The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-18 00:00:00

ZPOP.,TING 1101.1 E-3.

•11.•••••:•••••••=.6,

A PARTHIAN GLANCE.
The only meeting of real importance, celebrated' hast
week, was that at Reading ; the others, that ivegai
crowded into the five days, were not marked by an incl.
dent scarcely worth remembering, and were mainly, dits-
tieguished for their meagre supply of sport. And no
wonder, for notwithstanding the facilities of railway
travelling, neither horses nor men can long endurntbe
moil and turmoil attendant upon rapid movements from
place to place. besides, too, animals are now being re-
served for important engagements at York, Doncaster,
Newmarket, and other autumnal gatherings. Last
week there were too many meetings by half, and clerks
, of courses were taught a lesson which is likely to render
them more cautious in making their " fixtures." ' At
Wolverhampton the sport was a complete failure, and
the proceedings being tediously and unnecessarily ex-
tended to three days, dragged their slow length along until
the most ardent supporter of the meeting became weary
and dissatisfied. This great drawback from the success of
the meeting will, however, be obviated next year, when
I am informed that the suggest on which I have fre-
quently made in the columns of The Sun, to the effect of
limiting the gathering 'to the Monday and Tuesday, will
be adopted. The committee may then calculate upon
providing two days interesting sport, and by persuading
the Reading people to hold their meeting on the Wed-
nesday and Thursday they will avoid all prejudicial
clashing. The race committee at Wolverhampton con-
sists of good men and true, who, ever earnestly and with
a cordial co-operation, endeavour to promote the pros-
perity of their undertaking. Their management is legi-
timately conducted, and their arrangements for the
accommodation of the public are always made on a liberal
scale. For these reasons lam anxious to see the meeting '
elevated to that position among racing fixtures which,
with a little judicious management, it will surely attain.
Mr. Topham did all- he could for Lewes, and next year,
when the meeting will take place on the two days fol-
lowing Brighton. races, he will receive the first "instal-
ment" of the reward which his untiring exertions in the
pursuit of sport under difficulties richly deserve.
The Abingdon meeting, which was conducted by a
most incompetent staff of officials, and which only re-
quires a little practical knowledge on the part of.the
promoters of it to become popular, interfered most an-
noyingly with Mr. Frail plans at Ludlow. Mr. Frail,
however, is not the man to be easily discouraged ; and
considering the difficulties which ho encountered, I am
surprised that he was enabled to command so satisfac-
tory a supply of eport.
The racing incidents of tho week were neither many
nor important. Pretty Boy won the Lewes -Handicap on
the Monday, albeit it was evident that his stable com-
panion, Vary, could, if " wanted," have galloped over
him at tfie finish. He was afterwards sent to Reading
for the Berkshire Stakes, and so great a certainty was
his success deemed that 6 to 4 was betted on him.
Brother to Grey Tommy, however, spoiled the good
thing, and affnrded all persons a pleasant opportunity
of congratulating that ripe and true sportsman, Mr.
Drinkald, on the triumph of his colours. By the way,
Mr. Drinkald possesses two -youngsters of much mark
and likelihood in Black Tommy and M. Debbler, both of
whom will, I expect, one day distinguish themselves.
The race between Gemma di Vergy and Zaidee has been
correctly described as the most clove and interesting of
tie season. As a trainer remarked to me, it was worth
going a hundred miles to see. Gemma di Vergy ran
with indomitable gameness. At the distance he appeared
beaten, but he struggled on to the end, got up in the
last few strides, and won by only a short head,
or as some provincial judges would have said " by a
nose." Kendal rode the winner admirably, and his
handling of the horse justified the opinion, which I have
frequently, expressed, as to his being one of the most
skilful and resolute horsemen of the day. Gemma di
Vergy's performance at Reading, however, was perhaps
scarcely so extraordinary as that at Abingdon, where,
after losing about a hundred yards start, and with a
Sibs penalty on his back, he made up his lost ground,
and brought his backers threugh in triumph.
Sandboy ran second twice in the week, but people are
becoming so accustomed to see the black jacket and
orange cap in that position that the circumstance has
ceased to be surprising. They, however, who saw the
race at Wolverhampton declare that Sandhog ought to
have beaten Guldbill, and so he ought if there be any
truth-in the running for the Goodwood Stakes.

