The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-10 00:00:00

THE HON. CAPTAIN COLBORN'S CASE.

Mr. Coleridge and Mr. Sleigh appeared fora postpone-
ment of this case, Capt. Colborn being indicted for a
libel on Mr. Phineas Davis, an attorney, of Clifford-street.
The learned gentlemen grounded their application on the
fact that the captain had been arrested on a civil process
on Saturday last by the sheriff of Kent, and that he was
now in Maidstone gaol.

Mr. Giffard, Q.C., and Mr. Poland, who appeared for the
prosecution, said that they had been informed that Capt.
Colborn's arrest took place several days ago.
A gentleman, from the offices of the sheriff of Kent, said
that to his certain knowledge Captain Colborn had been
in Maidstone gaol for ten days.

After some conversation it was arranged that Captain
Colborn should be brought up by habeas, and that the trial
should take place, if possible, during the present session.

THE UNITY BANK.

An application was made for a further postponement Of
the trial of Mr. Bird and Mr. Terry by Mr. Giffard.
Sergeant Parry objected, and stated his reasons at great
length.
The Recorder said he did think the facts stated in favour
of the application would justify him in submitting the de-
fendants to the further inconvenience of postponement upon
the mere chance of getting additional evidence to that
offered before the magistrate. The trial had been post-
poned from time to time, and as the defendants strenuously
objected to further delay, he thought the case should be
taken during the present session.
Mr. Sergeant Parry asked his lordship to fix a day for
the trial.

The Recorder said he could not do that. There were a
great many large cases for disposal, for 'instance the case
of Pelizzioni, and the manslaughter case arising out of the
Blackheath tunnel accident. He did not think it would be
possible to take the Saffron-hill case before Monday. The
counsel engaged had better make application to the learned
judges, who would attend the sessions on the matter.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. JOHN CAssELL.--The
funeral of the late 111 r. John Cassell, the publisher,
took place at 4 o'clock on Saturday, at Kensal-green Ceme-
tery. The funeral procession consisted of a hearse and 12
mourning coaches, containing the relatives, friends, part-
ners, and principal literary and other employes belonging
to the establishment of the deceased. There was also in
attendance a deputation from the National Temperance
League, consisting of Mr. George Cruikshank and other
gentlemen. On arriving at the gates of the cemetery, the
mournful procession was joined by a large number of the
hands employed in the printing, publishing and other
establishments belonging to the firm with which the de-
ceased was connected. There was also a considerable crowd
around the grave, amongst whom might be recognised Mr.
Thos. Beggs, Mr.:G. M. Murphy, the Rev. Dawson Burns,
and other friends of the deceased.
• THE ORIGIN OF SOAP.—The application of soap
as a detergent is not of high antiquity. Like other
useful things, electric communication, for instance, it
seems to have been known as a fact for a considerable time
before it was turned into its most serviceable account. Soap
at first was merely a cosmetic for smoothing the hair and
brightening the complexion. When once its valuable de-
tersive powers were discovered—doubtless by accident—
its employment spread rapidly. Numerous soap manufac-
tories sprang up in Italy, notably in the little seaport town
of Savona, near Genoa, whence the French name of soap,
"sawn." The manufacture spread in Spain and France.
Marseilles became famous for its marbled soaps. Our word
" soap " may come from the Latin "sago," which is men-
tioned by Pliny as an invention of the Gauls. As woollen
garments preceded linen, so the fuller's art (for cleansing,
scouring, and pressing cloths and stuffs) is older than the
washerwoman's, being due, it appears, to one Nicias, the
son of Hermias. His grand discovery would be the em-
ployment of an earth, since named after the persons who
used it. The Roman fullers, who washed dirty togas, were
persons of no little importance. Their trade, and the man-
ner of carrying it on, were regulated by laws, such as the
Lex Metella de fullonibus. At one time fuller's earth (found
of a very superior quality in Staffordshire, Bedfordshire,
and other English counties) was considered indispensable
for the dressing of cloth that, to prevent foreigners from
rivalling English fabrics, it was made a contraband com-
modity, and its exportation made equally criminal with the
heinous and wicked export of wool ! How completely public
opinion has changed. No weathercock could make a more
perfect gyration from north to south, from east to west.
What is it criminal to export now ! Convicts and contra-
band of war, perhaps ; but certainly not harmless earth
and wool.—Dickens' All the Year Round.
FALSE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.—In the year
ending at Lady-day, 1864, there were 120 convictions in the
city of London for using false weights and measures. The
population resident—that is to say, sleeping—in the city is
about 110,000.

WHAT UPON EARTH IS IT ?—The Atheneum says :
A dozen specimens of portraits taken 'by the
us
—itsmteank women, and ohil-
en by this process
rnturd engraving ; a statement
which time will either verify or disprove. Opinions vary
wdWri:lnithilaYsitttYaPsiselona
sgsearts processe
printing
ne
thattbi
ne beforegoproae
very much. But as to the beauty of these specimens, thero
can be no dispute. The faces have a delicacy rarely seen
in such works.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—HALF-A-CROWN DAY.—
SATURDAY April 8.-4.dmissions on payment, 1,162; ditto
visitors, 4,200.