The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-11 00:00:00

LATEST.

NEW YORK, FEB. 27.
Stocks higher. Eric, 331; Illinois, 82i; .New
York Central, 791. Other markets unaltered.
NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 26.

Cotton sales in three days, 30,000 bales. Receipts
during the same period, 8,000 bales. Middling,
10Ic. to 111 c.

RACING IN FRANCE.

Baron de la Rochette, Count Alfred de Noailles,
and Count H. Greffulbe, as stewards of the races of
the Societe d'Encouragement pour l'Amelioration
des Races de Chevaux en France, have just ad-
dressed a report to the Minister of State, in which,
after referring to the recent modifications made in
the State breeding studs, they mention that the
society, on its part, will continue to labour for the
improvement of the breed of horses by " concen
trating its attention on what in its eyes is the most
important matter of all—the increase of thorough-
bred cattle by means of racing." In support of that
view they affirm that " the intermixture of thorough-
bred horses in crossings with common breeds has
been one of the principal causes of the superiority of
the productions of horses in England . . . and
that races on flat ground are therefore an essen-
tial condition of progress." They then state that
the society has departed from the English system of
" shortening without reason the distance to be run,
diminishing weights excessively, increasing the
number and importance of handicaps in such a
way that a dissimulation of the merits of horses
becomes the best chance of obtaining great suc-
cesses ; and, lastly, giving such sums for 2-year-old
races as to enable animals of that age to remunerate
their proprietors without, however, developing their
merit." Thus, in France, out of 100 races there tr?
five of which the distance is less than 2,000 metres
(11 mile), only five for 2-year-old colts, and not
more than nine handicaps; whereas in England
there 63 of less distance than 2,000 metres,
40 for 2-year-olds, and 38 handicaps. Even
in handicaps, too, the minimum weight in France
is more than 101 b. above what it is in England.
The stewards then go on to recommend that, in
order to remove, or, at least, to lessen, the objec-
tions which exist to 2-year-old races, the animal
of that age shall not run before the autumn in
each year. They next state that both the admin-
istration of the Haras and the society have in•
creased their subventions to races, and have made
a new distribution of the sums to be run for,
suppressing those of certain races, and increasing
those of others, reserving the most important
sums to races for 4•year-olds and upwards, at the
same time requiring such horses to carry heavier
weights and run longer distances, The admin-
istration des Haras, for example, instead of 82,000 f.,
divided into 27 races, is to give 87,000 f., divided
among 16, and as much as 77,000 f. of this sum is
reserved for 12 of the 16. As to the society it
maintains 11 prizes recently established, augments
others, and founds three new ones, On the whole
240,000 f will be given this year at Paris and Chan-
tilly, which is 27,500 f. more than was accorded last
year; and of that increase 22,500 f. is raised by the
society, and 5.000 f. is to come from the Adininis-
tration des _Harms. To the races at Versailles,
Angouleme, Caen, Moulins, Mont de Marsan, Tou-
louse, and Valenciennes liberal grants are made,
and it is at Amiens, Blois, and Marseilles that
the three new prizes have been established.

AN ORATORIO IN A CHURCH.—We understand
that the oratorio, of " Elijah" is to be given on Easter •eve
in the recently complet ed church of All Saints, Kensing-
ton-park, Notting-hill, previous to its consecration, at
which Miss Louisa Pyne, Madame Laura Baxter, Madame
Alexander Newton, Miss Susan Pyne, Messrs. Wilbye
Cooper, W. H. Weiss, and other artistes of eminence, will
sing. A full band and ch6rus, assisted by the graad organ,
in all 300 performers, will be under the direction of. Dr.
James Pech.
Herr Molique's Abraham will be presented for
the first time in the metropolis on the 17th of April, when
a performance will be given at Exeter-hall iu aid of the
funds of the Mildlesex Hospital. A distinguished corps of
executants will be engaged, and the direction will be vested
in Herr Molique.
DEATH OF SIR ARCHIBALD MACLAINE, K.C.B.
—The Colonelcy of the 52d (Oxfordshire) Regiment ofpoot
has become vacant by the death of General Sir Archibald
Maclaine, who expired on Saturday last, at his house in
Cumberland-street.

The shipments of specie by the Delta, for Bom-
bay, represent £160,040, of which £134,510 is silver and
£25,600 gold.

DESERTERS FROM THE NAVY.—The number of
seamen and boys who deserted from the Royal Navy in
1858 was 1,880; in 1859, 1,873; and in nine months only
of 1860, 2,322. Of the latter number, 160 only were boys.
A meeting of creditors of Messrs. Benyon
Co., flax spinners, took place on Thursday at Leeds, when
a balance-sheet, prepared by Mr. Bolton, accountant,
showed liabilities expected to come on the estate £52,265,
with assets estimated to realize £17,017, the deficiency
being thus £35,248. Messrs. Benyon's relatives offered to
give £10,000; which will raise the dividend to 10s. in the
pound. The creditors, in reply, intimated that if £15,000
were offered that sum would be accepted. Ultimately the'
meeting was adjourned for a week to give time for further
consideration, and it is expected that tho difference will I
be divided, and- the present offer consequently increased to
£12,500.

DOCKYARD ARRANGEMENTS AT PORSTMOUTII.
For the future the entry of all artisans and labourers rests
with the superintendent of the dockyard, who will be re-
sponsible that no workmen be admitted but such as are in
all respects the best to be obtained for her Majesty's ser-
vice. No person will be eligible for entry' in the establish-
ment whose ap.,,e exceeds 35 years, to be proved by certificate
of -birth from baptismal register or such other document as
the superintendent may require. Certificate of ehqracter
will alsohe necessary. Every candidate before entry will
be tested in the use of his tools. He must be examined by
the surgeon of the yard, and pionounced fit for service.
On first entry for the establishment, all men will be re-
quired to serve one month on probation, and if at. the end
of that period they shall have proved themselves competent
to the satisfaction of the superintendent their appointment
will be confirmed. In filling up vacancies on the establish-
ment preference will be given to hired men in the yard who
are of good character and ability.

THE GUN AND MORTAR BOATS.--A return has
been laid before Parliament purporting to give an account
of all gun and mortar boats built by contract since 1852,
though the list given contains only 226, and the select com-
mittee on gunboats stated that 286 had been so built be-
tween 1854 and 1857. The 172 gunboats here accounted for
cost rather more than £1,000,000. According to this paper
some of them have required repairs to no greater amount
than X 4, £3, or £2. If so, the difference in quality was re-
markable indeed ; for upon each of 17 of them, costing
about £5,000 a piece, and launched only in 1856, there has
been, or at the time of this latest but undated return was
to be, above £l,OOO laid out in repairs. Among them was
the notorious Caroline, repairs £2,125 ; the Mackerel,
£2,248 ; tie Pheasant, £2,161; and the Highlander, £2,006.
But several of the gunboats are still only described as " or-
dered to'be examined," and of the mortur vessels almost
every one not turned into a lighteryet remains unexamined.
FO the las of this story is still to come.