The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EN, E ING JUNE 21, 1870.

LAW AND POLICE.

SHIPWRECKED SAILORS IN JAPAN.

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SUGAR COMPANY.—This
company has been in compulsory liquidation for a long
series of years, under the old Act of 1848, and its affairs
were brought forward for final settlement in the chambers
of Vice-Chancellor Malins yesterday. The liabilities
were about £70,000, and the assets under £40,000, and a
dividend of 11s. in the pound hid already been paid.
The application was to authorise the payment of a final
dividend of 5d., amounting in the gross to £1,423. The
usual affidavits of verification having been presented, the
application was acceded to, and the company will,
therefore, be speedily numbered among the things of the
past.
ACTION AGAINST A PEER.—In the Court of Queen's
Bench, Lord Rivers was the defendant in an action to
recover a very large sum of money upon several bills of
exchange dated 1852. The defendant pleaded,
amongst others, the statute of limitations. The
action was brought by Mr. Edward Ransom Clarke.
It was stated there had been a Chancery suit between
the parties, andthat a deed for £20,000 had been compro-
mised by the payment of £16,000, and Lord Rivers be-
lieved the bills sued on had been paid under that arrange-
ment. Sir J. Karslake, who appeared in the case, said
that no claim had been made for the bills, which
the defendant believed bad been paid, until after the
death of his nephew, and he succeeded to the title and the
estates. He submitted it would be better to enter a non-
suit and argue the question of law on leave to move to set
it aside. It would be impossible to try the facts by a
jury. Ultimately, at the request of the parties, his lord-
ship nonsuited the plaintiff with leave to move on the
point of law, and in the event of the court deciding in
favour of the plaintiff, the amount clue to him to be as-
sessed by an arbitration. The plaintiff was accordingly
non-suited.

The accounts which have been received at the Board
of trade respecting the wreck of the iron brig Eliza Corry
and the screw steamer Ocean Queen, on the coast of
Japan, tell a tragical story. There was but one survivor
of the Eliza- Corry, the other men being drowned in
attempting to swim ashore. The passengers and crew o
the Ocean Queen were more fortunate and landed in
safety, being afterwards sent on to Yokohama by the
Japanese authorities, a distance of four hundred miles,
.The Japanese, of all classes, behaved with extreme kind-
ness to the shipwrecked mariners, and their generosity
was the more remarkable coming from a people who for-
merly detested the very shadow of a foreigner. The
British Consul at Hakodod, after describing the wreck
of the Eliza Corry, narrates the manner in
which the crew endeavoured to save their lives by lashing
themselves to life-buoys, spars, &c. None, however,
reached the shore alive. The captain's wife was on deck
with a life-buoy lashed to her, but being dashed about the
seas, she expired of exhaustion in her husband's arms.
The captain, first officer, and three men left the ship
holding on to a piece of timber. The captain, however,
was the only one to reach shore. He passed a night on
the coast in a straw shed, walking about to keep himself
warm. After some time a kangaroo hound of his rushed
into the hut. The next day he saw a man who at first
ran away from him, but afterwards came back and took
him to a village close by, where every care was taken of
him. The captain, whose name was Graham, was
seriously ill and delirious for three days. The Japanese
sent to Noshiro, the capital, three miles off, to inform the
officials. A doctor was sent for from some distance.
Finding out afterwards that he was an Englishman, an
officer was attached to him who spoke a little
English. Clothes were made for him in European
fashion, and when he felt better they sent miles
away for a chicken and made chicken broth. A
Japanese sleeping-dress was procured from a town twenty
miles off—one of those thickly-padded sleeping gowns.
Then, when he was able to be moved, he was taken over
to Noshiro, and here they appeared not to be able to do
enough for him. He was an Englishman, they said, and
they would do anything and everything for him, because
the English had not joined the rebels in the late war.
A camp stool was made, and a portable table, a fork, and
soup and tea-spoon of copper, English shape, plates were
got, and after a while they managed to get a wideawake,
apologising because it was secondhand. At Noshiro
Captain Graham was made as comfortable as
possible He was lodved in the best house ; even
a room was set apart for his dog with an attendant to
wait upon him, and when the captain's meals were served,
the attendant was ordered to feed the dog as directed.
While here the captain was very sick, spitting up blood,
brought on by a bad cough. Every possible remedy was
procured and invented. The officials sent for miles to pur-
chase chickens and fresh eggs. Every day he had chicken
broth and grilled chicken, and when potatoes were pro-
curable they were served up as a delicacy. After many
endeavours they at last discovered a comb and a looking-
glass. One day the officials arrived in greet glee ; they
had found a European comforter. When the captain
was well enough to move, the interpreter and another
officer were appointed to see him safe into the hands of
the English consul at Hakodadi, and tai o men were told
off to carry the dog and see his rations given him. When
the party reached the Consulate they would not hear of
accepting payment for their great and long-continued
kindness. The passengers and crew of the Ocean Queen
were as we have said forwarded 400 miles up the country
by the Japanese authorities, and addressed an acknow-
ledgment of their gratitude to the escort appointed.
These remarkable instances prove that the Japanese
people are far from being naturally churlish or un-
hospitable.

