The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-01 00:00:00

AMERICAN NEWS.

be obtained through the medium of perjury. In
courts of equity, the same advantages will arise, so
far as respects the power now first granted to parties
of giving testimony in their own favour ; while de-
fendants, who under the former law would have been
forced to file cross bills for the purpose of " scraping
the conscience" of plaintiffs, will be enabled to effect
that desirable object without having recourse to this
dilatory and costly proceeding. The exceptions to
the general rule, which makes parties witnesses, are
contained in the third and fourth sections of the Act,
and are fourfold :-1. No person can be compelled to
answer any question tending to criminate himself.
2. No person " who, in any criminal proceeding, is
charged. with the commission of any indictable
offence, or any offence punishable on summary
conviction," is competent, or compellable to testily
for or against himself. 3. Husband and wives
are neither competent nor compellable to give
evidence for or against each other in any criminal
proceeding; and lastly, the Act does not apply
to any proceeding instituted in consequence of
adultery, or to any action for breach of promise of
marriage. The great exception, above cited, was in-
troduced into the Act by the House of Lords, at the
pressing instance of Lord Truro, and ought most as-
suredly never to have been inserted ; for, as Lord
Campbell pointed out at the time, it is merely calcu-
lated to raise doubts where none should exist. By
the general law of the land, every witness is pro-
teoted from answering questions where the answers
would tend either to criminate himself or to expose
him to any penalty, forfeiture, or ecclesiastical cen-
sure; and as the Act simply makes parties witnesses,
it is obvious that, without any special enactment, they
might have claimed the same protection as all other
persons under examination. But, how stands the
matter now ? The Act rates that they cannot be
forced to critninate themselves. Good ; but can they
be compelled to disclose what will render them liable
to penalties, forfeitures, or spiritual reprimands ?
Is the maxim, " express= facet cessare taciturn,"
to apply, or can the party give the go-by to the
statute, and rest on the common law ? The Lord
Chancellor, aided by his new lieutenants, the
Lords Justices of Appeal, will probably, ere long,
have to settle this knotty point, and we shall be anxi-
ous to see whether his judicial and legislative opinions
coincide. The second exception, which still leaves
defendants in our criminal courts, and parties charged
before magistrates with minor offences, incompetent
to testify on oath either for or against themselves, is
certainly a prudent, and, for the present at least, pro-
bably a wise provision ; although we are well aware
that many sensible men, and among others the Re-
corder of London, entertain a different opinion. The
third exception, which relates to married people, has
been misunderstood by more than one writer on the
subject, and it has been suggested that this exception,
when read in connexion with the second section,
raises a doubt, by implication, whether, in civil suits,
wives are not rendered by the Act admissible wit-
nesses either for or against their husbands. In reality,
however, no doubt exists. It was certainly in-
tended, in the first instance, that wives should
be made competent witnesses, and a clause
to that effect was embodied in the Bill ; but
this provision, though sanctioned by the Commons,
met with so strenuous an opposition in the Lords
that it was withdrawn at the last moment. The Act,
therefore, finally passed in a form which left the law
of husband and wife precisely where they found it—
excepting only in those few cases where both of them
are either parties to the record, or persons on whose
behalf an action, suit, or other proceeding is brought
or defended. Whenever this state of things occurs,
the wife, as a party, or an interested person, may,
under the express terms of the second section, give
evidence for or against her husband, and the hus-
band, in like manner, may give evidence for or
against his wife ; and it was merely because a
married couple occasionally find themselves side by
side in a dock—being both of them parties to the
same indictment—that the exception which pro-
hibits them from testifying, under these circum-
stances, for or against each other, was retained in
the Act, although the general enactment respect-
ing husbands and wives was struck out. Had it not
been for this exception, a wife, conjointly indicted
with her husband for murder, might have been called
by the prosecutor to establish the man's guilt, and
the man might have been examined by the counsel
for the defence to prove the woman's innocence. The
wide distinction established by the Act between those
wives who are parties to the record, and those who
are not, will doubtless call into play much profes-
sional manceuv ring in that class of cases, well known
to lawyers, in which it is optional with the plaintiff
whether the wife be joined with the husband, or
whether the action be brought by or against him
alone. If the lady's testimony be required by the
plaintiff she will be made a party; if her evidence be
inconvenient, her name will be omitted from the
record. The clause which excludes from the
operation of the Act all proceedings insti-
tuted in consequence of adultry, and all
actions for breach of promise of marriage,
was obviously dedicated by feelings of deli-
cacy ; and, although it may be questionable
whether such feelings ought to interfere with the as-
certainment of truth and the administration of justice,
few people will feel inclined to quarrel with the ex-
ception on that ground. It has been objected to this
clause, that by using the words " nothing herein con-
tained," iestead of " nothing hereiobefore contained,"
the exception is made to extend the whole Act, and
not merely to the second section. This is no doubt
true, but the objecion founded upon it is somewhat
hypercritical, as it is difficult to discover any section
in the statute, except the second, which could by pos-
sibility apply to either of the proceedings excluded.
We have hitherto been content to comment upon the
Act as it will affect the practice of our courts of
law and equity ; but they who wish thoroughly to
appreciate the extent of the alterations made by its
first five sections, will do well to contemplate their
bearing on proceedings instituted befor our eccle-
siastical tribunals. To those who have not con-
sidered the subject in this light, it will perhaps
scarcely have ,occurred, that, henceforth, in all suits
of nullity of marriage, whether founded on impotence
or on prior nuptials ; in all suits fordivorce by reason
of cruelty ; and in all suite for jactitation of mar-
riage, or for restitution of conjugal rights, the respec-
tive husbands and wives, whether de jure or de facto
will be competent or compellable, as parties to the
suit, to he examined as witnesses on either aide. Yet,
such is beyond all dispute the operation of the Act,
and we rejoice that it is so. Again, we suspect that
it is not at present sa generally known.as it ought to
be, that, in every penal proceeding which may here-
after be instituted in the Ecclesiastical Courts—as,
for instance, if the office of the judge be promoted
da ga anitn
ws ti
lel clergyman
tfeonrt i mt
on;
eosrtailfyc oinnd uhcits—o
wt hne
behalf,
and may even be subjemay be true thatcted to examinationhe will not be
the part
of the prosecutor. It
compellable to answer any questions tending to ex-
pose him to conviction, though this is a matter which,
as we have before observed, is by no Teens clear ;
but should he rely on this legal protection,
.and
cline to answer, the necessary inference against him
raised by such conduct will indeed be strong. We
doubt whether this distinction between criminal.ps?-
ceedings in thee Ecclesiastical Courts and those insti-
tuted at Common Law was present to the minds of all
our legislators when the Bill was before Parliament ;
but, however this may be, the Act can only bear the
interpretation which we have put upon it. The second
exception, as we have already stated, is confined to
persons charged either with an indictable offencn, or
with on offence punishable on summary conviction ;
and it is quite clear that the offences over whic
eih
ther
the
Spiritual Courts have cognizance fall within n
of these two categories. If, however, this result was
not contemplated by our lawgivers, we can only re-
gard it as a happy accident; for it will afford the
most favourable opportunity for ascertaining how far
the rule of law which closes the mouths of defendants
in our Criminal Courts can be safely relaxed. We
shall take an early opportunity of renewing our
comments on the new Law of Evidence, and of
drawing attention to the remaining sections of that
remarkable Act.

