Int vrobintes.

Doncaster Races commenced on Monday ; but the racing on that day was of little interest, and the attendance was bad. The most notable point was a mischance in the first race,—a match, in which Lord Eglin- ton's mare Blue Bonnet, the winner of the St. Leger last year, bolted ; throwing Lye, the jockey, over her head,—and leaving Mr. Payne's filly Mania to canter over the ground. The Queen's Plate of 100 guineas was won by Mr. D. Cook's Trueboy, ridden by Lye. Ten horses started for the Champagne Stakes of 50 sovereigns each; which were won by Mr. Williamson 's Cure, ridden by Heseltine. The interest on Tuesday, when the attendance was rather better, was absorbed in the race for the Great St. Leger ; and as to the other -races, suffice it to say that the Cleveland Handicap was won by Lord -Chesterfield's Knight of the Whistle ; the Selling Stakes, by Mr. Gully's Era ; the Corporation Plate, by Sir C. Moncles Flagsman. Neither of the favourites, Cotherstone and Prizefighter, won the chief race— "Betting: after several fluctuations the odds closed finally as follows-6 to 4 on Cotherstone ; 6 to 1 against Prizefighter (taken); 6 to 1 against Lamas colt (taken); 100 to 7 against Nutwith (taken) ; 100 to 6 against Mania; 20 to 1 against Aristides ; 25 to 1 against Dumpling; 40 to 1 against Trueboy. "At the third attempt a very good start was accomplished ; Prize- fighter quitting the crowd in a few strides, and taking up the running at a steady pace; Reviewer following in his wake, Nutwith third, Cotherstone, Lucetta, and Trueboy next, and the others in good places. The speed increased up the MA and with it Prizefighter's lead; but the order of running continued almost as it commenced to the mile-post; where the Lucetta colt was observed to move up, his position in the race on passing the T. Y. C. being next to Reviewer. This horse, however, was already in difficulty, and before he reached the turn had fallen back to the ruck. Lucetta colt tired im- mediately after, and ere he was round was passed by nearly every horse in the race. Up to this time Prizefighter had a strong lead ; but it now gradually diminished, and at the bend, Nutwith, Cotherstone, Trueboy, and Aristides were lying dose up. This lot ran in a body to the distance ; where a slight lead was taken by Cotherstone, Nutwith following him, Prizefighter next, out- side of the latter, and Trueboy and Aristides at their quarters. At this point Aristides made an attempt for the lead, and fairly reached the leading horse, but died away in two or three strides, and left the three to finish the race. At the stand, Cotherstone's head was still in advance of Nutwith, Prizefighter lying at the latter's quarters; and in this way the race continued till within a dozen yards of the chair, when Marton made one grand effort, and landed his horse first by a head ; Cotherstone beating Prizefighter for the second prize by a neck. So fine a race with three, we may venture to say, has never been seen at Doncaster. Trueboy ran in a capital place throughout ; Mania was a bad fifth, and Aristides sixth ; the others were tailed off. The race was timed at three minutes and twenty seconds. Value of the stakes, subject to the usual deductions, 3,1000

The principal race of Thursday, the Yorkshire Handicap, though usually considered second in importance to the St. Leger, attracted a much larger "field" of racers. Before that, however, a match for 200 sovereigns was won by Lord Chesterfield's Joan of Arc ; the Foal Stakes, of 100 sovereigns each, (nine subscribers,) by Lord Eglintoun's Aristides; and the Municipal Stakes of 300 sovereigns each, (seven subscribers,) by Lord Glasgow's Velocipede. Sixteen horses raced for the Great Yorkshire Handicap, of 25 sovereigns each, (seventy-five subscribers,) with 2001. added. The starting was arranged in a new method, to avoid false starts-

" The jockies, sixteen in number, after weighing for the race, were called be- fore the Steward, Lord Eglintonn, and informed by his Lordship, that in conse- quence of the unsatisfactory manner in which some of the starts at Doncaster and elsewhere had been conducted, he had deputed Lord George Bentinek to start them ; and that the law would be rigidly enforced against all who at- tempted to take an unfair advantage, or otherwise break the rule for their guidance. Shortly after the bell rung for saddling, and a few minutes before five the horses were at the Sr. Leger starting-post ; Pompey alone, out of the sixteen, requiring the personal attendance of his trainer. Instead of walking them back a few yards and then giving the word, as was the case for the St. Leger, they were paraded in close order up the course to the end of the Grand Stand, walked back in close array, not to the post, but with a wide sweep to the extreme end of the space below the Steward's stand, and then, wheeling round in a straight line to the post, started without a failure, the Silkworm filly alone having lost ground in getting off. The instinctive, lamb-like gen- tleness of horses and jockies in this lengthened preliminary afforded a con- vincing proof, that to effect a good start at the first attempt merely requires proper rules, and a person of sufficient weight to enforce them."

