The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

MARCH.

Irish Grand National (Open),
county Loutn
Ardrossau, Sharphill
South Lancashire (South-
port) Champion Mr. Westropp l4, 15, &c
Leinster (Open) Courtown... Mr. 11. Springall l9, 20
Scottish Open, Lanarkshire - 26, &c.

6, 7

7, &c.

SEPTEMBER
Brampton, Cumberland Mr. Warwick

OCTOBER.
Ancaster and Willoughby,
Lincolnshire Mr. Spofford ' l, 2

AQUATICS.

THE START FOR THE OCEAN YACHT-RACE.

(From Wilkes' Spirit of the Times New York.)

Very soon after this number of the Spirit reaches the
hands of our city readers the yachts Vesta, Fleetwing, and
Henrietta will sail on their racing voyage from Sandy
Hook to Isle of Wight. The race creates very great in-
terest, and there will be much anxiety to hear of the ar-
rival of the schooners in the English Channel. Some
seem to think that it will be a feat of great daring to make
the passage across the North Atlantic in these vessels at
this season of the year, but it will not be so considered by
seamon and those who are familiar with the history of
navigation. The chances for fair winds and a tolerably
good passage are much greater at this time of, year than
they would be in February or March. Twenty years ago
next February the William J. Romer, a New York pilot-
boat, sailed to Cork and bask. She had very heavy wea-
ther. We had occasion to remember the gales of that
spring well, and have not often seen it blow harder than
it did at that time. But from the 11th of December to the
end of the month westerly winds will probably prevail,
and not in such force as to prevent the yachts from carry-
ing a fair amount of canvas. By the end of the month, if
all goes well, they ought to be in soundings, if not at
anchor in Cowes Roads.

The size of these schooners has made some people think
that it is a terrible undertaking to sail to England in them.
But the truth is,that the ocean traffic of the world was once
carried on in no larger vessels, and the most notable disco-
veries of the great navigators were made in craft not so large,
and not lull as well fitted to resist the perils of the seas, as
these schooners. The big ships, except as men of war, are
things of comparatively modern date. The size and grandeur
of our steam and packet ships have made us forget the nature
of the craft in which our ancestors sailed to the uttermost
parts of the earth, and established their dominion on the seas.
Two out of the throe vessels with which Columbus disco-
vered America were only half decked; the Pinta and Nina
being quite open amidships. The ship with which Vasco
de Game doubled the south part of Africa and defied the
dreaded Spectre of the Cape, was 120 tons burthen ; her
consort, commanded by his brother, was a hundred tons ;
and the third vessel in that memorable expedition was only
50 tons. Jacques Cartier, sailing from St. Malos in France,
discovered the Straits of Belle Isle, the Gulf of St. Law-
rence and Canada. His vessels were two, of GO tons each.
In his next voyage he had three; one was 120, one GO,
and one 40 tons. The vessels with which Willoughby
sailed to navigate the frigid and stormy seas of Nova
Zembla, in quest of a north-east passage to the Indies,
were three in number : one was 180, one 160, and one 90
tons. Hawkins and Drake may be called the first yachts-
men, and their downright method of doing business has re-
cently been imitated by Brooke in the islands which Drake
visited. They prevailed a good deal more by valour and
daring than by size of ships. Drake's vessel, in his
cruise under his kinsman, Hawkins, was the Judith, of
50 tons. After returning to England in her, he sailed
with two vessels on his own hook. One of these was 70
tons. With these Drako crossed the Atlantic, took the
towns of Nombre do Dios and Vents Cruz, on the Isth-
mus of Darien, and captured a convoy of gold, silver, and
pearls. He also beheld the Pacific Ocean from the top of
a high mountain, and this resolved him to return home and
fit out an expedition to cruise in that great sea. Queen
Elizabeth heard his plan, but determined to keep, techni-
ca Ily, at least, on the windy side of the treaties and public
law; so Drake sailed again as a "yachtsman." He had
five vessels. The largest was his own, the Pelican, of 100
tons. The smallest was the Swan, of 50 tons. He went
west of Cape Horn ; took treasure and gems from ono ship
worth a million of dollars ; sailed as high as the 48th de-
gree of north latitude in the Pacific ; dropped in at the bay
now called San Francisco, and took pcssession of Califor-
nia; sailed away for Java and the Moluccas; doubled the
Cape of Good Hope, and, returning to England, completed
the circumnavigation of the world. Drake was out
two years and ton months in the Pelican. When ho
got back, stout-hearted Elizabeth went aboard to see him,
and this first of yachtsmen, kneeling down on the deck,
plain Drake, rose up Sir Francis. Now, here was yacht-
ing to some purpose. Moreover, it appears that the
Mayflower, in which the Pilgrim Fathers, and mothers, to
the number of a hundred and ono, men, women, and chil-
dren, took passage to Massachusetts, was only a hundred
and eighty tons. So the abovementionod vessels, whose
achievement aro for ever part of the grand history of
navigation and the world, were none of them as largo as
the least of the schooners in this race. It follows that,
however we may look at it, our ancestors would not have
esteemed it a heroic thing to have made the passage
across the Atlantic in a schooner of above 200 tons, stoutly
built, well fitted, and furnished with spare spars, spare
sails, and preventer rigging. So far as danger is involved,
it is less than that incurred by the people in high pressure
steamboats from Cincinnati to New Orleans in ordinary
passages, and nothing like as great as what happens when
two go puffing and belching, and snorting and throbbing,
with the furnaces red hot, in a race on the rolling river.
To bear, not to dare, must be the motto of those who
sail in the running schooners. In the Fleetwing the pas-
sengers will be Mr. Robert Center and Mr. Ernest Staples.
In the Vesta Mr. George Lorillard and Lieut.-Col. Stuart
M. Taylor will go. In the Henrietta, the owner, Mr.
Bennett, will be accompanied by Mr. L. Jerome, and Mr
M. Knapp. Bon voyage, say we ! and Larry, when the
wind blows a screamer, and the waves run high, think of
Jacques Cartier, in his vessel of GO tons on the Atlantic ;
and remember the mighty seas off Cape Horn, pitching
into the Pelican of a hundred, that bore the fortunes of
Francis Drake. Do this, as you "freshen the nip" on the
banks of Newfoundland, and in the frothy chops of the
Channel.

