observers. They were paraded in front of the Royal box, and then, going midway between the winning-post and Tattenham Corner, they took the customary preliminary canter. Galopin did not canter, but as the favourite, on walking around to the starting-post, he, of course, came in for the lion's share of attention; and it was noticed that although he was some inches below the 15-hands standard, he possessed all the striking characteristics of a race-horse in make and shape. There were three breaks away, and it was about twenty minutes past three o'clock when Mr. M'George, who was assisted by Major Dixon, lowered his flag. The colours of Fareham were first seen in advance, attended by Seymour and Breechloader, and the second of these took up the running as they came through the Furzes, the last two being Camballo and Gilbert. Coming round the corner the green jacket of Prince Batthyany was seen coming to the front, and at the road he took the lead. The race may be said to have been over from that point, for though Claremont on the retirement of Telescope took second place, followed by the Repentance colt, Morris had only to sit still on Galopin, and when he dropped his hands the horse went in a very easy winner by a length. There was great and enthusiastic cheering, for, in addition to the horse being a thorough public favourite, Prince Batthyany is one of the most popular members of what may be called the old school of racing men, and he is one, too, who, throughout an honourable turf career, has not been highly favoured by fortune. To win the highest honours of a sportsman's ambition is to such a man more than the rich stakes, or the money he may have backed his horse to win. So the cheers as Morris on Galopin returned to scale were renewed, and Prince Batthyany was fain to leave the weighing-room by a back door to escape from the congratulations of the crowd. The NINETY-SIXTH DERBY STAKES of 50 sovs. three-year-olds; colts, 8 st. 13 lb., and fillies, 8 st. 5 lb. mile and a half. 199 subs. Prince Batthyany's Galopin, by Vedette-Flying Duchess (Morris) each, for About a 1 2 On the Oaks day the course was again attended by some of the Royal party, and the race was won by Spinaway, Lord Falmouth's filly. 28. CAPTAIN BOYTON'S SECOND VOYAGE OVER THE CHAN NEL has proved a success. As we gave so recently the details of his first attempt, much need not be said of the present one, which, however, was a far more extraordinary feat of endurance, as the undaunted American was more than twenty-three hours on the surface of the waves, exposed to sun and spray and wind, and supported by three meals of strong green tea and beef sandwiches. He entered the sea at three o'clock in the morning from Cape Grisnez, and landed at 2.30 the following morning in Faro Bay, near the South Foreland, from whence he was conveyed by steamer to Folkestone, none the worse for his long exposure and hard work. The gallant Captain was met with enthusiastic cheers, and was fêted both at Folkestone and Dover; congratulatory telegrams were received from the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and from all parts of the kingdom. BURNING OF LEEDS THEATRE.-About half-past ten o'clock on the night of May 28 the Theatre Royal at Leeds took fire, and within about an hour was entirely destroyed, the fireengines having little effect in checking the progress of the flames. The damage done was estimated at 35,000Z., which was partially covered by insurance. Considering that an exciting performance had only just been brought to a close, and that some 2,000 people had scarcely turned their backs to go home from the theatre, it was matter for much congratulation that no accident to life or limb occurred. The fire brigades did all that was in their power to stop the ravages of the fire, and if their efforts to save any portion of the theatre and its fittings and properties were unavailing, at all events they succeeded entirely in preventing the spread of the flames to the closely adjoining buildings. It was in the upper property room above the "flies" at the stage end of the edifice that the fire originated. The dresses, scenery, and general properties which have been destroyed were very valuable, and of the persons on the theatrical staff many sustained great losses by the burning of their own costumes, &c. Theatre Royal in Leeds was originally opened in 1771. The 29. TENT-PEGGING.