WINDSOR.—On Thursday her Majesty honoured
Mr. H. C. Scions with a first sitting of upwards of an hour's
duration for his picture of the Inauguration of the Great
Exhibition of all Nations, which he is painting for the firm
of Messrs. Lloyd, Brothers, and Co., with a view to publica-
tion. Last week his Royal Highness Prince Albert sat on
several occasions, to the same artist, for that important his-
torical work. During this week his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal conferred the same
honour on the distinguished artist.
THE NEW LAW OF EVIDENCE ACT.—TO-(18y
(Saturday) the New Law of Evidence Act comes into force.
In all courts in the United Kingdom, with the exception of
Scotland, plaintiffs and defendants are now competent and
compellable witnesses. In the ensuing term the principle
will be carried out, and the operation of the Act anxiously
watched. The words of the statute are very comprehensive.
On the trial of any issue joined, or of any matter or ques-
tion, or in any inquiry arising in any suit, action, or other
proceeding in any court of justice, or before any person
having by law or by consent of parties, authority to hear,
receive, and examine evidence; the parties thereto and the
persons in whose behalf any such suit, action or other pro-
ceedings may be brought or defended, shall, except as herein-
after excepted, be competent and compellable to give evi-
dence, either virci roce or by deposition, according to the
practice of the court, on behalf of either or any of the parties
to the said suit, action, or other proceedings." The excep-
tion is in criminal cases, and to proceedings instituted in con-
sequence of adultery, end to any action for breach of promise
of in srriage. In all other actions—assault, slander, &c., the
parties can be examined, as well as in matters relating to bill
discounting. The Act extends the admission of documentary
evidence. More than ordinary interest will be attached to
the trials in the superior courts in next term, commencing
on Monday.
APOTHECARIES HALL.—Names of gentlemen who
hcaerri
et isSc
Edward s t
Bowman ct
Doann
rrsodcaky.:
passed their examination in the science and practice of me-
s nu
Yorkshire ; Edwin Josiah Miles, Gillingham, Dorset;
Boyle Chavasse, Birmingham ; Richard Nugent,
Amigo; w Coyftp, Llaufitir, Alcattgomery4hire.
me-
dicine,
onbe
e,
r,a3nod,
jrBesc.le i:Le

The news brought by the Humboldt is of three
da3 s later date than that last received, but it contains
little of interest.
Financial affairs were assuming a more healthy
appearance, and prospects were brightening through-
out the country.
The Spanish Government has sent a special envoy
to Washington. The New York Times on this sub-
ject says:—
" There is a great deal of speculation afloat about
the probable upshot of the special Spanish Envoy's
visit to Washington. All that appears to be known
is that such a messenger is on his way thither ; that
he goes backed up with a subscriptio❑ paper bearing
the signatures and counter-signatures of Victoria it.,
Palmerston, and Louis Napoleon ; that a guarantee
of the independence of Cuba is to be demanded; and
that Mr. Webster will have the handling of the man
and the matter. The impression is prevalent that
Chevalier Halsemann is likely to have a smpathizing
companion in his mortifying diplomatic overthrows.
It would not be the first time that Spain and Austria
have consoled themselves together for common adver-
sity and common contempt. The House of Haps-
burg was wont to have a family feeling in such cala-
mities."
We have advices from Chagres to the 9th of Sep•
temberf and, in reference to the Panama railway, it is
stated that—

