courses, &c. When part of the way down, it then being quite dark, they thought they saw a cottage and made towards it; it was, however, only a rock. Mr. Royds was then leading. Up to that time one of the young ladies had gone first, but, having stumbled, she had fallen behind. Mr. Royds leant forward to try and feel for a path, when the ladies heard the noise of a slip and a shout; he had disappeared. To their calls there was no response. How the poor young ladies got down they scarcely knew; it was long after midnight when they reached the hotel. One of the young ladies then started with men and lights to find Mr. Royds. Failing to discover the spot, some of the men returned for the other young lady, but the body was not found until ten o'clock next morning. The body of the unfortunate young gentleman was interred on the 27th at Lugano.

31. LAUNCH OF THE "SULTAN."-The "Sultan," 12, iron armourplated ship, 5226 tons, 1200-horse power, which had been building at Chatham, was launched or "floated-out" at one o'clock, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. The ceremony of christening was performed by a daughter of his Excellency Musurus Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador to the Court of London. The "Sultan" is a broadside ship of peculiar construction, the first of the kind built at Chatham. She was designed by Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy. Her first plate was laid on the 1st of August, 1868. These are the dimensions of the ship:-Extreme length, 338 feet 6 inches; extreme breadth, 59 feet; depth in hold, 21 feet. On the arrival of the Turkish Ambassador, his daughter, and suite, his Excellency was received in the dockyard by a guard of honour composed of Royal Marines. Among those present at the launch were Vice-Admiral Sir S. Robinson, K.C.B., Controller of the Navy, and Lady Robinson; Mr. E. J. Reed, C.B., Chief Constructor of the Navy, and Mrs. Reed; Captain Seymour, C.B., A.D.C., Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty; the Countess of Winchelsea and daughter, Lord and Lady Darnley, Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald, Admiral Warren, Commander-inChief at the Nore; Capt. Luard, Captain Superintendent of Sheerness Dockyard; Major-General J. S. Brownrigg, C.B., Commandant at Chatham garrison, with the chief officers of the garrison and the élite of the vicinity. A gallery adorned with many small flags, including several Turkish ones, was erected near the head of the vessel for the more distinguished visitors. Captain W. C. Chamberlain, the Captain-Superintendent, and Mr. P. Thornton, the MasterShipwright, and Chief Engineer, actively superintended the arrangements for launching the vessel. The Ambassador's daughter having christened the ship by the customary dashing a bottle of wine on the bows, and cut the cord which attached the "Sultan" to the land, and other obstructions to her movement having been removed, about one o'clock, the tide being full, the vessel began to move from the dock into the Medway, various hawsers and capstans being employed to move and guide her. In less than a quarter of

an hour the "Sultan" had left the dock, and soon after she was moored alongside the sheerhulk. As the "Sultan" emerged from the dock and got clear of the shed over it, flagstaffs were raised, and the ship was adorned with flags, including the Turkish banner. During the proceedings there were three bands in attendance, belonging to the Royal Engineers, Royal Marines, and Gillingham Artillery, which played a variety of pieces. After the launch the distinguished visitors were entertained at lunch at the official residences of the Captain-Superintendent and the Master Shipwright.

JUNE.

1. EPSOM RACES. THE DERBY DAY.-The Derby of 1870 differed materially from its predecessors; the great prize having been deemed "an accomplished fact" for Macgregor, since he won the "two thousand" at Newmarket. The field promised to be small, and but fifteen runners were telegraphed the smallest field that has been seen for the last few years. The paddock held its usual show, though it cannot be said that it was a brilliant one. Of the Derby horses, Cymbal was among the first to show, and he was certainly about the best-looking there, the cut of a Derby horse, with a fine top, and if it had not been for suspicious hocks and cracked heels he would have been perfect. But nothing is so variable as racing, and as it proved the greatest "certainty" of modern years was overthrown, and the speedy horse whose forte by most judges was not considered staying pretty well squandered his field. Macgregor was beaten when he began to descend the hill, where his upright pasterns told against him. The pace was bad throughout, and the time, taken by one of Mr. M. F. Dent's, of Cockspurstreet, chronographs, was two minutes forty-five seconds. The King of the Belgians, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Christian, Prince Teck, and their suite, witnessed the race from the Jockey-club Stand, where also the presence of a face never seen on a racecourse before-Mr. Gladstone's-excited as much attention as Royalty. The attendance, if any thing, fell a little below the standard, the Hill certainly not being so crowded as we have seen it. The police arrangements, under the command of Superintendent Mott, were admirably carried out by Inspectors Denning, Gardner, Trixon, and Beesley.

