The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-01 00:00:00

rHE SUN, `LONDON, TUESDAY EVEAING, AUGUST 1, 1865.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

SHOREDITCH COUNTY COURT.
(Before Mr. C. Coleman.)
ACTION AGAINST A GENTLEMAN FOR DAMAGE DONE TO A
LADY'S SHAWL-PRIOR V. REED.

This was an action to recover 21s. 6d. for damage alleged
to have been caused by defendant's careless management
of a cigar which he was smoking on board one of the,
Citizen steamboats on its voyage to Chelsea.

Mrs. Prior said—l am a married woman. Ono Sunday
recently I was a passenger with my husband on board one
of the Citizen steamboats which was going to Chelsea. I
sat between my husband and defendant, who is a stranger
to me. He was smoking a cigar. I suddenly smelt some-
thing burning. I looked down and saw my shawl
on fire, and the defendant holding his cigar down
by the side of it. I showed him my shawl,
and he said he would rather give me ss. than have
any bother. This, of course, I declined to accept, and the
captain of the steamboat was called. He requested defen-
dant to give me his address, which was done.

The Captain of the steamer said—l was called to the
defendant, who was smoking a cigar in the after-part of the
vessel, which he clearly had no right to do. There are
notices up that no one is to smoke abaft the funnel. He
was appealed to by Mrs. Prior, who showed me her shawl,
and being told of the offer of ss, I said Mrs. Prior had
better sue defendant.

His Honour—You have the power to summon defendant
for smoking abaft the funnel ? _ _

WitnessLOh, yes ; but I thought it was bettor for Mrs.
Prior to sue him.

Defendant then said that he did not believe it was his
cigar that had caused the damage. Mrs. Prior's husband
was' smoking, and he might have thrown a fusee on the
shawl.

His Honour—Mrs. Prior, was your husband smoking ?
Mrs. Prior—Certainly not.

His Honour—What do you say to the offer of 55., de-
fendant ?

Defendant—l only offered it to avoid a scene on the
boat.

His Honour—You behaved in a very improper manner in
smoking in a prohibited part of the boat, and I think Mrs.
Prior has acted very properly in bringing this case before
the public. I shall find a verdict for the plaintiff, and order
you to pay the amount in a week. You can have the shawl
when the money is paid.
Verdict for the plaintiff, with costs.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

VIOLENT ASSAULT.—NARROW ESCAPE.—Edwin Dickson,
19, a painter, living at 97, Dean-street; Soho, was charged
before Mr. Tyrwhitt, on a warrant by O'Shaughnessy, one
of the warrant officers, with violently assaulting his step-
sister, Emily Tarrant.

The evidence of the prosecutrix, a young woman, was
to the effect that while she was nursing her baby the pri-
soner, a lazy, idle fellow, threw a knifo at her, the effect
being that she was wounded in the neck, and bled a great
deal.

In answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, the prosecutrix said she had
given the prisoner no provocation, but that he was always
threatening her that he would have her life.

The prisoner said he felt aggravated at something the
prosecutrix had done, but ho was sorry he had hurt her.
Mr. Tyrwhitt told the prisoner that ho might consider
himself very lucky that he was not at the Old Bailey for
murder. Ho should commit the prisoner for three months
with hard labour.

DISORDERLY GENTLEMEN.—Mr. Henry Edwards, of 14,
Harrington-street, Harrington-road, gentlemen ; Mr. Geo.
Kiallwark, University Hotel, Grafton-street, Fitzroy-
square, gentleman, and Mr. Charles Williams, solicitor, of
31, Alfred-place, Bedford-square, were charged with being
drunk and behaving in a disorderly manner in Jermyn-
street, and Williams was further charged with assaulting
Police-sergeant Ward, 290 A.

Inspector Walker said that about a quarter to ono that
morning he saw the defendants endeavouring to get admit-
tance to a refreshment house, in Jermyn-street, but the
porter refused to let them in. He (the inspector) and a
sergeant went into the house, to visit it in the usual way ;
Williams then wanted to know why they were not to be
admitted as well as the police. He told Williams he sup-
posed the reason why the porter refused to admit them was
because they were not sober. Williams then said they were
there to put down the brothels, and addressed a large num-
ber of persons who had collected, the other defendaqs
cheering him and crying out " Hear, hear," and " Bravo."
Finding the defendants would not go away they were taken
into the station, and while on the way Williams struck tho
sergeant. The other defendants went quietly.
Sergeant Ward, 290 A, corroborated the inspector, and
proved being struck by Williams in the face.
Williams said he got a blow on his nose, which was not
very pleasant, and he might have given one in return.
Mr. Tyrwhitt fined Williams 205., or a month, and the
other defendants 55., or a week.

Isle of Wight Railway.---This Day.

