The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-16 00:00:00

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT HULL.—On
Tuesday John Wilkinson, the ex-policeman, who stands
charged with attempting to murder a married woman
named Emma Barker, was brought up at the 11 Police-
court. The Iprofteoutrix, who appeared to be in a very
weak state, gave evidence against the prisoner. She said
that be had frequently threatened to " do" for her, and
that he would some day " awing" for her. On the 4th
inst. she left his house, but during the afternoon he dis-
covered her whereabouts and went to her to ask her to re-

turn to him, but, as she refused, he stabbed her twice with

a large pocket knife. Several witnesses deposed to seeing the
prisoner strike the prosecutrix on the night in question,
and also that he had a knife or some sharp instrument in
his hand. Mr. J. Brownridge, the police surgeon. stated
that about 10 o'clock on the evening of Saturday, the 4th
inst. he was called to attend the prosecutrix, who was then
lying at the station-house. He found her suffering from
two wounds, one on the back of the neck and the other
just under the left breast ; both were an inch in length,
and had been caused by a sharp instrument. The blow on
the back had struck the spinal column with such violence
as to break the point off the blade. The one on the side
had penetrated the prosecutrix's stay-bone, and struck on
one of the ribs. Had it not been for the stay-bone it must
inevitably have entered the heart. The wound on the
spine had caused the loss of much blood, it having divided
an important artery, and it was only the prompt measures
which had been used that had prevented the most serious
symptoms from setting in. Police-constable Connell, who
apprehended the prisoner, produced the knife, which was
stained with. blood, also a pair of stays and chemise very

much saturated with blood. On charging the prisoner

with stabbing the woman, he said, " I did; I don't deny
it," and that if it had not been for the prosecutriz he
should have been in the police force yet. On being cau.
tioned in the usual manner he said he should reserve his
defence. He was committed to the York Assizes.
PREDICTED INUNDATIONS IN EUROPE.—M.
Mathien (de la Drome) writes to the Siecle to communicate
a note which he has addressed to the Academy of Sciences,
and according to which all the watercourses in the south-
east of France, and in the whole south of Europe, will ex-
perience a very great augmentation from the 28th inst. to
the Bth of November. He predicts great inundations in
Italy, and still greater ones in countries to the east of Italy.
In France only a few departments will be visited by this
scourge. The 17th degree of longitude is the region where
it will be most severely felt. The overflow of rivers will
take place, according to M. Mathieu, throughout a zone of
more than 600 leagues, parallel to a line drawn from Cette
or Marseiles to a point beyond the Black Sea, grazing the
south of the Crimea. The neighbourhood of seas will, it
is said, be chiefly affected, and advice is given to the popu-
lation of the districts indicated to take such precautions as
may be in their power before the 28th inst.
A WORD ON THE TOAD.—The beautiful eye of
the toad is proverbial, redeeming the ungainliness of its
general aspect, and having in all probability given rise to
the fabled jewel within the head. Bright and richly coloured
as is the eye, with its round, bold, fiery chesnut hue, it is
without the least vestige of expression, and retains its full
brilliancy long after the animal is dead. As to the venem-
ous powers of the toad, they are not to be found in the
mouth, as is popularly imagined, but in two rather large
glands on the sides of the head, which project boldly and
are plainly visible. If one of these protuberances be squeezed
between the fingers, a whitish, creamy-looking liquid will
be ejected, and perhaps to some little distance. While per-
forming this operation, it will be as well to hold the tuad
in such a manner that the secretion may not be shot into
the eyes, as in that case it would cause severe pain, and
might probably produce violent inflammation. Still, it will
not be ejected without the employment of considerable
force, and is never injurious to human beings. Briefly to
sum up the character of the toad;e asiitly isnot pretty, is en-
tirely harmless, extremely useful, tamed, etnodouwtowrathrdy
of being cherished by those who prefer deeds
seeming ; it is a creature f curious and interesting habits,
and affords a rich field to any one with time and opportu-
nity, for clearing up several important but disputed points
in physiology.—Once a
Week.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S LAND TRANSFER ACT.
—Yesterday the new registry offices in Lincoln's-inn-fields,
which have been prepared for the transaction of business
in connection with Lord Westbury's Land Transfer Act of
last session, was thrown open for business, a considerable
amount of which was very soon effected in a
factory manner. The act was fixed
to
come into operation
on the Ist of October, but the opening of the new registry
offices was necessarily postponed for a few days, in conse-
quence of the difficulties attendant upon the first establish-
ment of an important public department, and the necessity
of
.communication with other branches of the public service.
The offices, which are occupied by the persons who have
been engaged to carry out the provisions of the new act,
are those of the old Insolvent Debtor's Court, adapted for
purpose. The rules of the office, which have been drawn
up by Mr. Follett, Q.C., and which are conspicuously
placed, are 51 in number, and are of a simple and practical
character. The fees are collected by stamps. For every
warrant for attendance before the Registrar a fee of 38. is
charged; for filing every affidavit, 2s, 6d.; and for every
oath administered, Is. 6d. For every caveat before regis-
tration a fee of £1 is charged. Judging from the amount
of business transacted at the new offices yesterday, Lord
Westbury'e measure promises to be largely acted upon.

