The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDr)N FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1868.

SPORTING IN FELLIGENCE.

THE GOLD CUP D.Y.

None of the characteristics of the Cup Day were want-
ing on the Royal Heath this afternoon. Brilliant weather
and the pageant procession to the course conduced to the
largest attendance ever known at Ascot; and though the
event of the meeting was reduced to three runners, it
created the greeted excitement, from its being contested
by the first three in the Derby, affording at once a true test
of the Epsom running. The road to Ascot was extensively
patronised by Londoners, as was also the route by way of
the Great Western Railway to Windsor, and then a drive
of six miles through a very picturesque part of Berkshire.
This avoided all the crush at Waterloo, where there was a
tremendous crowd from early in the morning until after
12 o'clock. The arrangements of the South-Western
Company wore as good as could be expected under the cir-
cumstances. The scene on the course has been so often
described that consideration for our readers deters us
from detailing the incidents ; suffice it to say, the carriage
company extended from the bend out of the old course
to far beyond the judge's chair, and in brilliancy
it never has been exceeded, all the leading families
of the neighbourhood being represented. Within the
Royal enclosure the scene was one of unparalleled beauty,
the fair sex making a most charming display. The Royal
party arri Jed shortly before half-past one o'clock in five
carriages. The Princess of Wales again accompanied the
Prince, and the Royal party was precisely the same as on
Tuesday, excepting that Lady Bingham occupied a seat
in the third carriage. They were cheered all along the
route from the New Mile to the Stand, and they cordially
bowed their acknowledgments. The Princess was heartily
cheered when she appeared at the window of the Queen's
Stand with the Prince and the Crown Prince of Denmark.
As intimated, the weather was gloriously fine until afte
the decision of the Gold Cup, when the clouds became
overcast, and there was a few dropsof rain, on the appear-
ance of which a most amusing scene took place. Everybody
was, of course, covered with dust, and when the rain began
to fall there was a general display of cambric handkerchiefs,
and for a few minutes the general occupation was hat-
wiping. Fortunately the rain did not continue, nor was it
of sufficient weight to lay the dust. Racing commenced at
half-past ono with the £lOO Plate, which fell to Madame
Wright, who upset a great pot in Fakir; indeed, the ill-
luck which had attended the backers on the two previous
days did not leave them in their opening venture to-day.
For the Fifth New Biennial Stakes the representa-
tive of the French stable, Nelusko, was fancied in pre-
ference to See Saw, Ironmaster, and Tympanum, but
again were the " talent" out of it, as See-Saw won cleverly
by half a length from the favourite, the non-staying Iron-
master finishing in front of Tympanum, who, it is now evi-
dent, will not turn out another Ely for Mr. Cartwright.
The next event was the race of the day—the Gold Cup -
which, however, only produced three runners, and by a
singular coincidence they were the first three in the
Derby -Blue Gown, King Alfred, and Speoulum. Julius,
who was one of the post entries (Blue Gown and King
Alfred being the other two), was withdrawn, as was also
Achievement, the latter having been struck out at half-
past seven the previous evening. Considerable excitement
prevailed in the paddock, where the three were put through
their toilettes, after which they were paraded in front of
the Royal Stand. Speculum and King Alfred looked the
picture of condition, as did also Blue Gown, but his style
of going did not please the '• talent," •who thought he
went rather short in his " preliminary," but when ho got
warmed down to the work, he went all right over the
ground, which was fearfully hard. Of course the Derby
winner was the favourite, odds of 6 to 4 being laid on him,
while King Alfred was backed at a point less than the
Duke of Newcastle's horse. The latter was ridden by
Kenyon, who had been engaged to ride The Earl, but
when the latter was scratched he was enabled to ride
for the Duke of Newcastle, as he did in the Derby. Ca-
meron had a special retainer for Blue Gown, and Peake
who rode King Alfred at Epsom in the Craven Stakes
steered " the King" to-day. Blue Gown took up the rain-
ing a little over a quarter of a• mile from home, and having
his opponents settled within the straight won in a canter
by four lengths, Speculum reversing the Derby running
by defeating King Alfred by a couple of lengths. The
raee was supposed to test the truthfulness of the Derby
running, which it undoubtedly did, and we shall probably
hear no more about Norman's wild riding of King Alfred
in the Darby. Sir Joseph Hawley has won the Gold Cup
three times, with Asteroid, Teddington, and Blue Gown,
but on no previous occasion has the Derby winner won
this valuable prize as a three year old. The Gold Cup
will form an appropriate companion to the Hunt Cup which
Sir Joseph won by the aid of Satyr. The New Stakes
produced undoubtedly the bast field of two year olds we
have seen out this year, and the winner Belladrutn, a colt
by Stockwell, from Catherine Hayes, was at once in-
stalled the favourite for next year's Derby at 9 to 1.
The field comprised the Vertumua colt, the Diomedia
filly, the ;Hera-lion° colt, Masauiello, the Crucifixion
colt, and a host of others. Belladrum was the
favourite, and Fordharn landed him very cleverly
indeed from the Vertumna. colt. Lanerot, the favourite
for the All-Aged Stakes, landed that event, much to the
delight of the backers, who landed a good stake. The Earl
had some difficulty in beating Restitution for St. James's
Palace Stakes, and it was entirely owing to Furdham's
fine riding that the Danebury colt won. Particulars of the
dey's sport aro appended :-
1 A Plate of 100 sovs, for maidens that never received 100

