The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-24 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES,

OXFORD AND CANTERBURY.

The only drawbacks from a full enjoyment of the sport at
Egham yesterday were the inefficiency of the police ar-
rangements and the unmitigated ruffianism which marked
certain portions of the crowd. The card dodges were tried
on in the railway carriages, pockets were rifled on the
course, and I heard an experienced detective officer declare
that, throughout his entire experience, he scarcely remem-
bers such a large congregation- of loose characters. The
weighing stand was turned into a receptacle for captured
thieves, and, in fact, the pleasant character which was wont
to attach to the meeting was quite destroyed. The sport
was not of a very first-class description. The favourite,
Killigrew, won the Handicap with at least a stone to spare,
and Thunderbolt justified the long odds which were laid on
him for the King John Stakes by cutting down his oppo-
nents without an effort. This horse, who has undeniably
good looks, improves upon acquaintance, and should there
be nothing queer about his legs he will be heard of to
greater advantage next season.

The revival of Oxford races is likely to be attended with
a marked success. They who undertook the work brought
earnestness and ability to bear upon their task, and their
efforts were banked by both pecuniary and personal assist-
ance, by the principal inhabitants of the town, and by the
leading families of the neighbourhood. The course, which
is inferior to very few in the kingdom, is in excellent con-
dition, and the Oxonians are not a little elated at the pro-
spect of a re-inauguration of a very pleasant gathering.
The City Members' Plate has a capital entry, and will be
briskly speculated upon. I shall stand on the old 'uns, and
shall select Little Gerard, New Brighton, and The Poacher
to be amongst the foremost at the finish.
For the Oxfordshire Plate my fancy points to Eltham
Beauty and The Greek.

Hartley Wintney will go unpenalised to the post for the
Heaton Plate, and as he can unquestionably " race a bit,"
he is certainly trustworthy.

For the Port Mead ow Plate my allegiance must be divided
between the " two Queens"—Queen of the South and Queen
Bess.

The Stratton Audley Nursery Plate has thirty six nomi-
nations, and the " talent" will have much difficulty in
selecting a favourite. I shall be inclined to trust Madrid
and Jessie Brown.

Ladyaingston and Hop Merchant may be as trustworthy
as anything for the Innkeepers' Plate.
The Canterbury meeting will be materially affected by

its clashing with the Oxford fixture. Its list, however,
shows an improvement on that issued of late years. The
only two handicaps closed seem to me within the grasp of
Yellow Rose. . ________ __ . __

A FRESH MAN.

RADCLIFFE RACES.—MONDAY.
The Heaton Park Handicap of 2 sous each, with 25 added.

One mile.

Mr. J. Osborne's Birdcage, by West Australian, 2 yrs,
6st 21b .. (Challoner) 1
Mr. Martindale's Princess of Orange, 5 yrs, Bst 71b
(Smethurst) 2
Mr. W. Wood's Little Girl, 3 yrs, Tat llb (Johnson) 3
Betting-7 to 4on Birdcage-3 to 1 agst Princess of
Orange.

Won in a canter by four lengths; bad third.
The Stand Plate Handicap of 40 soya. Three-quarters of

a mile.

Mr. Cliff's Lustre, by the ()rime Minister, 3 yrs, Est 111 b
(Gardiner) 1
Mr. Gerdon's Tibb Tacket, 2 yrs, sst 11b.....(J. Doyle) 2
Mr. Thorp's c by Daniel O'Rourke, 2 yrs, 4st 11lb (car
4st 131 b) (Maley) 3
The following also ran :—Alfred, Vatty, Nancy, Brother
to Flying Cloud, and Lassie.

Betting-6 to 4 agst Alfred, 3to 1 each agst Lustre and
Tibb Tacket, 12 to 1 agst any other (offd)
Won easily by two lengths ; the same distance between
the second and third.

The Wilton Cup of 100 sovs in specie, addod to a Handicap
Sweepstakes of 7 sovs each, 3 ft. One mile and a-half.
Mr. Wright's Lazy Lass, 5 yrs, 6st 51b (Gardiner) 1
Mr. Beeley's Charlotte, 3 yrs, sst 21b (Metcalf) 2
Mr. Aspinall's Susanna, 3 yrs, 4st Illb (J. Doyle) 3
_ .

The following also ran :—Secret Treasure, Flash in the
Pan, Raspberry, and Emerald.

Betting-3 to 1 agst Flash in the Pan, 4to 1 each agst
Lazy Lass, Susanna, and Charlotte. Emerald slipped up
at the bottom turn.