"The connexion of the Panama Railroad to Gatun
was to take place on Friday, October 10, or Saturday,
the 11th, as, at the time of the sailing of the Illinois
there remained only 400 feet to be filled in, and they
were making that distance daily. The engineers
confidently expect to have the rock laid, and run the
locomotive through to Gatun, on Saturday, the 12th
inst. The absence of the usual amount of rain has
enabled them to push the road through with dispatch.
"We understand that the whole of the force will
now be put on the line above Gatun, in order to
finish to Gorgona as soon as possible. Among the
passengers per Illinois are seven persons, who have
made at the mines 100,000 dollars."
Fresh robberies bad taken place on the Isthmus of
Panama, and one of the New York papers contains
the following :
"The great specie train of the Pacific Mail Steam-
ship Company was robbed on Saturday, after leaving
Panama, seven miles on the way. The news flaw
like electricity through Panama, and merchants,
officers, and soldiers, forthwith started in hot pursuit.
"After riding seven miles, Captain Garrison and
his friends came up with the train, and found it in the
wildest confusion. Three of the guard had been shot
by the robbers, and were lying on the road side. Two
were found dying, shot in the breast, and the other
badly wounded.
"The robbers had made off with one box of gold-
dust, but, delayed by the heavy box, the pursuers
soon overhauled them, when they abandoned the box
and fled. Two of the robbers were captured.
" Thomas Summers, from New York city, was one
of them. A rope was put about his neck, and Lynch
law was making the last of him, when he begged for
his life, and promised to tell all if they would not
hang him, when he did tell the whole story and all
the persons engaged with him.
" Another party of the pursuers overtook Charles
Cromwell, an intelligent coloured gentleman from
New York. He too begged bard for his life, and
they spared him after he made full confessions, but
not until he had been half hung some ten minutes.
" Two other persons captured were Dr. Berry, of
New Orleans, and Laban Manning, of Illinois. There
are also in prison, Dr. Burt, or Burk, one Mireraud
and one Degnant, residence unknown. There are
five here still at large, but who, it is said, cannot
escape.
" The robbers had been informed, and believed,
that the specie train had in it 2,000,000 dollars.
" One of the guard shot, died in a short time.
Thirty-six buckshot, it is said, were taken from his
body.
The news brought by the Illinois furnished some
important information regarding, the whaling fleets.
It is as follows :
" The following vessels are reported as being totally
lost this season :
" The Ajax, of Havre ; total loss.
" The Aramatta, of New London ; total loss.
" The Henry Thompson, of New London ; total

loss.
" The Arabella, of New Bedford ; total loss.
"The New Bedford, of New Bedford; total loss.
" The America, of New Bedford ; total loss.
" The Cosmopolite, of France; total less.
"The Mary Mitchell, of San Francisco; total loss.
" It appears that the whole whaling fleet had win-
tered in the Gulf of Anadir, in the northern part of
the sea of Kamschatka, in Russia in Asia, and, on the
coming on of spring, had set sail for Behring's Straits,
but, in attempting to pass through into the Arctic
Ocean, the fleet was environed by ice, and the above-
named vessels were totally wrecked.
" The crews of the destroyed vessels are reported
to have reached the main land in safety ; but it is
said that in some disturbances afterwards with the
natives, 11 of the whalemen lost their lives.
" The John Wells is stated to have borne evidence
cf the severe navigation she had encountered. Her
spars were nearly all gone, her hull more or less
damaged, and she had scarcely a sheet of copper upon
her.
" (The John Wells was the first whaler ever sent
from Newark.)
" It was supposed that some sixty more vessels had
shared the fate of those mentioned above, and it was
quite impossible to tell how many more would be
likely to be lost in their attempts to escape from
the ice.
" The general result of this; season's whale fishing
is set down as a total failure. The following vessels
have done nothing :

" Ship John Wells, clean this season.
" Ship Neptune, New London, clean this season,
August 1.
Ship Magnolia, New Bedford, clean this season,
August 1.
" Ship A. H. Howland, clean this season, Aug. 1.
" Ship Vinegard, Martha's V., 450 sperm., clean
this season.
" The whole fleet is believed to have done little if
any better.
" It is thought that the whole fleet (some 600 sail,
we believe) are now wending their way as rapidly
as possible to the north-west coast, for the purpose
of refitting and endeavouring to retrieve their ill for-
tunes."