Lord Eglintonn's Pompey, ridden by Noble, won the stakes ; Mr. Forth's Venus, ridden by Riley, as second, received 100/. ; the third horse saved the stake-

" Betting : 5 to 1 against the Conqueror (taken) ; 6 to 1 against Semiseria; 6 to 1 against Latham; 7 to 1 against Pompey ; 9 to 1 against Venus; 13 to 1 against Portrait; 15 to 1 against Eboracam ; 100 to 6 against Scalteeu ; 20 to 1 against Silkworm filly ; 20 to 1 against Billingham Lass; 25 to 1 against Priscilla Tomboy. "The start, as we have mentioned above, was admirably managed, all get- ting off favourably, except the Silkworm filly, which hung back at the moment the signal was given, and must have lost three or four lengths. The running was made at a good pace by Semiseria, Jack second, attended by the Con- queror, Venus, Priscilla Tomboy, and Lothario; the others, saving Portrait, who was last, following in compact order. The only chance that occurred in the first mile was an increase in the space between Semiseria and her second, and an improvement in the positions held by Lothario and Portrait. At the Red House, Jack was beaten, and coming against the Conqueror in falling back, the latter turned jady, and shut up. The race with the others went on to the last turn, where Pompey, (leading,) Venue, Lothario, and Priscilla Tomboy, passed Semiseria, but all so near together that no one could have picked out a winner. Priscilla Tomboy had the worst of it at the stand, but with the other three the struggle was maintained to the close ; Pompey win- ning the best handicap of the season by a head, Venus beating Lothario for the second money by a neck, and Priscilla Tomboy finishing a most excellent fourth. Semiseria, Eboracuto, Portrait, and the Silkworm filly were next, but all beaten off."

On Thursday, Mr. Bowes's Cotherstone won the Three-year-old Stakes ; but the only race of real interest was that for the Cup, which was won by Mr. H. Wormald's Alice Hawthorn, ridden by Heseltine, beating the second horse, Mr. Johnstone's Charles the Twelfth, by about twenty lengths. There were ten horses in the race, including Gorhambury, who looked out of condition. Yesterday, the Park-hill Stakes were won by Colonel Cradock's Peggy ; the Scarborough Stakes, by Mr. Jaques's Semiseria; the Town Plate, by Alice Hawthorn.

The first of Mr. Cobden's meetings in the agricultural districts since the harvest was held at Oxford, on Tuesday. A requisition for a county meeting, signed by Lord Camoys and Mr. Langston, the Liberal Member for the town, and others, had been presented to the High Sheriff; who convened the meeting accordingly, to be held in the County-hall. Both parties endeavoured to get up as much excitement as possible beforehand ; but neither had very eminent success. As the day was market-day, however, the attendance was numerous. In the absence of the High Sheriff, Mr. Cooper, the Under-Sheriff was appointed to the chair. The hall, which is considered to hold about 1,500 persons was quite full. Among those who appeared on the plat- form were—Lord Camoys, Lord Norreys, M.P., Mr. Harcourt, M.P., Mr. Henley, M.P., and Mr. Langston, M.P. When Mr. Cobden rose to address the meeting, Mr. Henley asked the Under-Sheriff whether the meeting, being a county meeting, could he addressed by persons who were not freeholders ? The Chairman said, it appeared to him, that the understanding of the High Sheriff was, that the meeting was called for the purpose of receiving Mr. Cobden, and hearing some com- munication which he intended to make to the freeholders of Oxford : that being the case, he certainly thought Mr. Cobelea had a right to speak ; but, in his opinion, no other person, not being a freeholder, could properly address them. [Mr. Bright, however, was unchallenged when he spoke.] Mr. Cobden began his address by defining the sub- ject of discussion- " We have met today to discuss the effect of the Corn-law on the tenant- farmer and farm-labourer. We have not met to consider the law as it affects the landlord and landowner : we are not here to consider whether they benefit by it ; for, if necessary, I will at once concede that they do. ( A laugh.) Nei- ther have we met to consider it as it affects the interest of the titheowner in raising the price of his corn ; for, if necessary, I will also concede that it does that. Nor are we met to consider it as it affects land-valuers and land-agents, who are interested in the frequent changes of tenants; nor as it affects the legal gentlemen who are the agents of great landlords : all these I know it affects beneficially. But what we are met to consider is, how it affects;the farmers who employ their capital and their talent in cultivating the laud, and who Can have no interest in raising the price of bread ; and also how it affects the inte- rests of the farm-labourers, who, getting wages for their labour, can have no interest in raising the prices of those necessaries of life which they and their families consume in such large proportions. Now, as I see before me so large a proportion of bona fide farmers—(A cry of " No, no I")—but I say, Yes, yes! for where did those men below borrow their blushing facet and their sun- burnt brows but in the corn-field ? (A cheer.) As I see before me so large a portion of bona fide farmers, I wish to put myself perfectly straight with them. Don't you suppose that I come here to deprive you of protection. I come here