The Vesta is to be navigated by Capt. Johnson and sailed
by G. M. Dayton. The Henrietta will be navigated by
Capt. Samuels, and sailed by M. J. Lyons. The Fleet-
wing will be navigated by Captain Thomas. She was to
have been sailed by Richard Brown, who took the
America and the Sylvia to England, but he has resigned
on soma matter of etiquette. This is to be regretted, be-
cause he is as good a man as ever trod a plank, and can
handle a yacht to perfection. Some of the most stupid
remarks that ever were penned and printed have appealed
in reference to this matter. After reciting the experience
of Capt. Thomas, in the ship City of Now York, and that
of Captain Samuels, in the Dreadnought, the writer goes
on to say, "It is to such men as these, whose experience in
sailing fore-and-aft vessels admirably fits them fur the
position, should be entrusted the charge of the yachts in
such an undertaking as the coming Atlantic match, and not
to the fresh water 'longshoremen." Now, this lubber
evidently thinks that a fore-and-aft vessel is one that
goes backwards and forwards across the Atlantic.
In a former disquisition about a yacht be spoke
of the beauty of her keel, not knowing the hull
from the keel. We submit to all concerned, that this is
a pretty fellow to abuse Dick Brown and the real nauti-
cal population of America. This stupid person is perhaps
unaware of the fact that the seamen who go the long

