The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-14 00:00:00

FAILURE AT SUNDERLAND.

On Monday a meeting was held at Sunderland of the
creditors of Mr. William Wight, a member of the Town
Council, carrying on business under the firm of Robert
Wight and Son, chain anchor and iron manufacturers, at
Sunderland and Seaham Harbour. The barance sheet
read shewed liabilities as follows :=Secured debts £2,000,
partly secured £9,000, unsecured £25,000. Mr. Joseph
Love, coal owner, held a mortgage on the works to secure
a debt of £25,000, He offered to pay a composition of ss.
in a month, and take the a orks, and this was almost un-
animously accepted.—Leeds Mercury.

We are happy to be able to state that Sir Rode-
rick Murchison's condition continues to improve.

No Conservative magistrates signed the proclama-
tion forbidding the demonstrations in Londonderry, and
the name of the mayor was not attached to it.

It is reported to-day that Mr. Kingsford, of the
Temple, will watch the proceedings of the Contagious
Diseases Acts Commission on behalf of the repeal party.

Iron shipbuilding is reviving on the Thames, and
we understand that about fourteen vessels of a fair
average tonnage are in the course of construction.

A. man who had absented himself from the training
of the Aberdeen Militia was fined £2 by a Justice of
Peace Court, on Saturday, the alternative being two
months' imprisonment.

The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Viscouutess
Beaconsfield have left Hughenden Manor for Strath-
fieldsaye, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Wel-
lington.
It is stated that since the who!e of the American
telegraphic correspondence has been thrown on the French
Cable 9,500 words have been transmitted by it daily,
exclusive of service message.
- The death is announced of the Baroness Beau-
mont, the mother of the present peer. Her ladyship was
-11. daughter of the third Baron Kilmaine, and married, in
1844, the eighth Baron Beaumont, who died in 1854.

The Bishop of Norwich has issued a circular to his
clergy urging them to give their active promotion and
support to local efforts in their parishes for the' rovision
and maintenance of schools on the voluntary principle,
with distinctive religious teaching.

According to the Irish. Times the Irish National
Hunt Steeplechase Committee have adopted a code of
rules, some of which are considered very arbitrary and
objectionable. If the committee adhere to these new
measures considerable injury will be done, we fear, to the
cause of steeplechasing in Ireland.

It is stated that the Right Hon. the Marquis of
Breadalbane is to be married in June next to Miss St.
Clair, daughter of the late Hon. Charles St. Clair, and
niece of Mrs Milne Home, of Wedderburn, and that the
ceremony will be performed at Paxton House, about the
time above indicated.—Berwick Warder.
The Levant Herald believes that a loan is on the
point of being concluded with the special object of making
provision for, and punctually discharging the liabilities of
Turkey. It is understood that the Imperial Ottoman
Bank and several leading bankers will take portions. The
amount is £2,300,000, and the rate-of interest, exclusive
of commission, 14 per cent. per annum.
Mr. Martin, the prosecutor in the Ledbury scandal
case. , has ben presented by the inhabitants of Ledbury
with an address expressing acknowledgment on the part
of the signatories of Mr. Martin's "-invaluable services
to the parish and to the cause of religion," by the course
he has pursued. That his action was fully justified, they
consider, has been proved by the decision of those magis-
trates, and subsequently, by the exhaustive judgment of
Sir B. Phillimore.

STANDARD THEATRE,--OR Saturday last there
was produced at this theatre a new five-act play, entitled
" The Wife's Tragedy," by Airs. Thomas—a name little
known in connection with dramatic literature. The plot
is rather old-fashioned, a wicked duke becomes deeply
enamoured of a young pretty girl, a protege of his
wife's. To win the girl he resolves to murder his
wife, and on this plot are strung five short acts,
and must be accepted as a hopeful sign of better things
to come from Mrs. Thomas. Miss Edith Heraud made
her appearance at this house in the part of the heroine,
and was extremely well received. The wicked duke
was peurtraj,ed by Mr. J. Hamilton, in a very creditable
manner, and Mr. F. Tyars was excellent as a young lover.
The minor characters were all well represented, and taken•
as a whole "The Wife's Tragedy" must be recorded as a
success.

Founder's Day was celebrated at the Charterhouse
on Monday. The foundation scholars, or " Gown Boys,"
as they are called, and the old pensioners attended after-
noon chapel at four p.m., when an eloquent sermon was
delivered by the preacher of the house, the Rev. Dr.
Currey. The sermon dwelt mainly upon the life and
labours of the late Master, who was connected with
the Charterhouse for upwards of sixty years. At the
conclusion of chapel the company assembled in the
Founder's Hall, where the "oration" was delivered
in Latin by the senior foundation scholar, Mr. Henry
Seymour king, It reviewed the chief events of the
year now drawing to a close. Tht orator concluded by
apologising for an, innovation—the adoption of tl4e foreign
pronunciation of the Latin in his "oration" in the place
of the fashion which has so long been followed in. Eng-
land. This passage was -loudly cheered. At the end of
the " oration' the old Carthusians and other visitors came
forward for the pirpose of " capping" Mr. king, who is
about to proceed to Balliol Cqllege, Oxford.

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.—On Saturday a
meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Asso-
ciation was held in Edinburgh, Professor Christison, one
of the vice-presidents, in the chair. It was remitted to a
sub-committee to co-operate with the local secretary and
treasurer in the preparation of a legit of gentlemen to form
a local committee for making the necessary arrangements
to receive the British Association in Edinburgh in August
next. The same committee was authorised to communi-
cate-with the several public bodies in Edinburgh, Leith,
and Portobello, and to invite subscriptions from them to
the fund which it will be necessary to raise for defraying
the necessary expenses. Professor Christison stated that
the Council of the Royal Society lad agreed to recom-
mend the society to subscribe £lOO towards the fund;
and a hope was expressed that the several public bodies,
as well as banks and insurance offices, would respond
liberally to the appeal to be made to them. It under-
stood that a sum of not less than £1,500 will be required
to enable the local committee to carry out the requisite
arrangements.