Vac Vrobinces.
Ascot Races began on Tuesday. Although Royal visiters were ex- pected, the attendance was thin ; which is mainly attributed to the sup- pression of gambling. Not a gambling-booth was to be seen. Soon after one o'clock, the party from Windsor Castle drove up to the Grand Stand : it included Prince Albert, the Emperor of Russia, the King of Saxony, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, and many of the Household. The Prince and the Emperor were much cheered: it soon spread abroad that the Emperor had promised to give 5001. yearly to the Races ; on which the cheering was redoubled, and often renewed. After the race for the Gold Vase, the Royal visiters descended, and went to view the winner, Alice Hawthorn ; who was approvingly patted by the Imperial hand. The illustrious party then returned to the Castle. The races of the first day were not of paramount interest. The Trial Stakes of 10 sovereigns each were run for by four horses, and won by Mr. Townley's Coranna, ridden by Robinson ; the Ascot Derby Stakes, raced for by three horses, were won by Lord Chesterfield's Miser Scarve, ridden by Nat. Lord Albemarle's Scarmentado walked the course for a sweepstakes. Thirteen started for the Ascot Stakes ; and after a smart race, Mr. Payne's Johnny, ridden by Nat, was the winner. Six raced for the Queen's Vase ; which was carried off by Mr. Salvin's Alice Hawthorn, in a canter ; Lord Verulam's Robert de Gorham being second horse : Hesseltine was the winning jockey. "So hollow a race was never seen before at Ascot." Lord Chesterfield's Artful Dodger, ridden by Nat, won the Members' Plate from ten other horses : the winner was claimed to be sold for 150/. Mr. Ford's Poison and Colonel Peel's Ionian each walked over for a sweepstakes.
The proceedings were flat on Wednesday ; for although the races were delayed till three o'clock, the military review at Windsor kept away great numbers. The sport was generally good ; but we can only -enumerate the winners. Swinley Stakes (two horses,) Lord Glenlyon's Ben-y-Ghlo, (ridden by J. Day junior.) Fern Hill Stakes, (six horses) Mr. Ongley's Mystery, (Pettit.) Great Ascot Produce Stakes of 100 sovereigns each, (twenty-nine subscribers, seven horses,) Mr. Osbal- deston's sister to Martingale, (Rogers.) The Queen's Plate of 100 guineas, (six horses,) Lord Verulam's Robert de Gorham, (W. Cottou.) Royal Hunt Cup of 200 sovereigns each, (thirty-two subscribers, seven- teen horses,) Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Bishop of Romford's Cob, (Marlow.) Coronation Stakes of 100 sovereigns each, (nine subscribers, two horses,) Colonel Anson's Princess, (Nat.)
The attendance on Thursday was more multitudinous and brilliant than it has been within memory. Every approach to the district was thronged with wayfarers ; no fewer than 6,000 persons travelled by the railway from Paddington to Slough ; Windsor and every neigh- bouring village were filled by a moving crowd. The Heath was thickly peopled from an early hour ; and the rain, which fell at intervals until noon, deterred no one. The Grand Stand was as full as it could be. The Royal party from Windsor Castle did not arrive until after the commencement of the races, about two o'clock. The Queen and her visiters were loudly cheered. An attempt was made to get up some demonstration against the Emperor of Russia, by the distribution of handbills holding him up to censure ; but it did not succeed. The party left the ground about four o'clock, after the race for the Gold Cup. The „first race was that of three horses for Windsor Forest Stakes, won by Lord Verulam's Charlotte (W. Cotton.) The next was marked by some unpleasant incidents. The prize was the New Stakes of 10 sovereigns each, (33 subscribers,) with 100/. added, for two-year-old colts : fourteen horses started, and the first placed was Mr. R. New- man's Bloodstone "by Bubastes," ridden by hell. Mr. John Day, the owner of the second horse, Old England, (ridden by J. Day junior,) claimed the stakes, on the ground that the winner was three years old, --And wrongly described as begotten by Bubastes. The Times makes another discreditable charge, which is expected to come under the con- sideration of the Stewards- " Mr. Newman engaged Bell to ride his horse on Wednesday, and in doing so instructed him to run a quarter of a mile and get a taste of Old England,' and then to pull him up ; 'on no account to win,' as the horse had some heavy engagements, for which he wished to reserve him (the Derby and St. Leger, besides several others.) Bell communicated his orders to one of his masters the same evening, and on the day of the race to a gentleman well known on the turf; whose opinions coincided with the determination he bad previously -made, viz, to do his best to win, and expose the contemplated fraud."
