5 JANUARY 1856, Page 16

THE RUGELEY POISONING CASE AND HORSE - RACING.

SLR—The evidence in the Rugeley poisoning case affords some remarkable indications of the manners, customs, thoughts, and feelings of the profes- sional frequenters of the turf. For the consideration of such of your read- ers as have read the evidence, with this view, I would suggest the following questions. Is the flimsy pretext of improving the breed of horses to be weighed for a moment against the deterioration of human feelings that appears to be so readily produced by racing and betting ? Have the noblemen and gentlemen who patronize this source of evil no high duties left undischarged ?

Have they no worthier use for the money they spend in jockeys, grooms, trainers, and professional betters ? Have they no more suitable school in which to bring up the youthful members of their order than the stables or the race-course ?

Are there no objects of human advancement retarded for want of the pub- lic money that is spent on the "racing plates" with which this school of noblemen and gentlemen are endowed in the name of her Majesty ? Your obedient servant, H.