The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-10 00:00:00

PRICE I,'

STAMPED

any harm. The Indian Government have actually
proposed to increase the existing evil by putting a number
of piles in front of the bridge, an arrangement so pre-
posterous from the engineering point of view that it is to,
e explained only by the desire of the department to use up
a number of surplus piles left after the construction of the
Bombay and Baroda Railway. Meanwhile, the Govern-
ment is actually buying of the forest department sleepers
at 18s. a piece, of the same kind as those supplied
to a private contractor for less than Bs. The delays are as
vexatious as the petty economies. Whenever an engineer
sends in a plan and mentions the price of materials, the
plan is always sent back, with an intimation that the
price must be so much less. As he is not a contractor and
his only wish is to get the cheapest work consistent with
efficiency, it will be seen how foolish this policy is. Even •
if money could be judiciously saved the gain would be
more than counterbalanced by the delay which takes place
in carrying out the works. For instance, an engineer has
had to send in fourteen different plans for one bridge ; and
the engineer and staff and plant of the line to Pushawur
have been in India for nearly a year and a half,
and not a yard of line has yet been made.
I believe that the engineer has just returned to
England in the hope of persuading the Coma,
cil to act with greater energy. . One other
instance of absurd economy remains to be
mentioned. The Indian Government has given
orders that vessels of the Indian flotilla are not to start
until they have a full cargo, and thus an exporter having
goods to despatch may lose the market. No wonder that
the flotilla has proved a failure.
Still writing about railways I may mention that Sir
Morton Peto is in Hungary superintending the construc-
tion of lines for the Austrian Government. The ex-
member for Bristol, though he lost an enormous fortune,
can hardly be called a poor man, as the good round sum of
£lOO,OOO was settled upon his wife.
It is now, I believe, certain that the Prince of Wales
will buy the Tullymore estate in Ireland. It is not so
certain who will pay forit. The purchase has the charac-
ter of a State transaction, and it is not improbable that
thenation may be asked to assist in the matter. If so the
application will come at an unfavourable moment, for
not only are reductions involving much distress to many
individuals the order of the day, but the country is about
to be called upon to pay £7,600 for enlarging Marl-
borough House, in consequence of the increase of the
Prince's family.
Prince Pierre Bonaparte, who shot the unfortunate
Victor Noir, is now residing in that part of Paddington
known as Maida Vale. It will be well, therefore, for
London journalists to abstain from frequenting that neigh-
bourhood.

The fascinating Marchioness of Hastings, after about
twenty months'widowhood, has this morning been married
to Sir George Chetwynd. The young bridegroom, who
has large estates in Warwickshire, comes of age this year.
He is, I believe, a fine hand at pigeon-shooting ; but one
of the conditions of his marriage was that he should
not run horses on the turf.