CHARGE OF FRAUD. —Simon Jonas and Lewis Sterne,
Jews, were brought before Mr. Lushington, at the Thames
Police-court, charged with attempting, by false and fraudu-
lent pretences, to obtain 204 boxes of soap value £lo4s. 3d.
from Mr. John Parker, dealer in soap, of Parkfield-street,'
Islington. The prosecutor met with Jonas about six
weeks ago opposite the Royal Exchange, and said he
would introduce him to several persons and transact
business with safety. Jonas subsequently introduced
Sterne, and, in consequence of what the former said, lie
supplied Jonas with soap of the value of £lO 4s. 3d.
The order for the soap was received through
Jonas from Sterne. The terms were cash on
delivery. All that the prosecutor ever received was 2,2.
He had since applied to both prisoners frequently for 'the
money, but without success. Lillystone and Alfred
Smith, detectives, searched the house of Jonas in High-
street, Stepney, and on doing so found 172 boxes of
scented soap. The officers asked for a remand, and
said they should have more and important evidence to
adduce. The prisoners were members of the notorious
"long firm." They had offered the prosecutor £4 in
addition to £2 already received, but was refused. Remanded
accordingly.
A SINGULAR STORY. —John Turner, a butler, and Alfred
Cummings, a police-constable, have been charged at
Wandsworth with maliciously damaging the property of
Mr. Valpy, of Wimbledon, and also with stealing several
bottles of wine. It seemed from the account
of the prosecutor's son that last Thursday morn-
ing about four a.m. the family came home from a
party, and were let in by the butler, Turner. An hour
or two later he was roused by a crashing noise, and on
going downstairs with his father found the pier glass had
fallen. The dining-room windows were broken, and the
butler was intoxicated in the pantry. The two gentlemen
finding this, went back to the drawing-room, and found
that the chandelier and lamps were broken, glass shades
and ornaments overthrown, &c., at a damage of about £lOO.
A pepper-box and mustard-pot which had been thrown
through the windows, were found on the lawn, and a bottle
of wine was found in the shrubbery. The police-constable
in custody was found coming out of the house. It turned
out this was the constable on duty there who was missed
that morning by his inspector. On a search being made
he was discovered asleep in a neighbouring garden with
four bottles of wine upon him. The prisoners were both
committed for trial.
CHARGES CF EMBEZZLEMENT AND FORGERY AGAINST A
SURGEON.—Francis Horne Scaife was brought up on
remand before the Richmond magistrates, charged with
embezzling, on the 2nd of June, the sum of £5 13s. 6d.,
and a cheque for £7 10s. 6d., the property of William
Anderson and his partner Richard Hassall, surgeons, of
Richmond, his late employers. On searching the prisoner's
portmanteau, the constable found a cheque, dated 7th of
June, 1870, for £2BO, and another cheque, dated Juno 4th,
for £323 75., both purporting to be signed by Wm. Ander-
son, M. 1)., and payable to Francis Scaife, Esq., as
bearer ; and a cheque for £7 10s. 6d., signed by W.
Knight, as executor of T. J. Knight, Esq., deceased.
The evidence of Dr. Anderson went to shew that the pri-
soner was provided with a cash-box, in which it was his
duty to enter all receipts, and on the 23rd of May witness
handed the cheque for £7los. 6d. to the prisoner to keep
till the next • settlement, and on the 28th of
May the sums of £2 and £5 13s. 6d. were
handed to the prisoner by witness, but neither amount
appeared, nor had they been paid to witness at the last
settlement. The cheques found on the prisoner for
£323 7s. and £2BO, were in the prisoner's handwriting,
and were both forgeries. At this stage, Inspector Ayre
applied for a remand, stating that an important witness
was not in attendance. The bench, after a consultation,
granted a remand.