-This is a new game introduced by the 5th Lancers, and promises to become as fashionable as Polo. The game seems to have originated in India, where it is practised by the horsemen of Mysore and Scinde, by Mahrattas, Sikhs, and Affghans, and it has been acquired from them by the English troops, notably by the 5th Lancers, who have now introduced it at Hurlingham. The tent-pegs are tiny wedges of cocoa palm, cramped with copper wire and well soaked in water, which are driven slantwise into prepared holes close to the stands of the bamboo poles. The sport consists in the horseman catching these pegs on the point of his lance as he gallops past, and carrying them clean out of their resting places. The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Connaught, and a large and fashionable assemblage, were present on the occasion, and the game was effectively carried on, and was followed by some other feats. learned in the East. THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY was celebrated this day with the usual military parade, and the trooping of the colours on the Horse Guards' parade ground. The Commander-in-Chief, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal family, inspected the troops. A Royal salute, and a salute of fifty-six guns from the Tower, was afterwards fired in St. James's Park, denoting the age of the Queen. At Aldershot, Portsmouth, Chatham, Shorncliffe, Dover, and other large stations, there was the usual parade of troops. All the ships at the naval stations were dressed. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.-The afternoon of the same day witnessed the departure of the expedition, which has long been preparing to penetrate into the secrets of the Arctic regions, and if possible to reach higher latitudes than any adventurers have touched before, if not actually to set foot on the North Pole itself. The expedition consists of two vessels, the "Alert" and the "Discovery," the former under the command of Captain Nares, R.N., who is the leader of the expedition, and the latter under Captain Stephenson, R.N. They are supported by picked crews of men, among whom are officers of tried energy and experience. Before the vessels started they were inspected by the Lords of the Admiralty, who examined very closely into the condition of the ships, and their equipment, and the various ingenious contrivances they contained. A telegraphic message from the Queen was received by Captain Nares just before the start, in these words: "I earnestly wish you and your gallant companions every success, and I trust that you may safely accomplish the important duty you have so bravely undertaken." A packet from the Queen, addressed to the two commanders, was afterwards received on board the two vessels. At four o'clock precisely the two ships moved off from the jetties, amidst the acclamations of a vast multitude of people. "Good-bye, and best wishes for your success!" was signalled from the flagship, the Duke of Wellington. "Thanks, and farewell!" was signalled back, and the " Alert" and the " Discovery," piloted by the "Fire Queen," with Admirals Elliot and M'Clintock and Captain Sullivan on board, and accompanied by the "Heather Bell" and other steamers, sailed down the harbour channel, the "Alert" leading by a hundred yards. The old "Victory," the "Duke of Wellington," and the "St. Vincent" manned their rigging and sent forth hearty cheers. It was a sight not to be forgotten as the ships emerged from the harbour into the anchorage of Spithead, and headed eastwards, standing close inshore. Their course lay through a flotilla of steamers, yachts, and row-boats, crowded with spectators cheering enthusiastically. From the grass-grown ramparts of Portsmouth on the west, as far as Southsea Castle on the east, the shore from the top of the sea wall down to the water's edge was lined by one unbroken mass of spectators, with the soldiery drawn out in array to do honour to the departing representatives of the sister service. As the "Alert" and "Discovery" slowly passed along, the immense crowd persisted in cheering. Thus vociferously and heartily sped on its way, the Arctic squadron stood out to sea. 31. COLLISION OFF BEACHY HEAD.-The "Stannington," a screw steamer from Newcastle, laden with coals, was run down off Beachy Head by a German barque, about midnight. The captain and four of the crew jumped on board the latter vessel and thus escaped, but the German captain, it is stated, refused to go to the assistance of the six men who remained on board the sinking vessel, and they consequently went down with her. CASE OF DROWNING NEAR OXFORD.