The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-28 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Although the commencement of the past week was
characterised by tropical heat and the absence of
rain, towards the close the temperature became cool,
and refreshing showers fell, more or less generally over
the country. The previous fall had been very service-
able to the corn and fruit, though too late for the
hay crop, and should those welcome rains continue, the
meadows will soon recover their verdure. The want
experienced was causing the forced sale of stock at
ruinous rates, and the slaughter of lean stock could
not fail to have a most disastrous effect upon the
future price of m eat already above the reach of
many of the poor. But a better fate now seems
intended for the nation, though a severe pressure has
already been locally felt. France, as we surmised, has
been excited beyond bounds, especially in the matter
of wheat ; but with the crop already mature in the
South, she begins to find out her mistake, and
Paris has already noted a decline in wheat of 3s. to
4s. per qr., while in some parts of the country it
has been more. Her influence has left many of the con-
tinental markets at a high and unnatural range, which
we expect will shortly be set right, for whatever of justifi-
cation there may have been for the smart and very unusual
rise in spring corn, there appears to have been very little
reason in the fears for the wheat harvest.—Mark Lane
Express.

The Magnet says the'weather during the past week has
been more unsettled. In the Southern counties bene-
ficial rains have fallen, and have assisted in improving
the aspect of affairs, but much more moisture is wanted
to remedy existing evils. The quantity of grass is
still unusually limited, and where the crop has been
sewn it has proved to have been miserably defi-
cient in extent. However, the effect of the rains
now visiting most parts of the country is yet to be ascer-
tained, but it is certain that beneficial results cannot
otherwise than accrue from the refreshing showers. The
wheat plant does not appear to have suffered so much as
has been represented. Indeed, it is asserted that on
heavy soils and in low-lying districts the crop will be
a good one, both as regards the quality and the extent
of the yield, the depreciation being only perceptible
on badly-farmed lands and light soils. Barley and
oats are expected to make but a poor show, and
beans as well as peas will probably turn out very light.
Much still depends upon the immediate future course of
the weather, inasmuch as heavy rains falling on a dry
and heated soil would promote the rapid development of
vegetation, and probobly fine large second crops of hay
and abundance of late green and root crops. The severe
drought which has wrought so much apprehension and
damage 'in the southern parts of the kingdom does not
appear to have been so severely felt in Scotland. In
fact, throughout the northern counties, the corn crops
are farther advanced, and give greater promise of an
abundant yield than for a number of years past. In
some districts barley is in ear. The hay crop will be
unusually heavy. Field potatoes shew luxuriant growth.
Turnips are the only crop with a backward appearance.
The turnip beetle is this year unusually abundant, and
it has eaten down the tender turnip braird as it appeared
above ground. In many cases re-sowing has been re-
sorted to, and where it has been followed by a rainfall,
the plants are forcing themselves forward. The eaelier
sown turnips are thriving best, and in the lower districts
hoeing has been proceeded with on many farms. In the
counties to the south of Aberdeen there has been less
rain than in the north, and the crops are scarcely so far
forward, though they are not more backward than in
ordinary seasons. Over the whole of Scotland, the pro-
spect of an abundance of feeding stuffs of all kinds is,
for this period of the season, unusually favourable.
Bell's Weekly Messenger says :—During the past six
months less than half the average rainfall has taken place.
Vegetation was altogether checked in April and May.
The plant, however, had obtained a firm hold upon
the ground, and was well able to resist the severe
alternations of temperature to which it has since been ex-
posed, and even to benefit by the dry weather we have
recently experienced. That this is the fact is evident
because whereas the plant was backward—in some places
very backward—at the close of April and the beginning of
May, it is now in a fair forward condition, and there are
no apprehensions of the harvest falling late. In short, a
great improvement has taken place in the wheat plant
during the last six weeks, and all cause for gloomy fore-
bodings, for which there was toomuchreason atthe close of
April, has been removed. The plant is certainly not thick,
except on favoured soils, and the straw is short, but the
ears are strong and level, and appearances justify the be-
lief that the return will prove an average one. It may be
remarked that in dry seasons like the present
opinions usually become current in regard to the
wheat crop, the falsity of which is generally exposed
at the time of thrashing. The reason of this is
not difficult to discover, and has indeed already been pointed
out by us. In hot forcing seasons the wheat plant does
not present that luxuriant appearance in the fields that it
does in humid years ; but it will almost invariably be
found that dry seasons are most favourable in this country
for the proper development of the wheat plant. We are
now approaching a critical period in the history of the
crop.. Blooming has already commenced, and heavy falls
of rain or strong winds would be prejudicial. The crop,
however, would be stimulated bymore moisture on light soil.
We must glance rapidly over the position of the spring
corn corps. Barley is very variable, and is probably in
most danger. Oats have also suffered from the want of
rain, but the recent showers, which have been very
general, have greatly benefitted both crops, and they
have made considerable pragress during the past
fortnight. Beans and peas stand in much the same
position but the pulse crops do not give much promise
of a good return, though there is sufficient straw to carry

