The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-09 00:00:00

ROYAL vran TO _LIVERPOOL.

The weather yesterday was very unfavourable for
any demonstrations of gaiety. The sun scarcely ever shone
at all, and it was so dull and misty throughout the greater
portion. of the day that the shops and offices in the centre
of the town had to be lighted with gas. Prince Arthur
and Prince Christian left KnOwsley Park about ten o'clock,
attended by Earl Vane, the Hon. F. Stanley, ALP., Lord
Barrington, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, Lord
Walden, Lord Skelmeradale, Lord Elphinetone, and Mr.
Engelhardt, and drove to Liverpool, where they were
met by the Mayor (Mr. E. Whitley), Mr. R. Brocklebank
(chairman of the Mersey Dock Board), Mr. John Laird,
M.P., Mr. Charles Turner, M.P., Mr. Graves, M.P., and
other gentlemen connected w:th the commerce and in-
terests of the town. They then proceeded to inspect the
enormous new works at the Waterloo Dock, at the north
end of the town, the various parts of which were explained
by Mr. Lyster, the engineer to the Dock Board. They
next drove to the landing-stage, and during a royal salute,
freed fro '`,fajestf s ram Viper, embarked on board
the Dock Doard steam-tender Alert, end sailed up the
river, passing round her Majesty's ship Donegal, w'hic'h
fired a royal salute, the Great Eastern steamship,
the school frigate Conway, and the other reformatory
ships anchored in the Sloyne. Having disembarked,
the party proceeded to the Town Hall, where
they were entertained to lunch by the Mayor. Pfter
'luncheon the Princes and their suite drove to the free
public library, where they met the Princess Christian, the
Princess Henrietta, and a number of ladies from
Knowsley, including the Countess of Derby. The whole
party then paid a visit to St. George's Hall, where Mr.
Best gave a performance on the grand organ. The pro-
gramme, which had been specially arranged for the occa-
sion by the Countess of Derby, was as follows :—War
march (" Athalie "), Mondelssohn ; Air, Cujus animam
(" Stabat Mater "),. Rossini ; Tema con Variazioni for
the organ ( \ T. Best) ; Fantasia on themes from the
opera of " Dinorah " (Meyerbeer); Overture, "Guillaume
Tell," scored for a grand organ by W. T. Best (Rossini).
The performance lasted _from about four to five o'clock.
The visitors, on leaving the hall, drove back to Knowsley.
There was very little hunting shea•n on the river, and
the display of flags in the toWn,' the visit being a private
one, was almost uil. The Royal standard floated over the
Town Hall, as is customary on phe‘occasion of visits to the
town by members of the RoyalFapilY. •

There were two shooting. parties on Tuesday, one of,
which bagged 980, the other 700 head--Prince ArthUr•
killing 67.

RETIREMENT OF THE DEAN OF WINCHESTER.—•
The Very Rev. Dr. Gamier, Dean of Winchester, has
announced that he intends td bring his public ministry to
a close. He graduated at Oxford before the commence-
ment of the present century, and, although 92 years of
age, took his share of the services in the cathedral on
Christmas Day. He has been Dean of Winchester
twenty-eight years, and for seven years prior to that time
was a canon of the cathedral.

ABSENCE OF CRIME IN KENT. —At the Maid-
stone Winter Sessions the Recorder was presented with a
pair of white kid gloves , there being no business. He congratu-
lated the county on this, for the court had generally to be
held in Kent when it was not required elsewhere. This
was the first instance in his recollection when no assize
had been held. He hoped that in these troublous and
discontented times good order and peacefulness would
continue.

A SERIOUS MISTAKE.—A shocking accident has
occurred near Alton. A number of gentlemen were
shooting in a cover near Alton, belonging to E. Knight,
Esq., of eliawton Park. One of the party steadily aimed
at something which in the distance he mistook for a
rabbit, and fired, when a loud cry for assistance was heard,
on which several gentlemen ran to the spot and found a
young man named Spencer, the son of a farmer living-in
the neighbourhood, lying on the ground seriously wounded
in both legs, and weltering in blood. A considerable time
elapsed before further help could be rendered, owing to
the distance from the village, and the unfortunate man
was compelled to remain upon the snow-covered ground
to await the arrival of a cart. He was then conveyed
home in a benumbed and exhausted condition and re-
ceived medical attention ; but it is feared that the acci-
dent, combined with the long exposure to frost and snow,
will render his recovery for some time exceedingly doubt-
ful. No less than thirty shots have been extracted from
the legs of the sufferer.

