The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-15 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

THE LAST OF THE METROPOLITANS.

The pleasure-seekers of the metropolis have received
with some uneasiness and incredulity the reports which
have been circulated respecting the discontinuance of
the Epsom Spring Meeting. The Licensed Victuallers,
who established the gathering, feel scandalised that even
a thought of its abandonment should ever have been enter-
tained, whilst certain inhabitants of Epsom have raised
a great outcry against the impending di-solution of their
early meeting. These fears may after all be groundless,
and Mr. Dorling may have no intention to deprive his
fellow-townspeople of a copious source of revenue or lop
, off a branch of amusement which is so popular with
Londoners. Certainly a diminution of sport cannot be
urged as a reason for the abolition of the meeting, for
the racing has annually increased, and, indeed, the
programme promises a supply to-morrow which will
be beyond the ordinary demand. The card will contain
seven items, two of which are appointed to close this
evening. The weather seems to have taken a propitious
change, and if a bright atmosphere and interesting sport
can induce people who have been "lung in populous city
pent" to breathe the pure air, the Grand Stand and en-
closure are not likely to lack occupants.
The racing at York has not exercised much in-
fluence over speculation on either the City and Sub-
urban or the Metropolitan Stakes, both of which
events, as betting races, have been remarkably open.
For the shorter race a large field may be calculated
upon, whilst the number of starters for the " Metrop.'
seems likely to exceed the average.
Speculation on the City and Suburban has been
quietly pursued ; still, although the lists of quotations
published from time to time have not been very lengthy,
yet the brAtieg has taken no limited range. Although
Fisherman's performance for the Flying Dutchman's
Handicap was an extraordinary one, yet the admirers
of the old horse can scarcely be sanguine enough to be-
lieve that he has a chance of even equalling his York
ruining at Epsom. If Tournament were to be the
representative of Drewitt's stable, I should be induced
to regard his pretensions with partiality, but Blue
Jacket will in all probability be the trusted champion
from Lewes. This horse ran two good races last year,
and his known ability and Fordham's luck may
bring him through in triumph. Schiedam has
been supported with much spirit, and people
declare " by all the blood of all the Howard," that the
stakes will go to Fiudon. I dislike bottled up horses
and shell therefore record a vote of want of confidence
against Schiedam. Should Maillo. do Chantilly only
run up to her true form, she is likely to compensate
French turfites for the disappointment which her
defeat for the Cambridgeshire occasioned them last
season. That she is wonderfully fast, and
that she possesses no ordinary racing merit
was clearly proved by her performance with
Saunterer and Fisherman at Chantilly last summer,
and her forward position in the Cambridgeshire—ao
event for which she went to the post notoriously amiss.
S ;me expectations are entertained of the Flying English-
man, but I di) not share them. Raven showed a good
deal of form last year, and the lenient impost placed up in
him has deservedly caused his chance to be seriously
considered. His running subsequent to the Brighton
Meeting can scarcely be deemed a criterion of his true
merit, for that was totaLy at variance with his antece-
dent". The course will be ill adapted to Costrel, who
has proved that he neither likes a distance nor a severe
course. As the last feather breaks the camel's back, so
will the "last quarter of a mile'. at Epsom be fatal
to Costrel. The running of Tunstall Meld for
the Great Northern Handicap has caused much at-
tention to be directed to T. Dawson's lot. No
sign of the coming animal, however, has yet been made.
Blackthern was beaten in his trial, and Terrific, there-
fore, is the only animal of whom a xeectatioes may be en-
tertained. The popularity which Beadsman obtained by
his success at Newmarket was cf somewhat brief dura-
tion. He seemed about to be made a very prominent
favourite for this eves t, but the demonstration which was
to advance him to the front rank in the betting has not
been well sustained. Should the horse be as fit as be was
at Newmarket, I shall be much surprised if he do not
obtain a very forward position. 01 the remaining
three-yr•olds, Little Trea•ure and Wouvermaus are
most to my fancy. The owner of the former has strong
faith in his filly's ability to repeat for him his triumph
with Adamas last year. Little Treasure is a smart tidy
enough, and she has doubtless given her owutr Batts-
factory proefs of the soundness of her pretensions. The
Epsom people, too, believe that on his own ground
Wouverinanm will not occupy his old place of second
or third. The horse improved ufoa his Northampton
running at Newmarket, and as he has been a long time
trying to get his heat first past the post, he may succeed
to-morrow. I shall therefore select against the field—
BLUE JACKET, LITTLE TREASURE, AND WOUTERMANS.
Mooarque won the Nevimnarket Handicap with such
decided cleverness, that, despite his Extra weight, the
confidence which placed in his chance for the INlErhen
POLITAN STAKES is certainly well founded, Still,
his ability to concede 151bs. to Borderer, the
winner cf the Northamptonshire Stakes, may be
well doubted, especial:, al a probability exists that
the Lewes horse will be sent to the post to-morrow
nearly 71ss. better than he was at Northampton. The
Wrestler, after having been some what unsteady in the
market, was at York aga n brought into the betting with
considerable force. The horse has already shown much
improvement of form, but I am disposed to think that
he will be "asked to do too much" to give I."2ibs. to
Telegram, whose race with Eclipse at Newmarket is
alone sufficient to impart a formidable appearance to his
chance. Black Tommy will, if he retain his Derby and
his Doncaster form, be difficult to dispose of. I
certainly prefer him to the other top weights.
The- City and Suburban, and Metropolitan Stakes
have been re tnarkw being won either
by the same horse or the same jockey. This year may
furnish no exception t ) the rule, and I shall riot ho sur-
prised to see Fordham at ibe head of the list for each
event. For the Metropolitan my interest shall be re-
presented by
BORDERER, BLACK TOMMY, AND TELEGIIAM.

