The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-11 00:00:00

ANOTHER. rORM OP CUMMING.

A speculative 11=In, is (says the Pall Mall Gazette) It
full swing at Naples, under a form which is remarkable fot
its simplicity and attractiveness, as well as for the universe;
ruin which the bursting of the bubble is sure to cause.
Some years ago, when gold was at a premium of 18 pet
cent., a certain fast living nobleman, of the name of
Ruffo Scilla, who bad run through his patrimony, hit
upon the device of offering to pay in gold at par
in twenty days for all loans made to him in paper,
There was at once a rush of lenders eager to press advances
upon him at a rate of interest which was really equiva-
lent to above 200 per cent per annum, and the continuing
supply enabled him duly to keep his word. When gold
fell to a premium of 5 per cent. he enlarged the time for
repayment to a month, but the crowd of lenders still con-
tinued. Tne civil authorities grew alarmed, and applied
to Scilla for information as to the principle of his opera-
tions He replied that he fulfilled his obligations punctually
and therefore was not subject to any interference of the
law, and declined to accede to the request for further ex-
planation. The Cardinal Archbishop next menaced hint
with excommunication unless he desisted. But he
retorted that he was guilty of no religious any more than
of any civil offense. A large proportion of his clients
consisted of religious persons and corporations, wh
were rapidly enriched by the promo, and he cm-
descended to explain that it was by Bourse specu-
lations he made the money by which he was enabled
to carry on a system profitable to himself and his creditors.
The Archbishop reported the matter to the congregation
of the holy office, and that body by rescript declared
Signor Scilla's proceedings legitimate, and authorised ali
ecclesiastical persons to lend their money on the terms
he offered. This sanction gave a new impetus to the
trade, and competition quickly sprang up. One Costa
offered 25 per cent. per month to all who would entrust
him with their money. Other establishments hays
been opened offering still higher rates, and as
yet all have kept their engagements. The lenders,
of course, have made immense fortunes, and this
spectacle draws more and more eager crowds, consisting i
of every class of society, into the vortex. Of course the 1
obligations incurred are only made good out of the fresh
deposits that come in, but everyone is in hopes that he
will not be the last in the race. The Liberal papers in
vain warn all concerned that the system is a swindle—
their voice is powerless to check a mania which carries the
whole population into its net. A tremendous crash will
come ere long.

LAW AND POLICE.
SINGULAR CONFESSION.—A man named Hardy has been
charged at Marlborough-street, on his own confession, with
setting firo to a house for the purpose of gaining the
reward for calling the firemen. The fire in ques-
tion took place four or five years ago, and the
prisoner said he was induced to make confession
from remorse, and that he had set several houses on
fire for the same reason. He was remanded for further
inquiry.

EMIGRATING TO THE MORMONS. A policeman's wife
applied at Clerkenwell Police-court for an order to protect
her property. It seemed her husband had joined the
Mormons at Utah, and had married again. Sir Richard
Mayne, on investigating the matter, had allowed her a
small pension. It was ten years since her husband started
for Utah, and she had not heard of him since. The order
was granted.

ATTEMPTING TO 'UPSET A RAILWAY TRALN.--SaMllel
Hilditch, who was said to be respectably connected, has
been committed for trial at Shrewsbury on a charge of
placing an iron chain on the rails of the Shrewsbury and
North Wales Railway, He was seen in tho place whero
the chain was found, and when questioned why he put it
there, he replied that the land belonged to his relatives,
and as they had never been raid for it, he thought he
would stop the line. A plea of insanity was put in.

A CASE FOR FARMERS.—A farmer, named Pile, has sued
a man, named Crocombe, at Williton, Somerset, to recover
£5O damage sustained by him through the improper
use of a preparation for dipping plaintiff's flock
of 600 sheep. Plaintiff proved that his sheep were dipped
by defendant on the 25th of August last, and two days
afterwards seventy of the sheep were dead. Within a
week 200 died. Defendant refused compensation. Judg-
ment was given for the full amount claimed. The powdel
used was believed to contain arsenic.

HABITUAL CRIMINALS.-At the Surrey Sessions, two
habitual criminals have received severe sentenees. One
of them, who was only 22, was charged with stealing a
watch, and eleven previous charges were recorded against
him, on only one of which ho had been acquitted. He was
sentenced to ten years' penal servitude and eight years'
supervision by the police. The other had stolen two
shillings from an elderly woman, and had been imprisoned
eight times previously. He received the same sentence.

REFRESHMENTS AT TSIEATBES.—A Case has been heard
before the Croydon magistrates of some interest to
managers of theatres. Mr. Solomon, proprietor of the
Theatre Hotel, which is attached to the theatre, was
charged with permitting drink to be consumed on his
premises at half-past one on Christmas morning. The
dcfcnce was that on Christmas morning there vcre 120
persons present at a private rehearsal of the pantomime.
The bar was not open during the night, but the persons
whom the police found at the bar had been invited by Mr.
Solomon to take some refreshment as they complained of
the cold. He was fined £1 and 16s. costs.

