The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-22 00:00:00

French Academy of Sciences,

At the last sitting a paper was received from M.
Pisani on a new mineral discovered by him in Corn-
wall, and to which he has thought proper to attach
the (to English ears at least) odd appellation of
deviline, in honour of M. H. St. Claire Deville, This
mineral is found in crusts composed of an infinite
number of small crystalline plates. Under the
polarizing microscope it manifests the property
of double refraction. Its fracture partaken both
of the fibrous and lamellary forms, and presents a
silky appearance ; its colour is a greenish blue.
It has but little cohesion, is easily crushed be-
tween the fingers, and adheres to them ; it also
Clings to the tongue. Under the blow-pipe it yields
a button of copper. Its other components are sul-
phuric acid, lime, and protoxide of iron.—M. Paul
Gervais sent in a paper on a case of pDlymelia, cr
ccess of members, in a frog of the genus Pelobates,
and another in a species of ray-fish. The frog had
' a supplementary paw attached to the front one en
the left side; the ray had two dorsal fins near the
cervical region, and of form resembling the pectorial
ones peculiar to the species. This fish was caught
alive near Cette; as for the hog it is the fourth
instance of polymelia on record in the family of
Batracians.—M . Berthelot communicated certain
researches of his on formic acid, from which it ap-
pears that vaporised formic acid subjected to the
influence of a high temperature is decomposed with
a considerable development of heat, and that its de-
composition may be effected under those circum-
stances either into water and oxid of carbon,
or into carbonic acid and hydrogen.—M. De-
scloireaux wrote to state that the meteorite of
Orgneil, which excited such interest last
spring, contains a crystallised substance, the
presence of which has not yet been observed in
meteorites, and which on our earth is- only to b©
met with in talcoas schistus, and in a few very rare
veins. This substance is a carbonate of magnesia
and iron. Toe crystals found in the meteorite above
alluded to have the appearance of oblique parallel°.
pipeds, or obtuse rhombohedrons of an angle of
about 106 degrees. To these remarks M. Daub:ea
adds that the carbonate in question is known under
the name of breunerite, and M. Cloetz shows that
meteorite contains 0 00057 of carbonic acid per
gramme.

The Alleged Irregularities by Bankruptcy

Officials.

On Saturday, there was a public investigation before Mr
Commissioner Sanders, by order of the Chief Registrar, into
certain alleged irregularities in the accounte of Mr Harris,
the official assignee of the Nottingham Division of the
BirmingharaDistrict Court of Bankruptcy. Mr Motterham,
who represented the Chief Registrar, said the gravamen of
the charge against Mr Harris was that, having large sums
of money in hand belonging to other estates, he used a por-
tion of these moneys for his owa private purposes, and at
times he had not at his banker's a sufficient sum of money
by several hundreds to meet what was actually due to dif-
ferent es'ates. It was shown by his cash book that on the
16th of July, Mr Haifa had £1,543 on account of bank-
rupts' es+ates; while at his official bankers, if he might so
term them, he had only £577 18s 3d. The Commissioner—
Do you charge him then with having used th '3 balance for
his own pi ivata purposes ? Mr Motteram— I do not say
how he applici it. On the Ist of September, it appeared
by the cash book that there wee upwards of £2,000 due to
bankrupts' estates, but he had only £541 to his credit at the
bank, leaving a deficiency of £1,500. Surely Mr Harris

could tell whether those sums were or were not applicable
for the purpose of bankrupts' estatet.. Al er same further
remarks, Mr Harris was exam'ned. He said that on
the 16th July, 1863, he was accountable for a balance is
hand of £1,643 3s Bd. He ought not to have had that awn
at the bark. He had received that sum on account of bank-
rupts' estates. He had disbursed out of that £1,513 on ac-
count of bankrupts' estates £636 15s 6d, and there was £577
18a 3d at his credit at the bank. There were £lOO in hand,
cash and post-Ace orders, which sum he was entitled
to hold. That made altogether X 1,318 13s 9d. There were
various memoranda with his cashier at the time amounting
to the difference. For ,instance, there was £5O 2s 3d
charged for bankers' commission, which had been carried to
the debit of various bankrupts' estates. He had also
I 0 U's for a balance due by a late cashier in his employ,
amounting to £lolBs sd. Ile had never received it, but he
held himself responsible for it, and had since paid the sum,
He never paid into his private account at the bank sums

recaived on account of bankrupts. The book produced
. .