soya as second ; three year of is Bst 71b, four and up-
* wards 9st 31b; mares and gel•lingi allowed 31b, to Lidan
Arabs and Barbs 141 b ; those that have never won 50

says 71b extra.; the winner to be sold for 300 s )vs ;
Swiuley Course.
Mr T. Golby's Madame Wright, by Velvode —Lady, 5
yrs, Oct (Fordham) 1
Couut Batthyany's Furious, 3 yrs, Bst 71b (Morris) t
Sir Joseph Hawley's Fakir, 4 yrs, 9st .........(J Adams) t

Vertumna colt and Guy of Warwick also ran.
Betting—Even on Fakir, 5 to 1 each agst Furious and
Madame Wright, 6to 1 agst Giy of Warwick, 100 to 15
agst Vertu mna filly.

Furious jumped away in front, but in a few strides gave
way to Madame Wright, who went down the hill with a
clear lead of Furious, who was followed try Fakir and Guy
of Warwick, the Vertumna filly bringing up the rear until
reaching the Swinley Mile. Here Guy of Warwick drew
up to Fakir, and the pair raced side by side just in the rear
of Furious. No noteworthy change occurred until reach-
ing the mile post, where the lot took close order. Madame
Wright, however, entered the straight with a slight lead;
Fakir, immediately when in the line for home, dropped
back slightly, and Guy of Warwick and Furious came in
pursuit of the mare; but both were in difficulties at the
commencement of the Stand enclosure. Fakir, coming up
again, got on level terms with Furious, and the pair ran a
dead heat for second place three quarters of a length in
rear of Mad tme Wright ; Vertumna filly was fourth, a
head only in advance of Guy of Warwick, last.
The winner was not claimed.

The Fifth New Biennial Stakes of 15 says each, 10 ft,
with 200 added ; three year olds Bst, four 9st 121 b ;
fillies and geldings allowed 31b, those that never won
in England allowed 51b, maidens allowed 71b; a winner
of 2,000 sovs 121 b, 1,000 sovs 71b, 500 41b extra; the
second to receive 50 sovs out of the stake. Old Mile.

41 subs. -
Lord Wilton's See-Saw, by Buccaneer—Margery Davy,
3 yrs, Bst (T. Chaloner) 1
Count. Lagrange's Nelusko, 3 yrs, 7st 91b (Butler) 2
Mr Beadman's Ironmaster, 3 yrs, Bst 41b (Clement) 3
Mr W. S. Cartwright's Tympanum, 3 yrs, 7st 71b _

(Cameron) 4
Betting-6 to 4 agst Nelusko, 2to 1 agst See-Saw, 100
to 30 agst Tympanum, and 20 to 1 agst Ironmaster.
Nelusko made play with a slight lead of See-Saw, who
was followed by Ironmaster, Tympanum bringing up the
roar. In this order they ran in Indian file, separated by
intervals of about a length, till reaching the brick kilns,
where the lead was taken by Tympanum, See-Saw going
on second, and succeeded by the Frenchman. Within the
straight Tympanum gave way, and Nelusko took a slight
lead of Soo-Saw on his right, but at the commencement
of the Stand enclosure Lord Wilton's colt deprived him of
the advantage, and, despite Butler's efforts on the French-
man, the soon of Buccaneer and Margery Daw won
cleverly by half a length. Ironmaster was a bad third, and
Tympanum last.

