The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTE&

THE START FOR THE SEASON.
To-morrow the flag will be dropped to the first
legitimate events of the season, and the race of
"besting" will commence. Long before these
notes are placed before the reader will his Satanic
Majesty, who is perched on Lincoln Cathedral, look
down upon the miscellaneous crowds that will plod
up the tortuous hilly streets, and block up the by-
ways as they assemble to discuss the probable re-
sults of the sport ; and their time might be
occupied by a more " demoralising" employment,
and their attention directed to subjects more
" brutalising." lam not, however, about to indite
a turf homily, but shall adhere to the advice which
a racing friend of mine gave a young lady who had
to break the news of her clandestine marriage to
her " stern parent "—" Don't be fractious at start-
ing," said he, " but jump off with the lead, stick
close to the rails, and come right through." I shall,
therefore, stick close to the rails of my subject and
comOright through with it.

To expatiate on the attractiveness of the Lincoln
programme would be utterly superfluous, for all
turfites comprehend it, and have made themselves
familiar with every feature in the list of sport.
Ten items will be distributed over. the two days,
and the majority of them will command large fields
and produce interesting races. Indeed, as I have
already stated, the racing campaign will be most
successfully inaugurated, and obliging Mr. Johnson
will have ample work to get through in, his double
capacity of judge and clerk of the scales. The good
folks at Lincoln, too, will be somewhat surprised at
the renewed popularity which the present manage-
ment has obtained for a meeting which was once
notorious only for jobbery and malpractices.
Epsom is " sweet" on Enfield, who, it is said,
will run for the Trial Stakes. Weasel, however,
will take a deal of beating, but I know so little of
him that I cannot conscientiously recommend him.
Should Enfield be in proper trim I shall be greatly
snrnrised if he an Tint jiajilar Clialk, ~r hk.
backers. He will, however, meet a racehorse in
Tournament with whom, despite my partiality for
the Epsom horse, I shall be inclined to enter the
list.

Mr. Sykes is engaged in both the City Handicap
and the Lincolnshire Handicap, but whether he is
intended for either, or both, it is beyond my ken
to determine. That he is leniently weighted for
his two races is beyond dispute, and should he
start for his first engagement he shall command
my " suffrage."
I shall trust the representatives of Mr. Merry's
and Mr. J. Dawson's stable for the Brocklesby
Stakes.

I scarcely know where to look for the winner of

the Steeplechase. According to recent running,
Tamworth ought to have a great chance, but I am,
for reasons best known to myself, disinclined to
trust him this journey, and shall give my allegiance
to ALFRED THE GREAT and OMAR PASHA.

Speculation on the Lincolnshire Handicap has
taken rather an extensive range, and, judging from
the number of horses which have been backed for

it, a large field may be anticipated. The list of
starters will perhaps comprise Tournament, Littlo
Gerard, Mr. Sykes, Tiara, Stapleton (doubtful),
Broadlands, English Rose, Bel Esperanza, Corn-
boro', Queen Bess, Meg Merrilees, Contract, Cle-
manthe, Independence, Surprise, Vigo, Orleans,
Minster, Skipjack, and Yellow Rose (doubtful).
Orleans has been in great force, and I am compelled
to give his party credit for knowing more about
him than I do ; so I shall couple him with Meg
Merrilees to represent my interest. For a cockboat
I shall select Bel Esperanza.

A FRESH MAN.

WYCHUtLEY v. BARNARD.
TOTHITEDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—As the report of this case, in which I
was the defendant, is calculated to do Reeves, my
trainer, serious injury, unless further explained by
me, I trust to your sense of impartiality to grant me
the insertion of this letter, -with a view to his excul-
pation. The Vice-Chancellor, in a judgment, of
which I will only say, that had he been as well
acquainted with racing law as with Chancery pro-
cedure, he would have considerably modified the
terms, cast some reflections upon Reeves, the blame
of which—if any exist—l am content to bear, and
to release him from any personal responsibility
attached to the same.—Yours, &c.
Epsom, Fob. 16. JOHN BARNARD.

IMPERIAL PARLIA.MiiiS7i.

