The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-30 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, July 29.
A horse show upon an extensive scale was opened
to the public yesterday, and will divert attention
for a few days from political subjects to one more
agreeable, if not more useful. It is held under the
auspices and upon the ground of the Royal Dublin
Society. The decline in the number of horses in the
country of late years and the deterioration of their
quality, atsleast in the highest classes, have been
viewed with much concern by agricultural associa-
tions and country gentlemen. The demand for
the best, or even moderately good breeds, has been
in excess of the supply, and farmers have been
tempted by high prises or induced by the pres-
sure of circumstances to part with their young
stock chiefly for exportation. There has been
a continuous drain, and the effect is that now
the utmost difficulty is experienced in obtaining
good horses fcr general use. The Royal Dublin
Society, the Royal Agricultural Society, and the
Palmerston Association, which has been formed
within the last three years for the express object of
breeding animals of a superior class, have taken
the matter in hand, and devoted their best efforts
to meet the emergency, and to take advantage of
the opportunity for opening up a profitable field of
agricultural enterprise. Between the first two so-
cieties a spirit of emulation has sprung up which
will sharpen the intelligence and quicken the
activity of both. The successful exhibition of
the Royal Agricultural Society in Stephen's-green
last year, in which horses occupied a larger
space than usual, served as a challenge to the
older society, to which this show is the reply.
The beneficial effect of the movement is already
beginning to be felt. The present show furnishes
satisfactory evidence that the encouragement held
out is duly appreciated. It is not only the beet
which has ever been held in Dublin, but in the
estimation of competent judges will, in some of its
features, bear comparison with any of the great.
shows at the other side of the Channel. At the
side of the society's house, looking towards Mer-
rion-square, the sires were exhibited. In the sps-
cious courtyard a ring was formed, with two
fences, for testing the jumping qualities of the
thorough-bred hunters. This was the great event
of interest during the day, and combined the en-
tertainment of a circus with the business of a
bazaar. A band was stationed here, which con-
tributed to the pleasure of the spectators. 'There
were 372 horses to be adjudicated upon, and the
judges had no easy task. It may be observed
that the number shown on Stephen's-green last
year was 220, which was a great increase upon
former shows. The entries were classified as
follows :—Thorough-bred sires, 23 ; hunters, 87 ;
young horses suitable for hunters, 124 ; ladies' horses
and park horses, 13 ; weight-carrying cobs and
roadsters, 2G ; carriage horses, 4 ; officers' chargers,
7 ; horses calculated for troopers, 3 ; ponies, 38 ;
brood mares, 21; agricultural stallions and mares,
20. The judges had not cancluded their labours at
a late hour in the evening, although a number of
awards have beau made. The display of thorough-
bred tires and hunters included some splendid ani-
mals. About £l,OOO was offered in prizes. The first
prize, £4O, for thoroughbred sires, was awarded to
Mr. Joseph MeMahon, Mountrath, for a magnificent
bay colt, Roman Bee, bred by Mr. Michael Dunne,
Stradbally, from Birdcatcher—Queen Bee, by
Harkaway ; Mr. W. Hatch, Ardee, received the
second prize, £2O. In the second section' of
this class, for the best sire calculated to get car-
riage horses, troop horses, or roadsters, Mr. Lau-
rence M.Court, Bolton-street, Dublin, was awarded
the prize of £25 ; and Mr. Williatn St. George,
Tyrone-house, county of Galway, the second prize.
In class 2, for hunters, Mr. Thomas Butler, of
Ballycarron, Golden, was awarded the first prize of
£2O ; and Mr. William Meredith, of Derrylough,
Queen's County, the second. In the second sec-
tion, for hunters not less than five years old, Mr.
D'Arcy, of Athy, received the first prize, and
Mr. Thomas Teague, of Thornastown, the se-
cond. In Class C, for young horses suitable for
hunters, there was spirited competition. In the
next class, for ladies' and park horses, there was no
merit. Weight-carrying cobs and roadsters made
a very respectable show. Carriage geldings and
chargers were few but of moderately good quality.
There were some handsotne little ponies. Agricul-
tural stallions and brood mares were rather defi-
cient in quality. Some special trials of leaping
will be held to-day to complete the awards of
prizes. The admission in the forenoon of yester-
day was at the prohibitory rate of 10s. ; in the
afternoon it was reduced to 55., and to-day the ad
mission will be 2s. 6d., which will bring larger nuts
bers of visitors. s

A return just issued by the Registrar-General
gives information which may be of interest. An
elaborate table shows by counties and provinces
the number of horses serving in Ireland in 1834
and 1868, distingnishing the breed of each, and
whether bred in this country or imported, accord-
ing to statements received from the owners. We
find that in the province of Leinster, which con-
tains 4,876,211 acres, the total number in 1864
was 382, of which 71 were imported and the rest
homebred ; this year it is 384, with the same
proportion imported. In Munster, containing
6,067,990 acres, the total number in 1864 was 281,
of which 38 were imported ; in 1868 it is 306, of
which 45 are imported. In Ulster, containing
5,478,867 acres, the total in 1864 was 239, of
which 36 were imported ; in 1868 it is 225, of which
50 are imported. In Connaught, which contains
4,392,043 acres, the total in 1864 was 132, in-
cluding 12 imported ; in 1868 it is 144, including
15 imported. The total for Ireland in. the two
years is 1,034 in 1864, and 1,059 in 1868,
showing an increase of only 25 sires. In the
thorough-bred class alone there is an increase ;
in all others a decrease. Annexed to the general
obstract is a table giving the number of
horses of every description in Ireland for the
years 1860 to 1867 inclusive, according to the
returns annually obtained by the enumerators,
as follows :-1860, 619,811; 1861, 614,232 ; 1862,
602,894 ; 1863, 579,978 ; 1864, 562,158 ; 1865,
548,339 ; 1866, 535,799 ; 1867, 524,880.

There is no election intelligence of any import-
ance. It is reported that Lord Killeen will come
_ _

forward for the county of Meath, in place of Mr,
Corbally, who is not likely to stand again, and a

Conservative opposition will probably be attempted.
Captain Fagan continues his canvass in Carlow.
Ile solicited the support of the Right likw. Dr.

Hughes, the Catholic Bishop of Kildare, but that

prelate wrote to say that he made it a rule not to
- -

interfere iu elections. At the same time he spoke
in the strongest terms of the gallant captain's quali-
fications.

Cardinal Callen is so far recovered that it is not

thought necessary to issue any more bulletins.

It is reported that several gentlemen who have
distinguished themselves as supporters of the Go-
vernment in the Lower House, and are of fortune
adequate to the position, will be advanced to the
dignity of the Peerage.
The French papers announce the arrival of the
carriages and horses of the Queen of England at
13oulogne, on their way to Lucerne, in Switzer-
land.