The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-24 00:00:00

GERMANY.

Accounts front Berlin of the 211 t, state that Prussia
will probably give way to Austria on the question of
the Presidency of the Germanic Confederation.

RUSSIA.
Advices from Bessarabia state that 70,000 Russian
troops have entered that province.

TURKEY.

Accounts from Bosnia state that the insurgents bad
been defeated with great loss by the Turkish troops
at Kraina.

SPORTING NOTES;
,• No. XXIII.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE LEGITIMATE RACING
SEASON OF 1851.
"Now, 10E4 says the worId?"—SHAKSPERE.

EDITOR OF T.
SlR,—The illegitimate compound of steeplechasing, hurdle
and flat racing, was brought to a conclusion at Warwick
on Friday, and with the present week commences the legiti-
mate campaign of 1851, which, from present appearances
(barring the ratheramall acceptance for the spring handi-
caps), from the unparalleled number of horses in training,
bids fair to be worthy of the " exhibition year," the most
brilliant on record. The railways enable trainers to take
their horses to the scene of action so late, that up to nine
o'clock this morning but few had arrived at Northampton ;
in consequence of this, my " standing orders" of the final
description must 'Stand over until to-morrow. I may
observe, however, - that they do not concern the
principal race, the Northamptonshire Stakes, for
which I can discover nothing, with the exception
of the John o.Gau3t colt and Nutmeg, that stands a
chance of beating m? selection of Friday, Legerdemain and
St. Rosalia, without the ground, which was very heavy this
morning, by dint of a fierce sun and strong wind should be-
come much drier before the racy is run; not among the
probabilities I fancy. In the interim I have dotted down
the latest moves OR tie board. Peep•o'-day Boy is in im-
mense force for the Vial Stakes, having been backed against
the field this morning ; Sotterley, Nancy, and Recruit have
also been inquired after. Convulsion and Frantic are in
force for the Iriennial; 3to 1 taken about each. Sir Robert
commands all the attention for Lord Spencer's Time, 3 to 1
being the hi4hesl, offer against him. The Greek by a great
number of the confiding public is booked a certainty for the
Althorpe Park Stakes,7 to 2 being his highest price; I think,
the result will tell a different tale. The filly by Hetman
Platoff, dam by Sircinle, has also been supported for a larg
stake at 5 to 1; Ambrose' Miss Conyngham, and The Flirt,
stand next in demand, 6to 1 being the average figure of
each. Frantic is said
to be a doubtful stater. To-morrow
I will lay before you s,me more decisive information.
I am, Sir, yours, Sc..,
THE SPIRIT OF THE TURF.

TO TEL

HE SUN

March 24, 1831.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHAAIPTON AND PYTCHLEY HUNT RACES.
The ground, notwithstanding the weather, is in excel
lent order.
ARRIVALS UP TO SUNDAY EVENING.—RetaiI, Cloth
worker, Souf Hamann, Combatant, and Vesta.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

The Cambridgeshire hds. will meet Fri., at Milton-10?;!.
Mr. Brand's hds., Wed., at Warden Hill; Fri., at Datch-
worth —101.:,
The Puckeridge hds., Wed., at Manuden ; Sat., a', Chip-
ping-10%.
The F. B. lids.,;to-morrow, at Stonemasons'.Arms ; Fri.,
at Tresilliam-bridge-101,x.
Mr. Morgan's hds., Thurs., at Long Cross-101.
The Tiverton hds., to-morrow, at Winsford ; Fri., at Hunts-
ham Castle —IOIA.
Sir Henry Seale's hds,, Wed., at Dart-bridge; Sat., at
Marley.
Furse's hds., Fri., at Rothern-bridge.
par.
Mr. Trelawny's hds., to-morrow, at Bullen Arms, Dean;
Fri., at Holne Chase -101,x.

