The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-19 00:00:00

THE ATTEMPT TO MURDER THE EARL OF LEITRIM.

The Freeman's Journal gives the subjoined ver-
sion of the recent attempt upon the life of the
Earl of Leitrim. There can be no second opinion
with regard to the sanity (or insanity) of the
perpetrator of the outrage :
" Mohill, Sept. 15.—About 2 o'clock this after-
noon, as the Earl of Leitrim was proceeding from
the poorhouse, and just as he had entered Main-
street, a report as of a pistol discharged was heard,
and on looking round smoke was observed to issue
from a house hard by. Sub-constables Delany
and Haynes, who happened to be at the corner
of the street, sprang forward, and before the door
could be barred with a vigorous push burst it
open, pursued and arrested the unfortunate man
at the risk of their own lives. On his person
were found, in addition to the blunderbuss (gar-
nished with a spring bayonet), which had just
been discharged, a pocket pistol loaded with
powder and ball, and ready capped, together with
two clasp knives. The courage and promptitude of
these two meritorious officers gave no time to make
any further use of these formidable weapons, and
entitles them to the favourable consideration of the
authorities. The ball took effect on the house of
John Whelan, on the opposite side of the street,
but somewhat lower r down. As nearly as I could
estimate the earl was at the moment of the discharge
about six yards in advance of the line of flight of
the bullet. Of this, however, his lordship could
not have been aware at the time, yet he walked on
with the same composure as if nothing unusual had
occurred. The unhappy man who attempted this
outrage is a publican named James Murphy. For
several years past he has been known to labour
under mental alienation, to the great peril of his
afflicted wife and family. No cause can be assigned
for his thus selecting the earl, for although Murphy
sent his lordship one or two threatening letters, in
consequence of some imaginary domestic wrongs,
yet this was some time since, and nothing of the
kind was exhibited in his wild freaks latterly. It
is really high time that the public should awaken
to the necessity of placing under restraint persons
known to labour under mental aberration as soon
as it assumes a dangerous character."
THE DEFENCES.

Extensive works are now in progress at different
parts of the old Castle of Carrickfergus, batteries
being constructed to mount 6 Lancaster guns. The
masonry of the fortress is of great strength, and
when the guns are in position the whole of Belfast
Lough will be effectually commanded. A local
paper remarks that Lancaster guns, properly
served, ought to be able to sink any ship of war
that might attempt to pass up the Lough.

THE COURT OF SEWERS.

The Commissioners of Sewers for the City of Lon-
don held their weekly court yesterday at the Sewers
Office, Guildhall.

Mr. Deputy CIIRISTIE presided.
The minutes of the last court were read and
confirmed.

Deputy LOTT said he perceived by the reading
of the minutes of the proceedings of the last court,
that an act of parliament that had just been passed
by the legislature had been referred to a committee
fur consideration. The act to which he referred
was the Adulteration of Food Act, and the provi-
sions of that act appeared to him to be of a very
important character, because if it was carried out
the effect would be to enable the poor to obtain
genuine food of every description, beer, milk, bread,
&c. The act, however, was only permissive, and
he was anxious to know whether the terms under
which the consideration of the subject was referred
to a committee were such as would enable them to
recommend that the act should be adopted in the
City of London, if they thought proper to do so.
It appeared to him that this act of parliament was
a most beneficial one, and he hoped to see it carried
into effect.
The CHAIRMAN said that by the terms of the
reference the committee were invested with full
powers to act as they might think proper on the
matter.
An application was made by Mr. Bennett, the
watchmaker, for permission to have a reflector
outside a shop he had recently taken in Cornhill.
Mr. JAMES WATERLOW said that the large reflec-
tors that were put up in the great thoroughfares
were a very great nuisance to the public, and the
object in many instances was not so much to ob-
tain light as to advertise the patentee.
The application was referred to the proper offi-
cer, to report whether the reflector might be put
up without causing inconvenience to the public.
Mr. Roy, the clerk to the commissioners, laid
upon the table the Union of Benefices Act, which
was passed in the last session.
This act is only permissive, but with the consent
of the patron, parishioners, or incumbent of any
parish, powers are given to pull down churches no
longer required, erect fresh ones, and to sell the
sites of those churches that are pulled down, and
the money may be applied to the remuneration of
the incumbent of any new district, or to increase
the stipend of any insufficiently endowed benefice.
It is believed that the sites of some of the churches
in the City of London that are now not required
will produce on an average £20,000 each. None
of these alterations can, however, be made without
the consent of a commission of five persons ap-
pointed by the dean and the corporation.
The act was referred to the Improvements Com-
mittee for consideration.
Dr. LETHEBY, the medical officer of the City of
London, made a report on the sanitary condition of
the City. The report referred to the state of 212
houses that had been inspected dltring the week,
and he subpmr=indenat. listF Fifty
-eight hathvraeqeubilevedn
sanitary im
le,istered during the week, and 49 deaths. The last
numper is the average for the corresponding period
cf the last four years. One-half of the deaths, or
22, were among children of less than five years of
age, and only five among old people. The chief
causes of death among adults were diseases of a
chronic character. There were 5 from phthisis, 2
from heart disease, and 3 from palsy. Among
children there were 8 from hydrocephalus and con-
vulsions, 3 from pneumonia, 3 from whooping-cough,
2 from diarrked, 2 from scarlet fever, and 2 from
measles and croup---in all 9 deaths from zymotio
affections.
The court then adjourned.

Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith maim'
in an extremely precarious state of health. Their Royal
Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess
Mary, and many military officers have called to inquire
after the health of the veteran general,