The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-15 00:00:00

PAST AND COMING TURF MEETINGS.

Opinions on the. late meetings at Liverpool are toler-
ably unanimous. It was in general no very brilliant
affair, but the Grand National amply redeemed the
poverty of the other races. A finer field and a finer con-
test were never known. Twenty-three horses, including
most of the best steeplechasers of the day, came to the
post, and the first four favourites in the betting gained
the first four places in the exact order of their respective
positions in public estimation at the time of the
start. There was no accident of any kind.
The result furnished us with ' some important
data by which to judge of euture performances. It
appears that Mr. Weyman, the former owner of The
Colonel, died a few months back, and left directions to
his executors that his favourite steeplechaser should be
prepared and started for the Grand National and
afterwards sold with the rest of his stud by auction.
After winning two Grand Nationals, he will be heavily
handicapped in any futur,e race, but his merits are so
great that, even under the disadvantageous weight with
which he must in future be saddled, he will still be a dan-
gerous competitor. Fan behaved as disgracefully as
usual. Hall Court evidently died away through
age, and his high - position as a steeplechaser
must be deemed at an end. Surney gained a respectable
position, but was evidently deficient in stamina. Gar-
dener as evidently lacked pace. The Doctor comes out
of the battle by no means disgraced. His position fully
justified the confidence placed in him, for the Colonel had
certainly very little to spare. Primrose ran very well,
and it is on the cards that hail she not overpowered Mr.
Brockton, and got her temple over the bit during
the race, this clever animal would have been
hailed the wianer of the great Liverpool prize.
With respect to Tathwell, we may quote the remarks of
Land and Water—" I shall be somewhat curious to read
their excuses for having puffed up Tathwell and other
bettina, hones. It was publicly asserted tiat the owner
of Tathwell swore by his chance, and would not hedge a
penny cf the money for ghich he had backed him,. upon
reading which I am credibly informed the whole of the
Taincoliishire division laid against him ; and well they
might, for Tathwell has been infirm for months,
and the only wonder is that he, should ever
have been entered for the race in question.
Q.C. evidently cannot stay. When he had got over three
miles and a half he was evidently quite helpless.
" Hotspur," of the Telegraph, makes the. folowing
tbservations:—."ll;a3 COloners is the highest weight
carried by any winner. since the race was converted
into a handicap, excepting that of Cortolvin, who
carried one pound more.' The time-10 Min. 10 sec.
—was admirab'e, and those critics who keep preaching of
the " deterioration " of modern horses, would do well to
contrast The Colonel's 10st. 71b. in 1869 and his 11st. 121 b.
in IS7O with Abdel Kader's 9st. 121 b. in 1850 and his
10st. 41b. in 1851. The principal winners over The
Colonel are Mr. Evans, Mr. Cockin, Mr. Crook, Mr. J.
Booth, and Mr. William Wright. Though the last-men-
tioned gentleman has notHing to do with the party, ho
strongly fancied the horse, and consequently
" helped himself " in the market when the hero was at
33 to lin the quotations. Mr. Brayley would probably
be the most serious loser, as his outlays upon his lot
must have been quite g 2,000.
Lord Derby's stud has been sold at the Knowsley Park
Paddocks. Prices ruled small, though the attendance was
good. The brood mares were sixteen in number, and the
top figures were 1,000 guineas for Repulse, by Stock-
well, out of Sortie, who, when the property of 'Lord
Hastings, won the One Thousand Guineas in 1866, and
was afterwards repurchased by Lord Derby,. who had
bred her ; 750 guineas for Inspiration,' by Newminster
out of Cauezou ; 500 guineas for 13asquine (the dam
of Mantilla), by Orlando, out. •of Canezou ; and 330
guineas for , the American .mare Summerside, by
Lexington, who was imported into this coun-
try by Mr. Ten Broeck. The respective pur-
chasers were Mr. Gee, Mr. T. V. Morgan, Mr.
Blenkiron, and Mr. Thompson. Old Canezou, who was
such a favourite a the late earl, was not put up for sale.
as she is to end her days in peaceful retirement. The
yearlings, &c., realised insignificant prices, excepting a
brown colt by St. Albans's out of Inspiration, which Mr
T. Brown, the late trainer to the Duke of Hamilton, took
a bargain at 260 guineas. The two stallions, Cape
Flyaway and De Clare, fetched 660 and 105 guineas
respectively.
Amongst the many meetings to be held during the pre-
sent week, the most interesting is the Grand National
meeting at Cottenham. The Cambridgeshire Handicap
Steeplechase has a fine field in The Doctor, Pearl Diver,
Moose, Q.-C., Gardener, Middleton, Cristal, ' and
Surney. Some hold that The Doctor has the entire
division quite safe ; others give the preference to
Primrose. But the former has the balance of favour,
though it must be borne in mind that less than four miles
is the best distance for the second horse in this year's
Grand National. The race at Cottenham is about four
miles. Of the other meetings of the week the Grand
Military and Rugby Hunt is worth notice. It is
held on Thurday and Friday .; a good programme
has been issued, and several of the stakes are
likely to produce good fields. The following forecast is
taken from the Field :a—For this gathering a good pro-
gramme has been issued, as several of the stakes therein
are likely to produce strong fields. In the Grand Military
Gold Cup (three miles) fifteen horses have been
entered, but Roving Maid or Kerslake will win. The
Military Weight-for-Age Stakes (2 miles) should be car-
ried off by Woodbury Hill, as the lot opposed to him are
only moderate ; and the Handicap Plate (about 2 miles)
by Sky Blue or Jezebel. On Friday, in the Rugby Open
Handicap Steeplechase (3 miles) thirty-three horses have
been weighted, and Brick, 12st. 71b., heads the list.
Primrorma Bst. 11.1 b. • Gardener, 11st. 101 b. ; Lady Audley
11st. 31b. ; and The 'Robber, list. 21b., are the pick of
the horses handicapped below Brick, ad the winner may
be found in Primrose or Gardener. The Light Weight
Grand Military Sweepstakes (three miles) will be won ba
Kerslake ; and the Grand Military Hunt Cup (over the
same course) by Lord Charles Kerr 's representative,
Blondin or Knockany.

