The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-22 00:00:00

NARROW ESCAPE OF A LION-TAMER.

An unrehearsed scene, very nearly ending in a tragedy,
was enacted a day or two ago at Bradford. Amongst the
incidents which at present appear to be regarded as essen-
tial accompaniments of a menagerie are performances
described as lion - hunts. At Bradford this portion
of the programme was being gone through, when
a performing lioness, instead of responding to the order
of its keeper to leap over his shoulder, seized and dragged
the man down, and attempted to seize Lis throat. At
this critical moment, amidst the alarm of the spectators,
the male lion rushed upon his companion, and the fight
that succeeded between the two undoubtedly saved the
life of the keeper. The latter having regained his confi-
dence and control over the lions, continued and finhhed
his performance whilst the b!ood flowed from his wounds.

THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT BINGLEY.

Mr. Lavington E. Fh teller, chief engineer to the Strain
Users' Association, Manclu,ster, has issued a report on tbe
steam boiler explosion which occurred at liugley on the
Dth inst., by which fifteen pemons w.•re killed and between
twenty and thirty others injured. In his report Mr. Fletcher
states that the, boiler had be n in use elsewhere for eight or
sine years previously, and had become extremely thinned
ind weakened. by corrosion. It was bought as a "cheap"
boiler, and r, paired, but the. repairs did not extend far
enough. It was in one of these thin places that the rent
commenced. In addition to this, the safety-valve bad been
replaced by ono having only one-fourth of the requisite
Area, and which, on account of its dangerous construc-
tion, had been discarded. Alr. Fletcher condemns in very
strong terms the rurchase of "cheap" boilers, so called, as a
national loss.

In the churches of Ireland on Sunday special refer-
euco was made to the pesitiou of the Church to the State,
kpropos to the prayers for her Majesty's accessiou.

The case of Leversou v. Stack, heard before Mr.

Tustice riannen and a common jury, in the Court of Queen's
Bench, was concluded on Monday. his lordship having
summrd up at great length, the jury, after a short consulta-
fuund a verdict fur tho plaintiff or £l2O and costs,

On the Ist July nett, and thenceforward, money
orders may be obtained at any Monf.y Order Office in the
United Kingdom, payable at any place in Belgium. The
commission chargeable will be the same as on money orders
issued and paid within the United Kingdom.
A NEW BLASTING POWDER.—it is stated that
a new description of blasting powder, called ammoniac
powder, has been introduced into Sweden with successful
results. The Prussian newspapers speak of it as being
superior to dynamite, nitro-glycerine, and explosives of
that nature. It is said to combine considerable explosive
force with a tardy inflammability ; that it cannot be
exploded by percussion ; and that it does not deteriorate
from the effects of climate. These advantages are so
contradictory that we must receive the report with
caution. If such a powder has been invented, it will
doubtless soon find its way into the markets of this
country.

CORPORATION OF TUE SONS OF THE CLERGY.—
The Archbishop of Canterbury presided at a meeting of
the governdrs of this corporation, at their house, 2,
Bloomsbury-place, W.C., on Saturday. The main object
of the meeting was to distribute the annual income on
certain benefactions held by the corporation in trust for
poor clergymen, beneficed or not, in England or Wales,
who have at least three children. The number of clergy-
men so qualified applying on the present occasion was 144,
and the total number of their children being 985, the
average of every family was very little short of seven.
Twenty other clergymen applied for aid, who, not being
eligible for these benefactions, received grants from other
funds. The total sum distributed was £2,559, leaving a
very small sum (less than usual) in the hands of the
governors to meet the numerous cases of distress which
are sure to arise during the next few months.
LAW BUSINESS.—The state of the Nisi Prius
business is positively alarming. In the three courts in
Middlesex the aggregate number of causes at the com-
mencement of the after term sittings was no less than
395. Of these upwards of 200 are marked to be tried
by special juries. Now, if all the eighteen judges
had attacked this mass of business, each would have
had twenty-two cases to get through in the allotted four-
teen days. As it is there are but six of them actually trying
causes, which gives each one an average of sixty-six to try,
and in the Queen's Bench the disposal of the first cause,
which is going on at the time we write, has already
absorbed four days. Therefore, taking the above average,
the learned judge has sixty-five causes to try in the nine
following days. If he disposes of a dozen it is as much
as he can do, withdrawals and settlements being put
aside, and it is terrible to contemplate what will happen
next November when the arrears are augmented by
new causes. The great waste of judicial power is in the
Exchequer Chamber. That court has been sitting during
the past week, taking away six judges from the Nisi
Prins courts. We say taking them away, but if they
were available it is difficult to see where they could sit.
If they were available, perhaps some attempt might be
made to accommodate them. The first step, therefore, is
to release them from their present appellate duties. That
this must soon be done is obvious. It is far more impor-
tant to the profession that causes should be tried with
despatch than that there should be an intermediate court
of appeal.—Law Times.

The Western Times devotes nearly two columns
of its space to an editorial article highly eulogis-
ing the effect of the completion of the mansion of Marley,
nearly Exmouth, built for one of England's most wealthy
commoners—Mr. John Bryce. A visit to this palatial
structure fully corroborates the probes our contemporary
has bestowed upon it, Mr. Benmore, the architect, having
certainly acquitted himsilf in a manner which combines
that which is noble and magnificent with a pure elegance and
refined taste. In the interior decorations, which have been
entrusted to Mr. F. Sang, we find that accomplished artist
outvi,ing his previous and most important works; and
even the Conservative Club, the R )yal Exchango, II:a-
-field, and the famous Stratheden House, all from the same
hand, fail to prepare the spectator for the rich display of
chromatic harmony and exquisite playfulness of pencil
which are hero so conspicuous. It would seem, indeed, as
if the edifice had been especially designed to do honour to
the sister arts or Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting, the
a! tributes of each being so intimately blended that the
happy consummation which has arisen upon the lovely
shores of Devon has already obtained the distinguished
title of the Gem of the West.

DuNviLLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta-
tion Quotations on application to Messrs. Danville and Co
Belfa.t; or 4, Beaufort-buildings, Strand,_L9ndon, W,C.— [Ad
vex Lusa:tent.]