The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-02 00:00:00

go for the Northumberland Plate on Wednesday—
had won the North Derby, a mile and three-
quarters, on the preceding day, carrying Bst 131 b,
beating Terror and Claros, and 10 to 1 was taken

about him for the following day, when, without any
known cause, at 11.15, he was scratched. The
sporting public must comprise some of the greatest
noodles in existence, or they would have something
to say about such an affair as this ; indeed it is
patent to the most superficial observer that every
schemer and deviser of any kind of lottery or
silly invention for practising on the unwary
looks out for channels where sporting men meet and
congregate, and no amount of lesson or advice ap-
pears to have the least effect in putting the green-
horn on his guard. There is an annual affair occu-
pying Saturday and Monday in the finest month of
the year in the handsomest and most attractive
place of amusement in the world. I allude, of course,
to the Dramatic College Fete. The last day in the
week, as a rule, is a good one to select, because the
majority of young men likely to be tempted are in
funds, and the Monday following is the next best
time, because what they have not got rid of at the
end of the week is reserved for the beginning of the
next. We all wish well to the institution, and hope
that the fete may be continued year after year with
increasing success, commensurate with the great
outlay always expended upon it. A new feature
has, however, presented itself on this occasion.
The bevy of young ladies, under all sorts of names,
many resembling those of celebrated bookmakers and
jockeys, are advertising to the extent of about twenty-
six in number. " Misses Ashmall and Nightingall
will execute commissions on the forthcoming races, on
receipt of cash at the Royal Dramatic College fetes
at the Crystal Palace, July 7th and 9th." There
Misses Custance and H. Grimshaw will give the
" straight tip," and so they go on in fifteen advertise-
ments of young ladies competing with their more
experienced and less favoured rivals in the ingenious
performance of extracting all the coin they can
from the verdant sportsman, who will pay his foot-
ing pretty handsomely when he ventures into the
charmed circle on Saturday and Monday next ; but
he will have one great gratification in parting with
his half-sovereign in exchange for an arch glance

from an actress and a penny flower to knoNv that
the money will be expended in soothing the last days
of those who may amuse him on the mimic
scene ; and were it not for the fact that an ill wind
blows nobody good, I should like to see a handsome
subscription list without all the nonsensical expe-
dients which are compelled to be resorted to ; but
John Bull always preferred costly indirect taxation
to the more economical and direct thing, became he
affects to suppose that commodities are at their
natural value, and in purchasing his box of cigars
has not the least idea that he is paying half a soy.
duty to the Government ; so when expending his
crown or his pound at Sydenham he gets into
society for a day that, as a rule, he cannot aspire to
mix with generally, and is surprised to find how
young and beautiful Miss Somebody looks, and how
old Mr. Otherbody looks—in fact thegalaxy of youth
and age, of talent of every kind, of both sexes,which
the drama in its various phases nourishes, can seldom,
if ever, be met together unless on this occasion.
Every theatre and place of amusement within the
metropolis will contribute to swell the number of
performers, and each will go zealously to work, and
carry out his and her legitimate design by affording
all the fun that possibly can be devised, but whether
the fifteen advertisements will yield any and what
kind of " certainties" it is impossible for me to pre-
dict. Some of the junior branches of my family
probably lose their hearts as well as their coin,
but this I am quite sure no advice gratis of mine
can possibly prevent. The dramatic college fete'
adds another to the many existing modes of invest-
ment, and those who will take the trouble of attend-
ing it once will always, while spared, and residing
anywhere near town, look forward to its recurrence
with pleasure, and laugh at the boundless extent of
ingenuity with which the principles of English sports
are furthered and carried out.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NORWICH- SATURDAY.

There was a more liberal supply of wheat at this
market to-day, but the millers not being free buyers, prices
ruled dull, and in some instances may bo quoted about is
per qr. lower than last Saturday. In barley, oats, beans,
and peas little doing. The weather has been brilliant end
forcing during the past week, and the crops of both wheat
and barley are fully into ear and look very promising. The
hay crop has been got in in fine order.

White wheat (weighing 641 b), 60s to 62s ; old red aitto
weighing 651 b), 56s to 58s ; new red ditto weighing
601 b to 631 b), 568 to 57s ; best malting barley weighing
521 b to 531 b), 36s to 38s ; runs ditto (weighing 511 to 521 b),
34s to 36s ; distilling ditto (weighing 501 b to 521 b), 30s to
32s ; oats, 24s to 26s ; beans, 57s to 39s ; peas (maple), 36s
to 38s per qr. Flour, 39s per sack.