The Press.
London, England, 1855-07-21 00:00:00

Volitual anb Otntral.

ON SATURDAY, (lilting a thunderstorm, a boy
named Samuel Stopherd, residing at Abbey Hey,
Gorton, Lancashire, was killed by lightning whilst
closing a bedroom window. His body was after-
wards found in the room much scorched, and it is
supposed that his death was instantaneous.
THE EAST INDIA COMPANY have issued the legal
year's notice, reducing, from the 21st July, 1856, the
Interest on India Bonds from the present rate of 4
per cent. per annum to 3i per cent.
Tax BANE Or LONDON have received their charter of
incorporation, and have taken premises at Charing-
cross (late the New Equitable Life Office), which,
with their city establishment, will be ready for occu-
pation in a few weeks.
°fumes were issued on Wednesday to the com-
manding officers of the several battalions composing
the household infantry brigade to hold in readiness,
for immediate embarkation, the rtiufurcemeuts of
volunteers which have been told off to proceed to the
Crimea. The troops for service are 000 volunteers
from the Ist and 2nd battalions ef Grenadier tivards,
and 280 volunteers from the 2nd battalion Soots
Fusilier Guards, making a total of 880 rank and file.
The reinforcements will proceed, in the first instance,
to Malta, from whence the reserve at present there
will embark for the seat of war.

THE OFFICE OF BUPERINTENDENT OF MEDICAL
Srertsries, under the new system of registration of
births, deaths, and marriages in Scotland, has been
conferred upon Dr. James Starke, Fellow of the
Royal College of Physicians.
THE FIRST PRIVATE HALL AT OXFORD UNDER THE
NEW ACT will be opened by the Rev. E. A. Litton,
M.A., Vice-Principal of St. Edmund-hall, and formerly
Fellow of Oriel College, for the reception of students.
After a careful consideration of the probable expenses,
801., for the academical year, consisting, practically,
of three terms, each containing eight or nine weeks,
has been fixed on as the lowest sum compatible with
prudence. This includes all the student's expenses,
except fees paid to the university for matriculation
or for degrees. The hall will be opened next term.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON consecrated on Tuesday
the new and beautiful church which has been in
course of erection for the last two years in the Bays-
water road, near the new carriage entrance to Ken-
sington-gardens. The edifice has received the name
of Christ Church.
CAPTAIN LUSHINOTON having been promoted to his
flag rank, Captain the Hon. H. Reppel has been ap-
pointed to the command of the naval brigade serving
on shore with the army in the Crimea. Capt. Keppel
of nurse resigns the command of the St. Jean d'Aere,
and Captain St. Vincent King, formerly of the
Leander, succeeds him in that post.
THE SWISS FOREIGN LEGION at Dover now consists
a thousand men ; of these, five hundred are perfectly
ready for service. Many of them are soldiers who
have seen service in the field.
THE Rev. MR. SCOTT, of Cambridge, has been ap-
pointed to the Head Mastership of Westminster
School, vice the Rev. Mr. Liddell, appointed to the
deanery of Christ Church, Oxford.
JAN HANJIK, postmaster at Amsterdam, a few days
since absconded from that town with Dutch securities
to the value of 8001. He proceded direct to Liver-
pool, and on Monday succeeded in cashing the bills
at the office of Mr. Came, money-broker,in Waterloo-
roan, who, however, before giving him the money,
had made some inquiries at, the office of the Dutch
consul. On the same evening the police authorities
of Liverpool received information of the robbery
from Amsterdam, with a description of the absconding
postmaster, which led to his apprehension on Tues-
day by Inspector Murphy, of the detective department,
He was taken to Bridewell, and in the e‘euing was
found suspended by the neck from one of the bars of
his cell, and although immediately cut down, life was
extinct. The whole of the money has been recovered.
THE WIDOW OF COUNT BATTBTANT, after ceding
all her fortune to her heirs, end distributing 20,000
florins to her domestics, has entered the Convent of
the Sisters of Mercy, founded by her at Vinkafeld,
Upon the frontiers of Hungary. She assumes the
name of "Sister Fanny."
AN ALLOTMENT or ESTATES took place on Thurs-
day at the offices of the Conservative Land Society,
when the Hounslow property was offered, and taken
long before the list of rights was gone through,
several members being disappointed in obtaining
hots on this valuable estate. The Round Hill Park
estate, Brighton, was offered at the same time, and
all the leased lots and a considerable Dumber of
others taken, as well as lots on the Reading, West
Malvern, and Weybridge estates, making a total sale
of land of upwards of 6,0001.
Tris sum of 1,0801. was paid to Messrs. J. J.
Lonsdale and C. S. °reeves (8401. each) as remune-
ration for drawing nine bills on the criminal law of
England, and 31151. to the Hon. G. L. Elliot for pre-
paring the Bribery and Controverted Elections Bills
of the session of 1854.

York;without taking in the stuTotteding villas, to I Salisbury, the Earl of Hardwick°, Lord Itedesdaka, and j
I paring the Bnbery ana tAlutuayeKtou WNW.= 41.4.
over a million. Lord Verulam. of OP session of 1854.