REPRESENTATION o BRISTOL. The com-
mittees of the two Liberal candidates, Messrs.
Hodgson and Robinson, have met, and arranged the pre-
liminaries for a test ballot of the Liberal party of the city.
Mr. Odger has refused a test ballot, but his committee and
friends are signing a memorial to him requesting him to
consent to that mode of setting the differences which now
perplex the party.
AN UNSATISFACTORY ELOPEMENT.—.A. detective
officer, who had eloped with the wife of the landlord of
the Red Lion, at Altrincham, was very nearly paying the
penalty of his unfaithfulness with his life on Saturday, for
on having been brought back along with his paramour
and th,T. property they took with them to London, his out-
raged wife, in whose care he had left four young children,
made an attempt to " smash his head " with a stone con-
cealed in a handkerchief, but the police interfered, and
the culprit was fined 25 for neglecting his duty as a police.
officer.

The remains of the late Dr. Burnett, Vicar of Brad-
ford, were buried on Saturday at Hawkshead Church
Yard. The funeral was strictly private, and was con-
ducted in a simple and unostentatious manner.

The probable successor of the present Commander-
in-Chief of her Majesty's naval forces at the Nore will be
vico-Admiral the Hon. Charles G. J. B. Elliott, C. 8.,
brother of the present Earl Minto, and brother-in-law of
Earl Russell.

THE MOVEMENTS OF THE COURT.—IIer Majesty
the Queen will, it is expected, visit Claremont House,
near Esher, Surrey, about the close of this or the-beginning
of next week. Her Majesty will probably remain several
days at Claremont. The Queen of the Netherlands is
expected to visit Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle
early this week.
AN AMERICAN EDITOIL SHOT DY A FENIAN.—
The editor of the Irish-American has been shot by a
member of the Fenian Brotherhood. The wound is of a
very serious nature, and it has been found impossible to
extract the ball. Mr. Meehan, the editor has recognised
the assasin, I
who has been captured. tis said that
jealousy has existed* for some time past between the editor
and the secretary.

It is raid that when the Greek Archbishop of Syra
and Tones attended the other day in the Senate House'
Cambridge, for the purpose of receiving his honorary
dellree of he dropped his pocket-handkerchief, and
on stooping down to recover it, one of the graduates in
the gallery exclaimed, " Hurrah for the Grecian bend I"
The effect was, of course, so intensely ludicrous that the
whole assemblacre was convulsed with laughter.

rho Russian Papers announce the death of Gil
Migoter, the posti!lion who had the honour of saving
Napoleon from falling into the elutche3 of the Cossacks,
when he was leaving Moscow, by his skilful riding. In
the affair cf the Rue St. Nicaise, when an attempt was
made to blow up his Majesty, he was saved by the rapicl
driving of his coachman Caesar.

It has been stated that the late Lieut.-General Sir
C. A. Windham would be buried in Florida. This, how-
ever, is incorrect, as the remains of the gallant General will
be brought to Norfolk, his native county, in course of
the inainz. _ . • • - - • •

DIPLOMATIC AND ~CONSULAR SERVICE,

MONDAY.