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the company was
held to-day at the offices, 29, Great George-street, West-
minster; Mr. J. Simpson, director, presiding.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that
he was desirous of affording every information to the
shareholders, and if there was anything in the report which
required explanation he would be most happy to afford it.
The Secretary then read the following report :
" The working of the opened portion of the railway from
Ryde to Shanklin .has continued to be very satisfactory.
The number of passengers conveyed during the half-year
wae:£89,958, and the 'receipts from all sources have been
£3,856 13s. id. The expenses of conducting the traffic,
including the GoVernment duty and rates and taxes,
amount to £2,242 125., leaving a net profit of £1,61415.
as the result of the half-year's operations. To this must
be added the surplus profit from the broken period of the
preVious half-year, amounting to £1.284 15s. 9d., giving
a net disposable balance of £2,898 16s. 10d. The in-
terest on the entire debenture debt of the company for
the half-year amounts to. £1,247 10s., and a dividend of
5 per cent. on the preference capital already issued, will
amount to £492 10s., together £1,740. The • directors re-
commend that this amount be charged against the profits
of the undertaking, which will leaver a balance of £1,158
16s. 10d. to be carried forward to the credit of the current
half-year. Considering that only two-thirds of the rail-
way is at work, that the most important sources of traffic
are not yet reached, and that none of the summer travelling
is included in the last half-year, the directors are
of opinion that this result is eminently encou-
raging, and holds out a fair promise that the opening
of the whole line will amply realise the expectations of
the proprietors. The Engineers' Report attached, explains
the cause of the delay which has arisen in the conduct of
the works beyond Shanklin. The inability of the Con-
tractor to fulfil his obligations has been a source of con-
stant anxiety and much disappointment to the Directors ;
but under the new arrangements now completed, no fur-
ther difficulty can occur, and they rely with confidence on
the whole line to Ventnor being in profitable operation by
Christmas. The causes alluded to have also retarded the
commencement of the line to Newport; but now that
they are removed, preparations are being made for pro-
ceeding ; and the Board trust that by increased activity a
portion of the time which has been lost may be recovered.
In the Parliamentary session just concluded, your directors
succeeded in obtaining powers to complete the system of
railways in the Island by the formation of a line of railway
from Newport to Yarmouth and Freshwater; thus the
whole railway system in the Island will come under one
united management, an arrangement demonstrated to the
satisfaction of Parliament (who rejected all the rival
schemes) as most conducive to the convenience of the pub-
lic and most economical to the shareholders. The capital
of the various sections is in the meanwhile entirely distinct,
and the pecuniary interest of the proprietors in the Eastern
section are in no way involved in the extension, which
must, however, prove of great value to their line. Out
of deference to the objections urged by the inhabitants
of Ventnor, who opposed the extension from the present
authorised terminus further towards the town, it was
abandoned without the expense of a contest. The Act in
question also contained powers to raise a further limited
capital for the enlargement of stations, for an addi-
tional one, for more working stock, should the traffic, as
now seems probable, hereafter require it ; for the ex-
tension of the railway from the present station in
Monkton-street, Ryde, to Melville-street, as originally
contemplated ; and for general purposes. This extension
becomes desirable as the Ryde Pier Company have ob-
tained powers to continue their Tramway from the. Pier
to join your line at Melville-street, thus obviating the break
which now occurs between the steamboats and the railway.
These facilities for a more rapid and convenient interchange
of traffic cannot fail to improve your returns to a much
larger extent than the interest of the expenditure necessary
to produce it. A resolution will be proposed to the general
meeting to exercise the powers thus conferred on the
company. Another Act, to which special allusion was
made in the last rep9rt, and to which the board
and the public attach considerable importance, was
also passed, giving the company power to pro-
vide and work steamboats in connection- with their
railway. The powers aro permissive only, and it is not the
intention of the directors to ask the meeting to take any
action on them at present. The existing service is notori-
ously inefficient, and has become more irregular since the
last meeting of the proprietors. Continued disappoint-
ments happen to passengers who are booked through to.
the island, and its popularity as a resort of pleasure traffi9
is suffering accordingly. With the large capital which the
company will eventually have embarked in the island a
service on which reliance can be placed is indispensable,
and any failure of the arrangements for the short
sea passage must seriously affect your interest. Should no
marked improvement be made, and more disposition be not
evinced by the existing steam boat interests to meet the
requirements of your traffic, it will become necessary to put
the valuable powers you have acquired into operation. In
the meantime a slightly improved service has been organised
by the South-Western Railway Company via Stokes Bay,
where the trains and steamers attend on and wait for each
other. In conclusion, the directors have only to express
their increased confidence in the undertaking, and their
belief that, when completed, the Isle of Wight Railway
will become a very valuable property."
Tho CHAIRMAN then moved the adoption of the report
and the statement •of accounts. Ho said that he did not
think that there was any circumstance in the detailed
statement submitted to the shareholders that required any
explanation. He would only repeat what ho had stated on
previous occasions, that he and his brother directors would
be most happy to afford the shareholders all the informa-
tion in their power, and that their affairs were in a pros-
perous position. (Hear, hear.) He concluded by moving
the adoption of the report and the statement of accounts.
Mr. F. H. AnaI:LEY (a director) seconded the motion, I
winch wits 1%1-Sea Lv.