voyages are mostly foreigners, while those he calls "fresh-
water 'longshoremen" aro natives of this country. No
real sailor ever underrates the men of the coasting traffic
in this country or the British Islands ; but this person
thinks that the further you get from land the greater the
peril. Ho believes that the jeopardy is to be estimated by
the depth of the water; and so it is, only the danger is
greater in the shallow seas on the coasts, and not in the
real blue water of the open sea.
Bya supplementary article entered into after we published
the conditions of the race, it has been agreed that neither
vessel shall take a Channel pilot from New York. And
by another it is stipulated that the end of the race shall be
when the Needles Light is on the larboard beam of the
yachts standing up Channel. But as they may not be able
to stand up Channel so as to bring the light abeam, this
article ought to say, " When the Needles Light bears. duo
north the course shall be ended." As none of the yachts
will have a Channel pilot, ono is as well off as another.
There might be a contingency in which a pilot's services
would be valuable. We take it that the captains who are to
navigate the yachts have mostly run to Liverpool, and now,
instead of turning north up Saint George's Channel, the
course is to lay east by the S4illy Islands, and on past the
Lizard and Start Points. Three hundred miles west of
the Land's End the schooners will be on deep-sea sound-
ings, and if a Channel-pilot was aboard, and got the depth
of the soundings, and the nature of the bottom brought
up, he would know how to steer, in thick weather, about
as well as if he had already seen Saint Agnes Light, or
that at the Lizard. We here suggest that when a pilot is
picked up in the Channel, the pilot-boat be forthwith sent
into Falmouth with a telegram for New York. The in-
terest and curiosity hero will be very great, and a large
amount of money will be pending. A day, or perhaps
two, may be saved by letting us hear from Falmouth, in-
stead of waiting till Southampton is reached. In con-
clusion, we once more wish a swift and pleasant passage
to all hands.

RACE BETWEEN R. A. W. GREEN AND W.
HICKEY, FOR £lOO A-SIDE.

We have already given briefly the result of this affair,
and now have further particulars, which we extract from
Bell's Life in Sydney :
This match, about which considerable interest was
evinced in aquatic circles, came off, as arranged, on the
Parramatta River, last Saturday afternoon. The stakes
were £lOO a-side, and the distance one mile. These men
have met on several occasions before, and Hickey has
proved the winner on five of them. This time the distance
was shortened, and the pullers changed boats. Six or
seven steamers wore employed to convey the spectators to
the scene of the contest, and all were crammed. They all
left the Circular Wharf about three o'clock p.m., and
steamed right away to their destination,which they reached
in safety, though some of them rolled rather uncomfortably.
Quite a fleet of yachts and pulling boats were present, all
occupied by eager spectators of the proceedings. The
weather was cloudy, and a still breeze from the S.E. blow-
ing, which kept the water somewhat lumpy. The betting
was in Green's favour —odds from 4to 3 to 2 to 1 being
freely offered, and cautiously taken. About half-past four
Hickey got into his boat, pulled round the Illalong, which
contained his friends, and was loudly cheered ; ho seemed
confident in manner, bat far too fleshy, wo thought, to
perform such a task as that before him. Green took to his
boat shortly after, took a turn round the little Fairy, and
was well applauded. He seemed everything that could be
desired as to form, and cool in manner.

Tho men now got together, and started themselves,
Hickey (to the surprise of all who remembered Green's
quickness in getting away) taking the water first., and get-
ting the lead. Green at once dashed after him, and before
they got 200 yards on their short journey, was leading by
about a boat's-length, pulling 37 strokes a minute. When
800 yards had been pulled, Hickey appeared to bo making
his effort and got alongside of Green, but the latter put on
a little spurt, and regained his lead, which he kept to the
finish. Time, 7 min. 21 sec., there being a head wind and
an ebb tide. Green left his skiff for his trainer's gig, and
was loudly cheered. Hickey soon got on board the Ilia-
long, where he met anything but a gratifying reception
from his friends, many of whom had backed him heavily,
and who, like most people who lose their money, did not
feel at all satisfied, indeed many loudly asserted that they
had been sold. The steamers and the immense fleet of
smaller craft at once made for Sydney, which was reached
safely by every one. The stakes were paid over at Mr.
O'Brien's, Tattersall's Hotel, in the evening, by Mr. George
Thornton, who had acted as umpire. In paying over the
money, referring to the statements made that the race had
been sold by Hickey, Mr. Thornton took occasion to assert
his opinion that the race was a fair and honest one, both
men having done their best. Cheers were called, given
for both the men, and suitably acknowledged. Mr. Thornton
threw out a suggestion as to sending Hickey to England
as our champion, but nothing definite was done. With
regard to this race, our opinion is that it was quite "square."
The distance suited Green to a T, and he was in splendid
form— never better—which his constant practice has largely
contributed to. On the other hand, the distance did not
allow of the development of Hickey's strength and endur-
ance; and it was evident he was not at all in condition,
which he attributes to the short time he had to prepare
himself, and his changed mode of life, ho being in busi-
ness, and not nearly so actively employed as he used to
be. At three miles we feel confident he could boat Green,
and there are many who agree with us.

