SPORTING.— EPSOM RACES.

On Tuesday, the 19th of May, the Epsom Sum* mer Racing Meeting commenced ; the first day offered nothing of importance, ail the public attention being engrossed by the events of the following day : but since the year when Bloomsbury won the Derby in a snow-storm, sever had the holiday makers experienced such a disappointment as that which awaited them on the morning of the Derby Day. The rain commenced at five o'clock, and continued to pour down, accompanied by a cold south-easterly wind, until just before the great event of the year was decided. The preparations for the usual holiday were on a scale fully equal to those of any previous year, not even excluding the eventful meeting of 1851 ; the engagements of carriages and drags for parties who preferred the olden style of going by the road were exceedingly numerous, and on all sides a most brilliant day was anticipated. The clerk of the weather, however, was not propitious, and bitter were the exclamations, more particularly among the fair sex, at the ungallant behaviour of that official, who after allowing them for many successive years to enjoy the excitement and the dangers of a carriage drive to Epsom without the unpleasant vicissitude of a wet blanket being employed to extinguish their fun, had now determined to spoil sport. The course, which waa sticky in all parts, and almost fetlock deep from Tattenliam corner to the road, presented about as dismal and woebegone an appearance as it is possible to imagine. Among the very first arrivals was the Leviathan, who, careless of the weather, was to be seen outside :he verandah, book in hand, ready to lay against everything in general, or anything in particular. As the day advanced things began to assume a more cheering aspect, but although the hill did not present so gay an aspect as it usually does, still before " the event "par excellence came off, it was tolerably well covered with vehicles. The Grand Stand, and the smaller stands on the right, showed little diminution in the number of their patrons, and the crowd altogether on the Downs was far greater than the most sanguine could have ventured to expect on such a spoil-sport sort of <lay. . So large a meeting of the mere business portion of the company as was at last congregated, we think, has never been seen before.

The racing commenced with the Carew Stakes, won by Lady Blanche, but to this little attention was paid either in or out of the ring, all being too busy discussing the great event of the day. Between this and the Derby an interval of an hour elapsed, during which time, notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, a large number proceeded to the paddock to scan ths appearances of jthe candidates for fame, but few wrinkles could be gained, by the inspection, aa many of the animals were not stripped, their trainers preferring to saddle them at the last moment on the course. The two cracks did not make their appearance in the upper paddock until just before the time for saddling, and even then the curious did not avail themselves of the opportunity of examining them, as all were anxious to getjback to the stand to secure good places to view the exciting straggle for victory. The Dinar Stasis of 50 soys. each, h ft, for three year oldi ; colt* 8»t. 71b. fllliea Bst, 21b . j the second to receive 100 soys. out of the stakes, and the winner to pay 100 sort, towards the police and regulations of the courae, and SO t« the judge j one mile and a half, to be run on the New Course (ISI subs). Air. Bowes's eh c Daniel O'Rourke, by Irish Birdcatcher. F. Butler 1 Air. Bradshaw's b c Barbarian, by Simoon .... Hiett 3 Mr. C. Dorrien'a bit c Chief Baron NichoUon, by the Baron Kitchener S i Mr. Merry's b c Hobbie Noble, by Pantaloon W. Sharpe 4 The following also started but were not placed : — Lord Zetland's eh c Augur, by Irish Birdcatcher, Mr. Farrance's b c Joe Miller, by Venison, Lord Enfield's br c Homebrewed, by Chatham, General Anson's b^c King Pippin by Orlando, Mr. Howard's *b c Little Harry, by Epirui, Lord Ribblesdale's b c Kingston, by Venison, Lord Ribblesdale's br c The Nabob, by the The Nob, Mr. P. Booth's b c Missive, by Envoy, Duke of Richmond's br c Harbinger, by Touchstone, Lord Oxford's br c Alcoran, by Theon, Major Martyn's b c Convulsion, by Alarm, Mr. \V. Stebbing't eh c Alfred the Great, by Orlando, Mr. J. M. Stanley's b c Orelio, by Orlando, Mr. S. David, son's br c Vortex, by Voltaire, Mr. R. Harrison's eh c King of Trumps, by Velocipede, Mr. Meiklam's b c Womersley, by Irish Birdcatcher, Mr. G. Barton's bk c The Surveyor, by The Doctor, Lord Exeter's b c Stockwell, by The Baron, Lord Exeter'g bk c Ambrose, by Touchstone, Mr. J. Clarke's b c Elcot, by Venison (h b), Duke of Bedford's eh c Maidstone, by Chatham, Mr. R. S. Walker's br c Treasurer, by Verulam, Lord Eglinton's b c Claverhouse, by Irish Birdcatcher.