The Gold Cup, value 300 sovs, added to a subscription f
29 sovs each; the second to receive 50 soya out of the
stakes ; three year olds 7st 51b, four Bst 101 b, five 9st 31b,
six and aged 9st 511; ; mares and geldings allowed 31b ;
to start at the Cup Post and go once round (about two
miles and a half); 22 subs.
Sir J. Hawley's Blue Gown, by Beadsman—Bas Bleu
(post entry), 3 yrs, 7st 51b (Cameron) 1
Duke of Newcastle's Speculum, 3 yrs, 7st slb (Kenyon) 2
Baron Rotbechild's King Alfred (post entry), 7st slb
(G. Peake) 3
Betting- 6 to 4 on Blue Gown, 2 to 1 agst King Alfred,
6 to 1 agst Speculum.
The trio having completed their toilette in the paddock,
under the supervision of their respective trainers and in
the presence of a host of admirers, came on to the course,
Speculum leading the way, the Derby winner succeeding
the Duke of Newcastle's colt with Porter at his bead, Hay-
hoe leading King Alfred. The front of the Royal Lawn
having been cleared, the first three in the Derby were pi,
raded in front of the Queen's Stand, in the exact order in
which they emerged from the paddock. Nothing occurred
in the canters, and, with as litt:e delay as pos ible, the start-
ing post was reached. Mr. M‘George lowered his flag at the
first attempt, the trio starting abreast of each other. In a
few strides, however, Blue Gowu on the left tooka lead of
about a neck of Sp-culum, who held a position next the
rails, King Alfred lying at the quarters of the City and
Suburban winner, but in the centre of the pair. Before
reaching the Stand, Speculum drew level with Blue Gown,
whom he headed at the commencement of the enclosure,
passing the Stand a clear length in advance of Sir Joseph
Hawley's horse, King Alfred now lying about a length in
the latter's rear. Directly they rounded the top turn,
Speculum took a lead of a couple of lengths, at the same
time improving the pace, which up to this time had been
but moderate, and as they descended the hill for the
Swinley Mile Bottom, King Alfred still on the outside,
ran up to Blue Gown's neck, and Speculum drew himself
three lengths clear of the Derby winner. When fairly in
the Swinley Bottom, King Alfred got on level terms with

the Gown, and immediately afterwards the pair de-
creased Speculum's lead to a length. In this way they
ran until approaching the mile post, when Blue Gown took
his position on the outsideof Speculum, about half a length
in the rear of the Duke's horse, King Alfred following at
an interval of a length. Approaching the bend into the
str►ight, Blue Gown deprived Speculum of the command,
and rounded the turn in the line for home at least a
length in advance of Speculum, who was in difficulties at a
few strides from the commencement of the Stand enclosure,
an example which was followed by King Alfred a little
farther on ; and Blue Gown gambolling on, passed the
post an easy four-lengths' winner; Speculum coming
away, passed King Alfred opposite the Stand, and finished
two lengths in advance of the Baron's colt.
The New Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 200 added, for two
year olds; colts Bst 101 b, fillies Bst 71b; winners once
previous to starting 51b, twice 91b extra. T.Y.C. 70

subs.
Mr Merry's Belladrum, by Stockwell— Catherina Hayes,
9st llb (inc. 51b extra) (Fordbam) 1
Mr. H. Savile's c. by Skirmisher—Vertumna, 9st llb (in.
51b ex.) (\laidnieut) 2
Mr Johnstone's f. by Newminster —Lady Melbourne,
Bst 71b (J. Osborne) 3
The following also ran :--thomedia filly, Nightjar, Minus
Troil, K ng Cophetua, Lady Dewhurst, Masaniello, Tene-
dos, Hermione colt, Giantess, and Crucifixion filly.
Betting-6 to 4 agst Belladrum, 4to 1 agst Masaniello.
8 to 1 each agst Crucifixion filly, Giantess, and King
Cophetua; 10 to 1 agst Lady Melbourne filly, 100 to 8
agst Lady Dewhurst, 100 to 7 agst Diomeda filly, 15 to 1
agst Vertumna colt.

After a couple of breaks away the flag was lowered to a
good start, and Crucifixion filly, in the centre of the course,
cutting out tha work, with a slight advantage of Vertumna
colt, who was wide on the left and just in advance of
Tenedos and the Lady Melbourne filly; Nightjar, Giantess,
Masaniello, and BAladrum stretching from the right.
When about a quarter of a mile of the journey had been
accomplished Dr. Shorthouse's filly gave way, and the
Vertumna colt held a slight advantage of Belladrum and
the Lady Melbourne filly till the commencement of the
Stand enclosure, where the Lady Melbourne filly dropped
back slightly and the race became a match between Bella-
drum and the Vertumna colt, the former of whom had
a slight advantage. At the Royal Stand Mr. Savile's
colt, answering Maidment's call gamely, appeared to get
on level terms with the Woodcote winner, but Fordham,
riding Mr. Merry's colt in the most determined manner,
won after a fine race by a head. The Lady Melbourne
filly was a bad third, the liermione colt fourth, Nightjar
fifth, Masaniello sixth, Tenedos seventh, and Duchess
eighth. Then came the Crucifixion filly, King Cophotua,
and the Dicmedia filly, the last two being Minna Troil and
Lady Dewhurst.

