The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-08 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—The recent case of Doctor Hunter has
caused some of your cotemporaries to express their
sentiments in plain language upon the subject of
non-certificated medical practitioners. One jour-
nalist well stated that " it should be an indictable
offence for any man to call himself a physician,
surgeon, apothecary, or dentist, unless empowered
to practise by the law of the land."

I consider that this remark applies also to adver-
tising practitioners of astrological science, who
plunder the public fearfully. Now and then a
member of the Sidrophel family is caught and pun-
ished, or he is dismissed with a caution, but the
number of dupes is great.
You are aware that I have contended for many
years past in favour of the practice of the astro-
logical science, by properly qualified persons,
which was the case even within two hundred years
in England ; and as it seems probable we shall soon
have a new Reform Bill, I hope that the Parlia-
ment which passes it will avail itself of an early
opportunity for legalising astrology, so that it may
be only practised by qualified persons. Since the
early part of the year 1852 many persons, including
myself, have been expecting this course to be
adopted. I am acquainted with several well-in-
formed actual students who dare not openly prac-
tise the science on account of its unpopular and
supposed illegal character ! If false, let it be pro-
hibited ; but if true, let it be legalised and made re-
spectable, in company with other " ologies."—l
am, Sir, yours obediently,

CHR. COOKE.

sth Dec., 1865.

The Title *to a Pattern Design.

In the Manchester County Court on Wednesday
an action of trover was brought by Messrs. Fallows
and Keymer, merchants, Parker-street, against
Messrs. Heugh, Balfour, and Co., merchants, Port-
land-street, to recover possession of a pattern design.
The plaintiff's case, as stated by Mr. 8.8. Cobbett,
showed that in the month of August the defendants,
through their buyer, requested the plaintiffs
to prepare a design for a printed handkerchief, after
the style of a handkerchief which the plaintiffs had
in stock, but with a little variation. The defen-
dants' buyer furnished a representation of several
flags of South American nations which it was wished
should be included in the pattern that the plaintiffs
were to prepare, and stated that his principals would
require 4,000 dozen handkerchiefs. The plaintiffs,
in consideration of the proposed order, prepared a
design, showing a number of, flags and the position
in which they were to be arranged. Subsequently
another design was procured by the plaintiffs, but
this was not quite satisfactory, and at the buyer's
request another design was prepared, and submitted
to the inspection of the defendants. The plaintiffs
alleged that the design was to be returned that they
might complete the order. The defendants' buyer
asked for a quotation for the printing of handker-
chiefs of the approved pattern, and on the 28th Sep-
tember the plaintiffs named 7s. and 6s. 4d. as the
prices per dozen, but said that they could not bind
themselves to these figures. No order was given by
the defendants, who, moreover, retained possession
of the design. Their buyer had stated that the de-
fendants wished to keep the pattern, but that if the
plaintiffs insisted it should be returned. The plain-
tiffs did insist upon its return, and were met with
a proposal that the defendants should pay the cost
of the design and retain it, which proposal was,
however, declined. The design in question, it
was submitted, was got up by the plaintiffs solely
for their own use, to enable them to execute a
large order.—Mr. Hopwood, for the defendants,
contended that the six national flags in their peculiar
collocation were the design of his -clients, who had
as much right to the pattern as the plaintiffs had.
The defendants' buyer said that when he first called
upon the plaintiffs he stated that he wanted a special
design, which should be kept exclusively to the de-
fendants' use. He gave them coloured engravings
of some flags and arms for insertion in the pattern.
In consequence of the plaintiffs declining to bind
themselves to their quotation, the defendants applied
for prices elsewhere.—The Judge (Mr. Ovens) said
he thought the action was undefended, and he should
give a verdict for the plaintiffs for £5O, to be re-
duced to is. if the' design should be returned within
a mouth.

REMARKABLY Low TIDE.—STOPPAGE OF THE
RIVER STEAMERS.—Yesterday a very remarkable
and unusual occurrence took place on the river at Black-
friars. The morning ebb tide was one of the lowest that
had
ibilegein,
andwitndersyse. d in the Thames for some time, and largo
patches of the bed of the river near Waterloo-bridge were
loft
Towards the last two hours of the ebb
the rush of water through the open ways of the works of
the new bridge at Blackfriars was something very severe,
and
thwei vrthattehre,
the
rapidity
large
dams the
and pile
current
wanodrk offeringthesh
shallowness
of
con-
siderable obstruction to the free passage of the tide, and
diverting it into the narrow channels. The Iron and
Citizen Steamboat Companies' steamers, in making their
way to Lambeth and Chelsea, were unable to stem the
currant and pass the bridge. Steamer after steamer at-
tempted to pass through, but failed to shoot the arch or
space, and had to return to St. Paul's wharf. Such an oc-
currence has not been experienced before, and the incon-
venience which the delay occasioned to the passengers, the
rain falling heavily the whole time, was mosttrying. Some
of the steamers were nearly two hours in going from
London-bridge to Westminster-bridge. About one o'clock
the tide began to moderate, but even then some of the
vessels had bard work in paaldng way through the bnclge•