The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-30 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S—MONDAY.
The only change of importance was the promotion of
Flacrow to the "premiership " for the Eastern Counties
Handicap, vice his stable companion, The Poacher, who
has retired.
The betting on the Cesarewitch and Cambridgeshire
showed no important change. For the former Middle-
ton was quite friendless.
Closing prices :

EASTERN COUNTIES HANDICAP.
3to 1 agst Flacrow (taken and offered)
10 to 1 agst New Brighton (taken)
10 to 1 agst Little Gerard (taken)
100 to 8 agat Sister to Hesse Cassel (taken)
15 to 1 aget Inder (taken)
20 to 1 ag►:t Mr. Verdant Green (taken)
CESAREWITCU STAKES.
12 t) 1 agst Fulbeck (offered, take 14 to 1
20 to 1 agst Alice Wentworth (taken)
20 to 1 agst Cotswold (taken)
20 to 1 aget Quince (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Cerva (taken, 25 to 1 also laid)
25 to 1 agst Mary (taken)
30 to 1 agst Peter Wilkins (taken)
30 to 1 agat Tyre (taken)
40 to 1 asst Duvernay filly (taken)
CI3IBRIDGESHIRE STAKE/.
20 to 1 aget Lance (taken)
20 to 1 aust Polmoodie (taken)
30 to 1 agat The Trapper (taken)
30 to 1 agat Breeze (taken)
DERBY.
25 to 1 agst Sydney (taken)
50 to 1 agst Saunterer (taken)

EASTERN' COUNTIES HANDICAP. —The following horses
are struck out :—Vongeance, Porto Rico, Cave Adul-
lam, Maid of the Morn, Eloquence.
All John Scott's horses are struck out of their en-
gagements this week, except Vanity in the Hopeful
Stakes.

CESAREWITCH AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE STAKES.—
YO MATT W3f. Gnitv's advice for the above events is
now ready. Lance for the Portland Stakes, at Doncas-
ter, and eleven other winners is something extraordinary,
but the advice on the above races will astonish all, as
1,000 to 1 can be obtained about the double event. I
am positive one, if both, does not come of. Recollect, I
named Mr. Sykes and Crown Pigeon last year (first and
second). Apply early, or the long price will be lost.
Terms : —To the Cambridgeshire, 7s. 6d. ; one week,
ss. ; single race, 2s. 6d. ; to the end of the season, 10s.
U.—Address, 15,Charing-cross.

THE STEAM FRIGATE MERRIAIAC.