esayest
shape
orryo
THE GeitithmagleotethrofEmotsnthhehesA T EXHIBITION.
tecalor
oeeirmplhtistoasn
eni Rmhdsasoipooly :no fdistsneentcdara
presents.erni
tccAoee
Ordnance,
them
Palace.be Albert
acknowledging
Thbt
haThysee
hythee addressedEanr Sappers
i anolyes eioanrl,
an autograph letter to the _Marquis of Anglesey,
Master-Generalylteihensidt
we understand, to receive service medals, and the po-
biteiso especially
oi withal l
y reference
with
regard
t o the t
h
lice are to be similarly decorated.
Some valuable information has been derived from
cuptions of the people.
There now remains in the building not more than
tthuernEs,l andhi
500 or 600 British exhibitors, but the foreigners have
made comparatively slow progress in their arrange-
ments for departure, and many of them seem reluc-
tant to leave. Others, however, are distinguished
the next
classified census
o rce:
for their alacrity in this respect, and it is an honour-
able characteristic of the Swiss and the Tunisians
especially that the have been more prompt both in
their arrival and in their departure th an any other
country.
Cogan's model of the Great Exhibition building is
one of the last remaining articles in the English glass
department. Our attention was drawn to it the other
day, and we had, through the courtesy of the pro-
prietor, a full inspection internally and externally,
which was very gratifying, it being very accurately
put together, which has been a
r workcase of some
larmonths ;
it contains all the landings, stais,
exact to scale and number. We are given to under-
stand that it has been very much admired since the
parties about the building
have had time to thoroughly
d that
examine its proportions, and Sir Joseph Paxton a
has expressed himself in high terms of the little model
d by himself
of that great on desigr___!..e_____________

Larkins, mate of ditto,
LLOYD'S.—REWARDS FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICES.
—The committee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's have
resolved that a complimentary letter be written to Captain
bronze Keene,
ni
ofe d theo f spliopyJdo,sh nt,o oTf
bOo
md eases a
L; voted the honorary
and the sum of 101. out of the fund of that establishment, to
be equally divided amongst the mark the semaining
nse five
entertained by
men who ac-
co h m
mpanied the boat's crew, to
the committee of their brave and humane exertions
M on the
occasion when the Owen Glendower
dismasted in a heavy
gale of wind, off the Arran Island, 014 the 25th of September
last. The committee have also voted the sßobertum oW f 5/. to
John Richardson, John Richardson, jun., atson,
Thomas Knaggs, and John Daly, five men, labourers in the
employ of Mr. koberly, of the alum works, at Sandsend,
near Whitby, who at the peril cf their lives were instruments
in saving W. Breadlam, of the ship Friends Goodwill, capsized
in a heavy gale of wind, near Whitby, on the 26th of Sep-
tember last.
Omnibus proprietors are gredunlly. reducing their
fares to the standard at which they were prior to the opening
of the Exhibition. For a week or two back passengers have
been taken from Stockwell to the Bank for 4d., and from
Kennington-gate to the Bank for 3d. The fares have for a
fey days been also reduced on some other rutos, and yester-
day the Atlas, Waterloo, King's-cross, nin omni-
buses commenced running the short stages at 3d. Others
can scarcely avoid following the example in the face of the
o f port,i first-class
Sir captain
i Henry
ryi in
standsh erpr pre-eminent
e Majestyin
Id. and 2d. omnibuses, which appear to receive much
, near this
public support.
THE CoMMAND-IN-CIIIEF OF TIIE INDIAN NAVY.
—We have heard that this appointment will be conferred on
Captain Sir Henry Leeke, K.H., of West Leigh
'sinne navy
yi
nofthleB2e6s,timanat.tiioann
of
ftiitcheer
:class services. Out C,i' about 300 candidates, we be-
lieve_,alit India Directory..-.Portsmodh Times and Naval
Hon.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
Lord and Lady Bloomfield had the honour of dining
with her Majesty and Prince Albert yesterday.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked in the Home-,
pat k and the Slopes this morning.
The Prince of \Vales and Prince Alfred, attended
by the Rev. Mr. Birch, went out in an open carriage.
Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena and Louisa
were also taken out in an open carriage.
Her Majesty'and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
went out on horseback to-day, attended by the Hon.
Miss Seymour, Colonel Buckley, and Colonel F. H.
Seymour.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Lord High Commissioners of the
lonian Islands.

Dispatches were sent off yesterday from the Colo-
nial-office to the Governors of the North American
provinces.
The Lord Chief Justice of England arrived at
Stratheden-house yesterday evening from a tour in
Italy.

ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

On Thursday the autumnal election of persons into

this asylum took place at the London Tavern. The
unfortunate and pitiable objects who were deemed
eligible to become candidates numbered 164, out of
which only 15 could be elected.