The Italian Parliament

FLORENCE, Dec. 21.

To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, Signor
Ferraris was elected fourth Vice-President, and the
Committee of Presidency is now complete.
Signor Mari, on assuming the office of President,
delivered a speech in which he dwelt upon the loss
sustained by the House through the death of seve-
ral members since the last Session.

Baron Ricasoli brought forward a Bill proposing
that persons holding certain offices should not be
eligible for seats in Parliament. He also introduced
a bill for the construction of roads in Sicily. The
Minister of Foreign Affairs presented to the Cham-
ber the Treaty of Peace concluded with Austria,
the convention with France relative to the payment
of the Pontifical debt, and various diplomatic docu-
ments. Signor Scialoja, Minister of Finance, in-
troduced bills relating severally to the administra-
tion of the Treasury, the accountability of the State,
the provisional exercise of the Budget of 1867 for
the period of three months, and the extension to the
year 1867 of the financial measures voted in 1866.
Signor Scialoja announced his readiness to give the
Chamber an account of the state of the finances,
but expressed his belief that it would be better to
defer doing so until the Ist of January.
The Green Book laid before the house contains
documents relating to commercial and political nego-
tiations with the States of the Zollverein ; to special
negotiations with England ; to an international
monetary convention ; to various international ar-
rangements having for object the prevention of
cholera ; to affairs in the Danubian Principalities,
Candia, Servia, and Montenegro ; to complaints ad-
dressed by the Italian Government to the Republic
of Venezuela ; to affairs in La Plata, Peru, and
Chili ; and to the Treaty of Commerce with Japan.
The Green Book also contains liO documents re-
lating to the union of Japan with the Italian
kingdom.

CRUELTY IN RAILWAY TRANSIT.--At the Petty
Sessions, Edmonton, yesterday, William and Charles
Lowe, horse slaughterers, Cambridge, appeared to answer
a csarge preferred by the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals, for causing to be conveyed from
Cambridge to London two horses in such manner as to
cause them unnecessary pain and suffering. The secretary
to the society stated the facts. On the 3d inst. the defen-
dants hired a cattle-truck at Cambridge, into which they
put two old, decrepid, living animals, and two dead horses,
and consigned them to Atcheler's, knacker, London. Upon
arrival at Tottenham, the animals were seen struggling
on the floor of the truck, the shaking and motion of the
train having caused them to fall; and while in this posi-
tion they injured themselves and each other by plunging
and kicking. It was contended that the cattle-truck was
an improper vehicle for the conveyance of animals ema-
ciated, and put together without dividing partitions, and
that unnecessary palm and suffering must follow such a
course. The defendants pleaded guilty, and promised not
to repeat the offence, and in future to kill their old and
discarded horses at Cambridge before Bonding them to
London. The magistrates said this practice was not only
a very cruel one to the horses, but fraught with danger to
the other animals, which might become infected with
glanders and other contagious diseases. It must be
stopped ; but this being the first offence against defen-
dants, they would only fine them £3, including costs.
HER MAJESTY'S STAG HOUNDS.—This pack met
on Friday at Warfield, and a stag was uncarted
whose name was "Accident," in consequence of his suffer-
ing an accident the first and only time he bad ever been
before the hounds, from which he subsequently recovered.
This being the second time ho was brought to the field, ho
showed himself a very-gallant animal, as he gave the field
a very fast run of one hour and a quarter—heading first to-
wards Shottesbrook. lie afterwards changed his course,
and bore away towards Wink field, through IV ink field-
park, on to New Lodge—passing the front of the Belgian
Minister's residence, where the owner of the noble man-
sion, with Madame do Weyer, witnessed the exhilarating
sport from their door. Ile thou made towards Clewer-hill
and on to the Long-walk, Windsor, after passing through
the gardens of several of the gentlemen living near Queen's
villas. At the top of the Long-walk he attempted to leap
the railings, but his unfortunate luck stuck to him, because
he had a second accident that will most probably termi-
nate his existence. lle was deservedly regretted by all
the field.a6 one of the " plucky sort,"

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—Ths Day.

CITY BETTING—THis DAY.