The great race came off as follows:

:

The Ninety-first Derby Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for 3-yr.olds; colts, 8st. 10lb., and fillies 8st. 5lb.; the owner of the second horse to receive 300 sovs., and the third 150 sovs. out of the stakes. One mile and a half, to be run on the New Course. 253 subs.

Lord Falmouth's Kingcraft, by King Tom (T.
French)

Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's Palmerston (T. Challoner)
Lord Wilton's Muster (Maidment).

Twelve others ran.

123

Betting:-5 to 2 on Macgregor, 11 to 1 agst Prince of Wales, 14 to 1 agst Camel, 100 to 6 agst Palmerston, 20 to 1 agst Kingcraft, 40 to 1 agst King o' Scots, 50 to 1 each agst Bonny Swell, Normanby, and Cymbal, and 1000 to 8 each agst Ely Appleton and Nobleman.

In consequence of the delay in the opening race, the numbers of the limited field were not exhibited until some time after the usual hour. This had no sooner been performed than the horses were seen on their way to the paddock, which was densely crowded with the racing world, who watched the toilets of the favourites with the keenest curiosity, and as each left the enclosure many were the remarks made on their conformation and condition. Having reached the charge of Mr. Martin Starling they were introduced to the expectant public in Indian file, the first to appear on the course being the good-looking Palmerston, at whose quarters came the favourite (who with Kingcraft had been saddled at Sherwood's stables), the pair having Cymbal as their immediate follower, to whom succeeded King o' Scots, Ely Appleton, and Sarsfield. Some dozen lengths separated them from the Prince of Wales, Bonny Swell, Kingcraft and Bay Roland, Nobleman and The Cockney Boy bringing up the rear. Their preliminary canters having been taken, they walked down to the post, marshalled by Martin Starling, and exactly at 3.20 p.m. the signal was lowered, and the race commenced by Palmerston taking a clear lead after the first half-dozen strides, followed by the Irish representative, Sarsfield, to whom succeeded the favourite, Ely Appleton, Bonny Swell, and Camel. The others who were close in their train were headed by Kingcraft on the inside, with Prince of Wales, Muster, Bay Roland, and Nobleman in a cluster, with The Cockney Boy conspicuously in their rear; the latter finishing his engagement as they entered the furze by bolting to the right and attempting to jump the chain, in failing to do which he came down and unhorsed his rider. During this contretemps Palmerston went on with his lead to the Old Course, when Ely Appleton dropped back and his place was taken by Macgregor, Cymbal, Camel, Bonny Swell, Prince of Wales, and Kingcraft, the latter being seen gradually to improve his position as they entered the Old Course. On passing the mile-post Challoner indulged his horse with a pull, and halfway down the hill Bonny Swell, with Muster on his left, came on in advance of Mr. Crawfurd's colt, with the favourite inside on their right, and Kingcraft lying on their extreme left, to the road. Here Captain Machell appeared to have a chance of repeating the Hermit "coup," but scarcely had the hopes of the faction been raised than they were doomed to

defeat, as the game little son of Macaroni gave way, which was no sooner acknowledged by the occupants of the stand than a loud cheer burst up from the ring upon Fordham being seen "hard" upon the favourite, who immediately after "cracked," and gave place to Palmerston and Muster, who appeared to have the race to themselves, but as they neared the enclosure French brought up Kingeraft, who in the next half-dozen strides settled the chance of the pair, and won in a canter by four lengths, amid one of the most demonstrative exhibitions seen for many years, Lord Falmouth being congratulated on all sides, Palmerston just getting rid of Muster by a head for second place, the favourite pulling up a couple of lengths in their rear, to whom succeeded Bonny Swell, Prince of Wales, Sarsfield, and Ely Appleton in the order we have given them. The rear division who were pulling up were composed of Normanby, Cymbal, Camel, and Nobleman.

3. THE OAKS DAY.-If the Derby was dull, the Oaks Day was duller-the race dwindled down to only eight coloured on the card; an attendance below the average; a hill only sprinkled with carriages; and a general flatness over all and every thing.