THE JEWEL ROBBERY AND THE CUCKFIRLD MIIRDER.—
Another investigation respecting the Croydon jewel rob-
bery, which is believed to have some connection with the
Cuckfield murder has taken place before the Croydon
magistrates. Suspicion of the robbery, it will be
remembered, fell upon a painter and glazier, named
Greenhead, from his having sold several of the
missing rings. He was found afterwards murdered in a
ditch near Cuckfield, and it has been ascertained that he
frequently visited a man named Rowlands, who lived at
Croydon, and obtained money from him, sometimes by
threats. Rowlands has therefore been arrested on a
charge of complicity in the robbery, and, after some
evidence had been taken, he was remanded.

THE EXPENSES OF LORD MAYOR'S DAY.—The
City Press says the total amount expended in connection
with Lord Mayor's Day was £2,787 19s. 4d. Of this sum
the dinner and wines cost £1,225 ; the decorations, £84919x.
sd. ; the procession, £215 ls ; the music in Guildhall,
£5O 195.; printing and stationery, £lB3 55. 11d. The
"general expenses " reached a total of £293 145. Amongst
the items are sixteen guineas to the bellringers
of eight churches, £3B 10s. for the hire of plants, and £2O
for the "scenic representation of Constantinople," and
the statuary and pictures involved an outlay of £55 158. 6d.
Of the amount thus expended, £1,293 19s. Bd. was paid by
the Lord Mayor, 4'646 19s. 10d. by each of the Sheriffs,
and £2OO by the City Lands Committee.
CRUELTY TO FAT ANIMALS.—ThO Chamber or
Ayriculture Journal has the following remarks on this
subject :—The tricks and dodges that are resorted
to for reducing unfortunate fatting wethers within
the 2001 b. limit are not very commonly known.
The animals are walked ; they are sweated, and, tell
it not to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, they are starved. We believe that one pen
of sheep which took a prize in the Agricultural 1141 last
month was kept for forty-eight hours without food, and,
by this ingenious development in the art of preparing show
animals, just came under the official limit on the weighing
machine; while a pen of sheep of another exhibitor who
was not so clever (and, *shall we add, not so cruel ?) was
disqualified because one of the three animals weighed
2Jllb. We need not add another word to chew the
absurdity and uselessness of the restriction. Keep on the
light-weight premiums if it be thought desirable to give
the tails or culls of a good flock, as well as the biggest and
heaviest sheep of that flock, a chance of winning prizes ;
hut pray do not let us encourage diminutive Leicesters,
or ask ➢lr. Overman to reduce the size of his magnificent
half-breds.

LONDON AND Stnrni3AN CllMlClTES.—Alackson's
" Guide to the Churches of London and its Suburbs" (for
1370) gives the following interesting particulars respecting
the churches situated within a radius of twelve miles froni
the General Post-office:—The "Guide" contains in-
fermation as to 651 churches, but for statistical
parposes the number is reduced to 630, correc-
tions not having been received from the clergy of the
remaining 21 churches. There is a weekly celebration of
the Holy Communion at 169, more than one-fourth ; daily
celebration at 20, nearly one-thirtieth; early inernin,
celebration at 159, one-fourth; evening celebration at 97,
nearly one-sir.th; afternoon celebration at 5 ; choral cele-
bration at 63, one-tenth; service on saints' days at 193,
nearly one-third ; daily service at 132, more than one_
eclz-day serriee at 1011, one-sixth; fully choral
service at 123, more than one-fifth; srid. partly choral
t 115, nearly one-filth, Living a proportion
of nearly half. where the psalms are chanted;
surpliced choirs t.t 137, mere than ; paid choirs
at 83, nearly one-seventh; vulentary choirs 'at 231, more
than one-third ; Gregorian tones are exclusively used for
chanting at 46, one-fourteenth : the weekly offertory is the
rule at 128, one-fifth; there are free but appropriated
seats at 141, nearly one-fourth ; free and open seats at 65,
more than one-tenth ; the eucharistic -vestments are 'worn
at 20, one church in every thirty-one; incense is used at
7, one-ninetieth; the surplice is worn in the pulpit at 83,
more than one4ighth; and 26 churches aro open daily for

flab; no

Service

FOREIGN NOTES.

FRANCE AND PRUSSIA♦

The North German Correspondent refers to ite recent
allusion made by the limes to the supposed compact be-
tween France and Prussia at the time of the war with
Austria in 1866. It gives a flat contradiction to the
assumption that Prussia ever made any offers. to the
Cabinet of the Tuileries as the price of French
neutrality in a war between Austria and Prussia.
It declares that no one can believe in the
compact referred to who recollects the decla-
ration of Count Bismarck, that "no German Govern-
ment is so superior to public opinion as not to be
crushed beneath the charge of treason to Germany should
it concede a single spot of German soil to a foreign
potentate." The North German Correspondent has the best
grounds for believing that at no time has the French
Cabinet claimed territorial compensation from Prussia.