The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-28 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

The Belgian Senate concluded the day before
yesterday the debate on the bill concerning the ar-
rest for debt. The Duke of Brabant was present
at the sitting. The committee appointed by the
Senate to examine the bill passed by the Lower
House had modified it, and the reporter, in his own
name, proposed to replace it by another tending
to place widowers and husbands on the same

footing of immunity, which had not been ad-
mitted in the Government bill. The Minister of
Justice opposed this proposal, which was rejected
by the Senate, as also was the primitive amend-
ment of the committee. The original bill was
then voted. The Chamber of Representatives
on the same day unanimously adopted the bill sanc-
tioning a convention recently entered into between
the Government and a company for establishing
regular steam communication between Belgium and
the Levant.

SPORTING ROTES.

LINCOLN AND LIVERPOOL.

The anticipations in which I indulged of a most
successful inauguration of the racing season, 1859,
were fully realised at Lincoln. Indeed, a more
pleasant meeting could not have been celebrated
than that which Messrs. Johnson and Ford brought
to so gratifying an issue, and not an occasion
for grumbling would have been. made if the
cards had been properly printed, and if
the short or over-weight fatality had not attended
Shafto. The sport commenced merrily with
a rousing dead heat for the Trial Stakes between
Lifeboat and The Speaker, and the stoutness which
the son of Filbert displayed is likely to disprove
the notion which was entertained last year re-
specting his inability to stay. The field which was
brought out for the Brocklesby Stakes was, in my
opinion, more remarkable for its numerical strength
than for its quality. The success of Spicebox is,
however, calculated to advance the already extended
popularity of his sire, Sweetmeat. Mr. Merry has
several better two-year•olds in his stables
than Lady Falconer, but it is said that
lie was quite satisfied with her debut.
Mr. Sykes, on whom French was perched like a
blue bird of Paradise on the top of an elephant,
won the City Handicap with the most ridiculous
ease, and, indeed, his stable was in good force
during the meeting. Those who had backed Tease
early for the Lincoln Steeplechase were surprised
and chagrined at the easy way in which he won
the steeplechase, and have entertained expectations
which are likely to be disappointed that they may
yet realize a profit on their Liverpool investments.
Money, however, will more readily stop the
horse than it will make the mare go. Bel
Esperanza, turned loose, but scarcely backed for
a tenner by her owner, carried off the principal
event, and altogether she has returned Mr. La
Alert cent. per cent, for the century which he gave
for her at Doncaster. Her appearance reflected the
greatest credit on that careful trainer, John
Dawson. The objection to Shafto, and the subse-
quent protest on the part of the owner of Mr.
Sykes against Lifeboat for the Queen's Plate,
created a scene of brawling and confusion which I
am glad to say is seldom witnessed in a weighing
stand. The room was crowded, and those
persons who were the least interested in
the matter were the noisiest and the most
violent in their demonstrations, and I am not
surpried, from the rioting and crowding which
prevailed, that a general notion should have ob-
tained that the weights or scales had been "faked."
After Challoner had left the scales, and had not
been passed by the clerk, he had no right to enter
them again. Indeed a most pernicious precedent
would be established if a jockey, after not being
able to draw his weight, were allowed after an
interval of several minutes to quit the scales,
return, and have a second trial. So far as
Shafto is concerned the case may be consi-
dered settled; he is unquestionably disquali-
fied. But how about Mr. Sykes and Lifeboat?
The race was claimed for Mr. Sykes (third), on the
ground that Shafto was disqualified by his over-
weight, and that Lifeboat (second) was also dis-
qualified, because his rider had dismounted after
passing the post without returning to the usual
place of weighing. On this objection rule 37 of
the Laws of Racing is explicit enough, and, in my
opinion, it proves the validity of the claim on
behalf of Mr. Sykes. It is as follows :—.—
" Every rider is, immediately after the race, to
rule his horse to the usual place of weighing, then and
there to alight, and not before, and to weigh to the
satisfaction of the person appointed for that pur-
pose, and if the jockey dismounts before, or is short
of weight, his horse is disqualified, unless dis-
abled by an accident to himself or horse which
should render him incapable of riding, when he
may walk or be carried to the scale."
It will thus be seen that, as the man in the play
says, a pretty kettle of fish was made of the
Queen's Plate. Some of the juvenile jockeys com-
menced their career of insubordination ; but as I
am informed that strong and effectual measures are
about to be adopted to check their refractory con-
duct, I shall not further refer to the subject.
Should the present glorious weather continue
Mr. Topham will have no cause this year to regret
his venture at Aintree, and he will doubtless be
" supported" by the presence of a large assemblage
of sporting men and pleasure folk. It is to be
regretted that the merchant princes do not also
support him with their purses.
The probabilities may be briefly dealt with, at