(From the Paris Correspondent of the Morning Post.)
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, 6 P.M.
This has been a day of agitation, anxiety, and
excitement among the members of the Imperial
Cabinet and foreign diplomatists. We are in the
midst of a Ministerial crisis. I will endeavour to
explain the position of the Emperor towards his
Ministers. When the Emperor left Paris for
Biarritz he assured the leading members of the
Cabinet of his intention to withdraw the French
army from the States of the Church at the earliest
convenient period. M. Thouvenel, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, gave such assurances to the Italian
Government, and wrote despatches t,, Rome pre-
paring the French Ambassador to make representa-
tions to Cardinal Antonelli to that effect. Count
de Persigny, as Minister of the Interior, and
charged with the responsibility of the politics of
the Ministerial press, repeated, in the Constitution-
nel especially, the assertion that the occupation of
Rome was to have a limit, and not to be perma-
nent, and the •tatu quo maintained, as the Ultra-
montane journals constantly and emphatically
declared. Meanwhile an intrigue was going on
headed by a party at Court devoted to the Empress
and the Papacy, to turn out M. de Persigny ; and
later occurred a second intrigue to get rid of M.
Fould. Both these manoeuvres, however, at the
time failed, and the Emperor rene wed his assurances
of confidence to the Minister of the Interior and
the Minister of Finance. M, Thouvenel got per-
mission to publish the Roman correspondence in the
Moniteur, and his Majesty seemed disposed to pro-
secute an agreed upon policy towards Rome, which
would end in placing a limit to the occupation. The
Emperor returned from Biarritz, when —as I under-
stand the story—his Majesty began to show symp-
toms of having changed his mind, and reversed his
intention once more. The Cabinet communicated
with each other, and a majority, amongst whom
were MM. Persigny, Fould, Thouvenel, Rouher,
and Baroche determined to resign. ' This move
took place, as far as I can learn, only two days since.
The Emperor did not wish to get rid of the whole
of his Cabinet, and sought to calm and conciliate.
Of course I am not aware of many details, but it
is quite evident the Camarillo, or female Court
Papal party, contemplated a change of Ministry,
and the formation of a Cabinet entirely in favour
of the temporal power of the Pope, and favourable
also to the revival of the Villafranea idea of a
federal Italy, which would involve the return of
the exiled Sovereigns. I have seen a list of the
proposed new Ministry, in which occur the names
of Viscount Lagueronniere, the founder of La
Franoe, and M. Drouyn de Lhuys, who returns to
the Foreign-office, and who is known to be pro-
Papal. Count Walewski would of course remain
in the Cabinet, he having long declared for the
Villafranca compact, and the restoration of the
exiled princes of Italy. The latest reliable intelli-
gence I could get to-day was, that M. Fould, the
Minister of Finance, left this morning for St.
Cloud, with a sort of Ministerial ultimatum, in the
name of himself and a majority of his colleagues.
Early in the day his excellency returned to Paris,
and immediately proceeded to the Ministry of
Finance. Shortly after, he was joined there by
MM. Persigny, Th.ouvenel, Baroche, and Rouher.
Up to the moment I am writing, these important
members of the Imperial Cabinet are in Council,
and no one knows what has taken place. I believe
that M. Fould is discussing with his colleagues
certain propositions made by the Emperor, which,
if accepted, they could remain in office. Perhaps
they may remain in office for a time, but the Minis-
try is, I sincerely believe, doomed. The best and
most honest advisers of the Crown will, I fear, in-
evitably give way ere long under any circumstances
to a Camarillo intrigue. We shall have the friends
of the Papacy, and the enemies of Italy, in power,
and the Emperor will lose much of his popularity.
M. Fould's retirement will destroy all financial
confidence.