fair crops.
Haymaking has become general in West Somerset, but
the crop is light, and the farmers are uneasy about winter
food for their stock. From France the accounts are some-
what better than was feared. In the Jura the wheat
is tolerable, in Bazas it is good, and in the Loire it
is described as magnificent. In the rise the wheat on
good land is fair, but here as elsewhere the crops on light
ground have suffered. In the centre of France the de-
ficiency is much greater than in the South. In Alsace the
hops are as yet in a satisfactory condition.
From the Continent the reports are somewhat contra-
dictory. In reference to the yield of wheat in France,
it is now asserted that the actual deficiency on
heavy soils will be more apparent than real,
and that it is only on thin soils that the crop
will turn out badly. Then, however, it is
generally admitted that the yield will not ex-
ceed one-half the average. In Southern Prussia the
fields have presented a magnificent appearance, and, not-
withstanding large purchases, the value of wheat has
ruled slightly easier at Odessa. In Belgium, Holland,
and Russia the yield will be about sufficient to meet
home requirements ; whilst the state of affairs in Bohemia
has been further ameliorated by the occurrence of copious
showers of rain.

From America we have varying accounts. Minnesota
has been blessed with abundant rain, and has never had a
more promising wheat crop, while the forwardness of the
season promises a harvest two weeks earlier than
usual. Wheat is reckoned at one dollar a bushel.
Illinois, too, has good news, and promises uhusually
large crops- Virginia has had an extremely wet season,
so wet that the late kinds of wheat are very backward,
but the earlier varieties are good. Clover and
oats have suffered from wind and rain. Georgia
has a good crop of wheat, but not much to spare
for export apparently as much ground is given to cotton.
From the north-west provinces of India comes the news
that the price of wheat fell steadily from the beginning of
April to the middle of May. Barly has also been low, but
prices have reached their lowest point, wheat having been
twenty seers per rupee, and barley twenty-four. It is
thought they will now rise slowly.

The Government has determined on laying down
an additional telegraph submarine cable between Ireland
and England.

THE ROYAL VISIT TO READING.—SO great is the
excitement at Reading respecting the visit of the Prince
and Princess of Wales, that from ten to eighteen guineas
are being paid for windows from which the procession can
be witnessed.

THE RIOTS AT CORK.—The correspondent of the
Pall Mall Gazette telegraphs that the men on strike at
Beamish and Cranford's brewery, Cork, seized the engi-
neer on Friday and attempted to put him into the

machinery, which was in motion.
THE POPE'S CONSISTORY.—The Pope will, it is
expected, hold a secret consistory for the preconisation of
several bishops, among whom will be four French prelates.
These will consist of the new Archbishop of Lyons, and
the Bishops of Grenoble, Nantes, and E‘ reux. It is said
there will be no more promotions to the Cardinalship.
NORWICH ELECTION.—A. correspondent telegraphs
that Mr. Warner's friends have sent out circulars
soliciting promises of support to every registered elector,
with the view of ascertaining their strength. The
negotiations undertaken by the Conservatives with Mr.
Huddlestone, Q.C., have gone off, and Mr. Robert
Baxter, of the firm of Baxter, Rose, and Norton, is
now confidently named as the candidate of the party.

According to the Observer, Mr. S. Morley was
unavoidably prevented by his engagements at Bristol
from voting with the Government against Mr. Richard's
amendment on Friday. No pairs were to be obtained
upon this division. Many of the ordinary supporters
of the Ministry were at Windsor, in attendance at
her Majesty's fete, and in consequence the majority
for the Government, large as it was, did not represent
the full strength of the support accorded to Mr. Forster's
scheme.