Won by a neck ; a length between the second and third.
The Selling Handicap of 2 soya each, with 20 added. The

winner to be sold for £3O. One mile.
Mr. J. Osborne's Little Poll, 3 yrs, 6st 131 b (Challoner) 1
Mr. Martindale's Princess of Orange, 5 yrs, Bst 71b
(Smethurst) 2

Betting-3 to lon Princess of Orange.

Won by a length. There was no advance on the selling
price.
The Maiden Plato of 3 sovs each, with 25 added ; three.
yr-olds, ist ; four, Bst 41b ; five, Bst 91b; six and aged,
Bst 121 b ; fillies and geldings allowed 31b. One mile and
a quarter.
Mr. Cliff's Cast Off, 3 yrs, 6st 1 llb (Gardiner) 1
Mr. Osborne's Vatty, 3 yrs, Est 111 b. (Challoner) 2
Mr. Martindale's Dr. Lecke, 4 yrs, Bst llb .. (Smethurst) 3
Mr. Smiler's Pandemonium, 3 yrs, 75t.... (Grimshaw) 4

TUESDAY.
Stewards' Cup.

Lustre
Charlotte
Secret Treasure
Five ran.
Scurry Handicap
Little Poll
Blarney
Princess of Orange

Two-year-old Stakes.
Amy Sedgwick
Tibb Tacket
Daniel O'Rourke colt

.f 9
.30
.30
.31

.10
.19
.19
.24

THE BALLOT SOCIETY.

The following remarks on a leading article in
Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper have been refused ad-
mission into its columns, and we have been re-
quested to insert them :

Sir,—ln answer to the question contained in
your leader of the 14th inst., " Why is not the Bal-
lot Society more active than we find it ?' " Why
has this society not familiarised the public with
the advantages of the ballot, and fortified its posi-
tion by apt illustrations which have been derived
from the ballot-box in America and Australia ?"
I beg leave to reply as follows :-
Ist. As to want of activity, I am happy to be
able to quote the contrary opinion of an Anti-
Ballotist. In a pamphlet, entitled " A few Remarks
on the Ballot, addressed to all who value the
security of property and the maintenance of order
and good government," recently published at
Exeter by a gentleman who, oddly enough for an
opponent of secrecy, chooses to keep his name
secret, it is said—" With unaltered zeal and perse-
verance, with an increasing addition of strength
from the accession of many persons of high in-
fluence and important social position set-
ting forth arguments and assertions which
have been refuted and proved to be un-
founded so repeatedly and so clearly as to
render the subject stale and nauseous as twice-
boiled cabbage, the ballot-mongers hold their
meetings, deliver their lectures, and make their
annual motion in Parliament. By dint of sheer
hard work and ceaseless agitation slowly but
steadily increasing in numbers and importance."
" The agitation, in its favour is no mere bugbear.
The minority in Parliament includes many men of
immense wealth and influence. This clearly proves
the immediate and absolute necessity of prompt
and vigorous resistance on the part of its oppo-
nents.'

The anti-ballotist does us more justice than the
editor of Lloyd's, although we are proud to rank
him amongst the advocates of the ballot. Tracts
exhibiting the necessity of the ballot, the arguments
in its support, the opinions of eminent politicians
in its favour, and " fortifying our position by apt
illustrations of the benefits which have been derived
from the ballot-box in America and Australia,"
have been and are circulated by the thousands in
every Parliamentary borough, and also in the
counties, as opportunities are afforded.
I may add that the communication on the work•
ing of the ballot in New South Wales, which ap-
peared in your paper of the 14th, was forwarded
by this society to each of the London daily.papers,
and the leading Liberal papers in the provinces.
Meetings in the following places have been re-
cently held, and attended by members of the com-
mittee, who addressed them on the question of the
ballot :
Cirencester Godalming

Cheltenham
Greenwich

Gloucester

Launceston
Portsmouth

Tewkesbury
Devonport
Deptford
Dover

Helston -
Monmouth

.Reigate

Truro
Exeter

Promo
Harwich
Horsham
Norwich

Sheffield
Woburn
Folkestone
Fenny Stratford
Hackney
Is:swich

Newcastle-on-Tyne
Taunton
Woolwich

These deputations receive no remuneration for
their services. I may further add that since the
formation of this society the supporters of the bal-
lot in Parliament have increased from 176 to 238.
No election passes without a movement, public or
private, as is judged most efficient, being made for
the ballot. _ _ _

