The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-15 00:00:00

211 E ASCOT CUP.

The interest of this and similar races is derived
mainly from the opportunities they afford of bring-
ing together in the same field, and upon what are
meant to be equal terms, the horses who have
gained the foremost honours of the turf in different
years. The winners of the Derby and Oaks are
generally considered, until the contrary is proved,
to be, each in its own sex, the best three-year-olds
that have come out. But this supposed superiority
may be disproved by the result of later races among
three-year-olds; and, besides, in the contests for
the Ascot and other cups, the Derby and Oaks, vic-
tors and favourites of former years appear to
try the quality of their successors, carry-
ing of course an additional weight in considera-
tion of their more mature strength. It was rather
disappointing that with such a comprehensive
range of qualification the Ascot Cup this year
brought only seven starters to the post. The great
deficiency was to everybody that of Thormanby,
whose splendid performance for the Derby excited
the highest expectation of future triumphs. But,
either Thormanby is not himself just now, or it was
thought that the length and heaviness of the course
might not suit him, and it was known early in the
week that ho would not appear. Neither Wizard
nor Horror, the second and third of the Derby
horses, were entered for the Cup; but Butterfly,
the winner of the Oaks, and Rupee—who had been,
apparently on good grounds, the favourite—and. one
or two more who ran for it, were entered ;
and Butterfly and Rupee came to the post,
along with Promised Land, the much-celebrated
Derby favourite of last year, and Gamester, the
winner of the last year's St. Leger, and three horses
of lesser note, The utmost curiosity was felt about
the famous bat deceitful Promised Land. He came
forth looking as well as he could look—absolutely
beautiful and faultless in all but the most expe-
rienced eyes—and failed not to delude the public
into making him, a third time, but not quite deci-
sively, the favourite. "To please the eye and grieve
the heart," is the fate of this speedy and elegant but
unreliable " crack" of 1859. And then there is
Gamester, who beat Promised Land for the St. Leger.
Nothing has been heard of this hero since his vic-
tory, either good or bad. It must be owned that, like
some other gieat characters, Gamatter' scarcely
looks his greatness ; and, besides, he has bandages
on his forelegs. However, he won the • St. Leger
with a bandage upon one f them, and perhaps the
tying-up of both may be symbolical of a second.
victory over Promised Land. Next, if not before,
in their claims to notice, stand Butterfly, who won
the Oaks, and Rupee, whom some persons maintain
to be v:sably a better animal than Butterfly. Last
comes Newcastle, a moderately good horse, who
came out last year, and won, among other prizes,
the Doncaster Cup—Magnum, another of last year's
horses—and Weatherbound, who belongs to the pre-
sent year. Really it is almost impossible to feel any-
thing like an approach to confidence in picking a
winner out of the lot. Our faith in the Promised
Land is not higher than that of the children of Israel
when they vexed the heart of Moses in the Wilder-
ness. Gamester, as we said, does not look all that
perhaps he really is, and, although trust in John
Scott may safely be blind at Doncaster, we want a.
tangible reason for our confidence upon these
southern fields. The two fillies are almost unques-
tionably the best of the present year, and yet they
are not, perhaps, very good. At any rate, they
would scarcely be backed on the usual terms against
either of the three first horses in the Derby; or, if
they would, this year's St. Leger will probably
,afford to their admirers an opportunity of risking,
and it may be of losing, handsome sums. It is to
be remembered that the Cup Course at Ascot
is two miles and a-half long, or a mile longer
than the Derby and Oaks course. It has been
raining almost incessantly ever since the Oaks was
run, and at what is„ known to habitues as
" the bottom of the hill," is something very like a
bog, and the race finishes with the hill itself, Which
is a terrible pull for a light young thing that has
been painfully struggling through the mire. But-
terfly and Rupee are both very pretty fillies, and
the latter, at any rate, does not want muscle.
Still they are not the frame of animal on which
one has been used to see an owner's colours borne
triumphantly over a long and heavy course. On
the other hand, the fillies, in consideration of their
age and sex, carry 231 b. less weight than Pro-
mised Land and Gamester, and it will need a very
good and sound horse indeed to contend success-
fuly, amid the mud and up the hill, under that se-
vere condition. All things considered, the mystery
is so very dark, that when the horses are actually
off, and have rounded the course, and are entering
upon the final struggle, a shout of Weatherbound
wins "—raised under some optical delusion—lingers
for a moment on the mind before the notion is dis-
missed as quite extravagant. Weatherbound, as
they say, has " made the running in the early part
of the race, and is contented with a humble posi-
tion in the rear now. His jockey could not hold
him back at starting, and at finishing he cannot
urge him forward. Promised Land, to his
admirers' comfort, is well in front ; but alas !
as the horses near the stand it is seen in a glance
that ho has had enough. It is just Doncaster
over again. There is beauty, grace, and speed,
Enough is done to give high hopes of victory, and
then the weak place is hit and he falls away. The
two fillies have powder left when Promised Land
has expended his last grain. They stretch well
out in the final rush, and after a thoroughly game
struggle Rupee is declared the winner by a mere
head. To finish such a race in such a way shows
that these fillies are made of the right:stuff, and we
begin to think that in our comments before the race
they scarcely received their due meed of praise.
But all this while where is that champion of the
North, Gamester ? It is melancholy to relate that
Gamester could not do it, and so Aldcroft pulled.
him up, and he walked in soberly, looking much
the worse for his ineffectual exertions. And this is
a winner of the St. Leger ! Truly the changes and
chances of the turf are infinite.—.Faturday Review.