NEW LOANS.—The Economist again cautions the
public against foreign loans, especially two brought out
this week for Buenos Ayres and Honduras. It thinks
neither of these States should be able to borrow without
their claims being carefully scrutinised. One of the loans
Perhaps is as bad as anything that can be imagined, but it
is tolerably certain that more of these attempts will be
made upon the public purse, with consequences it is not
difficult to foresee.
MR. HODGSON, M.P.—The new Member for
Bristol, Mr. Kirkman Daniel Hodgson, is not a stranger
to St. Stephen's, as he represented the borough of Bride-
port from the year 1857 down to the general election of
December, 1868. He is the eldest son of the late Mr.
John Hodgson, of The Elms, Hampstead, Middlesex,
who died about twelve years ago. He was born in the
year 1814, and educated at the Charter-house. He is a
merchant of high standing in the City of London, and a
director of the Bank of England, and a Commissioner of
Public Works Loan Office.

PARK AND BOULTON.-1A FOOLISII FREAK.—William-
Hewitt, a young man, describing himself as a waiter, was
charged before Mr. Tyrivhitt, at Marlborough-street
Police Court, on Monday, with being drunk and disorderly.
Sergeant Mackenzie, 4 C, said that at four o'clock on Sun-
day afternoon he saw the prisoner, who was drunk,
in Piccadilly, extending his arms before some ladies and
gentlemen, saying that he was Park, then that he was
Boulton, and to others that he was " Miss Park," and
several ladies and gentlemen complained of his annoying
them. He then took the prisoner into custody, and at the
station he said he had been having a lark. The prisoner
said that all he had done was to ask the persons whether
they had seen Park and Boulton. Mr. Tyrwhite fined the
prisoner 10s., or seven days.
VIOLENT ASSAULT UPON A RELEIVING OFFICER.—John
Robertson was charged at the Thames Police Court yester-
day with assaulting Mr. Ed.-Neagle, one of the Relieving
Officers of the Stepney Union. The complainant said he
was proceeding along Salmon's-lane, Limehouse, carrying
a parcel of books in his left hand, when he was met by the
prisoner, who stopped in front of him, and with his right
fist struck him on the side of the face. He seized hold of
him and struggled with the prisoner, collared him and
took him to the workhouse. While waiting for a
police constable the prisoner struck him on the side of the
face again. He then took the prisoner inside the work-
house, and kept him there till a constable arrived, when
he was given into custody. The prisoner, in a whining,
exaggerated strain, said Mr. Neagle was a villain, and
the greatest liar that ever lived. On being admonished
for using such coarse language, the prisoner said he went
to the Ratcliff Workouse for relief. Mr. Neagle refused to
give him any, and said " Turn that f ellow out of the house."
Mr. Noaglo said he had been frequently threatened by
the prisoner, but for what he did not know. His wife
was receiving out door relief, and the prisoner was sup-
ported by the money. He never did any work. He was
sent to prison for 14 days.

A PAINFUL STORY. —Mr. Edwin Clarkson, a gentleman
of independent means, residing at Brighton, has been
summoned at the Worship-street Police-court for deserting
his wife, and allowing her to become chargeable to the
parish of St. John, Hackney. The wife
was formerly a servant in his father's house,
and the defendant's family were strongly op-
posed to the marriage. However the husband
and wife lived happily together until last April
when the defendant announced his intention of going
to Brighton and taking the children with him. He
parted from her at the station in an affec-
tionate manner, but she neither saw him nor heard
from him until she met him before the . magistrate. The
Hackney Board of Guardians, on being applied to for
assistance, found her without the necessaries of life, and
took proceedings against the husband. The case was
Adjourned several times to allow of an arrangement,
being come to, and eventually the defendant agreed to
allow his wife 255. a week, his father becoming responsible
for the due fulfilment of the promise. The magistrate
threatened, if terms were not agreed upon, to commit the
defendant to prison. He was ordered to pay £8 ss. for
the reimbursement of the guardians, and the two
younger of the three children were ordered to be given up
to the mother,
- •

A QUESTION OF DOMICILE.—A case of some importance
relating to the law of domicile, has been tried before Vice
Chancellor James. The question was whether the
representative of a deceased husband or the surviving wife
was entitled to a certain sum of money, to
which the wife was originally entitled as next of kin. The
husband was a Scotchman, but resided in England dur-
ing the latter half of his life, and the wife contended that
his domicile was English, and that, by a settlement
made before marriage, he surrendered auy right to this
particular property. On the other hand it was argued
that the husband, whose name was Allan, was horn and
bred in Scotland, a landed proprietor and a banker in
Edinburgh, having been also once Lord Provost of that
city. He was married in England to a wealthy widow lady,
and it was maintained that her influence over him became
so great that his selection of an English house was more
a necessity than a choice.. Mr. Allan, who was a staunch
Conservative, went down to Edinburgh to take part in
the great banquet given.to Mr. Disraeli, but took a vio-
lent cold on the way, and returned to Brighton,
where he died. The Vice - Chancellor decided that
Mr. Allan was not so much under the
influence of his wife that the choice of .an
' English home, was a matter of necessity, and therefore
his domicile was English. There was no reduction into
possession and it was therefore unnecessary to determine
the effect of the settlement.
•