AGRICULTURE AND THE CORN TRADE.
The severe and protracted drought has at length been
relieved by a copious fall of rain. A violent thunder-
storm burst over the metropolis and its suburbs on Thurs-
day night, accompanied by a heavy and soaking rain, the
effect of which upon vegetation, previously suffering
from want of moisture, was soon apparent. The weather
has since been unsettled, and hopes are now enter-
tained that we shall yet receive sufficient rain to save
our crops. Refreshing showers have , also fallen
in various parts of the country ; and advices from Scot-
land state that the aspect of affairs has so decidedly im-
proved, that graziers are buying up cattle to turn into
the pastures. Haymaking has made fair progress in the
southern English counties, but the yield has been miser-
ably small, and has yielded a very poor return in all
places, whilst in some fields t: here is barely sufficient
grass to pay for the labour of cutting. However, should
the weather now become unsettled, and judging from
present appearances, such a supposition is by no means
improbable, there is very little doubt that a good sound
crop would be secured. ' Clover has come up well and
thickly, but is very short. Mangolds will probably be a
good crop ; but as regards Swedes, prospects are very
uncertain. With scarcely an exception potatoes look well,
there being an entire absence of disease. The condition
of the wheat plant during the week has certainly not
deteriorated ; in fact, if anything, the tendency has
been towards amelioration. This is especially the case in
low-lying districts where the want of water has been less
seriously felt. On the uplands the plant is very deficient
in height, but we do not hear of any particular falling off
in the size of the ear. The condition of the spring corn,
on the other hand, is very precarious. Wheat now depends
on the state of the weather during the next few days, as,
in the event of a return of the drought the yield can-
not fail to fall considerably short of the average ; whilst
with two or three days of steady rain the aspect
of affairs would be entirely altered, and the corn would
then partly retrieve its lost position. Continental advices
do not allude to any new feature. Prospects in Eastern
Europe, especially in Hungary, Galicia, and Bohemia,
are stated to be highly satisfactory, and should no un-
toward event happen the yield will be sufficiently large to
admit of an extensiue export trade. But accounts from
France have not improved to any material extent, not-
withstanding that rain has fallen in most districts.—
Magnet.
The position of the growing crops has not greatly varied
since we last wrote. Wheat has continued to gradually
improve, and the rain, which fell somewhat copiously in
the midge of the week, proved of great service
in reviving the plant on light soils, where there
was much loss of colour in consequence of the
continued drought. Wheat promises well, and we believe
that the harvest will not fall late. If the plant does not
look so well as is the case in more humid seasons, it will
come well to the sickle, and, what is of infinitely more
importance, will be found to thrash out satisfactorily. It
will be conceded that a dry season is the best for wheat
in our climate, as experience teaches us that years
of drought have usually been accompanied by good
wheat harvest. As a rule, under intelligent and liberal
farming, wheat is wonderfully independent of the
weather, though out-of-door farm operations are fre-
quently seriously impeded in an unfavourable season.
Looking at things from this point of view, a total failure
of the crops may now be regarded—save under the
most exceptional circumstances—as an utter impossibility.
Having removed the most threatening danger to the wheat
crop by a proper drainage system, the principal difficulty
with which agriculturists in our variable climate have to
contend has been obviated. But no season can equally
serve the great variety of crops that we are in
the habit of raising in England. For example the
present promises to be a good wheat year, but has
certainly not proved favourable to the spring corn crops.
The first cut of hay will be quite insignificant, and, though
thereis
be forthcoming,timeforag
oodsectohnedre can be n
growthshouolddotuhbetrethqamt wesite
moisture
shall suffer great inconvenience from the scarcity of feed
for the stock. This is a matter of the most serious impor-
tance, as prices of meat must rise in proportion to the
enhanced currencies of feeding stuffs.—Bell's Weekly Mes-
senger.
The heaviest rainfall ever registered at Malton occurred
between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, when 1.35 in. of
rain fell, equivalent to 135 tons of water, to the acre. At
2 p.m. rain ceased, and up to Saturday night no further
fall occurred. On Saturday the farmers reported that the
rains will afford a capital turnip season, but that they are
too late for the corn and hay crops, especially on sandy
lands. Old hay has risen £1 per ton. Clovers to mow
and graze after sell from £8 to £l2 per acre, and bad
crops.
The Journal Officiel of Paris says that in Southern
Russia the fields are magnificent, and prices have slightly
fallen at Odessa, in consequence of the good yield pro-
mised by the standing crops. In Belgium, Holland, and
Prussia there is supposed to be sufficient to meet the re-
quirements of the population without having recourse to im-
portations. That situation permits the hope thatif the yield
is small in France, foreign countries will at least be able to
supply us with the corn we require without any great increase
of price. With respect to Algeria the year appears likely to
be in general above the average for wheat, and about
equal to it for barley, both in the civil and military terri-
tories. Between Boghar and Med4ah, in the environs of
Berrovaghia, especially, the crop has a splendid appear
ance, and the barley is being cut everywhere. There will
be an abundance of the latter in the district of Medeah.
In fact, the year is a good one both for Europeans and
natives. Also there will be no want of fodder, although
the grass crops were thought to have been lost after the
long winter."

