The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-09-22 00:00:00

HEATON PARK. RACES.

This sporting meeting, which commences on Wednesday, is
expected to be every way more attractive this year than ou any
past occasion. Some judicious alterations in the arrangements
and tegillations have been made, the effect of one of which,
that of introducing jockies instead of gentlemen riders in seve-
ral of the risers,—will be to encourage ' the entry of superior
horses. Several visitors of distinction are expected to honour
the races with their presence. It is anticipated that the Duc de
Nemours, (second son of Louis Philippe,) who, we perceive,
has been inspecting the various manufactures of Birmingham,
will be a guest at Heaton Park for a few days. Count Matus-
cevitz, the Russian envoy, who was the steward of last year, and
whose departure from this country has been delayed for a short
time, is also expected to be present. Sir Richard Bulkeley
Williams Bulkeley is the steward for the present year. There
are to be two cups and two pieces of plate, besides the stakes,
sweepstakes, and purses which constitute the money prizes in the
racing lottery. The Steward's Plate, (to be run for on Friday.)
the largest of the honorary prizes, though nominally a £lOO
plate, has actually cost £l6:i, and is liberally presented by Sir
Richard Bulkeley. It is a large massive and richly gilt silver
salver, 26 inches in diameter and weighing 192 ounces. It is an
old piece of plate, as by the assay marks or stamps, it must
have been manufactured at least seventy-two Years, and.proba-
bly it is fifty-two years older. The hollow of the salver is filled
with an antique design, richly executed in dead and burnished
gold relief, representing some feast or sacrifice in honour of
Bacchus. The scene is a wood, beneath whose shade groups of
nymphs and winged boys are collected round a large vintage-
basket, laden with the iruit of the vine. From this several of
the boys are snatching clusters of grapes, while one nymph• is
pouring from an antique vase into a lamp-shaped cup, a libation
of oil or wine.. In the back ground are a Corinthian column
and a monumental pedestal supporting a bust, and near these
the artist has oddly enough introduced one of the old-fashioned
English wind corn-mills, a watering trough, an 'old broken
mill-stone, and some hewn timber. In the foreground are two
dogs pen: tiog at game. Behind one or the nymphs is a little
girl, her hair wreathed with laurel, and wearing the open
stomacher so much in fashion a hundred years ago. The only
adult male figure is seated on a bank with.his back to the spec-
tator. As his brows are garlanded with laurel, and as' he is at
some distance from the groups, taking- no part in their employ-
ment, the figure may probably have been intended to represent
" the jolly god of wine" himself. The edge of the salver cun-
tains alsoi in relief, six groups of various fruits, alternate with
six clusters of grapes, in dead 'and burnished gold, and the
whole bus a very splendid appearance.
Count Matuscavitz again presents the plate he gave last year,
es the Steward's Plate, but which was not run for, in conse-
quence of the entry not being duly tilled. It is also a very
handsome silver gilt salver, 22 inches in diameter, Weighing 200
ounces, and though of the nominal value of £lOO, cost 1:150.
Its centre represents in rich dead and burnished gold relieve
the Rape of the Sabilies, surrounded by a wreath of the sun-
flower, the tulip,an'l the ruse, with their leaves.. Its edge con-
tains a vaiiety of scenes in telief in the style of the Elgrn mar-
bles, representing the gods in high symposium, on Mount
Olympus, quaffing nectar. A gadronn lan-decor burnished and
frosted gold encircles the salver. 'rills will form one of the
first day's prizes.
Mr. king, of the Bush Inn, gives a silver gilt cup, resembling
the ancient Tuscan vases, placed upon a square pedestal of
scagliola marble, with Corinthian vase, &c. of dead gold. It
also exceeds its race-list value, being worth £135. The diame-
ter of the vase at the tap is about thirteen inches and a half; its
height, with the pedestal, is nineteen inches, and it will hold
about six quarts. In front of the pedestal, in solid gold letters
of the old English characters, is inscribed " Heaton Park Meet-
ing. 1835;" and at the base, in engraving "Given by John.
King." This cup will be contested on Thursday.
The Manchester gold cup, value £2OO (the race for which is
to be on Friday,) has not yet arrived ; but we undestand that it
is also a very splendid piece of plate. Altogether it may he
said that neither pains nor expense has been spared to render
the Heaton Park races of 1835 a really " crack meeting."

PROGRESS OF METHODISM IN FRANCE.—A meeting of the
Wesleyan Branch Missionary Society was held at their chapel,
rue d'Aujou. Among the gentlemen present were the following
ministers :—Messrs. Newstead, De Jersey, and Cook, missiona-
ries for France; Mr. Traveller, formerly missionary at Madras;
and Mr. Liefchild, minister of Craven Chanel, London. Mr.
Traveller gave as interesting account of the success of missions
in India, where numerous schools have been established and
native teachers have been formed. It appears from the report
that-the infant labours of this society in France are prospering.
It has seven stations in different-parts of France, and seven
schools. Last year .the members of its churches were 2GS, in-
cluding 52 in the Lille circuit, since scattered by the removal
of the minister. The members aro now 464, of whom 70 only
are En;.;! 511. Two Years ago they were 111.-Paris Advertiser.