A CAUTION.--The fidelity and caution of the
troops is illustrated by a singular incident which occurred
a few days ago in Belfast: Two soldiers of the 28th were
walking through the town about six o'clock in the even-
ing, when they were accosted by a gentleman, who got
into conversation with them on the subject of the army,
its strength, and details of organisation. They were not
disposed to gratify his turiosity,,nnd resorted to vanous
expedienti for getting civilly -away, but he kept close to
them for two hours wherever they went; and offered them
money for drink. At last, suspecting thtt he wanted to
seduce them from their allegiance, they gave him in charge
to a policeman. When the charge was being entered at
the police-house it was discovered that, the gentleman was
a very influential person in Belfast, and a member of die
of the public boards, who takes a great interest in military
matters. His name and address were taken, and it was
left optional with the soldiers to prosecute him if they
thought fit—a caution to people of too inquiring a turn of
mind.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT TO A MAIL TRAIN.—On
Tuesday night a singular accident happened to one of the
mail trains ranning between Edinburgh, &c., and London,
on the Lancaster and Carlisle section of the London and
North-Western Railway. As the train was proceeding at
its usual speed near Oxenholme the tender of the engine,
through some cause, got detached from the van adjoining
and at the head of the carriages. It being dark at the
time, and as no noise was caused through the severance,
the engine-driver proceeded ahead, and it was not until a
distance of six or seven miles had been traversed that he
became aware of what had happened—namely, that he
had left the train. As soon as this state of affairs became
known, the driver reversed his engine, the train was
reached, and, after being recoupled, the journey was con-
tinued. The mail was about an hour and a quarter late
at Preston. No personal injury was sustained through
the mishap. Some time ago a similar accident, attended
with rather serious consequences, occurred between Rugby
and London.

SCENE IN AN IRISH COURT OF JUSTICE. —A
very unusual scene has occurred in the Antrim Quarter
Sessions Court, presided over by Mr. Otway, Q.C. The
jury having handed in a verdict of acquittal in a case of
common assault, the judge, addressing the foreman,
asked, " What's that you say ?" Foreman : " There were
discrepancies in the evidence which—" His worship :
" Tut, tut, nonsense ! You may retire ! Stop ! (open-
ing a law book) I don't know how to deal with that
verdict ;itis a perverse verdict." The foreman observed
that they had found discrepancies in the evidence ; when
the judge again remarked that he bad power—there
was no question of it—to order a jury to reconsider and
amend their verdict, when,:through the mistaking of evi-
dence or partiality, it was repugnant,to justice. He did not
know whether he would exercise that Dower or not. He would
allow the verdict to be recorded, but he had never reclived
a verdict from a jury with which he wa.i so thoroughly
dissatisfied. (To the accused.) " Stand up, sir. The
jury - I can hardly callithemp—the twelve men who were
sworn to try your case—have acquitted you. I do not
believe a more guilty man ever stood In ihe dock than you.
However, I will take the verdict—a verdict which may
have done more to hinder the administration of justice in
this court, and limit the value of its jurisdiction, than any
verdict that was ever given. I have told you that I will
take the verdict, believing you—nOtwithstanding that the
jury have acquitted you—as guilty a man as ever stood in
that dock. You are discharged, I believe the verdict to
be partial, perverse, and repugnant to justice. (To the
jury) : Go away, gentlemen. You certainly never shall
be on a jury again, if I can help it." The jurymen seemed'
much astonished.

SPARE THE LITTLE BIRDS.—An enthusiastic
German naturalist, Dr. H. Linck, publishes in a Stutt-
. of cold
on behalf of the small birds,
by thousands
thaeretic.
nro.psepal3risl:i2g
Ngval itch!) ,a ph
eer s an
ypsa,
and hunger. " Human beings '—so begins the appeal—
"be merciful and grateful ! . . . Yon have perhaps
no suspicion of the state of the birds at this moment.
But I know, both from a long intimate acquaintance with
the animal world, and from observations that I am now
making, that days like the present, when a slow,
silent, increasing snow-fall buries the earth and. it:
produce, act like a pestilence on the feathered tribe •
I find every morning in my garden chaffinches, gold-
hammers, J.ammers, tomtits, blackbirds, and robins, dead, starved,b
rozen." In the hope of remedying this state of things,
the doctor begs mankind to " throw off its wretched
indolence, if only to order servants to shake the cloth out-
side the window after meals, and to collect the crumbs of
stale bread and the cold potatoes which lie forgotten in
odd cornets and cupboards, and scatter them to the birds
after making them digestible by reducing them to a pulp
and mixing the compound with grated carrots." "And
you," adds the doctor, " proprietors of gardens and fields,
I have read a hundred times what incalculable services the
feathered population render you by the incessant war they
wage against the small but pOwerful destroyers of your
seed and fruits. Do not hesitate to wade through the
snow to bring them alms and spare their lives. You may
then change your boots with the consciousness of having
!NIA: cued 0 truly good and htunivic action.".

AQUATICS.

THE NEW THAMES YACHT CLUB.