GARIBALDI AND THE CONIIN.ENTAZ
PRESS. • •

It is amusing to compare the various epithets
applied to Garibaldi by the foreign journals; we
take the following as specimens :
Gazettes di .Napoli.—The monster in human shape, Gari-
baldi by name, has had the audacity to attack, at the head
of a band of murderers, the dominions of his Majesty the
King of Naples. It is needless to add. that measures are
taken by the Government to capture him, when he will be
justly punished for his rash and lawless undertaking.
Gazetta di .Roma.—The Antichrist, for it is impossible to
give a person pessessed of the devil any other appellation,
has dared to approach the coast of Sicily, and effected a
landing with the assistance of the godless and heretic
English.

.Munich Volkeblatt. —The bandit Garibaldi is about to
continue his wicked and bloody trade of human murderer
in the happy and peaceful island of Sicily, but the Divine
vengeance will not fail to overtake him speedily.
Vienna Gazette.—The professional rebel hopes to continua
his former calling in Sicily, but he will be grievously die-
appointed, and his disgraceful attempt frustrated, by the,
courage and loyalty of the brays troops of the King of the
Two Sicilies.

_Leipziger Zeitung.—The pirate Garibaldi is, of re.ourse,
acting by the orders of the king of Sardinia.
Berlin Kreutz-Zeitung.—The adventurer Garibaldi
will
soon find that his lawless career has come to an untimely
end.

Cassel Zeitung.—Theparvenu Garibaldi, not contont 'with
having kindled the flames of revolution in his own country,
is now about to raise the standard of revolt in the hitherto
happy kingdom of Naples.
Hamburg Papers.—General Garibaldi is steadily ad-
vancing in his bold and dangerous career.
Gazetta di Bologna.—The heroic son of Italy, whose,
name no true Italian can pronounce without the most pro--
found•admiration and enthusiasm, is now engaged in the,
most important campaign of his eventful life.
Florence Gazette.—The redeemer of Italy is about to
attack the strong hold of tyranny. Every true Italian
heart beats with hope for the success of his sublime urAder •
taking.
Giornale di Malano.—The Genius of Italy has at length
drawn his sword and flung away the scabbard to rescue lila
country from the last remnant of tyranny.
Turin Gazette.—The Archangel Gabriel has appeared.in
human shape on earth in the person of Garibaldi, to
scatter the last enemies of Italian liberty and bring them
to the condign punishment they deserve.
Gazetta di Napoli.—(Latest number.)—The commander-
in-chief of the King's troops in Sicily has signed a capita-
lation with his Excellency General Garibaldi at Palermo.

THE SCHAMYL FAMILY.--A letter from Moscow,
of the 3d inst., gives the following details respecting the family of Schamyl :—" The Iman Schamyl has two wives,
Zeidote and Chuuanate. The first is about 30 years old,
She is not handsome, but is very well educated, and exer-
cises greatinfluenceover her husband, who cousultedher on
bi most important affairs previous to his surrender to the
Russians. The following fact affords a proof of her influence
over Schamyl :_The Im an wished to marry his daughters,
Naphisate and Fatimate, by a former wife, to two of the
most influential Naibs in Circassia. Sohamyl, at his wire's
desire, changed his decision and married his daughters. to
two of his wife's brothers. This circumstance producod a
very bad effect on the mountaineers. The Naibs resolved,
to revenge themselves, and they did so on the first op por-
tunity, when he was finally attacked by the Russians.
Schamyl's second wife is handsome ; she idolises her hus-
band, and concentrates her entire affection between Win and her daughter Sophiste. Chuanate looks on Zeidotei as
a dangerous rival, and uses all her efforts to compete w4ith
her in dress. The wife of Kazi-Magoma, &ham: sl's
eldest am, is extremely beautiful. The wife of Scham
second son, who holds a commission in a Russian La] leer
regiment, is likewise extremely handsome. Scharr yl'a
daughter Fatimate, who is married to the brother of
dote, is but 15 years of age, and her husband 17. Schamyl
has likewise three younger daughters—Majec nate, Bachcn-
Mossedon, and Sophiste. The first is extremely beautiful,
but club-footed, which causes her father great pain, as he
is devotedly attached to his family. The lt d:es of lie lauga,,
where the celebrated prisoner resides, visit his wives ands
daughters. When Schamyl is present at then visits tlse
Circassian ladies cover their faces with their veils. A
sian la ;y asked Schamyl to permit the likener,ses of his
family to be family, to which he consented or, condition that their portraits should be taken by a lady. This ccm-
(Mien was complied with, and the likenewes were, exe-
cuted."