A HEBREW BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.—The case Of
Keiser v. Marajosef was tried in the Bail Court, Queen's
Bench, before Mr. Justice Hannen and a common jury.
The parties were Hebrews ; the plaintiff keeping a re-
freshment and lodging-house in Duke-street, Aldgate, and
the defendant being a lodger in her house. The plaintiff
alleged that shortly after coming to lodge in her house the
defendant promised her marriage, whereupon she obtained
from a Rabbi, whose housekeeper she had previously
been, a certificate of good character, that
being a usual proceeding before a Jewish mar-
riage. She then, according to her own account,
lived with Marejosef for some weeks as his wife ; but he
refused to marry her, and then she brought this action to
recover damages. Mr. Sarjeant Parry, for the defence,
commented strongly upon the laxity shewn to have pre-
vailed, and expressed the opinion that if the law govern-
ing such actions was to be made available in such a case
as this, the sooner it was abolished from our statute book
the better. The defendant, on being sworn, positively
denied giving any promise to marry the plaintiff. He said
that on the first Friday night after he went to lodge at
plaintiff's, she came into the room and asked to
be allowed to comb his hair. He allowed
this familiarity, and it was repeated every night for about
a week, when the house being very full, he suggested that
she should occupy his room, while he slept on a sofa
downstairs. She said he was not to give up his bed; but
she would sit on a chair and rest her head on his pillow.
This she did, and slept that way, all night. About a week
afterwards she slept with himf and continued to do so
nightly for about three weeks. She frequently asked him
to marry her, but he refused. Evidence was also given
with the view of shewing that her conduct towards her
other customers was very improper. Before the case
was concluded, his lordship was called away, and conse-
quently it stands over for another day.