Under this title a new yacht club has just been success-
fully launched. At a meeting of gentlemen interested in
the pursuit of the sport, held at the Freemasons' Tavern
at the Close of last November, it was proposed by Mr. A.
J. Otway, M.P., and seconded by Mr. Charles Marett, and
resolved pnanimously—" That, having regard to the pros-
pect of sport on the Thames, it is desirable that a new
society be formed for the purpose of encouraging yacht
building and sailing on the river Thames;" and the fol-
lowing gentlemen were appointed as a committee to for-
ward the object in view : —Messrs. J. D. Lee, yacht Nettle ;
E. italdock, the Pilau; G. W. Cliaxlwood, Irene; R.
Dames, Violet; T. Groves, jun, Phryne ; J. a. Johnson,
snibad ; W. Lake, _Dauntless; J. C. Morice, Marina; W.
N. Mudge, Night Thcught; Janies houlbred, Coquette;
H. P. acuity, AniazJii ; U. M•trett, A. J. Otway, C. L.
Jusibi Mills, and It. T. Wilkinson.
The reSUlt'ui the emiltutttue's Ittbuitirs W.Li declared in a
circular addressed togentlemeu who had given their assent
to iuvituiiuus to juin, -is follows That 12U gentlemen.
had .embraced the offer, including owners of 40 yachts."
The following resJiutiuns were then agreed to by the
committee.:—

"That the society be designated The New Thames
Yacht Club.'

" That the chief object of the club being the promotion
of yachting on the river Thames, and an expensive esta-
blishment not being contemplated, the entrance fee to the
first 200 members be three guineas, and to subsequent
members five guineas.

"That the anaaal subscriptioa be two guineas.

" That a sub-committee be formed to frame a sot of
general rules and regulations for the club, to be subaiitted
to members at the next meeting.

" That a sub-committee be appointed to ascertain what
reasonable accommodation can be obtained for the use of
the club, and report thereon at the next meeting."
In pursuance of these resolutions, the whole of the pre-
liminaries were brought up at a meeting hold on Tuesday
night, and presided over as before by Mr. J. D. Lee, who
was supported by a large number of gentlemen interested
iu yachting. The club was pronounced by general consent
to be duly launched, but its anchorage is not yet deter-
mined on ; a central position in the metropolis, however'
will be selected. Mr. R. S. Wilkinson, hon. secretary and
treasurer, read the whole list of members; and Mr. C.
Latham went through the regulations which are at pre-
sent suggested for the government of the club, and which
are hereafter to be determined upon. The meetings of the
club are to take place on the first Monday in every month
excepting August, Septemlier, and October. A committee
of ten gentlemen was appointed to carry en business
_pro
tem.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1868.
FEBRUARY.

Lincoln Spring
Harrow 2O I Derby Spring

MARCH.
1
Liverpool Spring M.... 3 Margate
Chelmsford Spring M. 10 Epsom Spring Meeting
Shrewsbury Spring ... 10 Croxton Park
West Drayton l2 I Northampton
Warwick Spring

APRIL.
Northampton (continued) 1 Knighton
Bromley ......
Aldershot

D arh am
Hendon ..

13 Lewes Spring
13 I Thirsk

Newcastle Spring
Newmarket Craven 13

Newmarket Ist Spring
(continued)
Chester 5
Winchester
York Spring
Doncaster Spring
JU

West Drayton
Croydon 2d Summer
Ascot Summer 9
Windsor Summer
Newton
U.

Curragh April
Newmarket Ist Spring

Salisbury
Bath
Croydon Ist Summer
Epsom Summer

Hampton
BiburyOlub

Curragh June
Stockbridge
Alexandra Park

Alexandra Park (con.) 1.
Chelmsford
Worcester Summer 2
Carlisle

Liverpool
Stamford
Huntingdon
Nottingham July
Southampton
Goodwood

Newmarket July 7
Reading •
Odiham, l6

AUGUST.

Brighton
Brighton Club 6 Oxford
Lewes Summer
Wolverhampton ll I Derby Summor
Stockton
Plymouth
Windsor
Egham lB Tunbridge
littstings
SEPTEMBER.
Warwick September ... 1 I Hendon
Abingdon 3 Monmouth. ..
Leicester
__ .

Doncaster September... 8 I West Drayton
Richmond
Kele° l5 and Ayr
Hampton Autumn l5
- - . OCT

BER.

Chelmsford Autumn l3
Cheltenham l3
Ealing
Newmarket iluughtou 39
Worcester
:11113E

23
24
27
31,

16
21
21
23
28

Roal Caledonian Hunt
and Ayr (continued)... 1
Bedford 1
Bromley
Newmarket 2d October 5
NOV]
Shrewsbury Autumn
Leamington and Warwickshire Hunt l7

- . STEEPLECIIASES.
FEBRUARY.
Carmarthen
Birmingham • 11,12 and Open ..
Li, coin l9 Derby Spring
liarmw • 2O Baschurch 2B
Boston

MA:
Liverpool Spring 3
Shrewsbury Spring lO
Grand Military . 16, 17
Warwick l7
Chertsey 2O

ICH.
Margate 23
West Somerset 24
Cheltenham
Southdown Hunt
I Cambridge
..... RIL.
Grant National Hunt Knighton . l4
I
(Bedford) 2 Abergaveuny
Roy.Artillery(Woolwich) 3 Hambledon
Bromley
Aldershot
Hendon
OCTOBER. _ _

Bromley... 1 Ealing l5

-
DECEMBER.
Bt. Albans 1 i Ealing 26
Kingsbury