There was no business of any importance transacted to-
day—the principal topic of conversation being the Great
Ocean Yacht Race from America.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.---This Day.

11 NE BOROUG II- STREET.

AN AMATEUR POLICE CONSTABLE. - 'now rough-/Ooking
fcIIOWS, named Bryan, Smith, and Sullivan, were charged
before Mr. hoax with loitering for the purpose of commit-
ting a felony.

The prisoners were seen, together with another man not
in custody, in Compton-street last night by a young loan
named Wm. Scherer, living in Broad-street, Golden-square,
dodging about t, waggon in Wardour-street, and a dog-
cart and railway van in Bend-street, Scherer having fol-
lowed theni from place to place, Smith and Sullivan tak-
ing an active part. At last the prisoners were seen by the
police, and they were then taken into custody.
Sullivan asked Cheney, 87 C, whether he saw him do
anything wrong, and Cheney said that had not a boy
jumped out of the railway van he (Sullivan) would no
doubt have taken something.
Bryan said that three weeks ago he came from New-
haven, where ho was with 50 others discharged from work.
lb was no thief, and was on the way to the Vine-street
Station to got a ticket for the workhouse when the other
prisoners said they would show him the way.
Sullivan said he was never in a police-court before, and
was on the way to the police-station to got a ticket for
the workhouse when the police took him.

Mr. Knox said the prisoners conduct was very myste-
rious, and he would have them remanded that the police
might make inquiries respecting them.

THAMES.

TOBACCO SMUGGLING. EXTRAORDINARY HEAVY
PENALTY.—Wm. Farrant Chenoton, who gave the first
two names only last night, was brought before Mr. Par-
tridge, charged with having in his possession and smug-
gling 122 lbs. of foreign manufactured tobacco and cigars,
which had not paid duty.
Mr. Garner, barrister, on the part of the Commissioners
of Customs, said that under the Customs Consolida-
tion Act the prisoner was liable to a penalty of
£lOO, which was the amount sued for in this case.
James Fry, police sergeant, No. 658 A, and Robert Bil-
lings, 103 H, constable, were in Lower East Smithfield this
morning at an early hour, and saw the prisoner with a load
on his back. It was a sack containing something bulky.
The officers stopped the prisoner, and asked him what the
sack contained, to which ho replied old pieces of bread
and the refuse of ships. The sack was opened. It was
full of tobaaco and cigars. The prisoner said that a man
over the water gave him the sack and its contents to carry
for him, and that he was to receive a shilling for his
trouble.

Mr. Partridge said this was a very bad case of smug-
gling, and asked if the prisoner was known ?
Billings and Fry said the prisoner described himself as
a ropemaker. They believed ho was a sailor, and had
bought the tobacco and cigars from a foreign-going
steamer on the river.

Mr. Partridge fined the prisoner £IOO, and in default of
payment six months' imprisonment.

IINRYLEBONE.

horse-nkWeepneors, GwoaossE
eShEaNrgTelldomwE.it—h Wbielilniagm
dtchnkardasn,
(la
disorderly.
Stuart, 348 S, said—Last night he saw the prisoner
outside a poulterer's shop in the Maldon-road. He was
abusing the tradesman. It appeared that the prisoner had
bought a goose, and•ordered it to be sent home. A goose
was sent home, but prisoner said not the same one, and
he went back to the shop about it. The tradesman said
ho had not bought it at his place, but higher up the road.
lle was the worse for drink, and as he would not go away
he was taken into custody.

Prisoner said it was true he was there. He was annoyed
at not having the same goose as ho purchased sent homo.
He paid 7s. Gd. for it, and the one they sent was not worth
55.

Mr. Mansfield said under the cir curnstances he should
discharge

State of Trade.

-r--

BRADFORD, Dec. 20. —There has been rather more
doing in wool since Monday, and though it cannot
be said there is animation, yet there is a much bet-
ter tone prevailing. The smallness of the stocks in
hand enables staplers to be extremely firm in their
quotations, and the hardening tendency continues.
In worsted yarns spinners have their frames well
engaged on contracts previously entered into. The
demand on the part of t!:e shipping houses has slack-
ened, but still some sorts are inquired for, especially
in lustre yarns, single 40's, and twofold 40's. There
is rather more doing for home sorts. Carded yarns
are also in better request. Spinners who have re-
cently disposed of their stocks are necessarily much
firmer in their quotations in consequence of their
altered position. There is a slight improvement in
the tone of the piece market. Both the home and
foreign trades are exceedingly restricted. Owing to
the firmness in wool and cotton prices are stiff.