The All-Aged Stakes of 25 sovs each, 10 ft, with 200
added; two year olds Est 31b, three Bst 71b, four 9st 91b,
five 9st 131 b, six and aged lost ; maiden three year olds
allowed 51b; those that have never Won 100 sovs allowed
31b, maiden four year olds allowed 715, those that have
never won 100 sovs allowed 515, maiden five year olds

and upwards allowed 141 b, those that have never
,won
100 sovs allowed 71b ; the now mile.
Mr G. Bryan's Laneret, by Nownainster—Woodcraft's
dam, ri yrs, 9st 61b (inc. Sib ex) (Fordham) 1
Captain Mutton's Martyr (post entry), 2 yrs, fist 31b
(Jeffery) 2
Sir C. Logard's Vespasian (post entry), 5 yrs, lOst 1310
(inc. 141 b ex)
The following also ran :—Lady Coventry, Good Hope,
The Rajah, Needle Gun, and Vagabond.
Betting-6 to 4 agst Laneret, 3to 1 agst Martyr, 6to 1
agst Vagabond, 8 to 1 each agst The Rajah and Lady Co-
ventry, 10 to 1 agst Vespasian.
Good Hope cut out the work, closely attended by
Martyr, Laneret, and Vespasian, Needle Gun bringing up
the rear, for a quarter of a mile, when Good Hope was
beaten, and Martyr was left with a head of the favourite
and Vespasian to the distance. Here the weight told on
Vespasian, and Lancret simultaneously headed the two-
year-old, and drawing away, won in a canter by a length
an 1 a half ; Vespasian was a bad third ; Vagabond was
fourth, The Rajah fifth, Lady Coventry Sixth, Good Hope
next, Needle Gun being beaten off.
The St. James's Palace Stakes of 100 sovs each, 11 ft, for
three year olds ; colts Bst, 101 b, fillies Bst 71b, maidens
allowed 71b, the second to sava his stake. Old Mile.

Celia, Bst 101 b .....
18 subs.
Marquis of Hastings' The Earl, by Young Melbourne—
Bayßaron Rothschild's Restitution, Bst 31b ('Morris) 2
.................. (Fordham) 1

Betting--7 to 2on The Earl.
The non-favourite made play with a strong lead of The
Earl until passing the brick kilns, where Fordhanz com-
menced gradually to orerhaul his opponent, whom he
headed at the distance, but the Baron's colt stuck gamely
to the winner of the Grand Prize, and it was only at the
Royal Stand The Earl was enabled to take a slight advan-
tage, and entirely owing to Fordham's brilliant horseman-
ship that the Marquis of Hastings' horse won very cleverly
by a neck.

The Sixth New Biennial Stakes of 15 sovs each, 10 ft,
with 200 added; two year olds 7st, three 9st 31b, fillies
and geldings allowed 31b; a winner of 2,000 sovs 121 b,
of 1,000 sovs 71b, of 500 sovs 41b extra; three year olds
which have never won in England allowed 51b ; maiden
three year olds allowed 71b, maiden two year olds 31b;
the second to receive 50 sovs out of the stakes. T.Y.C.

36 subs.
Mr Chapliu's f by Newininster—Diomedia, 2 yrs, 64 81b
(Jeffery) 1
Count Batthyany's Typhon, 2 yrs, Est 111b...(Cameron) 2
Mr G. Holimos's Lady Dewhurst, 2 yrs, Est 111 b
(Montan) -3
Noyre Tauren and Albania also ran.
B4tiog-6 to 5 agst Lady Dewhurst, 3 to 1 each agst
the Diomedia filly and Typhon.
After going a few strides the Diomedia filly took up the
running, and won in a canter by three lengths. The
favourite was a bad third, Noyre Taurcn fourth, and
Albania last.

half a minute for cutters. The Eagle steamboat will leave
Loudon-bridge at 9.30 a.m. to accompany the match with
members and friends.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PAIR-OAR RACES.

OXFORD, Thursday Evening.

The annual races for the silver challenge oar commenced
on Thursday evening, the first heat being between Messrs.
A. H. Hall and W. P. Bowman, both of University Col-
lege, and R. 1). Benson and S. D. Darbishiro, both of Bal-
liol. Hall and Bowman had the first station and won, after
a good race, by eight seconds, their oppononts easing
when they heard the report of the first pistol, but after-
wards rowing on. The winners guided their boat with
considerable judgment. The second heat was won by
Messrs. Jones, Exeter, and Crofts, Brasenose College, who
had second station ; and Veasoy and Aston, both of St.
John's. 'This race was well contested to near the finish,
when the St. John's pair got over to Salter's raft and
enabled their opponents to win by four seconds. The
final heat between the above winners will be rowed to-
morrow evening, the holders not being eligible. Messrs.
Hall and Bowman are the favourites. It is expected
Oxford will be well represented at Henley Regatta on the
25th and 26th inst., as several craws are in training.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held at Willis's
Rooms, St. James, under the presidency of the
Archbishop of York, iu support of the Palestine
Exploration Fund, which has for its purpose the
accurate and systematic investigation of the archon-
logy, topography, geology, and physical geography
of the Holy Land. Among those present on the
platform were Lord Ducie, Lord Shaftesbury, Dean
Stanley, Dean Alford, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Mr.
Layard, M.P., Mr. Morrison, M.P., Mr. Tite,
M.P., Archdeacon Hale, Lieutenant 'Warren, Mr.
M'Gregor, and many gentlemen well known in con-
nection with the learned societies. The large room
was crowded with attentive listeners to the proceed-
ings.