Sir G. OARROLL, on taking the chair, expressed his
gratification that the institution was gradually pro-
gressing, and that year by year it was enabled to
open its doors to those afflicted creatures, whose health,
comfort, and, if possible, restoration to reason, it
made its special care. He was convinced that there
was a large number of benevolent individuals who
only required to have their attention drawn to this
good charity to induce them to support it to the ut-
most. There were now two large asylums in con-
nexion with the charity, which required great care
and unwearied attention—almost every separate case
involving the necessity of a distinct treatment. He
wished the public would visit those institutions, and
see the improvement that they were enabled to effect
in the condition of the hitherto helpless idiot. It had
come to his knowledge only that day that one of the
parents who had gone down to the asylum at Colchester
a short time since, and who had not seen his son for 12
months before, actually did not know his own child, so
great was the improvement. He appealed to the
press for assistance, the press which was ever ready to
give its kind countenance to any institution which
deserved the support and sympathy of the public.
The great want which the society now experienced
was a large establishment where they could classify a
great number of patients, for which purpose 10,0001.
was required: It seemed a large sum of money, but
it was nothing compared to the large charities with
which the metropolis abounded, and which were so
liberally aided by private benevolence.
Dr. REED read the annual report. It was an ex-
tremely interesting document, but many of the details
which might engross the philanthropist we must ne-
cessarily omit. There was at present in the institu-
tion 180 patients, which, with the 15 to be elected,
would make 195. Physical training had the first
place among them ; and all the arrangements for
bathing, shampooing, and gymnastic exercises, had
been improved. In the schools there were classes for
reading, writing, figures, natural and scripture his-
tory, singing, drawing, and music ; and, besides these,
there were classes of gardeners, carpenters, shoemakers,
basketmakers, knitters, and netters. On the subject of
the success which had attended the operations of the
society (and with regard to which, at its forma-
tion, grave doubts were entertained), the report
stated that among those originally placed under the
care of the board from the commencement, three
years ago, there had been 25 unable to walk, 114 un-
able to teed, dress, or take care of their persons, 20
epileptic, 12 paralyzed, 68 dumb, and 25 under nine
years of uge, all subjects of physical infirmity and
mental imbecility. So helpless and unpromising a
family bad perhaps never before been brought toge•
ther. Of these 6 had been taught to walk, and 14
much improved in the use of their limbs, 27 who had
been dumb or made strange and unmeaning noises
were getting the use of articulate sounds and begin-
ning to speak; 48 had been taught to feed and dress
themselves, and to observe cleanly habits; 23 had
been taught to read, 27 to write, 11 to cipher, 16 to
draw. Some were taught music, nearly all singing,
and most of them were in the drilling or gymnastic
classes; 90 could attend with propriety on domestic,
and about 50 on public worship, and had pleasure in
doing so. Order had been established, good habits
had been formed, and there were health and happi-
ness among them. " May not then," concluded the
report, " the movement, as one of experiment, be
considered as complete ? and may it not from this day
be pursued as one of clear certainty, unquestionable
duty, and national importance ?"
A long report was appended from Drs. Conolly and
Little, and Mr. Callaway, M.R C S., the medical offi-
cers of the institution. Without committing them-
selves to any very strong expression of their impres-
sions and feelings, they gave utterance to their perfect
satisfaction at the progress of this " great attempt,"
and their lively belief, founded on careful observa-
tions, that the grand design of the founders would be
eventually and completely fulfilled. The receipts of
the year tor general purposes had amounted to 8,1041.
7s. 41., and the expendidure 7,4491. 141., leaving a
balance of 6541. 13s. 41. The receipts towards the
building fund had been 2,3291., of which 1,5001. had
been invested, and 6401. remained in the treasurer's
hands. _ _

The election then commenced, and terminated at
3 o'clock, when the names of the successful candidates
were announced.

BLOOMERISM.
(From the Morning Chronicle.)
The Bloomer ladies generally have no right to com-
plain of the ill success of their agitation, for they have
challenged public criticism in that way which, in
England, we have not yet learned to think other than
offensive. Lady lecturers are rare in Europe ; and
when they take up subjects verging on critical mat-
ters, a greater amount of decorum, modesty, and dis-
cretion is demanded than has been presented to us at
Miss Kelly's Theatre, or in the Holborn Hall. At
present Mrs. Foster is an exception to her sect, but
even in her clever management the crucial experiment
was fatal. To have teen a Bloomer settles Bloomerism.
It is not the trivial witticism about the wife wear-
ing the breeches, nor the unhappy suggestion of
the George Sand and Debardeur school of morale,
with which this dress has unfortunately been con-
nected, that will do all the mischief; but the cos-
tume itself is its own condemnation. "Pillows under
all arm-holes" are, perhaps, a female abomination—
but then they may plead precedent. They are as
old as the Bible, at least in the English trans-
lation—" ten or fifteen pounds of petticoat round the
body, and balloons in the sleeves," are neither grace-
ful nor reasonable we admit—" sixteen square yards
of skirt" merely " depositing strata of thick black
slosh on the ankles, and turning their wearer into a
walking mop." is certainly a feature suggestive of
nothing agreeable—and English fashion, which, with-
out Transatlantic prompting, has encased our females
in shaggy paletots with large pearl buttons, has, we
allow, little ground to object to the andro-gynous
aspect of the " pettiloon" or " pantalette." Nor in-
deed can any of us, with any show of propriety, ob-
ject to the novelty of a costume which, anyhow, every
English girl under fourteen has worn this many a
year. But all these objections to every existing
fashion fail utterly in demonstrating the propriety of
the new one. We do not pretend to have been
initiated in the greater mysteries of the gymeceum ;
and we therefore content ourselves with an
American lady's criticism on the Bloomer costume,
which we cite with the more satisfaction as it is ex-
pressed in that rich vernacular, which so graphically
exceeds the powers of any masculine pen. " If "
and the dilemma is to us insuperable—" if," says Mrs.
Jane Swisshelm, " the trowsers are loose at the ankle,
they gojlip-flap ; if gathered to a band and falling
over in a puff, they go slip-slap as one walks. If
there is a ruffle to fall deivn on the top of the foot, it
gets in the mud, and is as ugly as the longest skirt.
If it is drawn up to be convenient, as much of the foot
and ankle is exposed as need be in a moderately short
skirt. Then the trowsers, all of them, give a general
appearance of dropsical legs." An Aristotelian sorites
of dilemmas—" either flip-flap or slip-slap;" the
division is exhaustive : there is no tertium quid. If
long, dirty ; if short, immodest, and a common nature,
dropsical-looking, in all oases. Is not this enough to
condemn Bloomerism pure and simple? Mrs.
Swisshelm helps us to another illustration. " In
stooping far enough to lift a thimble"—but
our American ally is here again more gra-
phic than we wish to be. Only let our readers
imagine how a stooping Venus would look, simply
braccata et tunicata, with the natural rise and fall of
a "vest" which, in its standing position, is only to
reach " two inches below the knee"—the regulation
cut —and then let us idealise the modesty of a
Bloomer female " visibly trowsered to the waist !"
And so as to another class of objections we admit
their force, but they do not prove Bloomerism. Five
ici,hundreduui:eaetrrsukei wrongsrtthsa,,t— eidse do not i
nanbosstoumridneist
absurdity
involves
right.nvei
ve s
mathematicallt
proportion
another,m ay
self-propagating
andbe
ttboatthethsequaciruesnoftittyheiorf
depnestittiycoaantsd—vowleumbee.g
It pardon,
rodthoenr,
words, that one petticoat, like one foowl,hmenakaeamosimnayn,
slleeheaniretcuthrdeage, catgut, cane,
and....
e—or,
btaet crinoline is
differently,like a zothhyatte,
present
mode,
pastra fashion, she wants clothing
whaleboneinside
constructeda quiltedo ef of horsehair
ahbe
gtuebts
to protect her from her clothes. But, •
me. repeat,
admitting the absurdity of all .*
tins, there is some
intermediate stage where taste
and
may be found between
this style of dress, which the Bloomers so effectively
den:Iola! end
,what latte been celled the "forked