Mr. Bright was the only Minister absent from the
Cabinet Council held on Saturday.

The Soir announces that it is about to publish a
translation of " Lothair " as a feuillcton.

The Society of Arts is about to establish examina-
tions in political economy.

It is rumoured that the In onstant proved herself
the reverse of an efficient sea-boat during the late cruise of
the Channel squadron.

Mr. Charles Stephenson, the Secretary of Lloyds,
has sailed for New York, in order to investigate the
circumstances under which the false intelligence of the
loss of the Dacia was transmitted to this country.
The Prince of Wales has intimated his intention to
be present at the annual show of the Royal Agricultural
Society of Ireland, to be held in Ballinasloe, in the first
week in August.
The select committee of the House of Commons
appointed to inquire into the laws relating to pawnbrokers
met yesterday, when Mr. May, of Salford, and Mr.
Brooking, of Exeter, were examined. Both witnesses
condemned the present system.

ADMIRAL 111ITFORD.—Adrniral Mitford died at his
residence, Hunmanby Hall, North Yorkshire, on • Satur-
day morning, in his 90th year. Admiral Mitford was
much respected in his neighbourhood as a fine old English
gentleman and landowner.
REVIVAL OF THE CASHIER EPIDEMIC.—The late
cashier of the Bank of Bengal, Akyab, has been con-
victed and sentenced to transportation for life. Of the
RBO,OOO, of which he defrauded the bank, 846,000 have
been recovered.

The Liberte states that at a Cabinet Council held
in Paris on Saturday the question of the Saint Gothard
was raised, and that the Ministry decided that the
convention concluded between Switzerland, Prussia, and
Italy does not possess the importance of a political ques-
tion. •

KEEPING 'UP HER CHARACTER.—Lord F. married
his cook. On the bridal day it rained tremendously—the
coachmen and his attendant sprites were wet through.
" Ah," said a wag, " all quite in character—there's
nothing but dripping wherever she goes."

The question as towhether the Captain or Monarch
is the proper class of turret vessel is now under the con-
sideration of the Admiralty, where, it is said, a wrangle is
going on as to whether Mr. Reed's or Captain Coles's
class of vessel shall be awarded the laurel.

According to the Washington telegrams, a rupture
between Holland and Venezuela is imminent, in conse-
quence of the seizure by President Blanco of the Dutch
mail steamer Honfleur for' carrying contraband war
materials. A Dutch corvette has gone to Loquayra to
demand reparation.

The Bishop of Winchester consecrated the new
Church of Holy Trinity at Richmond on Saturday, and
afterwards was present at a luncheon in a tent erected in
some adjoining grounds. The church has cost about
£7,000, which has been raised within the ten months since
the foundation stone was laid.

The Right Rev. the Bishop Menvaine, of Ohio,
delegated by the New York Conference Committee, has
arrived in London, and has met various noblemen, clergy,
and others at the Evangelical Alliance House, where a
report was made of the progress of arrangements in the
United States. The Bishop stated that from communi-
cations received from various parts of Europe and else-
where, the Conference was likely to be very largely and
influentially attended.

