The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-08 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

October 8.

The report of the special commissioner, Mr. Corwine,
appointed by our Government to investigate the circum-
stances attending the massacre of American citizens at
Panama by the natives fixes the responsibility of that
fearful outrage upon the Panamenos and upon the native
authorities. The riot which ended so disastrously was,
as was stated at the time, commenced by a native firing
a pistol at an American passenger who was intoxicated,
connived
tns w ere t h
ar es s
a
and Mr. Corwine has satisfied himself that the subse-
quent attack on the railroad depot and the general attack
on
h e
were pas
a ste concernedhg eer outrages in n
the edu
plan,excessesl t
n of
d o a
s . previouslylt
formed. He states that the evidence shows that the
police
thatf pthlae n
at
nhet
vmilitarye
authorities not only failed to perform their duty, but
is stated in the reports from Washington that Mr. Cor-
wine expressed the opinion that the New Grenadian
authoritiee are utterly incompetent to afford protection
to life and property on the Isthmus, and he therefore
regards it as the imperative duty of the Government
of the United States, if the route is to be maintained,
to occupy the Isthmus and provide for safe transit
from ocean to ocean, unless New Granada make ample
atonement for the wrongs endured in the past, and
sa.atsfy our Government that she is able and willing to
give the protection to our citizens in the future. Mr.
Corwine's report, which is now occupying the attention
of the Cabinet at Washington, is said to be a very full
and able document. He leans very strongly to the idea
that the local Government, however it may promise, is
wholly inadequate to the task of protecting the route,
and he supports his views by unanswerable arguments.
He refers to the occurrences of the past few years as
showing that no reliance can be placed on the looal
authorities, and he furnishes statistics of the trade and
travel carried on over the Isthmus to prove the neces-
eity which exists for effective measures of protection be-
' ing taken by the country principally interested. Every
newspaper reader is aware of the number of robberies
and murders which have been committed on the Isth-
mus since CA California emigration commenced, and
7et we have scarcely the first instance of conviction
and punishment of an offender by the native authori-
ties. li,` the brutal massacre the authorities showed
theniselve,i to be in sympathy with the infuriated native
mob, and they have not since evinced any honest deter-
mination to execute justice upon the rioters. On the
contrary, their .conduct has been evasive, and even if
now, under the influence of fear, they should promise
better things for the future no reliance could be placed
on their sincerity. Our Crovernment has a delicate duty
to perform. It must give protection to its citizens at all
hanards ; and, if the occupation of the Isthmus route is
essential to that protection, it must, even against any
clamour which may be raised, go to that extreme. The
Panama massacre cannot be allowed to pass with im-
punity ; and if the native authorities do not make an
example of the ringleaders in the outrage, and give co
Government
must take the whole matter into its own hands. We
are opposed to extreme measures in any controversy
which lies between a strong Government and a weak
onR, but when a Government is vicious as well as weak
its; weakness should not protect it from its just liabilities
fo r acts which are the direct consequences of its own
loinioralitie,.-I.Vew York Sun.

i SOMETHING .SHORT.
The palliated returns of the racing at Cheiter-yeeter,
day has occasioned considerable sitrptifie, and not a little
gossip. The confederates, Messrs. ,Barber and Saxon,
certainly did their best to puzzle the ring. They started
Mary for the Shorts Ilandicap, and the mare did not
display " form" enough to win a saddle and bridle at
Barnet. Rodbarn was "up," and be is a jockey who
doubtless rides to orders. If Mary was merely
started to gull the public as to her real
ability, the purpose has not been attained by
so clumsY a specimen of turf tactics. The fact of
Mary's not being backed would certainly justify the
supposition that she was not wanted at Chester. In my
list of likely competitors for the Cesarewitoh I have
marked her " dangerous."
Another little bit of finessing was made with regard to
the Welter Cup, for which Mr. Barber declared to win
with Sir Rowland Trenchard, but bagged the spoils with
Prince of Orange. The ring was not rigged by this ma-
noeuvre, for the joke Us ecom a
e somewhat stle.
The Fulbeck party areb full of hope and confidence,
and I am fain to believe that their fondest expectations
may be realised. The Newmarket folk swear by Mid-
dleton, and Merlin has secured many admirers since his
running for the St. Leger, and since he has changed
owners. I shall not, however, at present attempt to
determine the probabilities.
The liedford meeting will be a success, albeit foul
weather till perhaps exercise a diminishing effect on the
attendan e, and prevent all except the " Zonate" rate
of turfitCe from assisting at the celebration of the sport.
Tourntment is amongst the nominations for the Two.
yr-old St kes, and should he be sent for the race his
success dill be regarded as a foregone conclusion. Of
the betting on she Bedfordshire Stakes, I am in total
ignorance. In making my selection, therefore, I have
no guidei as to the intended animals. On paper the
chances tof Redemption and Eloquence seem the most
favourable. For tne Scurry Plate I shall stand Pope
Joan and Mabel.
The racing at Wrexham does not require notice.
The members of the Yorkshire Union Hunt will have
a pleasant meeting to-morrow (Thursday), albeit the
supply of sport will be somewhat scanty. Should John
Osborne ;send Fre-Fly for the Handicap she will perhaps
win, and the pnblie will be enabled to form an opinion
as to her Cesarewitoh pretensions.
A FRESH MAN.

