The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-26 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The Lincoln Meeting witnessed the overthrow of
Copenhagen and Valiant, flip two favourites for
the handicap. One drawback to the thorough en-
joyment of the racing, however, was in connection
with the starting, which was as bad as ever—long
delays taking place at the post, and horses finally
despatched in straggling order. Complaints were,
as usual, heard on all sides, and one of the most con-
spicuous offenders—Barker, the rider of Treasure
Trove—was ordered to appear before the Stewards,
and he was suspended till after the Epsom Meet-
ing. Severe as this sentence at first sight ap-
pears, obedience must be enforced. The fielder.
began their labours auspiciously, as Wise Man,
backed for a mere tile by those who saw hit
fitness and remembered he claimed important
allowances, beat Old Warden and Alberta—two very
moderate animals—in easy style. Notwithstand-
ing the defeat, however, of Alberta, Copenhagen
maintained the pride of place with wonderful firm-
ness for the Lincolnshire Handicap, and the £2,000
invested on him by the followers of the Danebury
stable was considered as good as won. But Mr.
Hill's colt—who was the same flat-sided badly-
shaped horse we saw disgracefully beaten for the
Two Thousand Guineas in 1864—only secured'the
third position, Treasure Trove and Saccharometer
fighting out the battle for winning honours, which
the young one won by a neck. Though beaten,
Saccharometer—Lord Strathmore's pet, and nearly
as sweet-looking a horse as The Doctor—was not
disgraced, and the gallant fight the speedy scion of
Sweetmeat, when conceding nearly 4st. to his juve-
nile opponent, made was a sight worth 'witnessing.
For Copenhagen John Day candidly admitted he
had no excuse. Valiant ran badly, but what
chance Caithness bad cannot be estimated, as his
prospects were extinguished at the onset, through
running against a post, as were also those of
Nizam, who broke away in the false starts, and
eventually got away indifferently. Twenty-two
youngsters went down to the post for the

Brocklesby Stakes, the majority of them being
remarkably fit, considering the early period of the
year. Those possessing most quality were Problem,
Miss Bateman, Bounceaway, Vicious, Phantom
Sail, Narino, the filly by Dundee from Sacrifice,
and the filly by Dundee fron. Blanche of Middlebie,
all of whom have racing points of no mean order.
On the second day, in the City Handicap, a three-

year-old was again victorious, as Indian Star easily
beat East Lynn, Gopima, Elastic, Musician, and
several others. Had the start, however, been evenly
effected, I question if Indian Star would have won,

as Musician, who was one of the last horses away
from the post, ran very fast, but had too much ground
to make up to beat Indian Star, who was in the
front division when the flags fell. The decision
of the Steeplechase, which was a second time
secured by Bridegroom, threw no light on the fast
approaching Grand National, as Cortolvin, one of
the leading favourites for the Liverpool prize, was
an absentee, and Green's stable was unrepresented.
The principal appointments for this week are Not-
tingham and Derby, the meeting on Sherwood
Forest being fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday ;
and the supplemental one at Derby for Thursday.
The closed races for Tuesday are the Spring Handi-
cap, the Trial Stakes, the Stand Plate, the Inn-
keepers' Plate, and the Maccaroni Stakes. To the
Nottingham Spring Handicap, the distance for
which is now one mile and a quarter, there
are 53 entries, only four of which—Lytham,
Pelios, Signalman, and the Lizard—have up
to the present time paid the minor forfeit.
TREASURE TROVE, if amongst the starters, is worth
standing against the field. His most dangerous
opponents being EMPRESS OF INDIA and LORD
CONYNGHAM. The Half Mile Stakes should be won
by TROUBLESOME or POLLY PERKINS, as Saladin
will be reserved for Chester. SACRIFICE filly, from
her short head race with Problem at Lincoln, can
scarcely lose the Little John Stakes;e Hthearrreisnughtoonf
which will point out the winner of the
Stakes at Derby, which meeting immediately follows
Nottingham. The other races to be decided are of
noo tparticularti
importance.

A FRESHMAN.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—Tins EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack at
five o'clock.

THE TRUSTEES OP THE KING OF THE
BELGIANS.
The Earl of DERBY gave notice that on Friday next
he would draw the attention of the house to this subject,
and move the abolition of this office as being un-
necessary.
THE LAW OF EVIDENCE BILL AND THE
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL.
On the suggestion of Lord CHELMSFORD,
The LORD CHANCELLOR consented that the second
reading of these bills, which were on the orders of the
day, should be postponed until Monday next.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE BILL.
Earl GRANVILLE said, in reference to what had fallen
from the noble earl (Derby) the other evening, he thought
it would be most desirable if some courso wero adopted
with reference to this bill when it came to their

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lordships' house to-morrow evening. As he had
stated previously, the bill was not one that
in its present form the Government would feel
justified m recommending to their lordships' approval.
He gave notice that he would on the part of Government
move different amendments to the bill when it came from
the other house, which would have a very considerable
effect on the measure. As far as his opinion was con-
corned he was in favour of the bill being referred to a
select committee, where he thought it would receive more
careful consideration than it would by a committee of the
whole house.
The Earl of DERBY expressed his regret that Govern-
ment would not take up this bill, which, though it may be
susceptible of improvement was not to be entirely rejected.
In what shape the bill would come to that house he was
not in a position to state, and it had undergone so_ many
alterations in the other house, that the hon. gentleman
who introduced it was scarcely able to recoemiso his own
measures. Many other alterations might be deemed neces-
sary by their lordships, and lie agreed with the noble call
(Granville) that the bill should be referred to a select
committee.
Earl GRANVILLE said that eventually the Govern-
ment would take charge of the bill.
After some remarks from the Earl of DERBY, the subject
dropped.
___

THE CONDITION OF IRELAND.
Lord LIFFORD called the attention of the house to the
present condition of Ireland, and asked her Majesty's Go-
vernment whether it was their intention to introduce any
measure into Parliament providing for the support of the
Roman Catholic clergy of Ireland, independent of the con-
tribution of the Irish people. He moved also for
a return of the parochial clergy of the Roman
Catholic Church in Ireland, distinguishing be-
tween those mho were parish priests and curates.
The noble lord commenced by referring to the Fenian
movement in Ireland, and expressed the deep sorrow ho
felt, in common with other Irish proprietors, at the igno-
rance exhibited by that movement in that part of his coun-
try, and their want of due appreciation of the benefits they
at present enjoyed. Having next adverted to the social
and political phases through which Ireland had passed,
Ho next passed a high eulogium on the orangemen of Ire-
land, whom he described as one of the most loyal bodies
that ever a sovereign possessed, although he himself had
never been an orangeman. He next drew the attention of
the house to the most meritorious conduct of the Roman
Catholic clergy in the outbreak of 1846, and in the present
Fenian movement ; and he advocated that they should
receive a stipend from the Crown.
Earl RUSSELL said he would confine himself to the last
part of the noble lord's speech. The question raised was
as to whether there should be an application of property
and estates of the Church of England to the Roman
Catholic clergy in Ireland or a State endowment.
Lord LIFFORD—I said nothing about the appropriation
of the Church revenues in Ireland to the Roman Catholic
clergy.
Earl RUSSELL was under the iznpression that the noble
lord had made such a statement. The noble earl then re-
ferred to the occasions upon which the subject of a state
of endowment of Irish Roman Catholic clergy had occu-
pied the attention of statesmen, and the refusal of the ito-
man Catholic clergy to entertain the same, being of
opinion that it would diminish their influence over their
flocks.