There was an immense crowd at the Central Criminal
Court to-day, to hear the case against the epicenes. It
has been postponed for a month, on the ground that the
Crown has introduced, at the last moment, new and most
serious counts into the indictment. It is melancholy to
think that one of the accused persons is the son of a
distinguished statesman, and not long ago was himself a
member of the British legislature. Another of the accused
is the son of a well-known London divine, who has on,
a previous occasion appeared in the court as the hero of a
not very creditable bankruptcy. This person was for-
merly at Oxford, and was one of the " Shooting stars,"
a company of amateur actors and pseudo-actresses. Their
conduct gave rise to so much scandal that the Vice-Chan-
cellor interposed and forcibly suppressed the company.
Both Lord Arthur Clinton and Mr. Cumming, as well
as three other of the accused, were in the court when
application was first made for their apprehension.
They were being watched in behalf of the
prosecution, but Mr. Justice Blackburn's tardi-
ness in issuing the warrant enabled them all to escape.
One by one they called a hansom and drove away, and
have not since been heard of. To-day £5,000 was lodged
anonymously in court for the defence of Boulton and Park.
Yesterday was a grand day at the Horticultural
Gardens in South Kensington. I never remember a day
of greater brilliancy ; the sky was as clear as though it
were overhanging Paris instead of this the smokiest of
capitals. The display of flowers was very beautiful, the
display of costumes was fantastic rather than beautiful
The huge balloons worn by ladies in their rear, to-
gether with their so-called Grecian bend, makes
them the most ridiculous of objects. Contrasted
with these enormities were the brilliant and graceful robes
of some Orientals. There was one lad especially, followed
by a crowd of attendants, who excited much attention.
The new buildings in connection with the forthcoming
ten years' international exhibitions, are making consider-
able progress.
On Monday Madame Sainton-Dolby took leave of the
public. The event was not premature. At 50 a singer's
voice ceases to give much pleasure. Moreover, our con-
tralto had formed a bad habit of singing trashy songs on
commission, an example which so leading a songstress
ought not to have set, and which it is to be
hoped will not be followed. Concerning another
songstress, still young and charming, and a prima donna,
there are romantic stories afloat, and it is even rumoured
that the cause of the disappointment which she inflicted
upon the public lately by her non-appearance was the re
suit of her secret marriage.
English tourists in doubt where to go this summer
should get Mr. Walter Thornbury's charming two volumes
just published by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett, " A Tour
Round England." It contains a large amount of topo
graphical, historical, and social gossip about the
towns of England. A new magazine is to appear
with the singular title of the Rectangular
Review. It is to be the organ of the Freemasons.
The libraries of the late Charles Waterton, the natu-
ralist, and of the ex-Bishop of St. Asaph are to be sold.
Puttick and Simpson will sell also a Bible in
sixty-three folio volumes, probably the most extensively
illustrated copy that was ever formed. It is
said to contain nearly 10,000 engravings of
every school and style, about 1,100 drawings
and photographs, and 660 specimen leaves of various
rare and curious editions of the Holy Scriptures.
It is stated that the Observer, which has for many years
had a very precarious existence as a Sunday paper, is
about to come out daily under the editorship of Mr. Dicey.

Perhaps I should add to those items one which unfortu-
nately has at least as much of a personal as of a literary cha-
racter. Professor Kapoustin is about to reply to Mr. Hep-
worth Dixon's strictures upon the professor's conduct with
regard to " Free Russia." The professor will, lam t )Id,
maintain the truth of his statement in the Golos, that he
strongly advised Mr. Dixon not to write his book, but
that, finding him bent upon it, he, out of pure
good-nature and friendly feeling looked at the proof
sheets, but without any idea of holding himself responsible
for the author's statements.

I am sorry to say that letters written in Italy which I
have seen give an alarming account of the state of that
country. Prince Humbert and his wife were going to
Switzerland and to Berlin, but the King forbade the heir
to the crown to leave the country, on account of the
bad impression which his departure would have at the
present grave crisis.

Her Maj esty has granted a Charter of Incorpora-
tion to Keble College, bearing date the 6th day of June,
in the 33rd year of the reign of her Majesty.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR MEATH.—The
Special Commission for Meath opened on Wednesday at
Trim, before Chief Justice Monahan and Judge
Fitzgerald. The Court-house was crowded, and
great interest was manifested in the proceedings.
Judge Monahan, in charging the grand jury,
said he regretted that the county was in such a
very unsatisfactory state. There had been seven
malicious burnings, three robberies of arms, and three
cases of shooting at persons. Every exertion
would be used to repress outrage, especially when
intended to intimidate persons engaged in the
administration of justice, and to punish the per-
petrators. The Grand Jury found bills against Edward
Geraty and John Brady for an attempt to murder
Mr. Radcliffe, J.P. They pleaded not guilty, and said
they were not ready for trial, which was postponed until
three o'clock. The Attorney-General then opened the
case for the Crown. Mr. Radcliffe and some other ,wit-
nesses were examined. It is rumoured that one of the
prisoners will inform. Both are below the ordinary
standard of intelligence. Geraty is 20 years of age, and
almost a simpleton. It is believed these will be the only
prisoners tried.