Fashions for August.

(From Le Follet.)

We have at last the satisfaction of informing our readers
that the eccentric costumes lately so much in vogue are
rapidly disappearing, to be replaced by elegant and lady-
like toilettes. For the past few weeks it has been the fashion
to wear the most peculiar materials, made in the most re-
markable manner—anything so as to attract attention, no
matter how incongruous the articles forming the toilette.
So many ladies adopted this manner of dressing' that we
began to despair of their ever returning to anything ap-
proaching good taste.
The fashion of making promenade toilet tes with the skirts.
fastened up over very short petticoats is now totally dis-
carded ; they are still worn looped up, certainly, but fas-
tened in such a manner as to admit of being lowered if re-
quired. Walking dresses are only so made when intended
for morning wear, and then the petticoats over which they
are festooned arc only a few inches from the ground.
For toilette do visite, the dresses aro never worn thus
shortened, as the style of having ono skirt looped over an-
other must not be confounded with the dress looped over
the petticoat ; as when the dress is made in the manner we
have just described, the underskirt is cut quite to the full
length, and forms a train at the back.
Morning toilettes are generally made en suite—that is,
dress, paletot, and petticoat cf the same ; the three being,
of course, trimmed to correspond with the skirt. A body
of foulard, alpaca, or muslin is generally worn under the
paletot. Nevertheless there always is a body of the same
material, in case of the paletot being required without
sleeves. These paletots are generally tnade with the sleeves
arranged so as to hook on to the armhole, the fastening
being concealed by an epaulette, in case of the white body
being desired underneath ; as the different sleeve showing
through the armhole of the cloak is only considered suit-
able for very young girls.

Morning dresses are made in any light material, such as
mohair, poil de chevre, percale, alpaca, and foulard. The
last-mentioned material is still in great request for toilettes
of all kinds, as there are so many different patterns and
qualities, that it can be adapted for any style or make.
When made in the materials we have mentioned the cloak
is of the 'paletot form, half fitting or quite tight, and is worn
quite short, and generally accompanied by a hood.
Muslin drasses are made with either a scarf or shawl, the
half-fitting jacket seldom looking well'in such light mate-
rials, without it is lined with silk, as is generally the case
with white muslins. In another portion of this articlo we
shall describe the makes and trimmings of a few of these
dresses.

For more dressy toilettes, the highest materials possible
are selected—very fine Indian muslin, Chambzry gauze,
tulle do soie, very fine poll de chevre, and light foulards.
These dresses are generally worn over over coloured slips,
of either tarlatans or silk, according to the taste and ago
of the wearor.l When the under-skirk is of silk, the upper
one is mostly looped up on each side of the front breadth,
so as to show the silk slip. Thicker materials, such as
silks, are generally made either with two skirts, or in a
style giving the same appearance ; for instance, the front
breadth trimmed with ono flounce or more, and another
trimming down each side, which gives the rest of the
skirt the appearance of a tunic.
Skirts are made very full and very long, and the crino-
lines as large as over. Some few ladies have discontinued
them, but there does not seem the least symptom of their
general decrease, excepting for balls and evening concerts.
On these occasions they arA small below the waist, and
so very flexible that the least pressure will compress them
—so that they have none of the unpleasantness and incon-
venience of the more common makes.
Many bodies of dresses are made with a basque either
round the waist or merely at the back, and with the skirt
separate, so that it can be worn over the basque with a
band, and thus form two distinct styles of basque.
Loose bodies, of a different material from the skirts,
aro very much worn, andaro made of foulard, alpaca, Llama,
and muslin. The foulard or figured alpaca, of the same
colour as the skirt, and trimmed with coloured buttons and
very narrow velvets, is very pretty. Some of these are
made with several loops of velvet fastened on the epaulette,
and hanging as low as the elbow. These bodies are made
either slightly fulled in at the waist, both back and front,
by a coulisse and cords, or tucked and stitched with spme
colours. Some have flat tucks both back and front; others
merely in front, and drawn in at the waist behind.
The more dressy corsages of muslin are made in a variety
of elegant styles, with lace or insertion. Many of them are
trimmed with loops of insertion down the front and round
the armholes. A coloured velvet or ribbon is passed through
these loops, and a band or sash with long broad ends ac-
companies the body. The sleeves aro either of the form
called " Bishop," and set into an embroidered poignet, or
puffed all the way down. Some are made of the coat-sleeve
shape and trimmed round the wrist.

We have seen several corselets made of fine linen and
trimmed either with braid, or crossway pieces of coloured
linen double stitched on. Now that almost every house-
hold possesses a sewing machine, these trimmings are very
easily and quickly made.