woted show to what extent the moneys belonging to
estates were mixed with his own private moneys. P.a.v:ous
to the act of 1861, official assigmees paid out of their °win
pocket all sums for office Pnd other petty expenses. By the
act of 1861 he was paid by salary, end the accounts had
beln kept in a different way since he was so instructed by
Mr Ayrton. No rule had been laid down as to the mode
of paying these cffic3 charges. Mr Motteram said he
wanted en answer yes or no t•o the question whether on

the 16th day of July Mr Harris's private money was
mixed up with what belonged to bankrupts' estates. Mr
Harris— I say that it was, and can give au explanation. I
dispute some of the balances struck by the commissioners.
They are not correct on Aug. 16, in wl'ich it is put £338188.
I say it was £859. The balance of the estates on Dec. 1,
instead of being £2,012 9s id, ought to have been£l,674 19s
Id, There is an entry on both sides of the account, £337
10s, which appears as a transfer from one estate to another.
I never received or paid the money. On April 16, I was
debited with £1,606 3s 101. which should be £1,5063s 10d.
It was en error in casting by Mr Harding's clerk. There is
an error of £52 in another account. With the exception of
some trifling errors the other balances are correct in the
commissioners' appendix subject to my being allowed to
account for the difference in the balances for which 1 am
held responsible, and the sum in the bank. I could produce
an account showing:how all the differences arise, There are
various payment? for such as office and clerks' salaries,
which are not always posted to the debit of such particular
estate. I did not in 1863 pay salaries out of my own pocket.
My cash books showed I had received those amounts. Mr
Motteram—That comes of mixing your private moneys with
those belonging to bankrupts' estates. Mr HarriT—lt comes
of not receiving proper instructions as to the management of
the accounts. It was not until Messrs Ayrton and Harding
pointed out a different way of keeping the accounts that
the system was altered. Mr Motteram—Can you explain
how it was that whilst you had in hand on July sth £1,543,
you had only £517 18s 3d in the bank ?Mr Harris—l begin
by stating that I paid £lO 10s 10d on account of the clerks'
salaries. Mr Motteram—Do you claim a right to use the
funds from bankrupts' estates to pay your clerks P Mr
Harris—Certainly. Mr Cave said that under the 31st sec-
tion of the Bankruptcy Act of 1861 the official assignee was
empowered to pay clerks salaries out of the court funds.
The learned counsel also remarked that there were other
sums he had paid away without taking any receipts. al‘lr
Motteram—What light had you to pay the salaries? Mr
Harris—They were allowed by the Court. Mr Motteram—
Have you any books or statement of the accounts to show
how the £1,543 came into your hands? Mr Harris—lt is
shown by this book. The payments aro £lO morn than the
receipts. Mr Motteram—Hava you taken any pains to se-
parate those accounts which ere purely official P Mr Harris
—The list of these accounts is made every halt-year. The
Commissioner said he should like to know how the Com-
missioners, Messrs Ayrton and Harding, had arrived at the
position that the money in excess had been withheld more
than a week. It seemed to him that that was the grava-
men. Mr Harris—l can show that, although I had only
£5lB in the bank book, I discharged myself of the surplus.
I have paid sums on bankrupts' estates for which I am en-

titled to take credit, and I say that I have to account for
£BO6. Mr Cave said the mode of keeping the books had
given rise to a good deal of misapprehension. The sums put
down as paid away had been paid to particular estates, and
of course there were balances of payments which required to
be made. Mr Harris—May I call Mr Motteram's attention
to the account of other official assignees similar to my own?
Mr Motteram—l think we have as much before us as we can
get through, I have arrived at the conclusion that the eke.
mination conducted as it now is, without the aid of an ac-
countant, will be of little avail.

After sornefurther discession the inquiry was adjourned.

FOOT RACE.—An exciting foot race between Ber-
geant Smith, 59th Regiment, and Private Wheat-
fey, 2d battalion Grenadier Guards. came off on the Farn-
borough-road, Aldershott, yesterday, the match being for
£2O aside, Smith having two yards' start inside the
mark. Smith has lately won for himself the distinction of
"champion of Aldershott Camp." After several ineffec-
tual attempts a start was at length effected. Both men ran
well, but Wheatloy's superiority was soon manifested. At
15 yards from the winning post ho threw up his arms, as
showing he was
,winning; Smith put on a spurt, but the
guardsman kept easily on, and won by about a yard. The
betting had been in favour of the sergeant, and many seemed
disappointed at the result. About 3,000 military and civilian
spectators were present, including a large number of offi-
cers. Sergeant Smith took hie defeat in very good style.
His friends, however, complain of the start made, and say
that the guardsman gained an undue advantage by the
pistol only snapping, and Smith, not at first- heeding this,
but " feeling" Wheatley start, almost involuntarily did so
himself.