After a couple of failures, in one of which Hobbie Noble broke away with the lead, caused by the mob of people on the running ground, the signal was given, and the lot got away from the pott on very fair terms, Little Harry taking a slight lead of Stockwell, King Pepin, who was third, being succeeded by Hobbie Noble, Harbinger, the King of Trumps, Orelio, Homebrewed, and Chief Baron Nicholson, Daniel O'Rourke and Barbarian lying together in the centre, and in the rear Joe Miller, Kingston, Angur, Ambrose, and Missive, the last off being Maidstone and Treasurer. After running about a quarter of a mile, King Pepin showed in front, but only for a few strides, Little Harry resuming his lead near the mile post, followed by Stockwell, Hobbie Noble, and Harbinger waiting on the latter, with the King of Trumps, King Pepiu, Orelio, Homebrewed, Chief Baron Nicholson, and one or two others at their heels, and a great body of horses Jying well up, the pace being as bad as it well could be. The race went on in this way to the turn, where Stockwell fell back, and Harbinger took his place in attendance on Little Harry, Hobbie Noble next, with Kingston, Womersley, Barbarian, King of Trumps, Chief Baron Nichol* son, and Stockwell clustered together, immediately in their wake : Daniel O'Rourke was also lying in a better placb,^but still some distance from the leading horses. Harbinger retained his position to the road, and there gave way : there, too, Womersley, in attempting to go up between Hobbie Noble and Little Harry, was shot out, and had nothing more to do with tbe race. Little Harry lived a few strides over the road,

and then beat a retreat Jn ,<JQm>Pg the turn Barbarian had been rapidly drawing towards the front, and on ■ Little ( Harry's retirement^he took a lead of two clear, lengths on the upper aide of the qqurse, Daniel O'Raurke lying off some four or five lengths on his left ; on the lower side were .Chief Baron Nicholson, and Hobbie* Noble, between whom a punishing struggle commenced inside the distance, their jockey's appearing to be totally unconscious that .anything else was left in the race. Meanwhile Barbarian went with a strong lead into the bottom, but tired in rising the hill, stopped every stride, to Daniel O'Rourke, was caught a few strides from, the chair, and beaten, by a short; half length. The contest between the couple on' the lower side was continued to the end, and terminated in favour o' the Chief Baron fiy a head, the difference between him and Barbarian being about a length. Alcoran was a bad fifth. King of Trumps sixth, Augur seventh, and Stockwell eighth. After the ruck came Treasurer, Missive, Ambrose, Kingston, Nabob, Mai'dstone, Homebrewed, and Claver. house : the latter, who wai beaten off before he got to the turn, was last at the ending post. The race was run in. 3min. 2sec, the slowest time on record. Value of the stakes, J Pedigree of Daniel O'Rourke.— Daniel O'Rourke, bred by Mr. Bowes in 1842, is by the celebrated Irish Bird catcher out of Mr! Bowes' s b m Forget-me-not, and is ;her first produce. Birdcatcher bred in Ireland in 1832, and own brother to Faugh-a.ballagti,*was got by Sir Hercules, out of Guiccioli,; by Bob Booty out of Flight, by Escape.* Friday, )May 28. The Oaks Stakes of 50 aova.; each, h ft, for three year old fillies ; Bst 7lb each ; the owner of the second to receive 100 soya. out of the stakes, the winner to pay 100 sots, towards the police and regulations of the course, and.3osov«. to the judge ; a mile and a half, to be run on the New Course ; 123 subs. Mr. J. Scott's b f Songstress, by Irish Birdcatcher V.., F.Butler 1 Mr. Parker's bkf Bird-on-the.wing, by Irish Birdcatcher S.Rogers 3 Lord "Zetland's br f Gossamer, by Irish Birdcatcher.' J. Matson 3 Mr. Sargent's b f Kate, by Auckland -A. Day 4 The following also started but were not placed : — Mr. E. R. Clarke's chfLady-in Waiting, by The Emperor, Mr. Copeland's eh f The Lady Amyott,.by Faugh-a-ballagb, Mr. Payne's b f Glenluce, by Slane, Mr. Pedleys ro f Trousseau, by Gameboy, Duke of Richmond's b f Red Hind, by Venison, Mr. E. R. Clarke's b f Plumpstead, by Chatham, Mr. Merry's b f Sally, by Ithuriel, Lord Westminster's Plot, by Pantaloon, Mr. Worthington's Rachete*, by Birdcatcher, Lord Chesterfield's fby Hetman Platoff, out of Infidelity. The race was run in exactly three minutes. Value of the stakes, £3,375. * From the above pedigree it will be seen that the winner of the last Derby is a near relation of Mr. Redwood's stallion Sir Hercules,' who is also in like manner equally related to the first three fillies for the Oaka — Ed.