The CHAIRII:I.N said he greatly regretted that,
owing to a conflict of duties, he should be unable to
perform his part by staying there throughout the
proceedings, as it was necessary for him to attend
a Select Committee of the House of Lords, which
at that time was discussing its report. He had
been desired by the Earl of Carnarvon and the
Earl of Harrowby to state that their lordships were
also prevented from being present, owing to being
on the same committee, and that they felt the
deepest interest in the work being carried out by
Lieutenant Warren, whom that meeting would that
day welcome and congratulate on his success.
(Cheers.) It was not to be expected that the ex-
plorations would lead to any great discoveries
which would greatly alter received history ; but he
(the right rev. prelate) thought it was a great
shame to us that the land in which our Lord and
Saviour lived and died should be so little known to
us as regarded its natural history, its geography,
and all those points which were most interesting in
connection with any land, and therefore must be
more so respecting the Holy Land. The Fund, as
all there knew, was founded principally by the
energy of Mr. George Grove, to take this re-
proach from us, and it had received the support of
our countrymen to an extent which it would be
unhandsome not to acknowledge. In his opinion
there were two classes of work which should be
pushed on under different heads—namely, the
arcbmilogical work, which was very costly, and
the scientific work of surveying and mapping the
country. He should like to hear Lieut. Warren,
but could not stay ; therefore he would move that
the Earl of Shaftesbury should preside in his stead.
This was carried, and his Grace the Archbishop
left the meeting, while the noble lord took the
chair.

The secretary, Mr. HOLLAND, read the report,
which stated that though there had been an increased
number of subscribers, the amount received in the
year had fallen short of the sum required to carry
out the whole scheme of operations proposed, and
the committee had been compelled mainly to con-
fine their attention to explorations in or near the
city of Jerusalem. In spite of many difficulties
Lieutenant Warren had succeeded in carrying on
extensive excavations with little interruption, and
had made discoveries of the utmost importance,
which not only tended to throw new light upon the
original features of the Temple hill, but led to the
hope that before long sufficient data would be ob-
tained for forming a tolerably accurate opinion upon
the various sites iu the Holy City which had been
so lung matters of d;spute. " For the first time,"
the report went on to say, " the actual streets
of the ancient city have been reached, underground
passages which have been hidden for centuries by
the mass of superincumbent ruins have been
brought to light, and by degrees a complicated net-
work of drains and reservoirs is being laid bare,
which, when fully explored, will no doubt aid very
considerably in settling many difficult points con-
nected with the level of different portions of Jeru-
salem. In the valleys of the Kedron and Ty ropceum,
by a succession of shafts, many of them sunk to
ureat depths, discoveries of much interest have been
made with regard to the original cost and character
of those valleys. The limits of the hill and posi-
tion of the wall of Ophel have been in great mea-
sure ascertained, and shafts sunk on the south
of the wall of the II area have shown that
the account given by Josephus of the giddy
height of the battlements of the ancient city at
this point is not, after all, the gross exaggera-
tion that up to this time it has always been be-
lieved to have been." The report went on to
speak of the difficulties to be met with in carrying
out such an exploration as this among a popu-
lation like that of Jerusalem, difficulties which
had been increased by the treacherous character of
the soil and the imperfect nature of the apparatus
which had to be employed. The zeal and persever-
ance, of Lieutenant Warren in overcoming these
difficulties were warmly commended; through his
ability the field for excavation at Jerusalem had
never appeared so open, while, at the same time,
the discoveries of last year gave the surest promise
of future excavations being attended with still more
interesting results ; and if, as Lieutenant Warren
hoped, we should be able to dig in the Haram area
itself, it was impossible to overrate the interest of
the discoveries that were in store. The researches
of Jerusalem had caused other operations to be sus-
pended, but several surveying expeditions had been
made, and Lieutenant Warren had thoroughly
surveyed the Philistine Plain as far north as Gaza,
together with a large tract of country to the south-
west of Jerusalem. He had also surveyed por-
tions of the Jordan and its valleys. The report,
after stating other general facts as to the operations
carried on by Lieut. Warren, went on to say that
the work had been supported by subscriptions from
many classes, and, among others, by the large
and influential body of Freemasons, who had en-
couraged
the attempts being made to search out the
sites of the works erected by the famous operative
craftsmen of that ancient order. The excavations
carried on by Lieut. Warren, who would start on
Saturday for Palestine, would entail a cost of £3OO
a month; therefore it was earnestly desired further
subscriptions should be given, and it was purposed,
it was said, to found a museum of the curiosities
found in the Holy Land.