The average number of persons living in a single
house in London is 8, in Berlin 32, in Paris 35, in St.
Petersburg, 52, and in Vienna 55. For every 1,000 in-
habitants the average annual mortality in London is 24,
in Berlin 25, in Paris 28, in St. Petersburg 41, and in
Vienna 47. The average proportion of illegitimate to
legitimate births is in London 4 per cent. ; in Berlin 16
per cent. ; in Paris 20 per cent. ; in St. Petersburg 26
per cent. ; and in Vienna 51 per cent. It is evident from
these figures that in those cities where the population
are much restricted in house-room, not only is the mor-
tality higher, but the number of illegitimate births is also
greater. _ _ _

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AT SANDHURST.—The
first visit of the Commander-in-Chief to Sandhurst College
since the new regulation for its management, took place
on the occasion of the half-yearly examination. Under the
old regime the Duke was governor ; under the new he is
President of the Academy. Having gone through the
preliminary ceremony, the Duke referred to an
event winch has somewhat disturbed the serenity
of the academical half-year. Some of the students
had been guilty of misconduct, and three of them were
removed from the academy for insubordination. These
expressed regret, and, as they told the truth, they were
reinstated. Two others who prevaricated were expelled.
This occurrence occupied a good deal of the Duke of
Cambridge's brief address, and he took occasion, while
expressing a hope that as President, he should hear of
no more such breaches of discipline, to advise the youths
before him to be in all things straightforward and truth-
ful. The cadets had two distinguished examples
of military success before them—Field Marshals Sir
John Burgoyne and Sir George Pollock, whose careers
had opened as theirs did, and who had attained their
present position by hard work, knowledge, and discipline.
Discipline was as indispensable as knowledge, for unless
they learned to obey, to give orders, and to see those
orders carried out, they would be useless as officers either
of the Engineers or Artillery. The Duke, in conclusion,
acknowledged the value of the technical education they
were acquiring ; but reiterated that the root of every-
thing in the army was discipline—advice which was
evidently not superfluous in the great military training
school.

THE GREEK QUESTION.—The brigandage ques-
tion in Greece is fax from being satisfactorily settled, and
a few days since six brigands, who were to have been exe-
cuted at Corinth, escaped from their prison. These haveno
connection with the Marathon group, since they have been in
prison for three years under sentence of death, time
enough one would imagine for their sentence to have been
carried out. Their escape seems to indicate that these
worthies are not very closely watched, and an Athenian
paper asks what Mr. Zaimis intends to do with
the 83 brigands now in prison and whether they are to be
allowed to escape. With such an impression abroad it
is plain there is not much hope of amendment, but though
every one declares a change to be absolutely necessary, there
is a general fear that the accession of the Koumoudoros or
Bulgaros party will obstruct much needed reforms. There
is another party leader who might be summoned. M.
Deligeorges, but the King is unwilling to see him
again in office (he has been Prime Minister), because
be is not personally liked by the representatives of
the foreign Powers. The constitution of the country is
not thought to be so much at fault as the vices of the ad-
ministrative system and the incapacity and vacillation of
the Ministers. Public respect for law, whether civil or
constitutional, is the great want of Athens, and until that
is gained no changes will suffice.

THE PRINCESS EDITHA GILBERT
MONTEZ. •

On the evening of June 6, a coach drove up at police
head-quarters and from it alighted the Princess Editha
Gilbert Montez (who claims to be a daughter of Lola
Montez), accompanied by a lady friend and the special
officer stationed at the Astor House. She had been sent
to the building by Mr. Stetson, to whom she is indebted
to the amount of seventy-six dollars. It is also claimed
that she is insane and subject to epileptic fits. The lady
was arraigned before Inspector Jameson, when she ex-
pressed her intention of settling her indebtedness at
once, and denied most emphatically that she was insane.
She claimed to be a daughter of Lola Montez by the
King of Bavaria, and claims also the title of Countess of
Landsfeldt, which her mother bore. Dr. Swan, of the
Astor House, pronounces her insane, and, by the advice
of the Inspector she was taken back to the Astor House
to await further developments.—New York Herald.