I parsnip" attire—their own. With respect to the
"naturalness" oF dress, which Mrs. Bloomer urges,
of course that which the poet gives Nora Creira
; beats Mrs. Bloomer's hollow on that score.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING.
TILE COM3IITTEE OF TUE Roo:A.—Before the list was
read, the subscribers met for the purpose of electing a
member of the committee, in the place of Mr. Rudston
Read, whose term expired this meeting, when that
gentleman was unanimously re-elected. Mr. Payne was
named to fill up the vacancy on the part of the Jockey
Club.

THE DONCASTER COP CASE.—The following is a copy
of the decision given by the Stewards of the Jockey
Club:—
" We, the Stewards of the Jockey Club, having con-
sidered the case referred to us by the Stewards of Don-
caster Races, in relation to the objection made by Mr.
Saxon to the qualification of The Ban to win the Cup,
on the ground that another horse, still the property of
Sir Joseph Hawley, had started, contrary to Rule 40,
concerning horse •racing in general, and having heard
the evidence produced by Mr. Saxon in support of his
objection, are satisfied that a bona fide sale of Vatican to
Mr. Morris took place previous to the race.
" We are nevertheless of opinion that the stewards 01
the Doncaster committed an error in allowing Vatican
to run, he having been entered in Sir Joseph Hawley'.
name; and that if he had come in first, Mr. Morris
would not have been entitled to the Cup; but the horse
having started with the sanction of the stewards as Mr.
Morris's property, we do not think that any objection to
The Ban can be sustained on that ground, and there.
fore decide that The Ban is the winner of the Doncaster
Cup.
" As, however, considerable doubt may exist as to the
right of Vatican to start, the stewards of the Jockey
Club will take an early opportunity of submitting this
point to the members of the club, in order to obtain
their opinion, and have the wording of Rule 40 made
more explicit in this respect.
(Signed)

" GLASGOW.
" J. PEEL.
"H. LOWTHER."