The committee fully acknowledge " they should
be as active as eloquent, and as persevering as the
Anti-Corn Law League," but that they may be so
they must be as rich. The League expended in
their agitation (if I recollect rightly) £200,000.
This society has not, at present, had the means of
expending for our movement £lO,OOO.
I trust you will insert this letter, and that it may
lead to an increase of the society's means of pro-
ducing additional subscribers amongst your readers.
If that be the case, our activity will increase also.
The above was written and sent to your office
before I saw your paper of the 21st, with your
further strictures on our proceedings. With this
letter in your possession it is strange you should
repeat your mistaken assertions. I need only add
that one, whose competency to judge you will not
question, Mr. Cobden, in his speech at Rochdale,
speaking of the Ballot Society, said, " That Society
is worthy your support, and will, I hope, go on
advocating the Ballot, and adducing, as it is ad-
ducing, the best possible arguments to show its
morality and efficiency." •

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
WM. WICKHAM, Secretary.
The Ballot Society's Offices, Guildhall-chambers,

Aug. 19, 1859.

LONDON DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COM-
PANY.

Yesterday the first half-yearly meeting of the
above company was held at the London Tavern,
Mr. Robert Taylor, vice-chairman of the board of

directors, in the chair.

The report has already been published in The
Sun.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, ex-
plained the absence of Mr. Samuel Gurney, M.P.,
the chairman, who was spending his holiday in
the Channel Islands. He had been induced to join

the company, because he felt that the metropolis
required such an undertaking, and having paid
great attention to it, he had no hesitation in saying
that in a short time the company's wires would be
almost as much appreciated as the post-office. Few
companies had received so much support from the
public, and he believed the bulk of the shareholders
had joined not as a matter of speculation, but with
a view to investment. No free shares had been dis-
tributed ; all the shares had been paid upon, and
before the allotment took place every precaution
was taken to ascertain the prospects of the under-
taking. Accordingly the directors put themselves
in communication with bankers, insurance com-
panies, and others, and the result of these inquiries
satisfied them the company would supply a want
Tohich had been long felt in the metropolis. In
carrying out theworks the directors had observed the
strictest economy, and he was convinced that no
body of directors could have more zealously devoted
themselves to the duties they had undertaken. It
had been under consideration to appoint a general
manager of the future business of the company, but
it was found that a person competent to discharge
such duties could not be obtained for less than
£4OO a-year, and it had therefore been proposed to
manage the business by a. sub-committee. The
wires would be worked by females, and the number
of re •pectable and educated young persons who had
applied for employment had quite surprised and
grieved the directors. The terms upon which the
staff would be employed were these ; those who
could manipulate three or four words a minute
would be paid ss. a-week ; eight words, Bs. ; and
after that 10s. per week. At present the company
had 45 young persons under the instruction of a
competent instructress; and when the staff began
to work the strictest rules would be laid down for
their guidance. Any male clerk found talking to
any of the female clerks would be subject to instant
dismissal.
After a short discussion the report was adopted,
and the directors, the whole of whom retired at this
meeting, were re-elected.
The CHAIRMAN then informed the meeting that
the next business was to consider the amount they
would set aside as a remuneration for the directors.
Mr. RENFRAY suggested that they should be re-
compensed by a per centage on the profits.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the profits for the
past half-year had been but small, and cautioned
the meeting against expecting a large dividend
until they had had time to make the public familiar
with so novel an undertaking. The directors had
held 88 meetings during the past six months ; and
by way of placing a tangible proposition before the
meeting, he would move that they be paid at the
January
last. of £l,OOO, commencing on the Ist of
last. (Cries of i 0 No, no," and " Too much.")
Mr. EAMES thought that the sum named was a
very reasonable oneyielddivi d e
tdh
eamongst
the eight directors
it.
wlofu onlylaY
each, which was surely not too much for gentlemen
of such standing as they had been fortunate enough
to secure for the hoard. (Hear, hear.)
The motion was then put, and was apparently
lost.
The CHAIRMAN was afraid it would be necessary
to vote by the number of shares held by the gen-
tlemen present.
Mr. RENFRAY would move an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN said that, strictly speaking, Mr.
Renfray was too late ; but as the directors would
greatly prefer a unanimous vote, he would receive
his proposition.
Mr. RENFRAY moved that the sum be £BOO a
year. A PROPRIETOR thought it was hardly worth
while to press so paltry a reduction. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FARQUHAR said it would be bad policy to
refuse the directors a fair remuneration for their
labours, considering how much would depend upon
their exertions.
Mr. RENFRAY then withdrew. his motion, and the
original proposition was carried by a large majority.
The auditors were re-elected, and a vote of 15
guineas to each per annum was agreed to.
The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to
the chairman and the board.