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to show you that what you consider protection s no protection. I ask you to regard my arguments as if you were honest jurymen, setting aside prejudice, and acting perfectly impartially. Now, my first proposition is this, that if the raises ises the price of corn, rents rise in proportion to price. Is not that, let me ask, the regular course ? Does not the land-valuer always value you in according to the price of corn at the time you take a farm ? Corn may be at one price, it may be at another, but is not this always the case? Well, then, if this be the case, my next proposition is, that the Corn-law has promised the farmer prices which it has never realized. 1 say that it has cheated the farmers for twenty-seven years, and that it has led the farmers to expect prices which they have never obtained."

He went on to enumerate successive proofs of the inutility of the Corn-law in securing fixed prices to the farmer ; which brought him to the change of Ministry in 1841—

" The Whigs said to themselves, What are we to go to the country with ? Shall we go as farmers' friends and promise protection? Why,' said they, they have been so often imposed on they will never listen to that. Well, then,' said they, we'll try what the towns will do for us, and propose a litt e free trade. But what said the other party ? Why, they got together in London, and Sir Edward Knatchbull and the rest of them thought that they had taken the gauge of the farmers' feeling—' So,' said they, 'only promise them enough and they'll follow us.' Parliament was dissolved. The farmers' friends came down to the hustings; and the sillier a man was—the greater the promisee he =de- n) much the more did you farmers throw up your caps at him. (A laugh.) Yes, there's not a farmer here who won't confess it : he'll hang down his head like that man there, but he'll confess it nevertheless. (More laughter.) Well, I heard your 'friends' propose their last corn-law. Sir Robert Peel brought it forward ; and he said he would give you, as far as legislation could secure it, a price ranging from 548. to 58s. per quarter for your corn. [Here an adjourn- ment to the open air was moved and carried, against the wish of the Chairman and Mr. Cobden, by those who suffered from the pressure of the crowd. The meeting removed to the cattle-market; and Mr. Cobden took up the thread of his discourse.] Sir Robert Peel promised a price of from 54s. to 58s. Well, in less than twelve months after be made that promise, what were the prices of wheat From 46s. to 47s. a quarter-10s. less than had been promised the farmers only twelve months before! He declared, therefore, that those legis- lative acts bad never realized to the farmers what they had promised."

Mr. Cobden went on in his usual way, discuising the Corn question in its bearings between the grower and the consumer, with a view to show that the manufacturers of Lancashire and Yorkshire were the consumers of the corn of Oxfordshire and other agricultural counties, and that if those manufacturers were rained the farmers must suffer in proportion. Lord Camoys spoke next. He declared that the League did infinitely less to endanger the Corn-laws than "the farmers' friends " ; avowed that every debate in the House of Lords had rendered him a more determined friend to a fixed duty ; and moved this resolution ; which was seconded by Mr. Langston-

" Resolved, that the agricultural interest being the paramount interest in this country, to depress that interest would be injurious to the entire com- munity; that suddenly to adopt free trade in corn, might produce that effect ; and that, therefore, it is the opinion of this meeting, that a moderate fixed duty upon the importation of foreign corn is the one hest adapted to the present position of the agricultural interests and to the welfare of the community."

Mr. Bright delivered a rather discursive speech, wandering to attacks on the Ministers and the Income-tax. Lord Norreys supported the Corn-law ; denying that it was the cause of manufacturing distress, which he attributed to over-production. Mr. Henley followed on the same side. Mr. Cobden having briefly replied, an amendment in favour of Free Trade was moved and seconded, and carried by an overwhelming majority ; about five persons supporting the fixed-duty resolution. Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated at seven o'clock, having lasted for five hours.

