The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-30 00:00:00

(From the Telegraph.)

Consequent upon the acceptances for the Spring
Handicaps being due to-day, there was considerable
activity prevalent in metropolitan racing and bes-
ting circles. Several speculators and others who
have been absent from London for some months
made their reappearance, and the result has been a
marked impetus to business. A curious result of
the approaching return of the turf season is the re-
vivification of the miscellaneous characters—touts,
loafers, and others—who have been in obscurity all
the winter. How do these " peculiar people" exist
when racing flourishes no longer? many persons
might ask, and it would puzzle the most experienced
observer to render a complete answer. The pros-
pects of Lincoln and the Spring Handicaps have
brought them into renewed life again, and they may
be seen once more shuffling about street corners and
alleys, and, seedy and almost shoeless as they are,
protesting that they "know a good thing" which is
to place them once more in the possession of pockets
full of money.

(From the Sportsman.)

The appearance of the acceptances for the Chester
Cup, Grand National, and all the remaining Spring
Handicaps, will fairly start the spirit of speculation
throughout the length and breadth of the United
Kingdom, and the turf campaign of 1868 may now
be said to have began, although active field opera-
tions will not commence until the gathering at
Lincoln. It is positively refreshing to once more
see the lists of quotations at Tattersall's and the
Clubs assume their wonted dimensions, while the
assemblies of members at those marts of speculation
have some legitimate occupation, in place of forced
comments on the current events of the day. The
few intervening weeks that exist between the pre-
sent period and the Lincoln Meeting will give
abundance of occupation to bookmakers, and the
time will not hang heavily on their hands now that
public backers have fairly taken up the Spring Handi-
caps as wagering mediums. Mr. Topham may be
congratulated on the flattering list of acceptances for
both the Chester Cup and Grand National. For the
cross-country event, 59 of the 107 originally handi-
capped have acknowledged themselves satisfied with
Mr. Topham's treatment. Among those who have
not accepted there is no animal on which there was
a decided run before or since the weights appeared,
and backers generally may congratulate themselves
on this lucky fact. Among those, however, about
whom long shots were accepted some time since may
be mentioned Globule, Steamboat, Bon Espoir,
Pensioner, Snowstorm, L.S.D., and Switcher (late
Lucullus), who have not accepted. When the
weights first appeared I cursorily reviewed them,
and as at present it would be detrimental to my
readers to analyse them minutely, so many horses
being in the same interest, I shall wait until the
market status is reliable before doing so, but I may
mention that the few I spoke favourably of supply
the front rank in the betting. The Chester Cup
acceptances, notwithstanding the damaging effect
the lenient treatment Viridis had received was sup-
posed to exercise, are exceedingly good, 56 only of
the 139 entered paying 5 sovs forfeit.

Yesterday, in Mr. Frere's court, the standing
orders were declared to have been complied with in
respect of the following railway bills :—The Metro-
politan.and St. John's-wood; the Tottenham and
Hampstead Junction ; the Great Marlow ; and the
Glastonbury and Street Tramway. The opposed
Itchen Bridge Bill passed standing orders. There
was:no appearance in the case of the Wimbledon
and Wandsworth Canal Bill. Before Mr. Pal-
grave, in room 17, the standing orders were de-
clared to have been complied with in respect of the
Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway Bill ; the New-
quay and Cornwall Junction Railway (Devia-
tions) ; the Loudon and North-" Western Railway
(Branches, &c.). The promoters of the Lymington
Harbour and Dock unopposed petition did not
appear. The opposed bill of the Sirhowy Railway
was considered and adjourned until to-day ;
the
Maryport Improvement and Harbour was adjourned
until to-morrow ; and the Isle of Wight Central
Railway Bill was adjourned until to-day.
RAlLWAY.—Yesterday morning
ACCIDENT ON THE LANCASHIRE AaiNarDmiYagOßalleSoHidleßnEt
the B a caLun branchoasuiro line
and . o.
York-
shire ork
rail-
way,occurrednea
ratsttuhbebjiuunscsttaiontioonf,
on
ne
of
ff the 8.10 train from
R..sh,,i.resbßoatitlow: passing the points in
the direction of Bacup, ran on the main or Accrington
the O n
engine, the
ianisTtievaadl
line ; the first coach, however, a third class, containing a
few passengers, took the Bacup metals, and was, conse-
quently, thrown on to its side. Fortunately, the train
was slackening to stop at Stubbius station, its speed being
barely six miles per hour; hence the remaining carriages
kept tho rails, and the train was brought to a stand im-
mediately without any further mishap. The
in the overturned carriage escaped with a slaking
little fright. It is not yet known -whether the fault lay
with the points or the pintsman.