TURIN, OCT. 15.

The Turin journals of this evening announce that
the King has signed a decree commuting the sen-
tence of death passed by the tribunals upon the
deserters from the royal army into perpetual im-
prisonment.

The Mommento of to-day contains a favourable
report of Garibaldi's health.
The Monarchia Nazionale of to-day says :—" The
Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia and the
Prince of Wales will shortly leave Weinbourg for
Italy. The Princess will pass the winter at Ca-
tania, and on her return home will visit th,p prin-
cipal cities of Italy."
It appears that her Royal Highness will be ac-
companied to Sicily by the Prince of Wales,

PARIS, OCT. 15.

The Pattie of this evening says :

" Rumours of a change in the Ministry having
given rise to various conjectures, we can state for
certain that the only question agitated in the
Cabinet is that of the elections, which the Empe-
ror has formally declared will only take place at
the period fixed by the Constitution."

GARIBALDIAN RIOT AT LIVERPOOL.
LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY MORNING.
A serious Garibaldian riot occurred last night at
Birkenhead, in which the police were worsted, and

a number injured.
The military were sent down from Cheater, but
were not called upon to act.
The volunteers were sworn in as special con-
stables, but were not employed. The Irish mob
was triumphant.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, October 15.—The market still con-
tinues very agitated, at a further reduction in
prices. The Railway Share Market is less affected
than Rente and some other securities, but some few
of the lines show a slight decline. The market
closed as follows :

4 per Cents. 97 80
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 90
New 3 per Cents
Do. end month —
Credit Mobilier 1175
Do. end month 1180 -
BA IL'

Bank Shares ..3225
Credit 1, owner ....1245
Piedmontese Fivos 72 20
Italian Loan 73 10
Roman ......
Austrian ........
Spanish Threes....
Rome Debt ...... 491 ---
rAYEI.
Cash. Account.
Orleans
1048 75 .. 1050
--
Northern - .41032 50
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1177 50 .. 1180
Geneva 367 59 ..
880 367 50
881 25
Southern
Western
Lombard
Saragossa...,
615 .. 616 25
Ditto to Barcelona „„ „ 347 60 • • 348 75

Yesterday a meeting of this society was held at
the offices, Trafalgar-square, the treasurer, Mr. T•
E. Baker, in the chair. The cases submitted by
the secretary, Mr. Young, for the consideration of
the committee were unusually numerous, and the
following is the decision arrived at in those of the
most importance :—George Brooks and John Dunn,
able seamen of her Majesty's ship Mutine, were re-
commended to the next general court for the award
of the society's silver medal, for attempting to save
Joseph Holland, seaman, who was knocked over-
board at sea on the 27th of June. The bronze
medal was given to Mr. George Metters, gunner,
Mr. E. Seale, midshipman, and Mark Voysei,
ste ward, of her Majesty's ship Pantaloon for saving
William Bennett, seaman of her Majesty's shiP
Orestes, who fell overboard at sea on the 21st of
April ; to John Pitcher, seaman, of her Majesty's
ship Impregnable, for saving John Fabian, a WY
of the same vessel, who fell overboard into the har-
bour of Devonport on the 13th of August; to An'
toine Ledousi and Lefebre Alexandre, seamen, of
the French Imperial ship Bayard, for saving peter
Driscoll, seaman of her Majesty's ship Ardent, who
being intoxicated, fell overboard into the harbour
at Rio de Janiero on the sth of August ; to Jolla
Higgins, seaman of her Majesty's ship Liffey, for.
saving Richard Clarke, a boy of the same vessel,
who fell into the harbour at Hamoaze on the 6th
ult. ; to Mr. F. A. Johnston, second master of her
Majesty's ship Victory, for saving Joseph Taylor,
a boy of the same vessel, who fell into the her
bour at Portsmouth on the 12th ultimo; to