kREPRESENTATION OF MALDON.—At a meeting of
the Conservative Club, held at Maldon last week, Mr H. J.
Selwyn, a son-in-law of the late Lord Lyndhurst,announced
his intention of offering himself as candidate for the borough
at the next general election, in conjunction w'th Mr Pea-
cocke, MX., on the Conservative interest, At present
Maldon returns one Conservative and one Liberal,

Mr and Mrs C. S. Stratton (General Toro Thumb
and lady) and family still continue to receive company at
Cataldi's Hotel, Dover-street, Piccadilly. The honour of
issuing the invitation cards (without which no person is
admitted) has, we understand, been conferred upon Mr
Mitchell, of the Royal Library, New Bond-street.
ATTEMPTED MURDER AT ALDERSHOT.—tiointlra,
Sergeant Oliver, of the Royal Engineers, who is stationed
at Aldershot, has been arrested on the charge of attempt.
ing to murder his wife, by cutting her throat. It appears
that the prisoner is a married man, but, as he got married
without leave, his wife had to reside out of barracks, and
she rented apartments in Denmark-street, Aldershot. On
Sunday afternoon an officer saw Oliver rolling about Den-
mark-street in a state of intoxication.- Ile proceeded in
search of a patrol, for the purpose of giving the offender
into custody. Upon reaching the spot in company with
the police, he heard cries of murder. The door of the
house from which the cries came was burst open, and
Oliver was caught in the very act of cutting his wife's
throat. At the moment he was apprehended he had
inlcted two severe wounds. Dr. Gascoigne, of the
Royal Engineers, attended the woman, and it is expected
that she will recover.
SINGULAR ROBBERY OF £360 AND OTHER VALU-
ABLES AT ELWICK HALL.:—A fortunate yet strange
discovery of stolen property took place on Wednesday,
at Elwick, rear West Hartlepool, In August, 1863, Mr
Baron Park's son was a guest of the Rev. J. A. Park,
at Elwick Hall, and on the night of the 11th of August,
before the household had retired .to rest, a pocket-book,
containing two Bank of England notes, one for £2OJ and
the other for £lOO, a cheque for £57, foar sovereigns and
some silver, a massive gold watch and chain, gold pin, and
studs, were stolen from the dressing-room of the baron's
son, Mr James Park. Suspicion attached to the butler,
R. H. Hepton, and he was brought before the magistrates,
but for want of evidence was discharged. He left the
neighbqprhood, and got a situation in the south ; and a
strict watch was kept over the premises for upwards of a
month, but no clue was obtained to the perpetration of the
robbery, or the discovery of the stolen property. On Wed-
nesday last, 15 months after the robbery, as two of Mr
Park's workmen were engaged in cutting a stack of hay,
they found the pocket-book containing the whole of the
missing property, about three feet from the outside cf the
stack. They took it to Mr Park, and will no doubt receive
the £2O reward that was offered at the time of the robbery.
BARNET FAIR, MONDAY.—This fair opened yes•
terday, and although comparatively small to the great Sep-
tember cattle mart, yet there was a useful lot of stock sold
freely to metropolitan milkmen, and young steers and heifers
met a fair demand at equivalent value, and fat cattle sold at
from £l4 to £lB The horse show comprised a miscellaneous

_ ...
collection of horses, sound animals for light harness, and for
heavy draught purposes, selling at 15 to 25 guineas. Riding
cobs and harness ponies wore in fair request. This fair lasts
but one day.

Mr DENMAN, M.P., will, it is said, in the next
Session of Parliament, introduce a bill to give the crimi-
nals the option of being placed in the witness-box, a change
of law long advocated by Lord Brougham and others,—
Court Journal.

THE PRINCESS MARY OF CAMBRIDGE, it is re-
ported, will he united to a member of the House of Saxe-
Wsimar.—Court Journal.
PATENT MUSEUM, SOUTH KENSINGTON.—Num
ber of visitors for the week ending Nov. 19, 1,302. Total
number since the opening of the museum free daily (12th
May, 1858), 869,461.

THE ARCLIDEACONRY OF COLCHESTER.—It is

understood that the Rev. W. B. Ady, rector of Little B•id-
dow, Essex, has been appointed by the Bishop of Rochester
Archdeacon of Colchester, in suacesion to the late Rev. Dr.
Burney.