CHESTER AUTUMN MEETING TUESDAY.
The Shorts Handicap of 10 soya each, h ft, with 50 added;
winners extra ; the second to save his stake. Seven
furlongs. Twenty-two subs.
Mr. Gill's Bourgeois, by British Yeoman, 6 yrs, Sat llb
1
(including slb extra) (Aldcroft)
Mr. Wilson's Princess of Orange, 2 yrs, Sat (carried
• sst 11b) (Challoner) 2
Mr. Dawson's Red White and Blue, 2. yrs, sst 81b
(Bullock) 3
Mr. Salon's Mary, 4 yrs, Bst 21b (Rodburn) 4
Betting—Even on Bourgeois, 3 to 1 agat Red White
and Blir. Bourgeois made all the running, and won
easily by a length ; half a length between the second and
third ; o length between the third and fourth.
The Alma Stakes of 5 soya each, with 100 added, for
two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies and geldings, list
41b ; 'winners extra ; the second to receive 50 soya
out of the stakes. Three-quarters of a mile. 37 subs.
Mr. J. Osborne's Saunterer, 9st (including 71b
extra)
Osborne) 1.
Mr. M4llish's Adamas, Bst 7lb _ ..(Wells) 2
Mr. Bel Commoner, 9st (including 71b extra)
(Aldcroft) 3
Bashi Bazouk, Early Dawn, Pato, and Sister to Dra-
matist Also ran.
Betting-6 to 4 agat Saunterer, 7to 2 agst Bashi
Bazouk, 4 to 1 agst Adamas, 6 to 1 agst Early Dawn.
Won by a neck ; half a length between the second and
third ; is neck between the third and fourth ; Early
Dawn was a bad fifth ; Sister to Dramatist sixth, and
Peto last. •
The Vadesmen's Welter Cup of 40 soya in specie, added
to a!HandicaP Sweepstakes of 5 soya each ; winners
extra ; gentlemen riders ; jockeys, slb extra. One
mile:and three-quarters. 10 subs.
Mr. Birber's Prince of Orange, 3 yrs, 9st 81b (includ-
ing 101 b extra) ..•(Rodburn) 1
Mr. Davies's Gaylad, aged, lOst 121 b (includ. 516 ex.)
(Jackson) 2
Mr. Copeland's His Piper, 4 yrs, lOst (inc. 10tb ex..)
-(ituott) "3
Mr. Bibees Sir Rowland Trenchard, aged, 10it 7113
(cared lOst 91b) (Capt. Little) 4
Mr.tparber declared to win with Sir R. Trenchard.
Bettinct-2 to 1 on "Barber's two," 4 to 1 apt His
Piper.i Won by two lengths ;•same distance between
the second and third - Sir Rowland Trenchard was
beaten; about the same distance from His Piper.
The Innkeepers' Plate (Handicap) of 50 soya ; winners
extra. Half a mile.
Mr. Barber's Miss Harkaway, 3 yrs, Est 41b ...(Dales) 1
Mr. Gill's Bourgeois, 6 yrs, 9st (in. 71b ex.) (Aldcroft) 2
Mr. liawson's Little Cob, 2 yrs, 4st 121 b (car. sst 41b)
I ! (Bullock) 3
Betting-7 to 4on Bourgeois, 9to 4 agst Little Cob,
1 6to 1 apt Miss Harkaway. Won by four lengths ; two
lengths between the second and third.
The Mostyn Stakes of 10 soya each, 11 ft, with 40 added,
for two and three-yr-olds ; 2-yr-old colts, 7st 51b ;
fillies, 7st 21b ; 3-yr-old colts, Bst 121 b ; fillies, Bst 101 b;
certain penalties and allowances. Three-quarters of
a mile. 11 subs.
Mr. G. Forster's Underhand, 2 yrs, 7st 81b (in. 31b ext.)
(Fordham) 1
Mr. Dawson's Red White and Bine, 2 yrs, 7st slb (in-
cluding 31b extra)
Mr. J. Windsor's Kenerdy, 2 yrs, 7st llb (car. 7st 21b)
(Charlton) 3
Betting-3 to lon Underhand, sto 1 agst Red
White and Blue. Won by half a length ; bad third.
The Selling Stakes did not fill,
LATEST BETTING.
CESLEEWIIKIFE STAKES.
11 to 1 agat Fulbeck
DEBBY.
6000 to 3000 on Commoner apt Adamas (taken)