It is now understood that there will be no immediate vacancy for Sheffield, and that both Mr. Ward and Mr. Parker will retain their seats.—Hull Rockingham.

Dr. Bowring paid his annual visit to his constituents at Bolton on the 7th, and delivered an address on the topics of the past session. In the course of some questioning to which he was subjected, he said he had promised that if no other Member undertook the duty he would bring the grievances and oppressions of the Welsh people before Parliament. The meeting unanimously adopted a vote of thanks to Dr. Bowring, with a request that he would resume his duties as the representative of Bolton.

The attempt to get up a town meeting in Birmingham on the subject of distress seems likely to come to nothing— 'On Monday," says the Morning Chronicle, "a deputation waited on the Mayor of Birmingham, with the requisition requesting him to call a public meeting to petition the Queen to dismiss her present Ministers. The requisi- tion was signed by nearly one thousand merchants, manufacturers, and shop- keepers of the town. There was not the name of a working man attached to it. The Mayor, however, declined calling the meeting ; observing, that although he might not act in accordance with the wishes of many most respectable in- dividuals in the town, he had made up his mind not to call the meeting."

Father Mathew has paid a visit to Birmingham. He arrived late on Saturday night. On Sunday morning he celebrated mass at the Roman Catholic cathedral, St. Chad's ; and then breakfasted at the Bishop's Palace. At eleven o'clock he assisted at high mass ; and the Honour- able and Reverend George Spencer, the brother of Earl Spencer, came over to preach on the occasion. Father Mathew preached in the even- ing. Next morning he was entertained at a public breakfast, the Mayor presiding ; and then, accompanied by Mr. Spencer, Mr. Sturge, and other gentlemen, he proceeded to Smithfield ; where he admiuis- tered the pledge to between one and two thousand persons. In the evening there was a tea-party at the Market Hall ; the Mayor again occupying the chair. After a repetition of such proceedings, he de- parted on Wednesday ; having administered the pledge to 3,000 persons.

A meeting was held in Liverpool Amphitheatre, on Tuesday, to re- ceive Mr. Daniel O'Connell junior, and a deputation from Dublin, on the subject of Repeal. More than 3,000 persons were present, mostly Irish labourers, porters, lumpers, and the like. In the midst of the pro- ceedings, some ship-carpenters, who have a feud with the Irish, showed signs of opposition ; and a serious riot ensued, which a strong Police force was called in to quell. The sum of 41/. was handed to the de- putation, as rent collected in Liverpool.

The discontent of the sailors at Liverpool, which caused some rioting a short time ago, is likely to be removed. A crowded meeting of sailors was held in the Queen's Theatre last week ; several masters of ships and other gentlemen taking part in the proceedings. A letter was read from the Mayor, stating that the Council had considered a petition from the sailors, and they thought that they could not interfere to oblige the agents to take lower fees on finding places for the men-

" But a member of the Council declared his intention of bringing the sub- ject of a Seamen's Home before the Council, with regulations for bettering the condition of the seaman, and in particular for aiding in the preservation of his earnings for his benefit, under his own order and disposal. And the same member strongly recommended that every seaman, on returning home from a voyage, should obtain a written character from the shipmaster, which, it was thought, would go a long way in securing future employment." Among the resolutions passed, the principal one touched upon a similar measure—

'That this meeting recommends, as a remedy, the immediate establishment of a general registry-office convenient to the docks, where masters and seamen may resort, and where a register of seamen's names, places of abode, rates, character, &c., shall be kept at all times open for inspection between nine and six o'clock : and to defray the expenses of such establishment, the charge for each seaman for enrolling his name, &c. upon his arrival in port, shall be six- pence, including all expenses ; and sixpence to the shipowner or merchant per man ; the whole subject to the control of a committee of merchants and gen- tlemen of the port ot Liverpool." A Committee was appointed to carry out the object of the meeting.

