The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1869.

all these doubts and speculations, these affirmations,
contradictions, and retorts, and in the presence of
a visitor, who will not be gainsaid, the truth may
well be spoken. The only satisfaction, if the word
can be used with any degree of appropriateness, in
the affair that we can derive from the story is, that it
offers a solemn warning to the thoughtless, the
curious, and the unwary. While some have
been qucslioning and others doubting a life
has passed away, and who shall say that
it has closed as happily as it might have done.
If, instead of giving way to the worship of the mar-
vellous in the affair, the parents had contented
themselves with seeking the remedies that might
have been found, SARAH JACOBS might now be
restored to comparative health. At any rate they
would be spared the reproach of having made their
suffering child an object of wonder and pity, instead
of shielding her from observation and softening the
affliciion that had befallen her. There is much
that is incomprehensible in the affair, but at least
let us learn what we may from the sad story of
the Welsh Fasting Girl ; -and in future let the curious
and idle leave those who are mysteriously afflicted to
the care of their proper guardians, while the latter
should put their trust in that PROVIDENCE which holds
the issues of life and death, and abstain from all pre-
sumptuous interference.

WE have great pleasure in calling attention to the
Workmen's International Exhibition which will be
held in London in the course of next year. It has
long been imagined that these international shows
are becoming too plentiful ; but the idea has esta-
blished itself and will not be repressed. This
workmen's exhibition, moreover, is a novelty which
deserves every encouragement. The distinguishing
feature of the display will be that every object shewn
is to be accredited, not to the firm which owns it,
but to the artisan who actually called it into being.
All articles will be signed by the name of the con-
structing workman. In cases where there is a division
of labour, as, for instance, in the construction
of a watch, each separate part will be
assigned to the maker, and thus the various
steps in the manufacture of any complex piece of
workmanship will be exposed. British and foreign
processes are to be compared, and illustrative lectures
are promised. This praiseworthy idea has met, as it
deserved, with very influential assistance. Mr. GLAD-
STONE is the President, and a powerful array of
nobles and gentles of all parties support him. On
the executive committee, artisans mingle with
men of position. A promising subscription list is
already shewn, and a very pleasing sight it is to see
the five shillings of au operative silver-plater in close
juxtaposition with the King of WURTEMBERG'S
£lOO. Earnest co-operation is guaranteed from abroad.
Italy is one of the foremost helpers in the work. Local
committees have been formed in several Italian cities,
and a picked detachment of twenty artisans will be sent
to visit England. In most of the great German towns
also, at Pesth in Hungary-, and Warsaw in Poland,
committees have been formed. Nor are France, Den-
mark, and Belgium behindhand. Lastly, the Council
have decided to admit agricultural produce and raw
material used in manufactures, and thus such places as
Norway, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, and Madeira, will be
able to put in an appearance. There is every reason
to believe that a very creditable display of foreign
workmanship will be sent over, and it remains only
for British artisans to see that the honour of
their country does not lose by the comparison.
The public will soon be able to judge for itself
respecting the relative merits of home and foreign
manufactures, and it is to be hoped that the English
workmen will not fail to uphold their ancient name.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BOMBAY AND CENTRAL INDIA.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern—Lieut.-Colonel
French in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN a ti,l there was nothing very strik-
ing iJa the report, but, on the whole, it gave a satis-
factory account of the company's affairs. Ile said
"on the whole," bec Luse there might be one or two
things which were not altogether satisfactory ; but
the company was, he believed, on the way to great
improvements. If the traffic had not been so
large as they 'night have expected, that was in
a great measure accounted for by the panic
whielrr hail been in India, and the depression of
trade which still existed there, but he had good
reason for saying that sunshine would soon appear.
The open line had been further increased, and cow
made 308 miles, having 46 stations. The line was
maintained in a good state, and some difficulty had
been experienced in the bridge works on the river
Saburmuttee, which was a rapid river. The screw-
ing of the piles for the piers had caused some
trouble, but the bridge would be a strong one, and
the cost not very great. TEe 2/ miles of line from
Ahmedabad to the north side of the River Saburmu t-
tee were just finished, and would shortly be opened,
making the total length 311/ miles. The final
arrangements for the goods terminus at Colaba, on
the harbour side of Bombay, had not yet been com-
pleted, but he hoped that the land would soon be
placed in the hands of the company. There had
been a falling off in the second-class fares of £156,
but an increase of £2,840 on the first and
third classes, the second-class deficiency being in
consequence of a reduction in the fares and a
diminution of the mileage travelled by the pas-
sengers. A reduction had been lately made from
four pies a mile to three pies in the third class
(four pies are equal to a half-penny). This had been
done at the extremity of the line, and this was done
at the suggestion of the Government, with a view
to encourage the traffic and increase the prosperity
of the country. The company would lose nothing
by adopting the Government view, and it might
tend to increase the receipts. The total work-
ing expenses amounted to £185,948, as com-
pared with £177,571 in the corresponding period.
The percentage of expenses to receipts was
G 6.94 in 1869, and 64.24 in 1868. But this
was not quite a fair comparison, for if special
charges not applicable to the half-year were elimi-
nated in both cases, the figures of ordinary work-
ing cost would stand in 1869 at £143,956, or 55.88
per cent. of the receipts ; and in 1868 at £147,174,
or 58.38 per cent. of the receipts. The train-mile
rate would thus be 6s. 3-17 d. in 1869, and 6s.
3-86 d. in 1868. The principal item in the special
charges was £18,333 on account of the works of
repair and strengthening rendered necessary by
the damages of the monsoon of 1868, amounting
to £53,921, which had been placed to a sus-
pense account. The net revenue for the half-year
amounted to £91,785, and the total amount
of advanced interest by the Government to the
company to the 3th June last was £1,660,856. He
felt confident that the 73 miles of extension lines to
Veerumgaum and Wudwan would be constructed
with expedition, economy, and efficiency. He moved
that the report and the sta*ement of accounts be
adopted.
Mr. HARTRIDGE seconded the motion, which
was agreed to unanimously, and a vote of thanks
to the Chairman and directors closed the pro-
ceedings.