PorAL BRITISH BANK.
-CRIMINAL
PROCEEDINGS.

I

- -
The Law Times of Saturday last contains the following
remarks on the question, whether the delinquents mixed
in this affair can be prosecuted criminally :
Several correspondents have inquired if such whole-
sale plunder is not punishable by the criminal law. Let
us endeavour to answer them. It is not directly punish-
able. Our disgracefully imperfect law of fraud makes no
provision against wholesale cheating,but onlyagainst small
pitiful obtainings of a loaf, or a gown, on false pretences.
There is impunity for great thieves ; but little ones only
are tried, convicted, and sent to penal servitude. Pick
a pocket of sixpence, and you are subject ,to four years'
servitude ; rob the proprietors of a bank of 50,000/., and
you may snap your fingers at your victims. But, although
the secretary and directors of the Royal British Bank
cannot be indicted directly for putting the bank money
into their own pockets, they may, we trust, be
made criminally responsible in another form. But to
make this intelligible we must sever the case of Mr.
Cameron from that of the directors. Mr. Cameron was
a servant of the bank. To take the money of the bank
from its till and put it into his own pocket would be
larceny ; to receive money from a customer of the bank,
and, instead of putting it into the till, to put it into his
own pocket, would be embezzlement. The circumstances
under which Mr. Cameron appropriated 30,0001. of the
moneys of the bank are not, as yet, so minutely stated
as to permit a judgment to be formed if he was guilty
of either of these offences. If the directors gave him
permission to overdraw, that would be a good defence.
But if it was done without their permission, obtained in
the regular way, or if they limited the amount he might
draw, but be exceeeded that amount; or if he drew any sum
whatever without their sanction at any time larceny
might be maintained. The proof of the authority to over-
draw would be upon him, and that would, probably, be
impossible. Wherefore, then, is this proceeding not
taken ? Again, it appears that Mr. Cameron gave secu-
rities that were already mortgaged beyond their value.
He represented these as good securities, and thereby
obtained advances ; he might the indicted for obtaining
money on false pretences. Now for the directors. They
were in lawful possession of the money, and, according
to the present imperfect state of the criminal law, a man
lawfully in possession of property cannot be guilty of
stealing it ; the subsequent appropriation of it is only a
breach of trust. Larceny, therefore, could not be main-
tained. But it is said the directors who have pocketed
so large a portion of the property did so without the
knowledge of the other directors, by means of a private
book kept by Mr. Cameron. If this is so, and could be
clearly proved, we have no doubt that they, together
with Mr. Cameron, might be indicted for a conspiracy.
We are also inclined to think—but of this we are not a°
confident as of the other cases—that all the directors
might be indicted for a conspiracy, in inviting and ob-
taining the subscriptions of shareholders by the false
representations which they put forth of the state of the
concern—proving, if it be possible to do so, that they
knew the true state of affairs, or at least that the con•
cern was not as they represented it to be. Even if such
prosecutions should fail, it would be of the utmost ser-
vice by way of example and warning."

-
THE AIBRCANTILE MARINE Or ILUSITTA,--The mer-
chant vessels belonging tl the Austrian empire numberurthened
at the end of last year 9,810, with an aggregate b
of 17,794 tons, and the seamen included in their
crewfor
s
numbered 34,434. Of these vessels, 662 were adapted
110 Pg voyages, and the rest were coastipg or fishing vessels
.

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