Incendiarism begins to show itself as a popular form of crime in South Wales. Mr. William Chambers, a Magistrate of Llanelly, whose tact in directing the military has made him formidable to the Rebecca rioters, and who was instrumental in causing the apprehension of those who attacked Pontardulais gate, has been the object of repeated incen- diary attacks. The three last were but too successful-

" Mr. Chambers," says the correspondent of the Times, "owns and culti- vates a farm, called Tynywern, about seven miles from Llauelly, on the Ponty- berrem road. On Sunday morning between one and two o'clock, the barns and outbuildings of this farm were set fire to, together with the hay and corn stacks, all of which were completely consumed, and about 3001. worth of property destroyed. One of the farm-boys was awakened, and on looking out, saw the outbuildings on fire, and about fifteen men disguised leaving them. The same men were then seen to go across the country to another farm occu- pied by Mr. W. Chambers, called hfaensant ; and there they set fire to the corn and hay stacks. Three stacks of corn and one of hay, worth about 1501. were entirely consumed. On Sunday night, the house itself was set on fire, and destroyed."

The rioters have also added deliberate murder to their misdeeds— On the road from Llanelly to Pontardulais, and within five hundred yards of the latter place, is a turnpike-gate called Hendy gate. This was kept by an old woman upwards of seventy years of age; who has received frequent:notices that if she did not leave the gate, her house should be burnt down. About three o'clock on Sunday morning, a party of ruffians set fire to the thatch of the toll- house. The old woman on being awakened ran into the road, and to a neigh- bouring cottage within twenty yards of the toll-house, shouting to the people who lived in it, for God's sake to come out and help her to put out the fire; there was not much.' The occupier of this cottage, a stout able man, whom I saw last night, told me that he was afraid to go out, and begged the old woman to come into his cottage ; which she refused, and went back to try and save some of her furniture. It appears her exclamation had been overheard, for the vil- lains returned and set fire to the thatch again. The old woman then ran across the road, and, as I am informed, shouted out, ' She knew them '; when the brutes fired at her, and shot her dead. She staggered as far as their neigh- bouring cottage door, and there sank down dead, in the arms of the cottager's wife." -

An inquest was held on the body ; and, after hearing ample evidence of the facts, including medical evidence as to the fatal nature of wounds in the chest produced by the shots, the Jury returned the following most extraordinary verdict-

" That the deceased died from the effusion of blood into the chest, whicla occasioned suffocation ; but froiri what cause, is to this jury unknown."

At Llandilo, on Saturday, considerable excitement existed in con- sequence of the apprehension and subsequent examination of a respect- able farmer, William Davies, on suspicion of having been concerned in setting fire to some wheat-mows, the property of Lord Dynevor. The examination lasted till a late hour; but eventually Davies was liberated, he having proved an alibi. The person who gave the information was supposed to have done so merely for the sake of the reward, and he very narrowly escaped with his life under protection of the Dragoons.

Three of the rioters who had been seized at Pontardulais, including John Hughes, who personated "Rebecca," were examined at Swansea on Saturday and Monday, and again remanded. They were committed for trial on Wednesday.

The turnpike-roads of Cardiganshire are under the management of two sets of trustees, and the two trusts are designated by the names of "the upper" and "the lower" trust. On Tuesday, the trustees of the lower trust held a meeting at Cardigan, for the purpose of considering the propriety of reducing the tolls, and of removing some of the toll-bars. A number of important reductions were agreed to; the chief being a toll of 2d. on carts, and of Id. on lime, instead of 4d., and the abo- lition of the toll at every third time of passing, one toll freeing for the whole day.

The strike of copper-men around S ,ansea seems to be at an end. Last week all the men belonging to the lIafordWorks agreed to resume their work at the reduced rate of wages (12i per cent) proposed by their employers, Messrs. Vivian ; and at other works the people have resumed their usual occupations at the reduced rate.

A Court-martial was held at Chatham Barracks on the 6th instant, to try Lieutenant J. Piper, of the Twenty-sixth Cameronian Regiment. The charges against him were various acts of drunkenness and insub- ordination on board the John Wicliffe, during the recent voyage home from India, and at Chatham ; and also the obtaining from the Paymaster of the Invalid DepOt 401. on the false pretence that it was for the use of the Regiment. One of the most outrageous acts alleged occurred on the 30th June last, on board ship ; when he threatened the sentry with a drawn sword, and menaced his superior officers with the weapon ; being with some difficulty and violence secured. Evidence having been adduced in support of the charges, Mr. George Acworth, a soli- citor of Rochester, read the prisoner's defence ; which pleaded aberra- tion of intellect as the real cause of the irregularities, and prayed for leniency in consideration of the defendant's aged father, Lieutenant- Colonel Piper, who had served his country for forty-one years. The result of the inquiry was, as usual, kept secret until the proceedings should have been forwarded to the Horse Guards.