The select committee appointed to inquire into this
subject resumed their sittings this morning, Mr-
Bouverie in the chair. Amongst the members of the
committee present were Mr. Otway, Mr. Eastwick,Mr.
Shaw-and Mr. Ryland. The examination of Mr Ham-
mond was proceeded with. He said he quite •admitted that
the present system had the effect of excluding the sons of
clergymen, and gentlemen in that rank of life, but he did
not think • that they were of a class in society which
could properly be chosen as representatives of this country
abroad.
The duties of the clerks in the Foreign Offiee wecre very
diverse, and they depended to a great extent on the tele-
grams and' dispatches received in the course of the day
The question of only having paid attaches or clerks did
not affect the public service. The service '.ous conductor!
by the Imperial attaches with as much zeal and ability 45
if they were paid. The expense of junior members of the
service alone would be very great. It was only amoggst
the best society that political information abroad
was picked up and hints obtained. Any ac-
tion of ours would not be necessarily followed
by other countries, and if we put an inferior
class of persons to represent us, they would not move in
the same rank of society as the others, and would experience
in consequence many mortifications. It was quite possible
to apply the system of competition for appointments in the
Foreign Office, but he did not think it desirable that
there should be more than a very limited competition
because it was necessary that competitors should be of a
certain position, and irrespective of their book learning,
be likely to turn out useful public servants. 'There was
no parity betweeu the Indian Civil Service and the diplo•
matic.

THE WICKLOW PEERAGE.

MONDAY.

The committee of privileges of the House of Lords re•
assembled this morning to resume the hearing of the claim
of Mrs. Howard to the earldrom of Wicklow on behalf of
her son.

Sir John Coleridge asked for leave to further cross-
examine Mary Best. His case was exactly like that pre-
sented by Sir Roundell Palmer against Mrs. Howard.
Sir Roundell Palmer did not offer much objection ; but
Mary Best was not in London.
• The Solicitor-General said that he could not ask his
witnesses half the questions if the witness Best was
not first cross-examined.

After some discussion it was decided by their lordships
that the other witnesses should be called in the absence
of Mary Best.
The Solicitor-General would of course bow to the de-'
cision of their lordships, though for his own part he
imagined it would be better if he had been permitted to
cross-examine Mary Best before calling other testimony to
rebut her evidence. The case he had to present to the
committee would be that Mary Best lived with her
uncle and aunt, a Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, in the
capacity of servant. A Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who lived
opposite, were intimate friends of the Matthews—now
dead—and were acquainted with Mary Best. The Jones's
would prove that Mary Best had a child, and that Mrs.
Jones sought for her in the workhouse two or three times
after she had left with her child. The witness Best was
desirous of leaving the child with Mrs. Jones, for that per-
son to keep at a certain sum ; but Mr. Jones objected, as
they had a child of their own. It was afterwards_
covered that this child was sent to a place in Durham, and
diedthere. Mrs. Jones saw Mary Best after that occurrence
andlwa,s told by her that such was the case ; at least, if the place
was not mentioned, Best said that the child died somewhere in
the north of England. This was really the substance of
the story that he had to present, and he would call Mr.
and Mrs. Jones in support of it. He should also call
several of the Longley witnesses, who would give evidence
that he (Sir John) thought would be conclusive. They
could not speak to any precise and particular time ; but
would say they saw Mrs. Howard at Longley at such
times as the natural inference was that she could not have
gone twice to Liverpool, or even once. He should ask
Mary Best as to these conversations, and their lordships
would, therefore, see that it was right that she should be
examined before the witnesses who would be called to con-
tradict her.

Their Lordships, after a slight consultation, declined to
have this course adopted, and the Lord Chancellor ob-
served that last Monday the case was adjourned, so that
the policeman at Boulogne should be seen and brought
forward.

The Solicitor-General said that person had been seen,
but the result was not satisfactory. It was only right on
behalf of the interests of the infant claimant that when-
ever there was a clue it should be followed up.
The Lord Chancellor said their lordships had decided
to proceed with the case.
The Solicitor-General said if so he was afraid that some
of the questions he had to ask the witnesses could not be
legally evidence unless he had the cross-examination of
Mary Best to fall back upon. He would, however, pro-
ceed to call the witnesses.

Mary Ann Jones, 161, Day-street, Liverpool, said she
was a laundress. In 1864 was living at St. Ann's-street, in
the same town. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews lived opposite
to her, but were now dead. Knew Mary Best, and she,
in 1864, was living with the Matthewses as servant. From
something that was mentioned in 1864 witness examined
Mary Best, whom she found was in the family way. That
was in July to the best of her recollection. Took her to a
Dr. Harris, and communicated what the person said to
Mrs. Matthews.

The Solicitor-General was asking a question that the
other side objected to, when it became evident the
questions necesssary could not be put without Mary Best
being cross-examined. ' _ _

Their Lordships consulted and agreed to adjourn the
hearing to Thursday, on the distinct understanding that
all the witnesses would be there on that day.
The Lord Chancellor and Lord Chelmsford complained
exceedingly that the time of the House had been wasted ;
but the Solicitor-General said that his clients only knew
of the witnesses Joneses and others on Friday.
Their lordships then rose.

