The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-14 00:00:00

NATIONAL SPORTS.

The betting market is once more passing through a sen-
sational phase. The movements respecting the Two
Thousand and Derby are utterly incomprehensible ;
favourites rise and fall in the most indiscriminate manner.
Public attention is confined chiefly to the Two Thousand.
The Chester Cup attracts comparatively little notice. For
the great Newmarket event Wild Oats and Belladrum have
eagerly competed for first place. The London betting on
Saturday and Monday presented some very strange pecu-
liarities. On Saturday Belladrum rose to the first place
for the Two Thousand, 2to 1 being offered, and sto 2
accepted freely. Meanwhile Wild Oats was nowhere.
From 5 to 1 he sank to 10 to 1 almost without an effort.
But all this was changed on Monday. In the morning,
in City circles, 3 to 1 was accepted to some hundreds of
pounds about Belladrum, but, strange to say, the more he
was backed the worse favourite he became, for although 100
to 30, and several transactions at 7 to 2 were subsequently
recorded, he left off at 4 to 1. Wild Oats was restored to within
a point or two of his former position, but in his case also
there was a preyailing uncertainty, which made intending
backers extremely shy, and after 4 to 1 had been taken at
first, the same price was forthcoming in hundreds to the
last. Pretender was very quiet, but there was quite a
rush to get on the Druimranqueirreadt
alfOtetor
constantly.
stßanottlhy.Telnnedorse
and
Beaufort
w Alpenstockere beingw nt badly, but Ethus and the Duke of
the Derby very little is being done. Pero Gomez would b e
backed, but not at 3 to 1 or 100 to 30, whilst bookmakers are
unwilling to lay 4to 1. Tenedos has gone to 1,000 to
25. For the Chester Cup, Cecil, St. Mungo, Vagabond,
and Perfume enjoy most favour at their respective
prices.

feature in the market thTe hemopstositpieornpleoxfingßelladrum, it will be seen, is
move-
ments. Opinions of good judges differ radically as to his
chances. The whole affair looks uncommonly suspicious,
for there are certain persons who seem never to leave
him (Belladrum), and though at one time again
fairly established a good favourite for both the Two
Thousand and the Derby, his old opponents were always
busy, and never missed an opportunity of getting a
guinea at any price, It was said that he was most favour.
ably tried on Friday last with Crocus and Phoebe, but be
that as it may, it is certain that he goes very badly in the
market—so badly that it looks as if the game were nearly
played out. . _

_
Reports from Newmarket state that Pero Gomez has
decidedly improved since last year. He is quite one inch
taller, and has increased in length and substance in pro-
portion. He is not yet, of course, so fit as he will
be by Derby Day. Wild Oats is said to move very
well, and though he runs with his ears back, like
many other horses, be appeared to finish in capital con-
dition. Ryshworth has improved, but is not so forward
as Pero Gomez.

BIRMINGHAM BUTTONS.

-4).-

By an act, the eighth of Queen Anne, " any
taylor or other person convicted of making, cover-
ing, selling, using, or setting on to a garment any
buttons covered with cloth, or other stuff of which
garments are made, shall forfeit five pounds for
every dozen of such buttons, or in proportion
seventh of George the First, " any
for any lesser quantity ~ and by an act of the
wearer of such
unlawful buttons is liable to the penalty of forty
shillings per dozen, and in proportion for any lesser
quantity." Theßirmingham button makers were re-
solved to protect their rights, and on April 4, 1791,
Thos. Gem, solicitor to the committee for the protec-
tion of the button trade, advertised a reward for any in-
formation against the wearers of the unlawful covered
buttons. On the 21st of March previous, indeed,
a tradesman in London had been fined " nearly
twenty-six pounds," on two
informations, for
selling the obnoxious articles : still, in spite of
penalties and prosecutions, covered buttons
c_une in, and metal buttons went out ; and
for all the agitation, respecting
the proper gild-
ing of the true Birmingham button—for all the
encouragement given by his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, who, as the Gazette joyfully says,
" Now always wears, both in hismorning and even-
ing dress, engraved fancy white and yellow metal
buttons," buttons, like buckles, followed the in-
exorable and mysterious laws of fashion. —Dickens's
" All the fear

LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. —The right of tenants
whose sates had, up to the passing of the new Reform
Act, been paid by the landlord, to deduct from the rent
the rates which they are now called upon io ply, has
just been decided in the Leeds County Court. The plain-
tiff had paid Lie poor rate, and deducted the payment from
the rent ; but the landlord refused to allow the deduction,
and issued a distress on the plaintiff's goods for the amount
deducted. For tbis illegal distraint the plaintiff sued the
landlord, and obtained damages,