The "Stewards' Subscription List," for the benefit of
the injured jockeys at Goodwood and' the Chichester
Infirmary, has only received donations to the amount
of 3591., and this paltry surn bas been subscribed by men
Who 'think nothing' in the way of business of risking their
thou ands on the result of a single race. Tile insignifwan t
sums subscribed show a parsimony and an indifference
which I thought had no existence aznongst racing men.
Tile York meeting, which will commence on Wednes-
day, will ba most interesting. Tomorrow I shall enter
nt,) a full discussion of the probabilities.
A FRESH MAR.

Aug. 18.

THE FASTAST PASSAGE ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC.

We subjoin the log of the Cunard steam ship Persia
on her unexampled passage from New York to Liver-
pool. She left New York at 10.45 a.m. on the 6th in.
stant, and her daily runs will be found in the subjoined
extract :

"Aug. 6.-10 45 a.m.: set on full speed ; 0 25 a.m.:
stopped to laud pilot ; 0 45 a.m.: pilot left; 3 p.m. :
passed screw steamer Glasgow. Wind NW.
"7.—Light breezes and c'ear. Wind SW. Lat. 41 7,
long. 67 41.. Distance run, 259 mileg.

"8 —Light breezes and cloudy ; 7 30 p.m. ; passed
American steawer Artge. Wind SE. 'Lat. 43 3, long.
61 89. Distance, 203 miles.
_ .

"9.—Light freezes aul cloudy. Wind SW. Lat.
45 31, long. 55 21. Distance, 303 miles.
" 10.—Light freezes and foggy. Wind NNW. Lat.
48 38, long. 48 35. Distance, 323 miles.
" 11.—Light breezes and cloudy. Wind NE. Lat.
51 13, long. 40 30. Distance, 343 miles.
" 12. —Fresh breezes and cloudy. Wind N. Lat. 51
13. long. 31 42. Distance, 331 miles.
"13.—Fresh and cloudy. Wind NNW. Lat.
51 15, long. 22 27. Distance, 344 miles.
"14.—Fresh breezes and heavy hewn sea. 10 f:.6
p.m. ; abreast of Cape Clear. Wind NW. Lat. 51 6,
long•. 13 22. Distance, 342 miles,

" 15,—Arrived at the bar at 515 p.m. Wind NW."
Making the pasFat,e from New York to the bar of the
Mersey in 8 days 23 hours and 30 minutes mean time.

MILITARY SWINDT,ERS.

The practice has become sa prevalent of late amongst
several young cfficers at the garrison of giving fictitious
bills to their tradesmen in payment, that the command-
ant (Col. Jefferies) has toned it necessary to caution the
public through our co'umne, and those of our contempo-
raries, never to take any of them in exchange for goods or
cash without first aectsr:aiuing !rem t,ll it bankers or army
agents whether there seer`, a,ny balanfe in hand to Meet
them. The complaints to tee colon,=.l of this practice
were of almmtfdaily occurrence, several tradesmen. in
Newport, Portsmouth, and Soutlnit»pton, having Leen
fleeced within these few weeks past of cash and goods to
a very considerable amount by some who were cre-
dited with necessaries or luxpries, and often with kith, to
a very large amount, on the strength of their namso or
tittTe-ift who—not content with obtaining the goods for
the mere trouble of sending for them—have in many in-
stances given hills on their agents for touch larger
amounts, and drawing the overplus in hard sovereigns
(for a present supply of pecket-rnoney) from the unsus-
pecting dupes,, who were only awakened from their
pleasing revcr:e of "getting paid their accounts" by a
postal announcement the next day with the highly disup-
peinting appendage, "no effects !" We understand that
two of these scamps have been allowed to retire from her
Majesty's service without getting back the price of their
cotutuission9, iu order to avoid criminal proceedings,
whilst others have been placed under arrest by the corn-
inanda,nt, who, we find, goes with us most cordially in
the opinion that suoh a coulee of proceeding is neither
more nor less than downright swindling, and should be
punished "as the law directs." We should like tosee one
of these swindlers at the barof public justice, in order to
shame the rest.—Hampshire Independent.