FRIDAY'S RACES.
Match, 200, h ft. T.Y.C.
Mr. Morris's flungerford, 3 yrs, Bst 71b...(F Butler) 1
Mr. E. R. Clark's Plumstead, 2 yrs, 7st ...(Charlton) 2
Even betting. Won by two lengths; not timed.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 soya. each, and only 5, it
declared, &c., to go to the second horse; for three yrs
old and upwards. T.Y.C. (16 Subs., 10 of whom de-
clared.)
Mr. E. Phillips's Truth, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b (Wells) 1
Prince Galarzin's Y. Altisidora, Est 51b...(Aldcroft) 2
Mr. Halford's Primo Minister, Bst 71b (Whitehouse) 3
Mr. Bickham's No Chance, Est 111 b ......(.T. Closter) 4
Mr. Martinson's Eliza Middleton, 7st 51b (Charlton) 5
Lord Exeter's Plalegra, 3 yrs, 7st 31b (J. Mann) 6
Betting-9 to 4 agst Young Altisidora, sto 2 agsi
Prime Minister, and 7to 2 agat Eliza Middleton. The
running was made by Young Altisidora into the cords,
where Truth, who had been waiting on her from the
first, took it up, and ran home an easy winner by a
length. Run in 1 min. 12 secs.
Sweepstakes of 10 sous. each; for three yrs old, 7st 91b;
four, Bst 31b; five and upwards, Bst 81b. The winner
to be sold for 400 soya., if demanded, &c. First half
of Ab. M.
Mr. Merry's Louis Napoleon, 3 yrs (J. Sharp) 1
Lord Exeter's Turtle, 3 yrs J. Mann) 2
Mr. Carew's Longinus, 4 yrs (A. Day) 3
Lord Clifden's Loadatone, 6 yrs (Robinson) 4
Even on Longinus. Won very cleverly by a length;
a neck between the second and third; Loadatone well
up. Run in 50 secs.
Sweepstakes of 10 soya. each, for two yrs old; colts,
Bst 71b; fillies, Bst slb; the winner to be sold for 50
soya., if demanded, &c. First half of Ab. M.
Mr. CLiley's Brawn ...(Rogers) 0 1
Mr. Sherring's The Grand Duchess (W. Treen) 0 2
Mr. Sexton's Chaffinch (Whitehouse) 0 3
Mr. H. Stebbings's Celeste filly (Flatman) 4
Mr. B. Eddion's Valentine's-day ...(G Simpson) 5
Betting-6 to 4 agst Celeste filly-5 to 2 agst Chaf-
finch—and 4to 1 agat Brawn. A head-and-head race
between Chaffinch, Brawn, and Grand Duchess, termi-
nating in a dead heat with the three; the Celeste filly
well up. Run in 52 secs.
Deciding heat-6 to 4 agat Chaffinch, and 2to 1 agst
each of the others. Won by a head. Chaffinch beaten off.
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 soya. each, to ft, for three
_ _

yrs old and upwards. D.M.
Sir R. Pigot's .lE.)lus, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (T. Smith) 1
Lord Chesterfield's Humphrey, 4 yrs, 6st 41b (Wells) 2
Duke of Bedford's Bordeaux, Bst 71b (F. Butler) 3
Mr. R. H. Nevill's Artisan, 7st 31b ...(G. E. Sharp) 0
Sir J. Hawley's Breba, 3 yrs, 7st (Nurdin) 0
Baron L. Rothschild's c by Charles XII., dam by
Touchstone, 3 yrs, 7st (Charlton) 0
Mr. Etwall's Bushranger, 4 yrs, bat 71b (E Harrison) 0
Lord Clifdon's Borneo, 5 yrs, 6st 61b (G. Mann) 0
Mr. Dawson na Cyclops, 3 yrs, sst 51b (Carroll) 0
Betting-3 to 1 agst Bordeaux, 4to 1 agst Humphrey,
and 5 to 1 agst Bushranger. Humphrey and .2E3lus
ran together from the start into the cords, ./Ealus then
taking up the running, and winning cleverly by a
length, Humphrey beating Bordeaux as fir. Nothing
was near these three. Run in 1 min. 46 secs.
The Nursery Stakes of 25 soya. each, for two yrs
olds. D.M.
Mr. G. Osborne's Lady Agnes, 7st 51b (J. Osborne) 1
Mr. G. Osborne na Merry Bird, Sat llb (W.Abdale) 2
Mr. Stephenson's My Dear colt, 7st 81b. (J. Sharp) 3
Lord Ex€tsr's Mountain Flower, Sat 31b...(Norman) 0
Sir J. Hawley's Caloric, Bst llb (J. Marson) 0
Mr. W. E. Hughes's Sopnitary. Bst...(Bartholomew) 0
Mr. Greville's Scarecrow, 7st 131 b ..... (Flatulan) 0
Lord Gla'gow's Caracara, 7st I llb (Pettit) 0
Lord Ribblesd de's Orpheus, 7st 101 b (Cnapple) 0
Mr. Mare's 1331ia colt, 7st 101 b (G. Simpson) 0
Mr. King's Cytherea silly, 7st 91b...(11. Sherwood) 0
Mr. Armstrong's Equal, 7st 9lb (Whitehouse) 0
Mr. E. R. Glade's Pluinstead, 7st 810...(W. Sharpe) 0
Mr. Payne's Hirsute, 7st 81b ([larding) 0
Lord Exeter's Ilex' 7st 71b ...(J. Mann) 0
Captain Lowther's Barbara Bell, 7st 21b (G.E Sharp) 0
Lord Clifden's Royalty, ist llb (G. Mann) 0
Mr. Thirlby's Mary Ann, 6st 131 b (Charlton) 0
Mr. Wigram's Peacock, 6st 121 b (Ilarlock) 0
Mr. Merry's Happy Joe, 6st 91b (Knott) 0
Betting-7 to 2 agst Dromedary colt, sto 1 agst Mary
Ann, 6 to 1 agst Lady Agnes, 10 to 1 each agst So-
phistry and Scarecrow, 12 to 1 agst Mountain Flower.
With the exception of Lady Agnes, who had the worst
of the start, all got off well; and without either having
a decided lead ran in close order almost to the cords.
Lady Agnes then went up, obtained the lead fifty yards
from home, and won by a length. Merry Bird, trained
in the same stable, beating the favourite by a head.
Mary Ann a good fourth. Sophistry, Scarecrow, and
Mountain Flower, well up.
Fifty Pounds for three yrs old, 7st 61b; four, Bst 51b;
five and upwards, Bst 101 b. The winner to be sold for
100 sous. if demanded, &c. A.F.
Mr. Coomb's Necklace, 4 yrs (Rogers) 1
Mr. Stephensou'e Brother to Willingham (Chspple) 2
Mr. Merry's Brennus, 4 yrs . .
Mr. Smith's The Eor, 4 yrs (Lye) 4
Mr. Maxfield's Ribaldry, 6 yrs .(W. Sharpe) 5
Betting-7 to 4 agst Brennus, sto 2 agst Brother to
Willingham, and 4 to 1 each agst Ribaldry and Necklace.
Brother to Willingham made the running into the
cords, was challenged half up, and beaten on the post by
a head; Brennus a bad third. Run in 2 min. 23 secs..
Sweepstakes of 10 BOTII. each; for two years old, 7st; and
three, Bst 111 b. The winner to be sold for 300 Boys.
if demanded, &c. First half of Ab.M.
Mr. Winch's Herschel, 2 yrs (Charlton) 1
Mr. T. Fryer's Captain Flash, 2 yrs (Lye) 2
Mr. R. Harrison's Miss Julia Bennett colt (Bum by) 3
Mr. R. H. Nevill's Telescope, 3 yrs (F. Butler) 4
Betting-5 to 4 egst Herschel, and sto 2 agst Tales.
cope. Won by a head, Miss Julia Bennett colt a bad
third. Run in 51 secs.
Sweepstakes of 10 Boys. each, for two years old, 7st 71b;
and three, 9st 41b; the winner to be sold for 200 son.,
if demanded, &c. ; and allowances if to be sold for less.
T.Y.C.
Mr. Lialfurd's Deceitful, Bst 81b (1001.) (Marlow) 1
Mr. Payne's Cotton Lady, 2 yrs, Est 111 b (1000 2
Mr. Robinson's Glee colt, 3yrs, Bst 81b (1000
Mr. Medley's Paquette, 3 yrs, Bst 81b (loot.) 4
Betting—Even on Cotton Lady, 7 to 2 agst Glee colt,
and 4 to 1 agst Deceitful.
Won by three parts of a length, a neck between second
and third. Not timed.
The Audley End Stakes of 30 soya. each. A.E.C.
Lord Exeter's Nutshell walked over.