For the Inkerman Plate New Bright❑ and Green-
wich Fair are the most attractive varnts, and either Ad-
miralty or Saxe Weimar may win the Railway Plate.
For the Two-yr-old S;akes my fancy points to Fusee
and Mtz Methlies.

A FRESH MAN.

STEALING' TBE MADONNA.

A letter from Rome, in the Univers, contains
thelollowilsg extraordinary tale :—" In the cathe-
dral of Velletri, near limn°, was an image of the
Virgin, nearly covered with gold, and decked out
with necklaces, rings, and jewellery, and it was
held in great veneration by the people. In the
Holy "Week, it was, according to custom, screened
from view by a curtain, and on Holy Thursday
some person contrived to steal it. On Good Friday,
the archpriest of the cathedral received a note thus
conceived :—" I, the undersigned, know the thief,
and the spot in which is deposited the image of
the Madonna, and 1 will make revelations on three
conditions—impunity for myself, the release of
my brother, who is to be condemned to death,
and a pension of 10 crowns a-month. —VENDETTA.'
The archpriest having ascertained that the
image really had been abstracted, communicated the
strange epistle to the delegate, Mgr. Giordani. In-
stead of seeking at once for the writer of the letter,
this dignitary applied to Rome for orders, and the
Pope, tearing the total loss of the image, and. the
effect that would be produced amongst the t.eople,
directed that the first condition of the bandit should
be accepted, but that the other two should be re-
jected. Vendetta having learned this reolution,
spread amongst the people of Velletri the news of
the robbery of the image, which the clergy of the
cathedral had kept secret, and he wrote to the
clergy that ho would be content with impunity
for himself and with five hundred crowns paid
down. On Saturday the people went en masse to
the church, and waited with anxiety for the arrival
of that part of the service in which the crucifixes
and images are uncovered ; but the veil which had
covered the image of the Madonna was not removed.
Ott Sunday the people again went to the church, but
as the image was not displayed, they became excited,
and murmured ; and at length some of them got ou
the altar, and tore down the curtain. Tile rumour
was then spread by friends of Vendetta that it was
the Jesuits who had stolen the Madonna ; and the
excited people, believing the falsehood, broke into the
convent occupied by the Jesuits which is neaorstora r
cathedral, and with cries of Madonnarneverebd
completely sacked it, and
ii'
-treated' the
ascended
father,. Shortly af the suffraga bi; copremained
the pulpit, and exhorted the people,heyept,
in the church to be calm, but
to him. Thera is 110 garrison to.x
(i.3osition could be
rails in the town, so that Li othei
bishop descended
011011do:,1o2t
en
made to the mob.
:‘,Vceljeyncredible scene occurred;
hrmed with a poignard,
from the pulpvite,zavieect-t-a
the brigand ddressed the people :—' 13,3
obdusfi3tthers are innocent ! It is I
tuna to whom I giant a delay
TheAradonna ! But I will only restore
it who stole the
pasacteieniditetfl i,andn.cortn
shall
.have consented to the
when the gov
till la,ocutdlayh:vveepurmogpOscl. to it, Becalm, therefore,
cowl?
and shout no more I I warn you, in conclusion,
that my companions ate armed as well as I r What
followed that harangue, we have not yet learned ;
but a deputation of the municipality and chapter of
Velletri have arrived here, and have bad an inter-
view with the Pope. Orders have been issued to
despatch a troop of gendarmes on horseback and a
company of Swls3 infantry to Velletri to establish
order."