The North Devon Ws., on Thursday, at Heathercombe.
Mr. Selby- k)wnde's lids., Wed., at Nash Common; Sat.,
at Sheep-lane, on the Leighton-road to Woburn-11.
Lord Lonsdale's hrrs., Fri., Tring Wharf; Sat. (fox lids.)
Dancer'a End-11.
Heythrop lids., Wed., at Eyford ; Fri., Tangley, 101.
Mr. Drakes hds., to-morrow, at Statton Audley ; Thurs., at
Horton Common; Sat., at Warkworth Village-10%.
Old Berk hire lids., Wed., at the Kennels; Fri., at Cox-
well Wood-10%.
The V. W. 11. hds., to-morrow, at Day House, near Swin-
don ; Thurs., at Frampton Manse! ; Sat. at Muserdine Park.
Sir W. W. Wynn's lids., to-morrow, at Penley Hill ;
Thurs., at Lea Bridge; Fri., at Acton Reynald —lO ylk.
Union h:s., Thurs., at Abinger Crossways; Sat. at Kennel
—lO%.
Crawley and Horsham —, Wed., at Slinfold ; Sat., at Nor-
folk Arms, Worth-103i.
York and Ainsty to-morrow, at Markington-101,1.
Captain H. Lewis's hrrs., to-morrow, llarlsey-hall ; Thurs.,
Nom hallerton ; Sat., Newton-bridge-11.
The Bedale hds., Wed., Halfpenny-house, Barden-moor—

1@,4.
The Cleveland hds.,Thura., Newton ---101/2.
The Ludlow hds., to-morrow, Three Horse-shoes, Brown
Clee Hill ; Fri., Dinchope-10.
The Sinnington hds., to-morrow, at Abbot llagg ; Fri.,
Rical-bridge-10.
The Pvtchley hds., to-morrow, Badby-wood; F i., Cottes-
brook ; Sat., Fox-hall-10%.
Lord Southampton's hds., to-morrow, llorton Inn; Fri.,
Syreshom-hatch ; Sat., Salcey-law-11.
The Oakley hds., Fri., Deer-park, Yardley-chase; Sat.,
Colworth—lo%.
The Atherstone lids., Wed., Crickets' Inn; Fri, Hoare-
park; Sat., Coombe-10%.

DEATH OF GENERAL THE HON. SIR ALEXANDER
DUFF, G.C.H.—We are sorry to announce the demise of this
distinguished officer, who expired on Friday, at his suburban
residence, Percy Cross, near Fulham. 'I. ho deceased was
second son of the third Earl of Fife, and brother of the pre-
sent peer,_to whom he was heir presumptive. The gallant
general had seen some active service during his career, hav-
ing entered the army as ensign in the 66th Foot, in 1793.
Sir Alexander served exclusively at Gibraltar, in Flanders, the
East Indies, and in Egypt with the expedition under Sir
David Baird. In 1806 he commanded the centre column in
the attack upon Buenos Ayres. In 1816 the officers of the
88th, or Connaught Rangers, presented him with a most
valuable sword in testimony of their respct and regard. In
1837 Sir Alexander received the colonelcy of the 37th Foot,
now vacant, and in 1838 he was advanced to the rank of
general. Sir Alexander was a deputy lieutenant of the
county of Banff.
ILLNESS OF THE LORD BISHOP OF DERRY.—Very
unfavourable accounts have been received of the state of
health of Dr. Ponsonby, Lord Bishop of Derry.
THE REP. MR. BENNETT.--The Rev. W. J. E.
Bennett preached two farewell sermons yesterday in the
Church of St. Barnabas. The congregations at both morn-
ing and evening service were very great. Mr. Bennutt's
discourse in the morning was from John vii., verse 53 "And
every man went into his own house." And that in the
evening from John ix., verse 4—" I must work the works
of him that sent me, while it is day ; the night cometh,
when no man can work." The Hon. and Rev. Mr. Liddell,
who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Bennett, will read
himself in at St. Paul's next Sunday morning. During
the next three or four weeks St. Barnabas will be closed,
with a view, it is understood, to the removal of the screen
and other portions of the beautiful and richly decorated
chancel. Mr. Bennett gives in his formal resignation to-
morrow.

ALARMING FIRES.—In the course of Saturday
morning the Brigade engines were called out to two serious
fires, one in the neighbourhood of St. John's-street-road,
and the other in Sun-street, Bishopsgate-street-within.
The former orig*nated in the premises of Mr. Hunt, clothier
and outfitter. When discovered, the whole of the front and
back shops were on fire. Some time elapsed before it was
got under, consequently considerable damage took place.
The other fire broke out shortly after three o'clock in the
morning in the premises of Mr. Thompson, baker, No. 64,
Sun-street. During its ravages vast damage was done to
the premise.. The lower part was gutted, and the remainder
seriously injured. The occupier was insured in the Star
Fire-office. _

-
We are very sorry to learn that the Duchess of
Somerset has been confined to her room during the past week
by a severe attack of the prevailing epidemic.
The Devizes Gazette states, that the lambing sea-
son has been very unfavourable in many instances in the
northern division of Wiltshire. In some cases the loss of
ewes has been immense.