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY).
The LORD CHANCELLOR took -his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.
The Earl of DERBY said he trusted that the noble earl
(Grey) would postpone the question which stood upon the
paper of that evening in his name relative to the lonian.
Islands. It would be highly incorrect and detrimental
to the public service to bring forward so important
a subject under discussion at the present moment.
He hoped the noble lord would do so, not only in fairness to
her Majesty's Ministers, but to Mr. Gladstone. Mr. Glad-
stone had taken his departure from the lonian Islands on
Saturday last, and most probably would arrive in this
country on Monday or Tuesday, and under these circum-
stances it would be useless to discuss the matter until all
his recommendations had been laid before her Majesty.
Earl GREY said that he should be placed in great diffi-
culty by complying with the request of the noble earl.
From what the noble earl had stated it would appear that
the discussion would hasten the assemblage of the lonian.
Parliament, which he would, in
considered would be
highly desirable. Ile would, in deference to the noble
earl, postpone his motion on one condition, and that
was, that if the resolutions were agreed to by the lonian
Parliament, they should not be submitted to her Majesty
for ratification until they had been discussed in Parliament.
Lord BROUGHAM appealed to the noble earl to post-
pone his motion.
The Earl of DERBY said he could not give the definite
promise required by the noble earl, but what he would pro-
mise was that no act of the lonian Parliament should be
ratified until the noble earl had had an opportunity of
hanging forward his motion.
Earl GRANVILLE asked whether the Government had
received any intimation of the decision of the lonian
Parliament.

The Earl of DERBY said that up to the 14th or 16th no
decision had been arrived at. He had beard by telegraph
yesterday, that since Mr. Gladstone had quitted the Islands
the Assembly had not come to any definite conclusion.
The motion was then postponed.
The Acton and Walton Exchange Bill was read a second
time.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

NEW MEMBER. - ---
Captain HANEURY took the oaths and his seat for Leo-
minster.

PRIVATE BITSINE'SS.

The following bills were read a second time :—Brecon
anb. Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railwriy ; British and Cana-
dian Telegraph Company ; Finford Bridge and Banbury
mliaoyado;•
allsteerinefoserdeantiodn)B;
Lrerve,6l/00\itsr.t...a.anis,,i;uttliNo•.ni,Rhtattl:v,aiiy..
(No. 2); Llyni Valley Railway; Metropolitan Railway
(Abandonment of Undertaking, &c.) ; Newcastle-under-
Lyme, Silverdale, and Madeley Junction Railway ; Nun-
eaton and Hinckley Railway ' • Travellers and Marine In-
surance and Accidental Death Insurance Companies Amal-
gamation (No. 2) ; Kensington Station and North and
South London Junction Railway.
WOOLWICH EXEMPTION BILL.
Sir W. CODRINGTON, in moving the second reading
of this bill, said he would make a few observations, as he
understood that some opposition would be offered to it.
The inhabitants of Woolwich had gone to an expense of
£25,000 in constructing sewers for the drainage of the town
since the board had been established. According to the new
scheme of drainage, Woolwich would be called on not only
to pay for what was unnecessary, but also to endure what
would be of great detriment to them in a sanitary point of
view.

Mr. TITE opposed the motion. He could not see what
ground there was for any exception from taxation towards
carrying out the arterial system of drainage that had been
decided on. It appeared that Woolwich had expended
£25,000 in effecting a local drainage which was sufficient,
but the same was the case with London,. which
had expended some hundred thousands on the same object,
and yet it was considered that it was not entitled to exemp-
tion. He concluded by moving that the bill be read a
second time that day six months.
After a few word from Sir B. HALL, the motion for the
second reading was negatived without a division.
PETITIONS.

Petitions were presented from the shipowners, merchants,
&c., in Newry, praying for a removal of the restrictions on
shipping ; from Aberdeen and other places, praying for a
commission to inquire into the working of the present
system of the sale of spirituous liquors ; in favour
of those employed in provincial post-offices being
placed on the same footing with reference to superannua-
tion as those engaged in the post-office in London; for the
admission of Jews to filo trusteeship of charitable founda-

tions ; in favour of vote by ballot and short Parliaments.
EAST INDIA LOAN.
Lord. STANLEY brought up the report on the East
India Loan, which was laid on the table.
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS CHARGED WITH