The United States screw steam-frigate Merrimac, now
lying in Southampton Water, is 300 feet long. The
length of her spar deck is 281 feet. Her breadth of
beam is 511 feet, and depth of hold to gun deck 26 feet
3 inches. Her capacity at load line is 4,587 tons, and
draught of water 231 feet. She has two 10-inch, 24
9-inoh, and 14 8-inch guns. Her 10-inch guns weigh
12,0001bs each, and the 24-inch guns 9,0001 be. each.
The former would throw 130-p 'enders, the latter 84-
pounders, and her 8-inch guns 64-pounders. Although
Sir Howard Douglas is a great authority amongst
American naval men, they differ, it appears, from him
as to the comparative merits of solid shot and shell ;
frir they intend that the Merrimac shall fight with shells.
The weight of the 10 inch shells on board the frigate
when unloaded is 101 lbs. ;of the 9-inch shells, 691 be. ;
and of the 8-inch ones, 4911b5. The weight of metal
from a broadside from the Merrimac, in solid shot,
would bo 1,7161b5., and in shells, 1,382th5. One of the
peculiarities of Dehlgren'a guns, which are on 13..ard the
frigate is the enormous disproportion between the
thickness of the breech, where the first shock of the
explosion takes place, and that of the chase of the gun.
Thus the breech metal iu the pivot guns is 10 inches
thick, while the thickness of the chase is not above 24
inches; yet, notwithstanding this, when Dablgren's
guns are purposely put to the extreme test, they burst
at the breech, and not at the chase, which shows that
the disproportion in thickness is not too great. The
local variation of compasses is counteracted on board
he Merrimac by three magnets, whose powers and posi-
tMn are adjusted by some secret calculation to the
variable attractive powers of the different parts of the
ship. The method of calculation is the invention of
an American, who has not divulged his secret. His
adjustment has answered extremely well in the Merri-
lan. Hoisting arrangement, are attached to the screw
the frigate. The screw is 26 feet 2 inches in pitch,
and 17 feet 4 inches in diameter. The frigate has a 2-rod
stt epic engine, with a 72-inch cylinder and a 3-foot
stroke. The pressure of steam is 201bs. to the square
inch. Tee revolutions are 50 per minute. The
engine department is furnished with independent auxi-
liary engine for coaling the ship, and with four of Mar-
tin's patent vertical flue boilers, and a steam engine
register and chronometer clock. The two latter are
rare and costly instruments for an engine room. The
consumption of fuel is 35 tons a day, full steam. The
chief engineer's room is fitted up with every requisite for
ima, inable accident that may occur. The length of the
main mast of the Merrimac is 123 feet ; the fore mast is
111 feet, and the trim .n 1091. The size of the mainsail
is 51 square feet, of the foresail 40 square feet, of the
maintop 45 square feet, and of the jib 24 square feet,
The whole area of the Merrimac's sails is 566 square feet.
In order to carry an enormous armament, and to fight
the heavy ships and batteries that she would be pitted
against, she has been constructed of very great strength.
She has iron transept braces 41 inches wide, and 4 of an
inch thick between the outer and inner planking ex-
tending from the sheer plank to the keel. Her knees
are of prodigious strength and solidity. In war time she
would carry a fee, more guns of the same calibre as those
she has now on board, and about 100 more men than she
now musters. There are many things in this frigate de-
serving the attention of Englishmen. Her quarters for
fighting are very roomy compared with those of English
line-of-battle ships, crowded as the latter are with guns
and men. Thus, in battle, there would be far less de-
struction of life on board the Merrimac than on board
an English ship. The paucity of guns on board the fri-
gate is compensated for by their large calibre, and the
frigate being more easily managed than our three-deckers,
she would with her artillery—superior both in length of
range and powers of mischief—do fearful damage to
the largest line-of-battle ship before the latter could
approach her. These have been the reasons that
have induced the Americans to build and arm such
frigates as the Merrimac, and the practice of a nation
so shrewd, go ahead, and brave as America undoubtedly
is, ought not to be despised. The Merrimac took two
years building. She is the smallest of six frigates, built
on the same plan, the names of the others being the
Wabash, Minnesota, Colorado, Roanoke, and Niagara.
The Merrimac was stationed a abort time at Havana
before she came to Southampton, On Friday last, Crept.
Prendergast, her commander, and some of his officers,
dined with the Ciuntess of Hardwicke, at her beautiful
seat on the banks of Southampton Water, elope to where
the frigate is lying, and the Americans were charmed
with her ladyship's graceful hospitality, The Earl of
Hard wicke, who is a captain in the British navy, is from
home. The officers are quiet, gentlemanly, and well.
read men, and, like English sailors, take pride in their
Prolession. They of course believe Americans quite
equal, if not superior, in pluck, in science, and in fight-
ing, to Englishmen, and apparently would not be indis-
posed to have a brush with us. With all this, it is
curious, however, to notice the deep regard they betray
for Old England, and the numerous inquiries they make
as to the distance from Southampton of Stratford-on-
Avon, Abbotsford, and other places connected with
England's peaceful worthies. The arrival of the Merri-
mac is a godsend for Southampton, on account of the
money the men and officers will spend hi town. Bum-
boats and boats laden with provisions and visitors are
continually going off to the frigate. Since Mr. Croskey,
the American consul, brought the first United States
mail packet to Southarnptou, half a million sterling has
been spent in that town in American dollars from Ibe
yarrows men-of-war and mail packt,ts belonging to the
[Jutted States that have called at the port,

CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.— Monday,
September 29.—Adrnissions on payment, 6,539 ; ditto
by season tickets, 350 ; total visitors, 6,889.
THE QUEEN OF OUDE HOAX.—On Saturday Mr. G.
R. Collis attended before the sitting magistrates, at the
Public-office, to inquire whether any measures had been
lakusi by the local police for the detection and punish-
want of the individual who, under the character of an
agent from the Queen of Oude, has been lately attempt-
ing to impose upon the good people Of this town. Mr.
Collis said that since he made his previous application
he bad been to London, and had seen Capt. Brandon,
obtaining from him the original letters. The mayor also
1)9(1 heard from Capt. Brandon, and there could no
longer be any doubt that the man Wyndham was a
notorious swindler. He wished, therefore, to know
what steps had been taken by the police for his ap-
prehension. Mr. Kynnersley said as yet the hutbori-
ties at Bilmingham had no legal evidenoe, and it would
be best for Capt. Brandon to come down here, as there
appeared something mysterious in the transaction.--
13i.ernifizo4oni ocury•