Match; 300 h ft. T.Y.C.—Mr. Greville's Frantic,
6st 71b, received forfeit from Lord Exeter's Clelie, Bst 71b.

Erratum—The D. I. Plate (Thursday)—The betting
at starting for this race was 5 to 2 agat Tophana, not
agst Lady Evelyn.
NEWMARKET, FRIDAY NIGHT.
ENTRIES FOR SATURDAY.
Selling Handicap. A.E.C.

Abdallab, 4 yrs, Bst 71b—Borneo, 5 yrs, Bst 21b—Cor•
nelius, 3 yrs, 7st 101b—Reindeer, 3 yrs, 7at 91b—Liberty
2 yrs, sst 81b—Grand Duchess, 2 yrs, sst 81b.

_ -
Handicap for two years old. RAI.
Equal, Bst 71b—Hyacinth, Bst 21b—Poodle, 7st 131 b
Royalty, Tat 131 b.
Sweepstakes of 5 sous. each. Winner to be sold for 251
Diligence, 4 yrs—Arlette, 4 yrs—Teeswater, 4 yrs—
France, 2 yrs—f by St. Martin, out of Toga, 2 yrs_
Caffinch, 2 yrs—Forlorn Hope, 3 yrs—Falcon, 4 yrs—f
by Slane, out of Exotic, 4 yrs.
Houghton Handicap. T.Y.C.
Lady Evelyn, 5 yrs, Bst 101b—Iris, 3 yrs, Bat 71b—
Nutshell, 4 yrs, Bst 71b—Loadstone, 6 yrs, Bst 51b—Dar-
kie, 4 yrs, Bst 21b—Caurire 5 yrs, Bst—Louis Na-
poleon, 3 yrs, Bst—ilungerford, 3 yrs, 7st 91b—Califor-
nia, 4 yrs, Tat 71b—Laybourne, 3 yrs. 7st 71b—Eliza
Middleton, 4 yrs, 7st 71b—Young Altisidora, aged, 7st
31b—Phlegra, 3 yrs, 7st 31b—c by Charles XII., dam by
louchstone, 3 yrs, 6st 121b—Curl, 3 yrs, Est 71b—San-
tidgo, 3 yrs, Gst.
Sweepstakes for two years old and upwards. T.Y.C.
C by Princo Caradoc, out of Miss Julia Bennett, 3
yrs—Old Rowley, 2 yrs—Liberty, 2 yrs—happy Joe,
2 yrs—Newport, 5 yrs—Equal, 2 yrs—Turtle, 3 yrs.
Swot pstalees. Ab M. Winner to be sold for 1201.
Vanguard, 5 yrs—/EAus, 5 yrs—Reindeer, 3 yrs—
Catirire, 5 yrs—Loadstone, 6 yrs—Post-tempore, 5 yrs
b c by Charles 12th, dam by Touchstone. 3 yrs.
ST. HELEN'S (LANCASHIRE) STEEPLECHASE.