Li
Ctit. WARREN was then called upon to speak,
and on rising to do so he was cordially cheered. He
proceeded to read a very interesting report of con-
siderable length, and he explained the works being
carried out by means of a small map of Jerusalem,
of which every visitor had a copy. He said there
were at present engaged on the works two corporals
of Engineers and about seventy Massultnans of dif-
ferent races ; and, though the latter required great
supervision, yet, what with the jealousies of race
and religion, the dragoman bring Greek and the
overseers Jews, anything going wrong soon " crop-
ped out." Very few articles found in the works
had come to hand, and what had been found con-
sisted mostly of pottery, bronze ❑ails, and glass (the
former of many different dates, and the glass of the
third and fourth century of the Christian era); but
a few Hebrew coins had been turned up. Among
the findings was a seal with character showing it
to be that of " Haggai, the son of Shebaniah," and
it was supposed in Jerusalem to be of the time of
Ezra. However, the main object of the work was
with regard to nether Jerusalem in its topography,
and it was desired particularly to find out where
the Temple stood. (Cheers.) In studying the
Holy Land it was most disappointing to find a

deart h of evidence as to the sites of places, and the
more the matter was looked into the more difficult
it became. There were points which were known
beyond contradiction, such as Jaffa, Jerusalem,
and others ; but when details were sought there
was the most conflicting evidence. All parties
agreed that the Temple stood somewhere in a rec-
tangular spot, called by the names of Haram and
Moriali, and that the Mount of Olives was on the
whole or part of a hill indicated on the map. It was
probable, too, that the valley of Kedron could be
traced ; but about all other points there were con-
troversies ; and if he made use of Biblical names
in speaking of places, lie did so because they
were generally-received names, and not because
they were established as such. The explorers must
be content, lie feared, to be baill!d and perplexed
for a long time to come before they could bring out
Jerusalem as it was; for, startling as it might ap-
pear, they had not yet a single fixed point from
which to commence. For instance, though the
Temple was known to be on a particular space (the
Moriah Area), yet there was space there for three
such sites ; and Mount Sion was put to the north
of Moriah by sour and to the west by others of
authority. It was only by patient investigation
that hopes could be entertained of a satisfactory
conclusion. He then proceeded to describe the
Haram Area, in which he said there was no doubt a
mine of information. The Moriah Area was scooped
out into large tanks, and one would hold 1,000,000
gallons of water; another was found capable of
holding 700,000, and altogether about 5,000,000
gallons could be stowed away. Near here was a
place called the Well of the Leaf, of which the
legend was told that a man wandered down it, and
corning to a door opened it. He found
himself in a beautiful garden, and plucking
a leaf he returned. On telling his tale he was
greeted as of little sense for leaving a garden
which his listeners believe to be Paradise,
which he would never have another chance of see-
ing again. The gallant officer continued at some
length, and explained that the stables of Solomon
had been discovered as well as streams of water,
which led to the opinion that the source of King
Hezekiah's hidden spring of water would be dis-
covered. He concluded, amid warm cheers, by ex-
pressing the interest taken in the works by those
who are called the Anglo-Saxon race from both
Britain and America.

Mr. AV. MoßrasoN, M.P., the treasurer, real a
report showing that all the money received had been
expended save £1,909 17s. 11d., which amount
would only last about six months, even if the works
were carried on at their preient rate.

Dean STANLEY moved a resolution that the meet-
ing, having listened to Lieut. Warren with great
pleasure, returned him its cordial thanks, and ex-
pressed the earnest hops that he would be able to
continue his work with the success like that which
had hitherto attended him. The Very Rev. the
Dean said there were two sets of persons who, at
least, would be very glad to have this exploration,
one set being the persons who had written on the
subject and formed all sorts of theories, as for
instance the Rev. George Williams, and who
wanted those theories coatirmed ; and the other
class was that to which he himself belonged, to
whom the interior of Jerusalem was so uncertain
that they studiously refrained from making any
theories, feeling conscious that such an exploration
as this might explode the theories beneath their
feet. It was necessary that some should speculate
on the subject, or else sufficient interest would not
have been excited to go into the work, and in Lieu-
tenant Warren was found the right man to make
the exploration, for he had gone heartily into the
work, had overcome all difficulties, and could
present a plain, unadorned statement of what was
done, such as had been heard that day. (Cheers.)
The explorations had confirmed and explained the
Bible accounts of what had transpired in the
Holy Land, and one person there had been who
would have felt, if he could, particularly obliged
for the excavations, for his reputation had
been considerably rehabilitated by the explorations
—he alluded to their very old friend Josephus.
(Laughter.) The rev. gentleman concluded by
expressing his satisfaction at the manner in which
the work had been carried out, and his regret that
Nit. George Grove was unavoidably absent on that
occasion.

