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    1849-52 , from France , relieved the French markets , and prevented those complaints of ruin from low prices which the French made a few years before toy-the mouth of Marshal Bugeaud . Through all the variations of the French grain markets under the restrictive system , which have been very great , the agriculturists of France have teen generally contented , as if the possession of land reconciled them to the evils , of which tenant and high rent-paying farmers in other countries have so loudly

    complained . For three years their crops have been defective , but they have found relief in the increased demand at home . At present they , like our farmers in the two last years , have the double advantage of good crops and good prices . Not only corn , but wine , oil , and silk , are now tolerably abundant in France , and at present therefore the bulk of the French are , and are likely to remain , wry contented . They are well off , and their modem history is full of proofs that they never become revolutionary till they are deeply distressed . Such

    foots , though too little noticed by those who believe that the proceedings of Governments are sufficient to account for all the changes in society , are well worthy of the attention of politicians . Everything depends on the social condition of a people , and however wretched and enslaved is the political condition of the French , they are now in a better social condition than at any period since the first Revolution . We could only despair , however , of the fortunes of the whole race , did improvements in the social condition of men lead , as some

    suppose , to a deterioration of their political condition . Modern history teaches a totally different lesson . The ^ steady promoters and defenders of freedom have ' been the inhabitants of towns , and they have been the foremost in all social improvements . Now , to say one word as to the influence of these circumstances on the . money market . They All tend to show that , of late years , capital has increased unusually fast . All the Governments of Europe have been enabled to increase their expenditure very considerably , and , at the same time ,

    almost every kind of industry has everywhere prospered . We say this while thoroughly aware of the temporary check from which many branches of trade are now suffering . In these few years , however , notwitlistanding the increase of capital , the demand for it has been so great that the rate of commercial discount has been higher through a long period than has been before known in England within memory . It is obvious , however , that this great demand for capital which prevailed between 1852 and 1857 was occasioned by the great stimulus ffiven to enterprise by the gold discoveries

    and the war demands of Governments . These latter have for the present ceased , and are not likely apparently again to be renewed ; the former it is impossible to renew . Even other gold discoveries as rich as those of California and Australia would not excite the same fervour of enterprise . "There is no cessation , however , to the increase of capital , on the contrary , little or none is now wasted ¦ on unproductive enterprises j saving has becpine Almost universal , and , at the same time , these great demands for it have ceased . Only for ordinary and « ustomary undertakings—providing us with food , enter

    shelter , and clothing , with some few new - prises , laying down telegraphs and making rails—• will capital now be demanded , and with only the ordinary businesses- inactivity , the ordinary and -customary rate of profit , determined , in the long run , by the demand for subsistence and difficulty of procuring it , will or can . be paid . Immense gains , such as those made in Australia , will not be made in the great works of supplying the food and clothing and the customary enjoyments of people ; accordingly , profits will not be hign , and the rate of interest cannot be high . As Governments Are not likely to make fresh demands , no other or

    better than private security , except in those rare cases in which Governments lend a guarantee to iflome enterprises , can be given for loans . Private security , however , at present is of a doubtful character ; credit has been shaken , and though on this Account when money is borrowed higher terms will &a . ve to be paid for it , on this account , alao , a very much less sum on the whole will be borrowed . On the one hand there is a rapid increase of capftal j on the other there is , both from the cessation of the demands of Governments and the dofcotive demands of private enterprise , a diminished demand for capital . We look , therefore , foi tke continuance of an easy money-market and for suoh a rate of interest as the diminished profit on business with a doubtful security oan pay .

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    THOUGHTS , TACTS , AND SUGGESTIONS UN __ PARLIAMENTARY KEFORM . No . VI . . Tire popular remedy for intimiilniiou jf ^ p il is the Ballot : the , aristocratic < l » vioo illcn pwu bo sot up as mi alternative rcinnly »» *» o O ; , 1 ) y Voting-papers . It- i « not domed . ' . > ' ° . ' ( u 0 ll 0 . rulers that intimidation exists ; llio liic ¦ J l | l 0 toriouB to bo gniusuid ; they ioel , « < - ° 0 imporlAiioo of having so . no oouutor-s Ji mll noso , which , while it » ooms to moot tho ow » ,