Lifb. — Though we seem grieved at the shortness of life in general, we are wishing.every period of it at.an end. .The minor longa to be of age, then to be a man of business, then to make up an estate, then to arrive at honours, then to retire. Rhubarb Wink. — For rhubarb wine, cut 51bs of rhubarb, put to it one gallon of cold water, let it stand a week or nine days, then strain it, and to every gallon add 4lbs. of brown sugar, and a lemon and a half cut in slices, and put in the cask. Set the cask in a warm cellar, or other place, to work : and when the*, wine ceases to hiss, stop it down, and bottle off at Christmas, or in the spring. None of the ingredients require boiling. The middle or latter end of September is the best time for making, as the saccharine juices of the rhubarb are then the strongest. To preserve rhubarb, take it when young, peel and string, and cut it into lengths ; put it into a pan, with a very small quantity of water, just sufficient to keep it from burning : take off, and strain the liquid from it, before it becomes too soft; then to every pint of rhubarb add 1 lb. of sugar, put it in the pan again', and boil gently for halfan hour, or till it becomes the thickness of jam, which may be ascertained by placing a small quantity on a plate to cool. When done, put it in small pots, same as other preserves. Catholicism. — The following list of clerical converts 'to Catholicism for the year 1851, is extractedjrom the Dublin Weekly Telegraph :— Rev. S. F. Barff, A. 8., Hull : Rev. H. Bedford, | Hoston : Rev. D. Clarke, Exeter College, Oxford : Rev. E. Coflin, Farleigh, Kent : Rev. G. L. Coglan, Torquay : Rev. J. Collins, M. A., Liverpool Rev. TI: Coombs, Leeds: Rev. S. G.L. Crawley, Leeds : Rev. — Dodsworth, St. Pancras, London : Rev. T. Dykes, Hull : Rev. J. E. Earle, Bradfort, Wilts : Rev. W. Evart, New York : Rev. — Harper, Pimlico: Rev. S. B. Harper, Perth ; Rev. F. Hathawy, Worcester College, Oxford : Rev. J. H. Jerrard, D. C. L. : Rev. W. C. J. Hutchinson, St. Endellions : Rev, R. A. Johnstone : Rev. — James : Rev. — Laprimaudaye ; Hon. & Rev. D. T. Law : Rev. W. M. Lethwaite, Clifford, Yorkshire : Rev. — Manning, M. A. Chichester: Rev. J. Minster, Leeds : Rev. J. Orr, Bristol : Rev. J. R. Shortland, M. A., Oriel College, Oxford : Rev. J. Rodwell, Cambridge : Rev. S. P. Rooke, Leeds ; Rev. J. Scralton, M. A. St. John's College, Cambridge : Rev. — Vale, Buckingham Palace Chapel: Rev. E. Walford, M. A., Baliol College, Oxford : Rev. R. Ward, Leeds : Rev. F, E. White, New York : Rev. J. H. Woodward, Bristol.

The Seven* Wonders of a Married Woman. — 1. Never having "a gown to put on," when invited out anywhere. 2. Always being down the first to breakfast ; always being dressed in time for dinner, and never keeping the carriage (or the cab) waiting at the door a minute. 3. Not always having " delicate health," about the autumn, and being recommended by her medical man " change of air " immediately. 4. Keeping up her " playing and singiug " the same after marriage as before. 5. Giving her husband the best cup of tea. 6. Never making the house uncomfortable by continually " putting it to rights 1" nor filling it choke full with a number of things it does not want, simply because they are " bargains !" 7. Never alluding, under the strongest provocation, to "the compute sacrifice she has made of herself!" nor regretting the " two or three good offers," which she (in common with every married woman) had before she was foolish enough to accept him .' and never, by any accident, calling her husband a brute ! — Punch.