TIIE SUSPECTED F.'OISONING IN NORFOLK.—ln-
quiry into this case has been adjourned. Mary Grief has
been admitted as evidence against an aged relative, who is
expected to have administered the arsenic to the unfor-
tunate children in whose remains the poison has been de-
tected. In all, three infants—the illegitimate children of
Mary Grief, and her sister Sarah Grief—have been disin-
terred, and traces of arsenic have been observed in each
case. . The coroner's jury has returned a verdict " That
the children died from the effects of arsenic, but by whom
administered there is no evidence to show." The further
inquiries which the police are making may, perhaps, throw
some further light upon the subject, but at present
the evi-
dence given as to the administration of the poison is very
weak and inconclusive. In the body of one of the child-
ren enough arsenic was discovered to have caused the
death of a full-grown person.
SIR DAVID BREIVsTER ON LIGHTING DARK ROOMS.
_lf, in a very narrow street or lane, wo look out of a win-
dow with the eye in the same plane as the outer face of the
wall in which the windowis placed, we shall see the whole
of the sky by which the apartment can be illuminated. If
we now withdraw the eye inwards we shall gradually lose
sight of the sky till it wholly disappears, which may take
place when the eye is only Gin. or Bin. from its first posi-
tion. In such a case the apartment is illuminated only by
the light reflected from the opposite wall, or the sides of
the stones which form the window ; because, if the glass of
the window is 6in. or Bin. within the wall, as it generally
is, not a ray of light can fall upon it. If we now remove
our window and substitute another in which all the panes
of glass are roughly ground on the outside, and flush with
the outer wall, the light' from the whole of the visible sky,
and from the remotest parts of the opposite wall, will bo
introduced into the apartment, reflected from the innurner-
atle faces or facets which the rough grinding of the glass
has produced. The whole window will appear as if the
sky were beyond it, and from every point of this luminous
surface light will radiate into all parts of the room.
Builder.

NEW GAME AT TIIE TITILERIES.—A new game
has been invented by the Empress Eugene for the
a.nusomont of her guests. Tho official reception at Com-
piegne terminates at 10 o'clock. Her Majesty at that hour
retires to her private apartments, where those of the invites
whom ehe has honoured by a special invitation aro received
by her without any ceremony. A vslvet bag, filled with
slips of parchment, on each of which the name of a guest is
inscribed, is handed to her Majesty, who draws from thence
a single name. Tho individual thus chosen by fate is bound
to relate a story which will amuse the company during the
space of ono hour. At the last party M. Edmond About
excollod in this story-telling; but it appoars that the
amusing contributor to the Figaro, Alboric Second, has
thrown him completely into the shade.

_ -
MONT BLANC IN WINTER.—It WIS strange to
see everything so familiar, and yet so utterly diffe-
rent from what we had over known it to be. Lovely and
treacherous as the steep green slopes of summer pasture
had always been, they were yet more lovely and
treacherous now that they lay smooth with untrodden
snow. Pure as the fresh green of the young meadows
might be in summer, their winter dress was purer still.
And never on the loveliest summer's day had the atmo-
sphere been so exquisitely clear; the view so wonderfully
grand. The whole range of Mont Blanc stood out free from
the dark seams which in the hot season mark the desertion
of the snows ; and from Mont Blanc eastward the horizon
was studded with all the white peaks which link the
summits of Savoy with the furthest giants of the Boniest)
Oberland.—Once a Week..
A Paris correspondent informs us that on Wed-
nesday evening a complimentary- dinner was given
at the Grand Hotel to his Excellency John Bigelow,
United States Minister, where he was welcomed by
isa p as
said
dy o n
tf
iapt wathred sHooft
e3lo Odeladies
aa
lnd i d
slvgentlemen.ll
te I
o p
ent
during the Exhibition to receive foreign military
men, and more particularly the Militia of New
York, among whom the 7th National Guard are fully
expected to visit the French capital during that
period. The Emperor is stated to have given orders
on the subject