SHlP.—Li,utenant
TRobercs, IZ.N., the commander of the British Queen
rtcaln-ship, bad an interview with Mr. Bdllantinc, the
sitiug Magistrate at thg Thames-police Court, with a
view of ex:?Lning to the 'Magistrate that neither he nor
of the oakera of the ship wore at ali connected
w- :.':1 the recent smuggling, and to complain of some-
;i.4; that had gone to the world through the medium
vi Li-te newsplpers. _ _ _

The paragraph complained of by Captain Roberts
was contained in the examination of Lancaster, the
glia),.r of the British Queen, who was fined 1001 at
thi? Court on Saturday last, an account of which au-
pe o-ed on Monday.
Gaptan Roberts stated to Mr. Banat:ail-10 that, in
IlJe report of tbo examination in question, it was set
forth that he (the Magistrate), during the inquiry,
fregit.atly observed that there most have been
a very bad look-out on board the Bihish
Qteen, or smuggling on such an extensive scale
could not possibly have taken place, or something tanta-
.rnetm:, to that. Now, as this might ha construed
isv4) a charge of neglect of duty on his part, and on
the part of his cfficers, he deemed it his duty, in jus-
i.!•..: to his own character, arid to t:•at of his officers, to

.wait upon him to ask him if such au observation was
tnade, in order that ho !night enter into an explanation

of the affair.

Mr. BALLANTINE said that, to the hest of his belief,
he (lid not make use of the words attributed to hit!),
iult be could not say so with any degree of certainty.
lie would confess, however, that when he saw the oh-
to.rvations in the newspapers, they expressed his scnti-
me7,l.ts very accurately, whether he used the words or not.

Capt.lio Rlherts said, it the Magistrate would allow
him to say a few words io explanation, ho was quite
sure he would change his opinion.
Mr. BALLINTINE expressed his willingnesa to hoar
en::thiog Captain Roberts had to say on the subject.
rho Captain said that when the British Queen ar-
rived at New York she was invariably moored along-

the quay in such a wanner that her part-holes
!eve! with it. She was then enabled to take iu
:• fupply of coals without the trouble of hoisting
cm o'er the ship's aides; while the vessel waa in

sifunt'oa the 14bourers wheeled the coals in at the
itad very often were engaged at this the
;ole of the night, so that they had the groatest fa-
. for smuggling. the contrabaed articles into the
;,ip, in spite of any precautions he might take to pre-
vcrit it, unless he was to examine personally every
whe,elbarrowful of coals that went on board, which was
utterly impossible. In addition to this, the tobacco
,rehouse was immediately adjacent to where the ship
w.ls moored ; and this probably afforded extra oppor-
tunities for smuggling. Then, again, the enormous
inerisous of the ship ought to be taken into considera-
tio.3, and the total impossibility of a continual look-out
b,ing kept of every nook and corner of her ; and also
the hurry and bustle they here always in, getting the
; •
cargo on board, and arranging other matters.
could aasurc the Magistrate that he did all in his
power to prevent smuggling being carried or in his ship,
and he hoped he would give him credit for sincerity
when be said so.

Mr. BALLANTINB said he neier for a moment
thought that the captain of the British Queen
cated in the illegal traffic ; he had thought M was
the first
had instance that a sufficient degree of caution not been
exercised by the master and his officers to prevent
stnig n 6 ; but, from the explanation given by
Cap-
tain*Roberts, he was quite sure that everything
clone that could be, and he was sure that the directors
of efie Transatlantic Steam-packet Company, and the
public gencruily, would coincide in that opinion. H©
had no doubt, from what had transpired, that there
would be very little smuggling carried on in future in
the British Unto:.
Captain Roberts said he would do all in his power to
prevent it. The whole ship's crew had been discharged
in consequence of this discovery.
Mr. BALLANTINE said be could well understand the
difficult situation the commander of a ship like the
Queen was placed in, for the machinery and coal-
rooms afforded facilities for smuggling not to be found
in a sailing 'mei.
rri(e` Magistrate asked Captain Roberts what decision
the
ornrniseioners of Customs had come to relative to
thy ship?
/ke Captain
said that no decision had yet been come
to, but be anticipated that only a small fine would be
inflicted, as the ties must be fully aware that the
engineers, firemen,
and stokers were the only guilty
parties. In the meantime,
the loading of the ship had
gone on as usual, and her cargo was nearly all in : she I
for
would leave Blackwall . 0 Southampton on Tuesday
T
next, at one o'clock, la high character the ship en-

joyed rendered the Directors of the Company desircus
that the affair might be placed in its proper light before
the public.
Mr. BALLANTINE said he had no doubt that would
be done.
Captain Roberts then thanked the Magistrat^ and
retired.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER, TUESDAY EVENING.

The business this morning was very limited, owing, no
dou'it, to the York Meeting being on. Very little was
done ; 6 to 4 was in one instance pencilled down against
Viceroy for the stakes over Knavesmire to-morrow ; 5 to 2
accepted on Symmetry, and 5 to lon Benjamin. The
field will be very confined. The opinion appears to be,
that Viceroy will " show ;" if so, the party (Memnon's)
will be in the wrong box if he does not win in a canter.
Tus Sr. LEGER. —2O to 10 offered on the field; 100
to 20, " bar one." 6to 1 was taken on Gibraltar ; 12 to
1 offered against any other ; 15 to 1 was laid against Cru-
cifix in two or three instances ; 16 to 1 offered against
Lord Westminster's Maroon ; the field against two ; take
1100 to 80 that either the Marquis's horse or Gen. Yates's
WIRS. 300 to 12 was the last bet we noticed on tho St.
Leer; it was taken on Dr. Caius.
Ten DEEBT.-20 to 1 offered on the field. It promises
to be a groat betting race.

EGHAII RACES—WEDNEsnAr.

The few rarrarks with which we introduced our report of
the racing on Tuesday may, with scarcely any alteration, be
adapted to Wednesday's diversions. The weather was all that
could b. wished, the attendance highly respectable, and the
wort iadi6rent. The following are all the particulars it de-
serves:—.

The Surrey and Middlesex Stakes of 25 soy. each, 15 ft., and
5 only if declared ; the winner of the Goodwood or Brighton
Stake* 71b extra ; if both, 101bs extra.- (13 Subs., 11 of
whom declared.) Two miles and a distance.
Col. Wyndham's Nongifted, 3 yrs, sst 121 b (Bell) 1
Mr. Smith'• Bedford, 4 vrs, 7st 131 b
Capt. Gardnoi's Bandboy, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b
7 to 4 on Bedford and 3to 1 agst Bandboy. Nongifted made
all the running, and after a good race from the half-distance
home, won by three-parts of a length.
The Ankerwycke Stakes of 5 says each, with 35 added; three-
years-old, 7st 41b : four, Bst Glb ; five, Bst 121 b ; six and
aged, 9st llb ; mares, &c., allowed albs. The winner to be

sold for 150, &c., Mile heats. (4 subs.)
Mr. Goodman's Pickwick, 6 yrs Butler 1 1
Mr. Scott's Abel, 4 yrs
Mr. Payne's Willesden, aged
First Heat-6 to 4 on Pickwick, who waited till half way up
the distance, when he took up the running, and won easy.
Second Heat-3 to lon Pickwick, who won easy.