The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-14 00:00:00

BULL-FIGHTING IN ►PAIN.

Some interesting statistical details relative to the Tau-
romachian art have recently been going the rounds of the
Spanish papers. It is asserted that the passion for bull-
fighting is by no means on the decline in Spain.
The following figures will shew that the art is
flourishing, if not actually on the increase. In 1866
there were 101 bull-rings; of these 36 belonged to the
capital towns of provinces, and the remaining
65 to places of less importance. The chief towns
unprovided with plazas are the Canaries, Corunna, Genoa,
Huelva, Leon, Lerida, Lugo, Malaga, Orense, Oviedo,
Pontevedra, Tarragona, Viscaya, and Zamora. The pro•
vinces which possess the greatest number of bull-rings are
those of Badajos, which owns nine ; Cadiz, which owns
six ; and Huelva, which has five. The finest bull-ring
in Spain is that of Valencia, which possesses 16,826
seats ; next comes that of Barcelona, which has
11,972 seats ; and then the chief bull-ring of Madrid,
which has 9,766 seats. Although this last ring
is not the first in size in Spain, it is the first in import.
ance, because therein the hull-fights are more numerous
and better than elsewhere in the country. Every Sunday
afternoon in Madrid during the season the bull-ring is, as
a matter of course, as crowded as the Prado is at night.
The total number of bull-fights which took place in
Spain in 1861 was 245, while in 1866 the number had
increased to 330. But in addition to these first-class
fnnciones, every town in the land has its " novillos " or
fight with young bulls at the end of the harvest time, and
in all the principal cities there exist clubs of amateur bull
fighters. In Malaga, which is without a stone bull-ring,
the number of those societies is considerable, and there, as
well as in Seville, amateur performances take place con-
tinually.—Gibraltar Chronicle.

THE BELGIAN NATIONAL RIFLE

MEETING.

The directors of the Belgian Tir National, which opens
on the 20th instant, have just issued their prize regula-.
tions. Besides the vast number of prizes thrown open to
all corners, the King has given £l5O for English competi-
tion, and the English committee have given £l5O for the
benefit of Belgians and English. The "all-corners" prizes
are shot for at 225 metres and 550 metres— equal to about
250 and 500 yards in round figures. The targets
are on the Swiss principle, and the competitions are
divided into two classes ; the " volont6," in which
the competitor enters as often as he likes on payment of
a franc and a half for every five shots ; and the " rifle
fix 4," in which two series of five shots each are given
for a payment of five francs the two. In both classes
there are prizes given by the King, the Count de
Flandre (president d'honneur of the Tir), the Govern-
ment, the city of Brussels, and the commune of Shaer-
back. The prizes are various, some consisting of purses
containing two, three, or four hundred francs, others
are for a dozen silver spoons and forks. The construction
put on the words " arms of war" may be explained to
mean arms which have both sights on the barrel, and the
back sight moved by the hand; that is, the sliding bar must be
without the screws and mechanical contrivances so much
in vogue at Wimbledon. The foresight must be uncovered,
and the "undercut" or " bend " sight is forbidden.
The plain military knife-edge sight is allowed ; but as
long as there are no screws or cover it is not absolutely
necessary that this sight should be altogether fixed ; but it
may be, like the early Whitworths, removable from the
sight block. Above all things, it is necessary that every
"arm of war" shall be capable of bearing a bayonet (sword
or otherwise). This is removed during the firing.
The above are the regulations for the Tir National
prizes, and with respect to the special English volunteer
prizes it may be acceptable information to many that
£l2O of the King's donation has been distributed in prizes
for Enfield rifles, while £3O will be given to all military
rifles. The second £l5O will be also shot with by the
English with the Enfield. The entrance fee, 10s., to en-
title the volunteers to compete, must be paid at once, and
franks the volunteer to all the English committee's com-
petitions, and to reduced railway fares to Brussels, which
will be, to those who take the short sea route, about half
the usual fares. The Great Eastern- offers to take volun-
teers by the Harwich and Antwerp route on the 10th by
rail and boat, so as to reach Brussels on Sunday morning ;
for the return ticket, 30s. first class, and second class.
The passage boats by this route are.very good.

At Downpatrick there is only one £lO lodger who
is desirous of the right to vote. At Carrickfergus also there
was only ono claimant, who, moreover, was unable to estab-
lish his claim, and was consequently struck off.

" Sir Roger Doughty Tichborne," the claimant to
the Tichborne baronetcy and estates, was among the pas-
sengers by last week's West India mail from Southampton,
his destination Leing Bin Janeiro.

It is stated that as soon as the proper steps can be
taken, the Bermuda dock wia be sent round to Portland,
where its utility can be practically illustrated by some of
the largest and heaviest ironclads being docked and cleaned.

At the meeting of the Tipperary Farming Society
the other evening, the model leases of Mr. Scully were gene-
rally condemned. That gentleman is now said to be in Lon-
don, for the purpose of obtaining medical aid for the removal
of one of the slugs from his neck.

The Lambeth Lodger Franchise Association have
resolved to ask the candidates for the representation of
that borough for assistance in liquidating the expenses of
preparing lodger claims, and in defending them before the
revising barrister.
Tuz BERMUDA DOCK.—It is stated that as soon
as the proper steps can be taken, the Bermuda dock will
be sent round to Portland, where its utility can be practi-
cally illustrated by some of the largest and heavies iron-
clads being docked and cleaned.

A telegraphic despatch has been received by het
Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, from her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Lisbon,
stating that a decree of the Board of Public Health, dated
the 11th inst., declares all English ports free from cholera,
and that arrivals therefrom are no longer subject to
quarantine.

An accident which happened on Saturday will
prevent the " Captive" balloon from making the con-
templated ascent from the grounds of Ashburnham House.
A gasometer is in course of construction for the purpose of
ensuring a constant supply of hydrogen to the balloon. A
steam fire•engine was employed to fill the well under the
gasometer, when some of the sparks were carried to the
retorts, and sixteen of these exploded. Some of the frag-
ments were driven over the lofty screen surrounding the
balloon, and the ascents are, as a consequence, suspended.

FRENCH GALLANTRY. —An inhabitant of Gran-
chet (Tarn et Garonne) sold his wife and horse a few clays
ago for £B. The following are terms of the sale :—The
price to be paid in two payments. The price of the horse
is £6, of the wife £2. The wife to be delivered without
shoes—the horse to retain his bridle. The notary of the
place having refused to be connected with the affair, the
parties entered a cabaret and drew the contract them-
selves, which is signed by four witnesses.

In no part of the country has the new Highway
Act been more strenuously opposed than in the North Rid-
ing, and four of the parishes have even gone so far as to
openly resist it. Proceedings were taken against the de-
faulting overseers; their cows and sheep were seized, and
on Thursday the same were offered for sale at Scar bro'
The farmers, who had protested against the adoption of the
Act, attended in large numbers, and cheered vociferously as
they saw the lots knocked down at ludicrously low figures.
The sale was a complete failure. 31. r. Cayley, the candidate
for the North Riding, improved the occasion by delivering an
addreg. He promised to vote for the Tepc4l ott4OZWIJOUS

LATEST INTELL £GENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)