The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-25 00:00:00

THE ADMIRA,TY FRAUDS.

The Court Martial for the trial of Edwin John Wright,
ship's steward of Her. Majesty's ship Achilles, was re-
sumed on Friday morning. Mr. Bullen read the Prisoner's
defence. He complained that he had been called upon to
answer the charges upon mere suspicion, without having
been asked for any explanation; he urged that the monthly
certificates were correct, and contended that Wood's book
was unreliable, and that the five charges of fraudulent
misrepresentation were entirely disposed of by the
absence of the daily account book. The missing books
were material to the defence, because they would have
shewn that all the meat was received on board. He
explained that a certain quantity of meat was sent to the
hulk and hospital ship. The prisoner submitted that
there was no evidence of conspiracy, and with regard to
the last charge of receiving £7 10s. without the consent
of his commanding officer, pointed out that it rested entirely
upon the evidence of Curtiss, upon whom he reflected in
no measured terms, urging that he was not to be believed,
and that his evidence was contradicted by that of the
other witnesses for the prosecution. The court cleared for
about an hour, and then found the charges not proved,
and fully acquitted the prisoner. This was the last case.

The annual meeting of the Liverpool and London Globe
Insurance Oompany was held in Liverpool on Friday,
when a dividend at the rate of 30 per cent. per annum was
declared, payable on the 6th proximo.

THE CHURCH OF IRELAND SUSTEN-
TATION FUND.

A second meeting of the provisional committee for
raising a sustentation fund for the Church of Ireland
was held on Friday, by adjournment, at 32, Charing-
cross. A return was presented, shewing that 81 benefices
had already fallen vacant in Ireland, containing a Church
population of 37,655, without any provision for their
spiritual wants, and that the diocese of Kilmoro is left
without a bishop, while containing a Church population
of upwards of 53,000.

The Council of the Royal Dramatic College 'beg
to announce that the proceeds of the benefit at Drury-lane
Theatre on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, amounted
to £430 ss. 3d.
THE LATE SIR R. HARVEY'S ESTATE.—A meeting has
been held in the chambers of the Master of the Rolls for
the purpose of adjudicating upon the claims on the estate
of the late Sir R. Harvey, Bart., of Norwich. The whole
of the claims, amounting to over half a million sterling,
were divided into three schedules, the first of which con-
tained items of expenditure of every day occurrence, the
second the outlay for the erection of the deceased's
mansion at Crown Point, and the third, the
claims made by stockbrokers. The last meeting
was adjourned to enable the trustees to examine the
several claims; and they now recommended that. the
claims in the first schedule should be admitted in proof,
that those in the third should not be admitted tiniess
strictly proved by the stockholders, while they knew
nothing whatever about the outlay on the mansion. The
Chief Clerk said that, under those circumstances, it would
be impossible now to proceed with the adjudication. He
ordered the proofs to be produced within a month, the
executor's answer to be prepared by the 14th of April, and
the adjudication to take place on the 29th of the same
month.

THE DISTRESSED FRENCH.—A Grand Morning
Musical Festival is announced to take place on Saturday,
the 4th of March, at the Royal Alhambra, Palace, in aid
of the French Benevolent Society, and of the French
Hospital and Dispensary, two institutions which have for
years afforded great relief to distressed foreigners in
London, and whose resources have been severely taxed by
the miseries resulting from the late war. This fate is
given under the most brilliant patronage, including that
of the King of the Belgians, the Prince of Wales, the
Princes of Orleans, the Dukes of Wellington and St.
Albans, the Marquis of Lorne, and several foreign
Ambassadors. Among the most eminent artistes who will
contribute their gratuitous services we may mention
Madame Viardot, Madame Lemmens - Sherrington,
Madame Calderon, Mademoiselles Gottschalk, Signor
"Trio, Signor Bottesini, Signor Delle Sedie, and Mons.
Jules Lefort. Monsieur Gounod will conduct some of
his own compositions, and the musical arrangements will
be under the direction of Signor Arditi. Mr. Strange
has liberally offered the use of thp.Alliambra, which he
will fit up specially for the occasion at his own expense,
and we doubt not that many ladies will avail themselves
of this excellent opportunity of visiting the most
magnificent hall in London under • such fa,vouraole
auspices.