The once famous jockey, Sam Rogers, died on
Sunday.

THE ALBERT LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY.— In Vice-
Chancellor. James's Court, the affairs of this Company*
have again been brought prominently forward in the two
cases, ex parte' Pike and another, v. the Manchester and
London Life Assurance and Loan Association, and
Thompson v. the same Company, which were petitions
presented by policy and shareholders, for an order of the
court to wind up the affairs of the respondent's company
with which the petitioners had originally entered into nego-
tiations. In 1862 the Manchester and London transferred its
business to the Western Life Assurance Society, which latter
in 1865 amalgamated with the Albert Life Insurance Com-
pany ; but the petitioners now alleged that they were not
a party to any of these transfers, having in the first in-
stance paid their money to the Manchester and Lon-
don, and that consequently they were not to be
held liable for any losses which might be
occasioned by these subsequent incoporations ; whereas
council on behalf of the Albert and Western eon.-
tended that, as the petitioners continued to pay into these
offices after the amalgamations, they accepted the liabilities
and losses which might be incurred by them. il's
Honour made no order in the first case ; but in the
second he held that the petitioner was entitled
to his order, as the attempt made by the Western and
Albert to shrink from their responsibility had in hie
opinion signally failed. The petitioner never had anY'
official intimation that these amalgamations had taken
place, and tlit therefore the Manchester and London
office into which he first paid was the company to which
he should look for indemnity against any pecuniary lose
he might sustain.

LAMARTINE'S SETTLEMENT,—Vice-Chancellor James
has had before him a paition relative to the affairs of the
late M. de Lamartine, the celebrated French poet, author,
and statesman. In 1820 M. de Lamartine
married Mariame Eliza Birch, a native of Languedoc,
then residing in Savoy. In her marriage articles she
was described as of Cumberland-street, London.
reversionary fund of £lO,OOO was settled upon her
for life, after her decease for her husband and
children. , Madame de Lamartine died in 1863,
leaving her husband surviving, but no children.
She left large legacies subject to her husband's life interest
and a sum of 20,000 francs to found a sohool for girl,",
There was some informality about the will, but M. na
Lamartine instead of having it set aside, confirmed
all the gifts, and on his death last year made tha present
petitioner, his niece, sole residuary legatee. The petition
was for certain payments of the stock left by Madame de
Lamartine, and the Vice-Chancellor made the order O
drayed.
CHARGE AGAINST A MERCHANT.—Mr. Robert James
Brown, merchant, of Cornhill, who stands charged With
defrauding- a shipbuilding firm in Glasgow of £1,500, by
obtaining a commission on fictitious orders for iron ships,
has been again eiCamined at the Mansion House, and cony
witted for trial.

SINGULAR CIIARGE. —A woman named Macfarlane haa
been charged, at Bradford, with attempting to poison 8
neighbouring family, named Smith. The accused eeerrl
to have been annoyed at the conduct of the children, an'
it is alleged that she placed strychnine in a vessel contain'
ing milk, which had been left at the door of the Smiths.
The prisoner was remanded, in order that the state of her
mind might be inquired into.
ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER BY A BOY.— A youth of 16t
named Steedman, has been tried at Maidstone for the
manslaughter of Emma Steedman. The. girl and th°.
prisoner were both in the serviceof a farmer, and a 511.01!
quarrel having arisen, the lad, who had a knife in Uo
hand, gave the deceased a push, by which she via!
mortally wounded. The jury found a verdict of Nob
Guilty, and after a caution from the Judge, the prisoner
was discharged.
WHOLESALE Fo RGERiES. —Charles Davies, alias Jolinsel;
has been sentenced to six years' penal servitude at lk.falu
stone for wholesale forgeries of bankers' cheques. Vl°
prisoner made a regular systein of forgery, and dealt in
pianos, hoops, and various articles.
A THEATRICAL CASE.—Miss Marian Macnamara, a bur,
lesque actress, playing under the name of Taylor, 1r
obtained £llB damages for breach of contract from
Simpson, manager of the Birmingham Theatre. -AP
Taylor had been engaged to play in New York fel' a
cer-
tain time, and the question at issue was whether herretur..
for the time agreed on was her fault or the manager's.
COMPENSATION FROM AN OMNIBUS ComPANY.-31:6
Albert Dunderdale, commission agent, has obtained 224-1,„.
from the Manchester Carriage Company for injuries
ceived from one of their omnibuses. The case was beard
in the Nisi Prius Court.
THE MANCHESTER RAILWAY. —ln the case of Whittak„
r
against the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Itt'zi
wa? Company, in which 4.1.,00J damages had lof
awarded, execution has been stayed until the 23:
April, in order to give an opportunity to move for
Uoiv trial.