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    iqqr THE IiEADEB , [ No . 456 , December 18 , 1 S 5 S

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    POLITICS OF THE TURF . "What Japan is to Europe , what Almack's is to Clerkenwell , what Paradise is to the Peri , the Turf is to us common men . We who go down to Epsom by the rail , who do not know the name of the favourite till we get on the course , and forget it by the time we get back to town , look with simple reverence upon the aristocratic patrons of the turf as on beings of a superior class . It is not given to the profane vulgar to penetrate the mysteries of the " Olympian games . " Let us stand aloof aud

    catch whatever faint glimpses are vouchsafed to us of those exalted regions ia which the blue ribbon of the turf is lost and won . It is some consolation to us , of the inferior orders , to reflect that even in the Olympian world all is not harmony . There are there , as elsewhere , two sides to the picture—two different aspects of the scene , according as you happen to stand before or behind the curtain . The princess with her glass shoes in the coaeh-andfour was not a greater contrast to Cinderella in the ashes than the sporting world at . Epsom in its glory is to the same world in its difficulties before our

    courts of law . Perhaps , however , the force of the contrast arises from the imperfection of our mental vision . Evil , according to the Emersonian creed , is only a lower form of good , and it may be that the betting blackleg is only an inferior development of the sporting peer . The first scene of sporting life to which we are introduced by our legal Asmodeus is the . racecourse of Liverpool . The plot , like that of all great dramas , is simple , the actors few in number . A Mr . Sinclair is the villain of the piece ; a Captain Shaw is the virtuous victim . Mr . Sinclair , according to his own confession , is a betliug man , and lives upon his wits , or upon his neighbours' want of v its , whichever the case may be . He is ready to lay the odds against anything , but being of frugal habits , resides in an apartment which costs him onlv the moderate sum of six shillings aud

    sixpence weekly . His available assets were twentyfive shillings , a pair of dice with which he recreated his mind out of business hours , and a wife who possessed an allowance . Captain Shaw , by virtue of her Majesty ' commission , is , or rather was , an officer and a gentleman , is also upon the turf , and risks his brains , or in default thereof his neck , by riding in steeplc-clnvscs . The gallant captain being present at Liverpool , and anxious to back a horse called Englemere at one of i he local races , observed

    Mr . Sinclair in the crowd , offering the odds according to his wont and custom . With military impetuosity the captain took two to one from the stranger in ten-pound notes . The race was run , Englemere did not come in first , and Captain Shaw and his money were soon parted . Scarcely had the ten-pound note changed lumds when it was discovered that tlic race , owing to some irregularity , was to be run again . This time Englomcre came in victorious ; but , alas ! Mr . Sinclair considered it was more blessed to receive than to

    give , and was not forthcoming . So ended the first act . Tho second opened some four months later at Brixworth races . Captain Shaw and Mr . Sinclair were both on the spot , pursuing their usual avocations . Once again they met — 'twas in a crowd —and Captain Shaw ' s eyes were upon Mr . Sinclair . The captain demanded the return of his money ; Mr . Sinclair offered a composition of about ninepeuco in the pound , which was indignantly refused , and finally retired from tho ring under the escort of a policeman . The stern official exceeded his duty , and marched Mr . Sinclair off to Northampton ,

    loaded with a pair of handcuffs . Captain bhuw failed to prosecute , the charge was dismissed , and Mr . Sinclair brought an action for fulao imprisonment , and obtained 10 / . damages . Sympathy for cither plaintiff or defendant is out or place . Mr . Sinclair has got his reward , Captain Shaw is a poorer , and wo trust , a wiser man , but , to our ignoranoo , tho moral of tho story is plum enough : What business had a man of station and education to bet with a man without , moans or oharaotorP There is one thing worse than losing monoy on the turf , and that is , winning money from a Sinclair .

    ship of Badminton ,- a high position and an anciciit lineage , might have paralysed the energies of ordi nary men . Great are the fortunes of the Duke of Beaufort , but the duke is greater than his fortunes He has devoted himself to the noble art of coc v shy , and > like all enthusiasts who put their heart and soul into a matter , lie has succeeded in hi * high ambition . Tell could shoot an arrow without danger through an apple on a child ' s head , aud tie duke can knock a pipu out of a dummy ' s mouth without disfiguring the countenance . All Kreat ar tists require a public . The other day , at the