Seven runners, the smallest field for the last half-century, since, in 1821, Lord Exeter's Wilful carried off the race, came to the post, and the market, which had been pretty firm in favour of Hester, left off with a slight shade of odds on her. Sunshine, who had found in the paddock about an equal number of friends and enemies, was, perhaps, second favourite, though there was not much to choose between her and Pâté. The general public would have nothing to say to Gamos, who had been disgracefully beaten at Bath by Macgregor, but in this case as in that of the preceding Wednesday, the favourite was nowhere, and an outsider proved the victor.

The following is the account of the race :—

The Oaks Stakes of 50 sovs. each, h. ft., for 3-yr.-old fillies, 8st. 10lb. each; the second received 300 sovs., and the third 150 sovs. One mile and a half. 187 subs.

Mr. G. Jones's ch. Gamos, by Saunterer-Bess Lyon
(Fordham).

Mr. Merry's b. Sunshine (Snoden).

1

2

3

Mr. England's br. Pâté (Challoner)

Lord Falmouth's b. Gertrude (T. French)

Sir R. Bulkeley's b. Carfax (Maidment).

Mr. Jos. Dawson's br. Hester (Custance)

567

6

Mr. Eastwood's ch. Hawthorndale (J. Osborne)

Betting-Even on Hester, 4 to 1 each agst Sunshine and Pâté, 100 to 8 agst Gamos, and 100 to 3 agst Gertrude.

The attendance to witness the toilet of the seven runners was one

of the largest seen for many years. Shortly after the competitors quitted the paddock, and, having taken the usual canters without

the slightest hitch, they were despatched from the post at the first attempt. Gamos got off in advance, but was immediately pulled back, and the running was taken up by Hawthorndale, clear of Pâté, the pair being followed by Hester, Gamos, Sunshine, and Carfax in the order we have given them, with Gertrude in the extreme rear. They ran thus through the furzes, when Pâté went up to Hawthorndale, whom she headed as they neared the milepost. When fairly in the Old Course, Hester ran past the pair, and led down the hill, but on rounding Tattenham-corner she gave way, followed in a few strides by Hawthorndale. Pâté was thus left with a slight lead, and crossing the road she was joined by Sunshine, with Gamos on her right and Gertrude on the lower ground. They ran together to the half-distance, when Sunshine headed Pâté, and with Gamos in attendance, came on abreast to the stand. Fordham then sent his filly to the front, and won casily by a length; a length and a half separated the second and third; Gertrude pulled up fourth. Time, as taken by Benson's Chronograph, 2 min. 46 sec.

5. GREAT FIRE AT CONSTANTINOPLE.-A great fire broke out at Constantinople, which destroyed an immense amount of property, and among other buildings the British Embassy. The following account of the disaster is taken from a letter published in the Journal Officiel of Paris :-" About two o'clock p.m. the fire broke out in the Armenian Quarter at Pera, in the street Validé Tchesmé. A fierce gale had been blowing all the morning, and the wind, coming in gusts from the north, spread the flames and fire-flakes, causing the ignition of roofs, balconies, and wooden houses. Most of the residents were in the country, and nearly all the Armenians had gone to Ankiar Skelessi to celebrate a national fête, the tenth anniversary of their civil and religious Constitution. The houses were, therefore, for the most part deserted, and the fire rapidly spread to the street Feridjé and to both sides of the Grande Rue of Pera. This part of the town is situated above Galata, and terminates on the right on the Bosphorus at Findkli, and on the left at the Golden Horn, with the arsenal, schools, and admiralty barracks, and it comprises the principal shops, churches, hospitals, legations, consulates, and the splendid palaces of the Embassies of France, England, Austria, and Russia, built on terraces in the midst of magnificent gardens. The ravages of the fire were already great when the engines arrived from different points, and they completely baffled the exertions of the firemen, who laboured amidst a shower of burning flakes and torrents of molten metal. Several persons lost their lives in noble endeavours to render assistance. Towards five o'clock at Availé Tchesmé, the fire had spared the Prussian Church, but it had completely levelled the adjoining streets, and returned towards Kassim Pasha. At this point some Europeans, skilfully directed by M. Bernard, a French cabinet-maker, and by an Italian mechanic of whose name we are ignorant, succeeded in arresting the flames, notwithstanding the showers of sparks and burning ashes