least so far as the legitimate events are concerned.
For the Liverpool Spring Cup, about a dozen
starters will muster at the post, and Broadlands
and Misty Morn may prove the best of the lot.
Buttercup did not get off over well at Lincoln,
and unless Mr. Merry has her safe with Sister to
Peeress, may win the Tyro Stakes. Princess
Royal and The Speaker may be the most trustworthy
for the Aintree Plate. Medallion, and the best of
Mr. Saxon's I shall stand on for the Sefton Handi-
cap.

The knocking out process has within the last
three days been so vigorously pursued that the
field for the Grand National seems likely to be sadly
shorn of its fair proportions, and it is now ques-
tionable whether the starter will muster a score of
competitors at the post. Green will not, I think,
have a representative in the field, and many animals
that have been long talked of have received their
quietus. The telegraph board will not, I opine,
furnish many additional names to the following
scanty list :

Jealousy.
Little Charley.
Tease.
Midge.
Anatis.
Claudius.
Flatcatcher.

The Huntsman.
Xanthus.
Knight of the Shire.
Escape.
Ace of Hearts.
The Brewer.
Border Chief.
Jean du Quesne.
I have included Tease in the above list, although
I have no expectations of seeing him amongst the
competitors. If he has not deceived his party in
his trial with Jealousy, certainly good grounds
exist for the confidence which is placed in the
mare, who has this one advantage over The
Brewer—she has gone over timber in public
like a bird, whilst The Brewer's jumping
exploits on the race-course have been merely
over hurdles. I confess to a prejudice against
Jealousy, whom I cannot consider class enough to
compete with The Brewer. Where would she
have been in the Cysarewitch at The Brewer's
weight ? and a horse must be capable of racing as
well as jumping to possess a chance for the Liver-
pool Steeple Chase. The Huntsman is so heavily
weighted that I am doubtful whether he has
speed enough to bring him home. Ben Land
is, however, nothing daunted, and is con-
fident in the prowess of the horse. Hunts-
man has frequently performed well in good
company, and I shall be much disappointed if he
brings any discredit on his trainer's judgment. Of
Lscape I have no hopes. The only outsiders that
attract my attention are Ace of Hearts, Jean du
Quesne, and Xanthus. Barring an accident, how-
ever, THE BREWER will, I am sanguine enough to
believe, prove the winner, and an investment on
HUNTSMAN and ACE of HEARTS for a place may
not be unprofitable.

A FRESHMAN.

ARRIVALS AT LIVERPOOL.

Mr. Sykes, The Speaker, Ithisus, Ace of Hearts, Life-
boat, Tease, Grillade, Broadlands, Buttercup, Flatcatcher,
Anatis, Midge, Syria, and Claudius.

CRYSTAL PALACE.-HALF-CROWN DAY, Satur-
day, Feb. 26.—Admissions on payment, 750; ditto by season
tickets, 2,482; total visitors, 3,232.

znet
reds
69
eon/

their
latest
tnark(
Cents
98-4 a
Bank

,Lad
Prove
Telec„,

Nitch
Ditto

L.

,een ad-
lister of

rejected
amen d-
rill was

n tativ es

ill sanc-

between
blishing
ium and

a most
I], 1859,
a more
lebrated
brought
)ccasion

if the

lnd if
ttended
r with
between
is which
lisprove

year re-

rich was

3, in my
strength
ebox is,
xtended

erry has
stables
A that
debut.
like a
lephant,
diculous

d force

A Tease
urprised
he won

,ctations

Ley may
t men ts.
op the
D. Bel
!ked for
wincipal
Mr. La
he gave
,cted the
John
e subse-
. of Mr.
5 Plate,
which I
•eighing

those

ited in
e most

am not

which
lave ob-
' faked."
had not
to enter
ecedent
)t being
,fter an

scales,
far as

consi-

ifeboat
1, on the

is over-
lso dim-
d after
e usual
Le 37 of
, in my
aim on

race, to

hen and
L to the
at pur-

is short
ss dis-

which
len ho

le play
of the
's com-
et as I
res are
con-

►ntinuo

regret
less be
nblage
to be
of also

ith, at
:erned.

dozen
dlands
le lot.

;ter to

!incess

irorthy
lest of
Lodi-

o last
I the
sadly
ques-
ore of

Limals
their

Tine,
(wing