Michael J. Taylor, boatswain's mate of her Majesty's
ship Wellesley, for saving George Waghorn, sea'
man of the same vessel, who was precipitated from
a stage into the river Medway on the 19[11 ult.; to
Lieut. C. H. Wilkinson and Michael Munday, sea.
man, of her Majesty's ship Ajax, for saving Joseph
Williams, who fell into the harbour at KingstOW'
on the 6th inst.; to Drum-Major William Marti°
and Richard Richards, private in her Majesty's 15th
Regiment, for saving Private J. M'Carthy, wh°
sank while bathing in the river St. John, Frede"
rickton, on the Bth of August ; to Colour-Sergeant
A. Borland, of her Majesty's 30th Regiment, Of
saving George Baker, who sank while bathing °t
West Cowes, Isle of Wight, on the sth of Septet's-
ber ; and to J. E. Wanstall and Stephen Crouch,
boatmen, for saving W. Wiltshire, whose boat was
upset at Broadstairs, on the 22d of September'
Thanks on vellum were given to Timothy Sullivavf
miner, for saving Thomas de Renzy, who was 081;
ried away by the tide while bathing in the sea 0
Bonmahon, Ireland, on the 18th of June; to Philip
M'Ginn, master of Westport Union, county °I,
Mayo, for saving Patrick Ruddy, who went beyond
his depth while bathing at Westport on the 9th 01_
August; to Richard Hayden, for saving James
Dillon, carter, who jumped into the Grand Canal
Harbour, Dublin, on the 11th ult., and to Alfred
Harris, lighterman, for saving Geo. Coles, who fell
into the river Thames on the 18th of Sept.
on parchment were given to ay. rne de St'
Croix, Thos. Chawner, Jas. Walker, Ben. Kerridge,
John Rutter, Police-constable John Grant, Corpoll
3. s. M'Govin, D. Anderson, M.
L. Hillier, Thes.AVII"-
liams, J. Hodgson, J. C. Wylie, S. Tomlinson, J.'
Rashleigh, and T. Evans. Pecuniary rewards were
also given in 13 cases. The secretary reported tilt
a legacy of £lOO
New Three per Cents. had been
bequeathed to the society by the late Mr. G.
ton. A donation was also reported of £lO lQ
..
from Mr. Capel Cure. Some further business its
ing been transacted the Court adjourned.
Vied-

nesday Evening.--As -HE BIRKENHEAD RIOTS.—BIRKENHEAD,
c.nhia_fly. from thegi—owAlsrieshxliqeucat:dter „ ley
largeofßi r crowdsken hd
,oafF
ePrae "bPjsic;
llince-stroet, and the streets adjoining Holy Tril'lag
Church and the schools, where the Parliamentary Deb6+•oo,
Society met. The discussion on the Garibaldi ques`c;
went on, the approaches to the room being strongly guart:sr
by police. From four to six hundred special constab.; 0
including many volunteers out of uniform, assisted the
police to check the violence of the mob, but in spite of these
police to check the viokuce of the mob, but in spite °
tb°
efforts several persons were severely injured, manY of
mob being armed with bludgeons, old sabres, kni/es;th
Women were active in the affray, and one armed w',llo
hatchet attacked a policeman. In order to distract 's 0
police and darken the air, the chimneys of manY With
in the Irish quarter were fired. This filled the strata _
dense smoke, under cover of which many acts of violeccivv;
both on persons and property were committed. The wirld°4B
of a leather shop and bread shop in Watson- street vl'of
smashed and the goods thrown into the street—solve 0
these outrages being carried on by women and girls. street—so,
police officers have been taken to the hospital. The
trates are sitting, and if the disturbances increase the 33:1'
tart', who are iu readlzteaa, Will be called oat.