The Rev. J. Rathbone Cowdroy, NI.A., has been
appointed to the evening lectureship of All Sainlii"-Chifich,
Caledonian-road.

ORCHIDS have become so popular that we are not
at all surprised it should answer the purpose of the
editor of a popular garden almanac to use them as the piece
de resistance in the entertainment provided for his readers.
Mr Shirley Hibberd, F.R.H.S., has made his " Garden
Oracle" for 1865 attractive by presenting a list of stove and
greenhouse orchids, arranged to exhibit certain kinds :;in
bloom every day throughout the year. This is accompanied
with hints to beginners in orchid culture, and the volume
contains besides the usual practical information on all de-
partments of practical gardening.

FEVER IN LIVERPOOL.-GOVERNMENT INQUIRY.
—The Medical Department of the Privy Council have noti•
fled to the Mayor of Liverpool that, in consequence of the
prevalence of fever in the town, they have determined to
send.down Dr. Buchanan to inquire into the present sani-
tary conditon of the town, more particularly with reference
to the recent spread of fever. As this determination on the
part of the Privy Council may create unnecessary alarm, it
may be as well to state that Dr. Trench, the local medical
officer of health, last week reported to the Health Commit-
tee of the corporation that the death rate of Liverpool was
only five above the average of the last ten years, whilst that
of the metropolis was 316 above the average.

DIFFICULT DIPLOMACY.—Diplomacy in Morocco,
besides the difficulties incidental to the discharge of

its high function cf composing international difficulties, and
maintaining a good understanding with the Sultan's Go-
vernment, has physical obstacles to encounter unknown to
the diplomatic service in Europe. The European represen-
tatives near the person of the Sultan, if they have occasion to
quit their comfortable residences at Tangier in order really to
approach near the person of the Sheriffian Majesty to whom
they aro accredited have, especially in the winter season,
their choice between a land journey over a rough and roadless
country, with the chance of being washed away by rivers
ewol'en by ceaseless rains, or else remaining in wet canvas on
their banks till the wrters subside and allow of a passage,
and the hardly less dangerous alternative of a sea voyage
and landing on a coast exposed to the heavy swell of the
Atlantic. We noticed the other day that the British minis-
ter, after paying his visit to the Sultan at Rabat, incurred
some risk of being swamped on the bar of the raver upon
his embarkation in her Majesty's steamer Redpole. A
private letter from Rabat informs us that the representa.

tivo of France fared no better. Sir John Drummond Hay
had paid his official visit, and was in danger on embarking
of being upset in the surf, and rolled back upon the African
share. M. d'Aquin, the French minister, incurred the
exactly opposite peril, that of being swept out to sea. He
had left the French cervctte Talisman, embarking with his
suite in the surf boat sent out from Rabat. The day was
calm, no difficulty in landing could possibly have been
foreseen, and the corvette steamed away as soon as she had
fired her salute of 17 guns in honour of the departing mi-
nister, and had seen him on his way to the shore. .Bat
when the boat approached the mouth of the river, it was
found with dismay that the stream, swollen by heavy
rains, was flowing with so rapid a current into tho ocean
that the rowers could not make head against it, and after
struggling for four hours, and being joined by another boat
from the shore, which was unable to help them, the ex-
hausted crew gave up the contest, and were swept out to
sea. By great good fortune they were able to find a land-
ing place on the coast, and in the end reached Rabat in
safety by land.—Gibraltar Chronicle, Nov. 14:
THE STATIONARY OFFICE.—It is generally
rumoured, and believed to be correct, that the situation in
her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, vacant by the
death of Mr J. R. M'Culloch. has been given to Mr Russel,
editor of the ,F,cotsnian.—Caledonian Mercury.

PAIRING OFF IN BATTLES—In the course of Gen.
Grant's attack on :Lee's position on the 27th ult., some of
the men got utterly lost in the woods. A squad of our men,
who became separated from the main command, ran against
a similar body of the enemy. Neither party knew where
they were, and a mutual agreement was entered into on the
spot that they would keep together, and whichever among
them might happen to strike the opposite side would sur-
render. The two parties ultimately ran into our lines, and
we received 23 prisoners as the result.---Neto lrork Time?.
There were no bullion operations of importance bt
the Bink yesterday.

The directors of the Peninsular, West Indian, and
Southern Bank have appointed Mr Frederick
Bloxam, late deputy manager of the Alliance
Bank, Liverpool, as their general manager.
The certificates of shares for the Sablonier©
Foreign Hotel Company are ready to be exchanged
•
for the banker's reoeipte.