The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-31 00:00:00

Now comes the " Wiztrd of the North,"
JOHN SCOTT'S

turn. Out of nine entries, one-third only are of any note,
viz.:—Newminster, colt by Tearaway and Storm. My
estimation of their merits and pretensions was shown in
my Derby Handicap, published in The Sun last Monday.
Since then I have ascertained that Storm's understand-
ings are very cranky, and likely to give way altogether
in the course of a Derby preparation; so I
will dismiss him from my though's at once,
and proceed to a consideration of Mr. Nichol's
chance with his b c Newminster, by Touchstone
out of Beeswing, who, like several others, is dark, but
with a reputation of having achieved wonders in private;
wiihin the last day or two, some sinister reports have
been afloat concerning him, but I am happy to say tor
the most part without foundation in truth. As I re-
marked the other day, he is an improvement in the Nun-
ny kirk breed; was as late as last week, looking and
going well; and from appearances bids fair, with his
tine quarter, to show the field the way up the Derby
hill; more anon.

The Tearaway colt has not speed enough to beat his
stable companions, but he will he heard of, I calculate, in
the handicap department. Having glanced at the
principal lots, containing likewise the principal animals,
I shall just pass a few comtnents on one
or two of the castaway division; Mr. Clark's stout halt.-
bred son of Venison end a Defence mare. The Marl-
borough Buck is quite capable, I imagine, of repeating
on a pinch the Hotspur dose of 1849, consequently
taking liberties with him is a remarkably dangerous
movement. Lightfoot is not worth a thought!
Sir Gilbert Heatbeote's Lady Geraldine colt is fancied
by a select circle, but the cognoscenti of the ring pass
him over.

Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor, like unto Colonel
Peel's The Black Sea, will find the company too good
for them.

Mr. St. George's Brother to Chanticleer has been
backed for a good deal of money; all gone into the sink
ing fund.
To sum up, it is my present opinion that THE PRIME
MINISTER WILL WIN ! and that Newminster and
Grecian are his most formidable opponents. I also think
that Lamartine is quite equal to the task of getting a
place; and that the Squire's nag and Marlborough Buck
may divide the first flight from the nick. These are my
present opinions; time may disarrange them; but as, with
the exception of Storm, I have stuck to my colours for
the ensuing Derby for nearly two years (having selected
The Primo Minister, Newminster, Laceartine, and
Storm in 1849), I think it highly probable tnat I may
nail them to the mast, as " Yates ' did with his memo-
rable tartan.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

Jan. 31, 1851.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
TATTERSALL'S—YESTERDAY.
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
10 to 1 sgst Vain Hope
12 to 1 agst Maria I)ay
12 to l agst Abd-el-Kader
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.
12 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Cocktail—taken
CHESTER CUP.
10 to 1 agst Mr. Treen'a Rhesus
20 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. J. Brown's Haricot—taken
25 to 1 agst Lord Clifden's Wallflower—taken to 1001.
25 to 1 agat Lord Strathmore'a Montague—taken
25 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Lady Evelyn
40 to 1 agat Mr. Saxon's The Black Doctor—taken
40 to 1 agat Lord Caledon's The Flying Gout
50 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's The Knight of Avenel
1,000 to 20 sgst Mr. Glen's Damask—taken
1,000 to 20 agst Mr. Howard's Brother to Dough—t
1,000 to 15 agst Mr. Carew's Eva—taken
1.000 to 15 agst Mr. Disney's Sir Richard—taken
15,000 to 150 agat Mr. Kemp's Sprite filly—taken
The chief alteration in the betting on the above event
was in Cossack, who, in consequence of some sinister
rumours, was sent to the right about on Wednesday,
but rallying, was quoted at the opening of business this
afternoon at 20 to 1, layers. These odds were taken near
the close of the betting, to three or four ponies, and his
backer seemed disposed to go on. Of the other horses
included in our return, Rhesus, Haricot, Wallflower,
Montague, The Flying Gout, and The Black Doctor,
were most in favour.
TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.
500 even laid on Grecian—taken
DERBY,
5 to 1 agst Mr. Howard's Grecian
12 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Mountain Sylph colt
—taken
25 to 1 eget Mr. Powney's Lamartine—taken
25 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Constellation—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. J. Clark's Marlborough Buck —takes
The Mountain Sylph colt was backed for 2001., and
Lamartine, Constellation, and The Marlborough Buck,
for 1001, at the quoted odds.
OAKS.
15 to 1 agat Mr. Payne's Citolel—taken
25 to 1 agat Sir G. Heathcote's Dark Susan filly—t
ST. ALBAN'S STEEPLECHASE. ,
Miss Mowbray is scratched for this event.

PORTLAND ROADS, JAN. 30.—(From a Corres-
pondent. )-100 sail at anchor, all well. The beneficial effects
of the breakwater (1,030 feet) is already felt. It blew hard
all last night S.W. to W.S.W. to N.W.to W.S.W., more mo-
derate squalls with heavy rain; a heavy sea in the west bay ;
a large steamer beating down channel.
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—The infant
harpists, the Lockwood family, after a very successful tour
throughout England and Scotland, have just returned to
town, and are now performing daily at thisinstitution, under
the directim of their instructor, Mr. Frederick Chatterton.
Their constant practice during an absence of about three
years in the country has greatly contributed towards the
perfection of harp-playing, which is fully appreciated by
crowded audiences. To the curious in clocks we would
point out one just being demonstrated, which has all the ap-
pearance of magic, and, like all magical delusions, is easily
comprehended; it is explained in the great ball of the es-
tablishment amongst the other mechanical inventions, and
was introduced here by the president of the institution, Sir
George Cayley, Bart. In appearance it is simply one sheet
of glass and a hand, yet this instrument chronicles time ac-
curately.