GEORGE'S OPERA HOUSE, LANGLIAU-PLACE,
Oxfolip-met:S.—We see that Mr. German Reed is about
to follow up his present success in the representation of
Comic Opera, with the engagement of Madlle. Liebhart,
who will make her debut on the English stage in Auber's
"Ambassadress," on Saturday evening, February 8. A
now tenor, Mr. Wilford Morgan, of whom report speaks
highly, will appear at the same time. The Contrabandi,sta
and Offenbach's extravaganza, which are now drawing
crowded houses, will then be played alternately. While
adding another morning performance to his programme,
Mr. German Reed has wisely limited his evenings to four,
to husband the vocal powers of his company, and secure
their efficiency. The Opera House will, in future, be
open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sattirday
evenings, and for morning performances on Tuesdays and
radar',

WATERLOO and WHITEHALL RAILWAY
COMPANY.—NO7= is HEREBY GIVEN, That the
FIFTH ORDINARY HALF-YEARLY MEETING of the Share-
holders in this Company will be held at the offices of the Company
No. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria-street. Westminster, on
THURSDAY, the 15th day of February next, at Three o'Clock in
the afternoon precisely, to receive a Report from the Directors,
and for the ordinary business of the Company.
The Transfer Books will be Closed from the 6th proximo until
after the meeting.

By order.
EDWARD BELLAMY, Secretary.
7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria,street, 5.W.,.
January 30, 1868.

RAILWAY COLLISION.

A serious railway collision is reported as having taken
place between two goods trains at Eassie station, on the
northern section of the Caledonian Railway ; fortunately,
however, not attended with any loss of life. The .goods
train passing Forfar from the North a few minutes before
eight o'clock in the evening, had been standing at Eassie
station in order to have some waggons attached, when the
through goods train passing Forfar at 9.15 came up at a
great speed, and with great violence dashed into the train
just mentioned. The consequence was, that the tail of
the first train—consisting of six waggons, two goods vans,
and a break van—were crushed to pieces, and the engine
of the through-going train fearfully damaged. The
engine-driver,[named David Nicol, residing at Perth, was
thrown from his engine, and sustained severe injuries on
the leg and side. No other person seems to have been
hurt. The noise of the collision was heard at a distance
of nearly a mile, and the number of officials and others
were attracted to the scene thereby. The scene of the
accident on the following morning was dreadful. On one
side of tho road lay the shattered remains of the waggons
and vans; on the other a ftw of the remains of the break
van, which in the collision had been driven, one half to
one side and another to the other, and which had been
collected from the adjoining plantation. In the '
middle stood, or rather declined, the powerful engine,
minus the tender and funnel, the latter of which had
been driven off by the detached parts of the van.
By this means also the casing of the engine was
much bruised. The engine was one of the newest and
most powerful in use on the line, and, judging from the
extent of the damage it sustained and the number of wag-
gons smashed, the loss must be very great. The telegraph
lines for the distance of hilf a mile were thrown down and
destroyed, and the communication south of Forfar was
suspended. Immediately on the occurrence of the acci-
dent becoming known, the line at Glamis and Meigle was
blocked up, and a telegram was despatched to Perth for
assistance. In consequence of the accident, the midnight
snail from Perth was nearly seven hours late at Forfar,
and only a single line can be used between Glamis and
Eassie. Little can be said regarding the cause of the
accident. On the one hand, it is alleged that the signals
at Eassie were clear, whilst on the other it is positively
asserted that " danger " was announced on both lines.
The injured engine-man was able to walk to Eassie, and
*;e morning to leave for Perth.