The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-14 00:00:00

GERMANY.

A letter from Berlin of the 11th, in the Cologne
Gazette, says :—" The Second Chamber adopted yester-
day by 162 votes to 112 the bill to augment the duty
on malt. The Court of Appeal yesterday decided a case
of some interest in press matters. M. Strauss had
published some letters of a political nature through the
agency of the bookseller Hertz. As the author was
absent from the country, the law officers of the Crown
proceeded against M. Hertz, as the publisher, for laze-
majeste, before the municipal tribunal. The tribunal
declared itself incompetent, affirming that the matter
ought to be brought before a jury. The law officers
appealed against this decision, but the Upper Court
confirmed the judgment of the municipal tribunal.
Prince Puckler-Muskau, in coming down the steps of
the railway terminus, two days ago, on arriving here
from Potsdam, fell and luxa,ted his shoulder.

The King of Belgium and the Duke of Brabant have
reached Vienna. They met with a cordial reception
f•om the Imperial family. The Emperor and the Arch-
dukes waited for their arrival at the railway terminus.
_ _

The King took up his quarters in the Hotel of the Bel-
g:an Legation. The Queen of Greece, too, has arrived
a.; Vienna.

THE BEULAH SPA.—These delightful and extensive
pleasure gardens open on Whit Monday, for the season.
During the recess the spirited lessee, Mr. Masters has
at great expense considerably improved their natural
capabilities. We understand it is the intention of the
proprietor to offer the most select amusements to render
the gardens a desirable place of retreat to those who
visit the Crystal Palace and the neighbourhood. The
short distance from the gigantic palace of glass renders
it highly advantageous to the public, it being within ten
minutes' walk.

LEGACY AND STAMP DUTIES.—A Parliamentary paper,
pulPshed on Thursday, contains a return obtained through F.
Mr. J. Hume, of the amount of capital on which legacy-
duty has been paid in the years 1851 and 1852. The same ,
paper contains similar returns of the duty on legacies, pro-
bates, and administrations paid in Ireland in 1851, and
of the total amount of revenue received in the United King- 1
dom, in 1851 and 1852 for stamp duties on legacies,
probates, administrations, and testamentary inven-
tories. The said returns show the following totals :
Capital in Great Britain on which legacy duty wan
paid in 1852, 46,552,3551. 3s. 10d. ; legacy duty paid
thereon, 1,308,0551.35. ; total amount of capital on which
said duty has been paid since 1797, 1,657,064,075/.05.2d., ;
and total amount of duty paid within that period on such
capital, 47,401,2731.95. In Ireland, in the year 1851, the
amount of capital on which legacy duty was paid was
2,432,255/. 17s. sd. ; and the duty, 58,444/. Bs. 4d. ; in
1852, capital, 2,570,2371. 10s. 7d., and the duty paid
thereon, 61,5131. Os. 11d. The amount of duty paid in
1851 on probates and letters of administration in Ire-
land was 66,0751., and in 1852 the amount paid was
67,8771. The amounts of revenue received in the United
Kingdom in 1852, for stamp duties on legacies, &c., are
as follows : —England and Wales, stamp duty on legacies,
1,225,2121. ls. sd. ; on probates, &c., 996,9951. 15s. 6d.
In Scotland, stamp duties on legacies, 92,8491.19s. 3d. ;
on probates, &c., 70,4291. 10s. In Ireland, stamp duties
oz legacies, 62,2731. 165.,11d. ; on probates, &c., 67,8871.
The total amount of duty received since 1797 was, on
legacies in England, 44,736,1591. 7s. 6d. ; in Scotland,
2,870,9021. lis. 7d. ; and in Ireland, 1,275,7201.9 x. ld.
Grand total of legacy duty paid since 1797, 48,882,7821.
12s. 4d. ; duty on probates, administrations, and testa-
mentary inventories, in England, 35,660,3881. 12s. 2d. ;
in Scotland, 2,041,386/. Os. 2d. ; and in Ireland,
1,693,5951. Bs. 104 d. Grand total of duty on probates,
&c., since 1797, 39,395,8701. ls. 2id.
SHOCKING SUICIDE OP A YOUNG LADY.—On Wednes-
day night a young ladfhcommitted suicide under circum-
stances which have created a painful sensation in
Preston. The deceased, Fanny Crosby, was the daugh-
ter of the proprietor of the London and Paris House, an
extensive drapery establishment in the Fishergate, and
was 21 years of age. We understand that she was a
very clever and accomplished girl, and that excessive
study is believed to have affected her intellect. She has
latterly been in the habit of putting her feet in water
several times during the day, apparently with the view
of relieving her head, of which she frequently complained.
About six o'clock on Wednesday evening, the deceased
left home, attired for a walk. At half-past eight, a
young man, named William Holliday, was proceeding
along the bank of the Ribble (a favourite promenade,
close to to the town), when he observed a female, who
proved to be Miss Crosby, sitting on some stones, which
projected into the river, with her legs in the water.
Some other persons came up, and Holliday directed their
attention to the singular position of the deceased, and
they all went towards her. A young woman who was
passing exclaimed, "Let's go down, and see what she is
about." Immediately upon hearing this the deceased
plunged into the water, which is a considerable depth
at that spot, and was carried down by the strength of
the stream. Half an hour elapsed before the body was
recovered, by which time life was extinct. The deceased
had her boots on, but had taken off her mantle, bonnet,
and veil. She was seen walking near the same place
b stween five and six o'clock on Wednesday morning.
Yesterday an inquest was held on the body by Mr.
My,,•es, when the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary
Insanity.
ST EAU NAVIGATION AT LIVERPOOL.—One of the
most remarkable and interesting sights in reference to
steam _navigation may now be seen at this port, and we
lectedf four first-class
sts-hcliapsss,
advise those who are curious in steam-ships, or who like
a fine sight, to pay a visit to the Cobourg-dock to-day
s(Scraetwur"steayin,
where er
three
all be:longing to the Cunard Company, and not including
the branch steamers, or mail tenders. The whole port
steamers,
herlearg aree transatlanticcol
of Southampton, which it has been customary to speak
of as a rival to Liverpool in steam-ships, could not, at
one time, show as many vessels of such a class as the
accumulated red funnels now in dock here belonginr, to
one company alone. The docks at Liverpool and the
Mersey never presented a more brilliant fleet of steamers,
and which are the admiration of every one who visits
this. magnificent port. The vessels of the Cunard Com-
pany
1 800 tons burthen
pan.y at present in the Cobourg-dock, are
the Royal Mail
ate am-ships Niagara and America,
each, and the screw steam-ship Alps, 1,440 tons, all
engaged in the transatlantic trade ; the screw steam-
ships, Melita, 704 tons, Baalbec, 614 tons, and the
British. Queen, in the Constantinople and Smyrna, and
the paddle-wheel steamer, Margaret, of 332 tons, in the
Ilavre. In addition to these is the Royal Mail steam-
ship Europa, at present in the river, for Boston and
lialifax.—LelveTool Chronicle.