Mr. LAYARD, M.P., seconded the resolution, and
said that few persons could understand how arduous
were the labours Lieutenant Warren had carried
out, not only as respected the heat, and the other
influences, but from the fact that the exploration
party were working amid a hostile people, who saw
places given over to strangers which they regarded
as sacred. As to the " findings," he reminded
those present that he warned them they were not to
expect any monuments like those found at Nine-
veh, for the Jews did not make such things for
religious reasons, and for another—they had
no materials. He spoke about the monuments in
the Louvre at Paris, at one time stated to be
Jewish, and threw grave doubts upoii the character
of those monuments.

The resolution was carried unanimously.
Sir 11. RAWLINSON moved a resolution to the
effect that a systematic survey of Jerusalem should
be made at the same time as the excavations were
being carried ou. lie dwelt upon the necessity
there was for having a true map of Palestine, so
that we might give a " local habitation and a name"
to the places well known to every Bible student.
The Rev. 11. ALLON seconded this resolution,
which was also carried unanimously.
The last resolution was moved by the Rev. GEo.
WILLIAMS, seconded by Mr. S. GRAHAM, as to the
necessity of the natural history of Palestine being
reported on, and this being carried the meeting
closed with thanks to the chairman.

NAVAL AND MILITARY IN7ELLIGENCE.

The officers belonging to and those formerly
serving in the Rifle Brigade (the Prince Consort's
Own) had their annual regimental dinner on Wed-
nesday evening at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street. Lieut.-General Sir George Buller, K.C.8.,
Colonel Commandant of the Brigade, presided on
the occasion. Covers were laid for 55.

The Peruvian left the Mersey yesterday with a
detachment of the 13th Hussars, consisting of 3
officers and 102 men, for Quebec.
The screw steamsloop Rapid, 11, Commander the
Hon. P. L. Wood, from Portsmouth, arrived in Ply-
mouth Sound on Wednesday, and, having been
supplied with coal, was appointed to sail yesterday
for the Mediterranean.

Her Majesty's screw troopship Fawn, 17, 100-
horse power, Commander C. Hensham, having com-
pleted her term of service, was yesterday put out of
commission and placed in the 3d division of the steam
reserve in the Medway, under the superintendence
of Captain the Hon. A. Cochrane, C. 8., and the
officials of the Steam Reserve. The Fawn has been
four years in commission, and has served during
that time with the North American and West India
squadron. On the crew being paid off silver medals,
with the usual gratuities for exemplary conduct,
were awarded by • the Admiralty to Alexander
Hannay, captain of the forecastle, and Private
Barnard Barnett, Royal Marines Light Infantry.
The Fawn, from the lengthened period she has been
in commission, will require some heavy repairs, but
these will not be carried out until she is again com-
missioned. On being paid off the petty officers and
crew were granted the accustomed holiday, and at
the expiration of their run ashore they will join the
flagship at either of the naval ports. The Royal
Marines were forwarded the head-quarters of tht
Chatham division.

The Defenco Committee, consisting of Admiral
the lion. Sir F. Grey, G.C.13., Major-General
Dickens, R.E., Major-General Simmons, R.E.,
Colonel Harness, R.E., Lieutenant Ardagh,
and Mr. J. llawkshaw, accompanied by Colonel
IVestmacott and Captain Do:ford, R.E., left Moors-
head's Hotel, Devonport, on Wednesday morning,
at 10 o'clock, and crossed Hamoaze by the steam
ferry at Torpoint, on a tour of inspvtion to the
westward, visiting in succession the forts,
Screasdon, Tregantle, Raine, and Cawsand, wher.
they embarked on board the steam tender Bann,
which conveyed them to Drake's Island. 1u the

evening they dined with Port-Admiral Sir William
Martin, K.C.B. Yesterday the committee inspected
the forts to the north, including Tamerton, St.
Rude, and Crabtree.

Commander Robert 11. Boyle was yesterday
appointel to the Royal Adelaide, for service in the
Penelope.

RUSSIAN CUS7OIIIS REFORMS.