A couple of horses ran for a Sweepstakes, carried off by Sir Gilbert Heathcote's Campanero (Chapple.) Some surprise was created by the result of the next contest, for the Gold Cup, value 300 sovereigns with 200/. added.
Betting-5 to 2 against Ionian; 3 to 1 against Lothario ; 4 to 1 against Corranna; 6 to 1 against Bishop of Romford's Cob; 8 to 1 against Siricol; 8 to 1 against Poison; 8 to 1 against Attila; 10 to 1 against Lord Albemarle's Defence. Corranna made play at a good pace, followed to the top turn by the Bishop of Romford's Cob; and thence alternately by Siricol and Lothario ; the -Cob fourth, Ionian next, the Defence colt lying behind Poison, and Attila, who was beaten before he passed the stand, last. No change of moment took place until they reached the turn for straight running, where the Defence passed his horses and took his place at Corranna'a side ; in this position he waited to within three or four strides of the chair, and then making his effort, surprised owner, trainer, jockey, spectators, and all, (being in every respect an untried horse,) in winning by a length. Ionian was a bad third, and Lothario fourth, beaten off ; the others were tailed off before they reached the distance. _Lord Albemarle won the Ascot Cup last year with Ralph.
Lord Albemarle was the winner of the next prize, the Grand Stand Plate, by his horse Delapre, (Whitehouse,) which beat seven others. Colonel Peel's Orlando walked over the course for the Dinner Stakes of 100 sovereigns each, (eighteen subscribers.) The rain now began to fall heavily ; and a copious shower laid the dust for the departing mul- titude.
Yesterday, the Stewards affirmed Mr. Day's objection to Bloodstone, and awarded him the stakes. They also passed a resolution applaud- ing Bell's conduct. To name the winners of the remaining races- Stanborough's Isleworth, of the first Wokingham stakes ; Mr. Balchin's Moustache, the second Wokingham Stakes ; Lord March's Jew-boy, Windsor Town Plate. Colonel Peel received forfeit in a match between Orlando and Mr. Copeland's Imam. This closed the races ; with brilliant prospects for those of 1845.
A very destructive fire occurred at Gravesend on Sunday night. It is disputed whether it broke out at the shrimp-boiling-house of Mrs. Sanford, in West Street, or, as she supposes, in the Union Wharf, be- longing to the Star Packet Company. West Street is a long, narrow lane, extending from High Street in a direction parallel to the river ; -the houses are old and built of wood, and there are several warehouses containing inflammable materials. The fire was discovered by a Po- liceman, at a quarter to eleven o'clock ; he gave the alarm ; and six engines were soon at work. Bodies of Police, and of Military from Gravesend and Tilbury Fort, kept order and helped the firemen. The Union Wharf was used as a storehouse for pitch, tar, and timber ; and in Saddington's salt-warehouse, next to it, were gunpowder and brim- stone : four barrels of gunpowder exploded with a loud report. When the fire began, the wind blew fresh from the North and East, and the flames spread rapidly to the neighbouring houses. At three o'clock there was a lull in the wind, and the efforts to check the flames pre- vailed; but not until twenty-five houses had been burnt down, and fifteen seriously damaged. There appears to have been no direct destruction of life ; but it was necessary to pull down the house of Mr. Brightwell, who had a son and a daughter lying in the last stage of consumption, and the youth died in consequence of the hasty removal. The damage is estimated at 10,0001. or 15,000/.
At Louth, on Thursday last week, Markham, a baker, entered a toll- house and had some refreshment ; seized a pistol and shot at Gainsley, the toll-keeper ; had a desperate struggle with Gainsley. his wife, and a son, in which a hammer, a razor, and a gun, were used and contested for ; and escaped. Pursued by the Police to the house of a woman whom he was courting, he cut his throat ; and afterwards, the wound having been sown up, he tried to tear it open. He said that he shot at the toll-keeper to frighten him for laying an information against his brother years ago ; and that he cut his throat to avoid being arrested.
At Weston-super-Mare, Joel Fisher, a tradesman of the place, killed his wife by beating her on the head with an iron bar, and then cut- ting her throat. Mrs. Fisher had before been married to one Hyatt, who had not been heard of for years ; and then she married Fisher.. Recently, Hyatt reappeared; and the woman, not living happily with her second husband, left him ; but he induced her to return. The night before the murder, they had a quarrel ; and she refused to sleep in her bed ; going to share that of a servant. Fisher roamed about the house all night ; and in the morning he broke into the room, and mur- dered the woman, before the servant and his two children. Ile then went and told a lodger ; and he made no resistance to the Police who arrested him.
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