    Brighton , races , the Duke of Beaufort -was exhibiting his peculiar talents amidst the plaudits of an ad ° miring crowd . As often us the stick sped , from the ducal hand , so often did the short clay pipe fall from the unwilling lips of the black doll who rejoiced iii the designation of Aunt Sally- Four sticks a penny was the price demanded . "What man with common feelings would have grudged his penny to witness the exhibition of aristocratic prowess ? Unfortunately , there came bv a

    rider whose soul . was too dull to appreciate Aunt Sally ' s beauties . The ¦ gentleman in , question , Mr . White Weatherley , buses Ins claim to the title of a gentleman on . the ground that lie has no trade or profession . He is something of a sporting character—does a little in the way of horse-flesh , aud lives upon his frieiuls . By some disastrous fate , at the very moment that the duke was in the act of demolishing " Aunt Sally ' s" pipe , Mr . AVeatherlcy ' s horse , struck the ducal shoulder . The blood of the Beaufort s and the Somersets was

    roused" Timere vcl inutare sperno" is the motto of the iacc—and the Duke of Beaufort brooked no interruption , and knew not fear . Mr . Weatherley was converted into an impromptu Aunt Sally , and forcibly dismounted by the ; duke . It is not a pleasant thing to have a series of bludgeons discharged at , your hcail . antl shins ; it is not pleasant either to be consigned to an unmentionable place in the presence of an insulting populace—it can hardly lie exactly pleasant even when you arc

    struck by an uristouruiic ana and 'damned by a ducal lip . This consolatory knowledge was , however , denied to Mr . Weatlierk-y . Fur au ^ lit he knew he might have been insulted by a plebeian tradesman . He failed to recognise the indelible stamp of native aristocracy- upon the face and form of the noble marks man , ami , with fearful audacity , gave in charge the Duko of Beaufort . With the true modesty of conscious mml the duke at first refused to give up his name . When , however , Mr . Woallicrley learnt from the policenssuilsuitlus

    man the rank and tide of his , fcehuga appear to have been somewhat modified , he reflected , doubtless , that discretion was the brttcr part of valour , that fair words butter no -parsnips , and that money damages would be a ... ore ellVctivc cure for his bruises than a verbal apology . He Icit let course , saw a doctor , and engaged a solicitor . 1 mduke has had to pay 100 / . damages for t ho assault . Melancholy to relate , he might have l . a . l nmclv-j . v thousand shies at Aunt Sally fur the sum that lib three shies at Mi ' . AVeat hurley have cobl lam . Here , again , our sympathies are not c ; i led into oucstiou-the squabble is a cl . scrc .. l . la > 1 « o m- ^; h

    TVeatherley is no more of u popular neru « - duke is a credit to the aristocracy . J » oiu oiunwa , Mr . Wcathcrlcy alul the Duko ot ^ lllfolt / ^ 2 much alike-thc dnko especially . Amo ~ ¦*»«»» consideration arises as to tho clloct Unit Uu . * g similar exposures arc likely to produce on ie 1 » jnc mind . Wo are no puriluns , but yet ii j c \* m knowledge of the world teaches us tl ) "J sporting world every description ol ™ f . > jT blackguardism is the recognised order ot Uit u ^ When wo soo that the turl nuinbcrs n no 0 J patrons our foremost nobles , mid « ta « men , ™ senators , we arc proiio to four Unit tho Go . »« J of tho country may be pervaded by [ hc ., ^ S spirit . Tho raco-courac ia not tho >» - for tho Cabinet .

    Oar next episode of tho turf introduces us to a higher sphere . We broutho a purer atmosphere , an nristocratio fragrance pervaded our senses , wo lose sight of our ordinary standards . In the presence of Henry Somorsot , niutli Duko of Boaufort , all minor porsonagos are roduood to an indistiuguishablo unifprmity , and a Sinclair riaos to the level of a Shaw . Tho possession of a dukedom , tho mastership of tho Queen ' s Horso , the owner-

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 18, 1858, page 1386, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2273/page/18/