Krwr-HOUSE.—Another of the historic houses c f
London is doomed. Kent-house, so long the residence of
the Duke of Kent, the father of the Queen, and subse-
quently of Lord Clarendon and of Sir Cornewall and
Lady Theresa Lewis, is being pulled down. We trust
its beautiful and extensive gardens may be preserved, and
that those who build new mansions on the site of the old
house may sti'l keep its fine old trees and shady shrub-
beries. There are few like it in London.
ROUTE MARCHING IN HOT WEATHER.—It appears
likely that when the whole facts of the recent movement
of troops to Aldershott by march route shall have been
elicited, an amount of official mismanagement greater even
than that which' has been censured will be revealed. In
addition to the deaths recorded and unrecorded which
occurred in the 9th and 94th Regiments, it should be
stated that when the 101st Regiment, from Gosport,
marched into camp, a fortnight ago, it arrived about half-
past 11 o'clock in the morning. The men were greatly
fatigued by the excessive heat, and one of the first duties
which they had to perform was to fall in with the band for
a funeral parade at the burial of a private who expired on
reaching the camp, it is believed from over exertion and
exposure. If every case of the kind were made the subject
of a coroner's inquest, there can be no doubt as to what
should be the verdict of an intelligent jury.—Times.
FLOODING OF MINES IN NORTH STAFFORD SHIRE.—
The fears which have been entertained of the flooding of
the mines in Tunstall and Burslem districts appear to be
undergoing realisation. During the last few days the
Winghay mine, at the Jackfield Colliery, at Burslem,
was filled wirh water to the level of the Kewhurst
Mine, into which water has begun to flow. This
latter mine is one hundred yards deeper than the
Winghay seam. As long ago as January last warning
of this probable contingency was given to the mineowners
' by Mr. T. Wynne, Government Inspector of Mines, and
two meetings were held in connection with the matter. At
the first of these meetings it was stated that there had
been a gradual rising of water in the mines since the stop-
page of Mr. A. H. Williamson's pumping engine at the Pin-
nox and Scotia Colleries,Tunstall. The Bycars Colliery was
the first to become flooded, and soon after much damage
was done at Messrs. Adams's Newfield Colliery, and
work in other pits was stopped by the water. At the
second meeting of the mineowners, Mr. R. H. Wynne,
mining surveyor, presented a report, showing the
extent of the coalfield affected, and likely to be affected
by accumulations of water, the proboble cost of keeping
the mines clear, and a method of assessing the
cost upon the owners, but the meeting failed to agree
upon the last i3oint, and, as a consequence, nothing has
been done to check the progress of the water. It may h
as well to add that the accuracy of Mr. Wynne's calcula-
tiens is being made manifest, and that it is evident that
other mines besides those already flooded will be soon
reached by the water.
THE COST or A AVAlL—Little Peterkin's memor-
able question as to what good came at last out of a famous
victory, may well be echoed by those who read the elabo-
rate statistics of the American Civil War, compied by
General Schenk. Everything in America is on a
gigantic scale, and the great Civil War was carried
on with a spirit and energy commensurate with
the enterprise of the people and the natural resources of
the country, The immense armies sent into the field were
more proportionate to the habits of the middle ages than
of our sober nineteenth century. The number of men in
the Federal army in the four years of the
war was 2,335,951. Of these 3,931 officers were
killed in battle, or about one in 21; 38,793 white
men, or about one in 54; and 1,514 coloured men, or
about one in 118. There died in wounds received in
action 2,069 officers, or about one in 41; 30,887 white
men, or about one in 67 ;1,037 coloured men, or about one
in 173. These proportions are reversed when we come to
deaths from disease While in the service. One officer in
49 died of disease, one white man in 17, and one coloured
man in 7. This difference is explained partly by thegreater
hardships endured by the privates in camp, partly by their
disregard of health before and after enlisting. It is an
error to suppose that reckless exposure and irregularity as
to meals make men hardy, and able to stand anything.
The very reverse is maintained by General Schenck, and is
certainly partially substantiated by his figures. The statistics
of deaths from. disease are necessarily incomplete, but the
whole mortality from all causes amounts to the following
Officers, 9,314, or about one in nine ; white men, 251,722,
or about one in eight and a quarter ' • coloured men,
33,379, or about one in five and one-third. The total loss,
therefore, is stated at 294,415. To this the reader must
add the number of sufferers for life from the effects of
wounds, disease, exposure, &c., if he would form an idea
of the amount of individual suffering caused by the war
I independent of the private misery of bereaved families.
Peterkin's question certainly wants a sufficient answer.

A BANKRUPT BRINGING AN ACTION
AGAINST HIS CREDITORS.
The case of " Stray v. Bull and another" was before Lord
Chief Justice Bovill and a special jury in the Court of Com-
mon Pleas, yesterday. Plaintiff was, for thirty years pre-
vious to 1867, a tailor at the West-end, enjoying the custom
of thePrinoe of Wales and a number of the nobility,but having
purchased shares in the Royal British Bank shortly before
the suspension, he became somewhat involved ; and on
the failure of Overend, Gurney and Co. lie became so
pressed for payment as to render it necessary for him to
call his creditors together, and offer to pay 20s. in the
pound, in instalments extending over twelve months.
While this was accepted by some of the creditors, others
objected, and a petition in bankruptcy was filed by the de-.
fendants. Upon this the plaintiff was adjudicated a bank-
rupt, while unable to attend the court through illness. The
consequence was that his business was broken up ; and he
brought an action against the defendants for having made
him bankrupt maliciously, and without probable or
reasonable cause. The case came on for trial before Chief
Justice Bovill, who held, as a point of law, that the
defendants had reasonable and proper cause. Plaintiff
took it to the Court Of Error, which found that as there
was a conflict of evidence on a point of fact, -it was
for the jury to decide. A new trial was
had, which .lasted for three days, at the end of
which time the jury, being unable to agree, were
discharged without giving a verdict. After the plaintiff
had opened his case in person on the present occasion, he
suggested a reference, which was strongly supported by
his lordship on the ground that such a course would
obtain a definite settlement of law and fact, while if it
went for trial it might go back to the Exchequer Chamber
and even to the House of Lords, as such cases generally
did.—Mr. Serjeant Parry consented, on the part of the
defendants, who, he said, denied having been actuated by
malice, but pleaded the instructions of the other creditors.
—lt was then agreed that a juror should be withdrawn
and the Solicitor-General requested to name an arbitrator
—the Lord Chief Justice remarking that this was a very
proper termination of the case.