--A melancholy accident took place this afternoon near Oxford. A student named John Frederick Rowlands was in a skiff, accompanied by a friend in a canoe. When they reached Eynsham it was found that the canoe had got damaged on the way and was unsafe. Rowlands therefore landed to arrange for the canoe to be towed by the skiff. In the meantime the canoe began to sink, and seeing his friend in danger of sinking with it, he plunged in to save him. His friend remembers seeing him do this, but became unconscious immediately afterwards, and when he recovered his senses he found himself lying on the bank, but could see no trace of the deceased. He summoned assistance at once, but the body was not found until next morning. Rowlands was but an indifferent swimmer, and moreover was encumbered with a thick woollen jersey, boating jacket, &c. At the coroner's inquest a verdict was returned that deceased accidentally met with his death by drowning, whilst endeavouring to save his companion. JUNE. ALEXANDRA PARK RACES.-The Alexandra Park summer meeting opened to-day under circumstances even more auspicious than those which favoured the great popular demonstration of Whit Monday, for improved railway arrangements now gave an additional stimulus to the visitors, who were tempted by the glorious weather, and the reputation of one of the most respectable racing events of the season, to make their way to Muswell Hill. They went in crowds, mixed of course, but remarkable for the absence of the " rowdy" element, thanks to the stringent regulations of the company. At an early hour this morning the company, both by rail and road, commenced pouring into the beautiful park, and when racing commenced there could not have been fewer than 70,000 persons present, the slopes from the palace to the racecourse being fairly crammed with anxious sightseers, while the rails for half a mile were lined with conveyances of every description. The Park Nursery Stakes were won by Water Lily, and the Grand Stand handicap by Chandos; but the award was objected to on the ground that the horse was entered as a four-year old instead of a five-year old, and the prize was accordingly transferred to his competitor Speedwell. There was not much betting either on this or the subsequent day. 4. UNDERGROUND FIRE AT WESTMINSTER.-An explosion of gas has occurred in the sewer opposite the Houses of Parliament and the new St. Stephen's Club. For some days past an escape of gas had been noticed, and the necessary order having been obtained from the Metropolitan Board of Works to break the road and find out the leak, labourers were at work digging down to the pipes, when a tremendous explosion occurred, which cracked the roadway and pavement, and greatly alarmed the passers by. Immediately afterwards a huge volume of flame issued from the sewer grating, showing that the gas had escaped into the sewer, and that the fire was raging there. Information was at once sent to the fire brigade, as the Westminster station of the Metropolitan District Railway and St. Stephen's Club seemed in danger. The flames came through the gratings, and rose to the height of twelve or fourteen feet above the roadway. 6. WRECK OF A STEAMER AND LOSS OF TEN LIVES.-The steamer "Southport," of Preston, while voyaging from Preston to Sicily, encountered a dense fog. The engines were just kept going, and the best possible look-out maintained, but at one o'clock in the morning they ran on a reef, bows foremost. The waves immediately broke over the vessel, sweeping everything from the deck. The captain instantly ordered out the boats, but they were carried away by the sea while being lowered, and the cook and engineer were washed overboard, but the latter was washed back again. Two hours afterwards the steamer parted amidships, the stern sinking in deep water. The crew clung to the bow for an hour, when it slid off the reef, and they were left struggling in the water in total darkness, ignorant even of the direction of land. Three clung to portions of wreckage and were washed about for several hours. Two were washed away, but the third caught a life-buoy and swam ashore, having been six hours in the water. He found another who had just previously reached shore on a plank. Fishermen discovered them, and took them forty niles on to Corunna. The steamer belonged to the Blackpool and Southport Steam Packet Company. 9. VISIT OF THE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR.-We are becoming well accustomed to receive royal visitors from the most distant regions of civilization. The Czar of Russia, the Turkish Sultan, the Shah of Persia, have all come to see the sights of England, and to become themselves the sight" that attracted the greatest crowds of English people. This year, what have been generally considered the bounds of civilization, whether ancient or modern, have been passed, and the visitor who landed to-day on our shores is His Highness Seyyed Barghash bin Saed, the Sultan of Zanzibar. The Seyyed, with Naser bin Saed (Prime Minister), accompanied by Dr. Kirk (Her Majesty's Consul-General at Zanzibar), Hamed bin Sulieman, Hamood bin Mohammed, Mohammed bin Hamed, Mohammed bin Sulieman (Councillors of State), Tharia Topan, an Indian friend of the Sultan, representing |