The Grand National was run to-day in a snowstorm, and resulted in a victory for Mr, Adams's Drogheda. To-day also. the Oxford and Cambridge sports should have taken place, but snow has compelled their postponement. To-morrow is Boat Race and yesterday football enthusiasts flocked in thousands to the Crystal Palace to watch the "semi-final " for the, Associ tion Cup, which was also brought off in the midst of heavy falls of snow, the result being a victory for. Notts. Forest over Southampton St. Mary's—a victory in which the winners were largely aided by the weather, their opponents having the gale in their tooth at the most critical point of the game. This week, too, Mr. Stodda: unfortunate tour in Australia has been brought to a close, the final match with South Australia being drawn very much in favour of the colonials. Of the last twelve matches played, the Englishmen succeeded in winning only one; and we have long been compelled to give up attempting to explain away our defeats, Mr. Stoddart's team was undoubtedly " strong one—almost as strong as we could possibly have sent out, hut they have been altogether out-matched. They have had some ill-luck, no out. "They have had to play under broiling suns to which their opponents were far more accustomed; and the play when on rare occasions it took place on a heavy wicket seemed to show that they would have rendered a much better account of themselves on such wickets as they are accustomed to in this country. But when all allowances are made it must be acknowledged that Australian cricket has of late shown a marvellous improvement, and the next. visit of an Australian team to this country will be looked forward to with the profoundest interest.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.