The 3logeow Gazdte of the 29th May makes the
following observations respecting the changes which
have recently been made in the Customs regula-
tions of St. Petersburg and Cronstadt :—"" Our
readers are already acquainted with a recent or-
dinance of the Customs depattineut, by which thu
vessels that arrive at Cronstadt and St. Peters-
burg have only to pay a tonnage of 10 copecks per
last (two tons) in order to obtain their clearance for
sea, provided always they give bond for any Go-
vernment claim that may be leviable. A new and
equally liberal measure has just been promulgated
as an experiment (to be tried as yet only at St..
Petersburg and Cronstadt). It consists in permitting
masters of vess As to present their manifests to the
customs instead of their bills of lading—a change
that relieves the shipmasters from the heavy fines
which were payable whenever those documents
were not drawn up according to the laws of Russia.
The first regulation is to be discussed to-morrow,
at a meeting of merchants. Who, it may be well
asked, will gain more by the promotion of commer-
cial relations than the merchants of St. Petersburg?
We might have expected an a.;dress of thanks
to the Minister of Finance, and to the Director
of
.the Customs Department. But, strange to
say, they are dissatisfied, and intend to protest. The
ukase says that vessels have only to pay 10 copecks
per last., and that all other charges must be left to
voluntary arrangement; but this the merchants
and agents of St. Petersburg and Cronstadt
consider an infringement of their rights. They
have arranged matters so well that in virtue of
the statutes which they have drawn up, but
which have never received the sanction of Govern-
ment, English vessels pay about 880 rs. (£25), and
Prussian ships a little more. The shipmaster has
been forced to pay this excessive tax, for the cor-
poration of merchants decreed that he should not
receive his own freight, but pay an agent a com-
mission of 3 per cent. for such service. It is more
than five years since the Government abolished
the so-called ship's passport, but shipowners
have been obliged to this day to pay 30 roubles and
more for that document. In the same manner an
illegal tax is levied for the English Church, for
hospitals, &c. All these payments fall heavily on
the consumer, for they add to the cost of the goods,
and they, moreover, prevent many shipmasters
from coming to our ports, for the caudine forks of
the customs' agents are not liked by them. The
agents now wish to protest. They dwell most
strongly on the point that if vessels can leave the
port as soon as they have obtained their clearance
from the customs, some shipmasters will fail to give
the shippers of goods receipts for the cargo taken
on board.

It is almost unnecessary to s ly that the argument is
simply ridiculous. The laws of all countries afford
security against piracy, and there is no reason why,ill
order to prevent piraey,shipmasters should be bound to
receive their freight only through the agency of a
strongly organised corporation levying the most
illegal charges. It is to ba hoped that all that outcry
will be properlyestimztted by the Ministerof Finance
and the customs department. The vocation of a
custom-house agent will continue to be lucrative,
even though it will cease to be a sinecure for young
Englishmen and Germans, for the regulations of
the agents are signed by about sixty foreign houses,
and only by two or three Russian firms. Never-
theless, a difficult periol of transition is in store
for the men who have hitherto lived by sucking
the life-blood of our trade, making still worse our
customs regulations, and thwarting every attempt
at improvement. The Minister of Finance w.shee
to make them give up their favourite habits and
their inexhaustible sources of income, and it is
therefore easy to understand why they make- as
much noise as if their throats were about to be cut.

The Bishop of Ontario writes to the Guardian
The general opinion hold by calm-lookers on is that
the Irish Church is doomed as an Establishment.
The precedent will certainly be disastrous to all
establishments, but I see no reason to infer that
the Church will either perish or become impaired
in usefulness. As a bishop of a church which
has gone through the ordeal of disestablishment,
I am inclined to believe that the Irish Church
may flourish when separated from the State. The
resolutions of Mr. Gladstone will leave the Church
in possession of all property, I suppose, that has
been acquired by private benefaction, and of the
glebe-houses and church edifices, and also will leave
the clergy in possession of their incomes for life.
Now, a precedent has been established in the dig-
endowment of the Canadian Church which may
be usefully followed in Ireland. Instead of the
clergy retaining their rent charges, &e., for the
term of their natural life, let the State at once take
possession of these revenues, and pay to the church
a capital sum in commutation of the clergy life in-
terest. The income of bishops and clergy is, say,
£500,000, which may be commuted, perhaps, fur
13 years' purchase, or at all events for 10 years'
purchase. Thus the church will at once acquire
£5,000,000 of endowment. The interest of this
sum will not suffice to pay the present incumbents
their full stipends, bat now is the time ,to shoo'
a spirit of self-sacrifice ; and if the Irish clergy will
follow the example of the Canadian clergy, all of
whom, except one man, commuted their life
annuities and threw their money into a common
fund, they will earn the admiration of the world.
Any deficiency in their stipends may surely be made
up by the voluntary contributions of the landowners
of Ireland, five-sixths of whom are Protestants, and
would be supplemented by donations from the Eng-
lish branch of the Church. To sum up : the result
would be that the Irish Church will find itself in
possession of five million of pounds, all its
churches and glebe-houses, Diocesan and pro-
vincial Synods, and liberty. The further result
will be increased life and missionary zeal, in conse-
quence of the necessity of falling back on the
powers of the Church as a spiritual organisation►
while the only apparent difference that the world will
see between the Established and disestablisbed
Church will be that four bishops will be excluded
yearly from the House of Lords. I believe that net
even will the dignity or social status of bishops and
clergy be in the least degree diminished, while mail
advantages, which I need not mention, will accrue.
Of course, I do not mean to defend the disestablish'
meat of the Irish Church, but merely to express elf
own ' Nil desperandunt.'"