MR. MACREADY.—The Era newspaper of to-
morrow will contain a full and original Memoir of the
eminent actor Mr. Macready. Order of all newsmen, or send
six postage stamps to the Era office, 3, Catherm' e-streat,
Strand.

TILE CAPE DE VERD IBLANDs.—We have infor •
mation of a recent date from an English resident in San
Nicholas of a series of calamities which have destroyed a
large proportion of the inhabitants, and threaten to reduce
the remainder to actual starvation, unless prompt relief be
afforded in aid of the succours which hate already been sent
to them from a neighbouring island. The facts are briefly
these:—During the latter end of the past year fever,
ushered in by a preliminary attack of measles and hooping-
cough, appeared first amongst the poor inhabitants of the
town, then attacked the wealthy, spread through the country
districts, and prevailed so universally and severely that
scarcely an individual escaped the malady, and out of a po-
pulation of about 4,500 there were above 700 deaths in about
four months. In many houses not an inhabitant remained to
bury their dead; those that did not perish by disease died
from starvation for the want of aid. In the midst of these
calamities there arose on the 2d of September a frightful.
hurricane, which in the course of three or four hours swept
away the whole of the crops, and completely destroyed near
400 houses, and as there is only one annual crop in these
islands the wretched inhabitants have the prospect of imme-
diate famine staring them in the face, unless they can receive
assistance in the way of provisions from other than the limited
sources of their immediate neighbourhood.
MURDER IN CUMBERLAND.—We regret to have to
record the.perpetration of a most shocking murder in Mary-
port. The victim is Anne Clarke. the wife of Joseph Clarke,
a seaman, now abroad, and who for three or four months past
lived in a cellar under the house of the Rev. Mr. Booklessi a
Dissenting minister, residing in Fleming-square. The affair
is involved in considerable mystery. The woman resided
alone, and had been last seen on Friday night, first by a
female in the service of Mr. Bookless. and afterwards by a
man named William Irving, who states that be sat up with
her until one o'clock on Saturday morning, when he left her
in bed. The window shutter of the cellar not having been
opened from that time until Monday,suspicion was excited.
It bring imagined that something was wrong, inquiries began
to be made respecting her, and the door of the cellar was
accordingly forced upen, when the deceased was found
stretched on the floor, quite dead, with a towel tightly
twisted over her head and under the chin. A jury was em-
pannelled, and an investigation entered into at the Braddyll
Arms lan. The inquiry was commenced on Tuesday, but
from the conflicting nature of the evidence, no satisfactory
conclusion could be arrived at ; and it was therefore deemed
advisable by the coroner to adjourn the inquest till Friday,
ordering a post mortem examination to be made in the inte-
rim. Accordingly on that day the inquiry was resumed.
when the evidence of the witnesses was proceeded with, and
extended over that and the following day. Eventually the
8%-SHERIFF NICOLL.—The new
jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some
of Cornhill in the Court of
a-IS'dblieen invited by an influential
9om personlni Nooi representativeEß personsTo
fo
lsur the
Council,
ahk
n having
ziwnwxng
C
body of his constituents to meet them at dinner, the re-
union accordingly took place yesterday evening at Tom's
Coffee-house, where a very 'elegant repast was provided
The chair was taken by Mr. J. Carter, who fulfilled all its
duties with much ability and good taste. After the usual
preliminaries the Chairman gave the toast of the evening,
viz., " Health to Mr. ex-Sheriff Nicoll," conveying at the
same time a well-deserved eulogium, on that gentleman's
public career; for which Mr. Ni 01l replied, expressing his
grateful acknowledgments to the electors, and assuring
them of his earnest desire to deserve their good opinicn, and
to maintain to the utmost of his ability the hospitable
associations connected with their ancient and highly re-
spectable ward. The Chairman's health was followed by
other appropriate toasts, when the company separated, after
hearing some excellent glee and ballad singing, under the
direction of Mr. Edney, assisted by Messrs. Shoubridge and
Holmes.

CALLS TO THE BAR, LINCOLN'S INN.—The Hilary
30th), and they coin-
ITtenr:wcearlelsntloadteheyebsatrero,fiaytheoHaontuwauryrable Society of Lincoln's
prise the after- mentioned gentlemen :—Danby P. Fry, Esq.;
St. George Mivart, Esq. ; Hilton T. Jenkins, Esq. ; Thomas
A. Corlett, jun., Esq. ; Alexander H. Jenkins, M.A. ; James
T. Hopwood, Esq. ; Robert W. Gilbert, MA. ; and William
Freeman, Esq.

ANOTHER FIRE IN BERMONDSEY.--LBEt night,
shortly before twelve o'clock, a fire, which did considerable
mischief, broke out in the extensive buildings belonging to
Mr. Hacker, tanner, Spa-road, Bermondsey. The fire com-
menced from some cause not clearly ascertained, in what is
termed the drying-room. This building was upwards of one
hundred feet long, by thirty or forty feet wide, and at the
t me of,the misfortune contained some hundred pounds' worth
of property. The moment the existence of the flames be-
came known, numerous engines started for the scene, and
there being an abundant supply of water, the flames were
quickly extinguished, but not until the building in which
the fire originated, together with its valuable contents, had
been destroyed.

The most difficult thing in the world is to talk
good nonsense. No person can do it but one of first-rate
ability.—Eliza cook's Journal.

Tne election for. South Nottivgbaculaire takes
place on_ the 10th and 11th Fekrusry.