POLICE INIELLIGENC'E.-7his Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

CArTICN TO CAB PROPRIETOBS.—Edward Webb of Wil-
liam's-mews appeared before Mr.linom to answer the com-
plaint of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals of working a horse in an unfit condition.

George I oung, officer cf the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals, said that ho saw the defen-
dant driving a horse attached to a Hansom cab, the horse
being very lame. Ho stopped the defendant, who admitted
that the horse had been lame, but was better then.

Mr. Cherry, the Government Veterinary surgeon, said
that when he first saw the horse it was very lame. It
was a little better, but was totally unfit for cab work.
Defendant sAid ho Lad driven tho horse some time, and
it was one of the best he over had. Ho paid 15 guineas
for it, and it could do 10 miles au hour without the whip.
A gentleman he was in the habit of driving said it was
the best hors() ho was ever behind. lie only had one
other horse, and ho was not g,,ing to have this one de-
stroyed.
Mr. Knox said no one wished him to have the horse de-
stroyed. He could sell it to some ono who would put it
to lighter work.
The defendant called a larder, ❑amed Howe, living in
William's-news, who said there was nothing the matter
with the horse.

Mr. Knox fined the defondant 20s. and costs, or 14 days.

THAMES.

TDB Bow BANDITTI lIEVIVED.—SeveraI boys were
brought before Mr. Paget charged with committing auda-
cious robberies in Bow, Bromley, and Poplar. They form
part of a baud of young scoundrels who, a few months
since, created some alarm among the shopkeepers by their
effrontery and depredations, and were called the Bow
Banditti. Many of them were captured and sentenced by
the magistrate of this court to three, four, and six months
imprisonment and hard labour. Among those brought
up to-day was Alfred Begot, aged 15 years, who was charged
with stealing 121bs. of meat from the shop of Mr. John
Turner, butcher, 148, Campbell-road, Bow. Tho prisoner
and another cut out a pane of glass and helped themselves
to a shoulder of mutton, a half shoulder of mutton, and a
piece of beef. They were going away with the meat
when the prosecutor saw them and pursued them. One
boy escaped with a shoulder of mutton. The prisoner
dropped the meat he had stolen and it was recovered. The
prisoner was captured, and he made a detrrmiued re-
sistance.

Edwards, 472 K, said the prisoner had lately come out
of prison, and was a prominent member of the Bow
Banditti.

The prisoner made no defence, and Mr. Paget com-
mitted him for trial, and directed that the judge who
would have to try him should be informed of his career.
Other boys were disposed of in a similar manner, or sen-
tenced to imprisonment. It was stated that a baker in
Bow, who had suffered much from the Bow Banditti, had
surprised three of them in his shop, closed the door upon
them, and before he permitted them to leave, administered
to each a sound horse whipping.

ACTP2N AGAINST A PRINCESS AND THE
EX-QUEEN OF SPAIN.

The Civil Tiibunal of Orleans has just given judg-
ment in a suit brought by M. Gillion, a jeweller of
that city, against the Princess Isabella-Fernanda of
Bourbon, Infantaof Spain, and against the ex-Queen
Isabella, her sister-in-law, and against the French
Minister of the Interior. ' In 1860 Princess Isabella
arrived at Orleans to place her three children to
be educated, the boy at Petit-Seminaire, and the
two gills at the Convent of the Sacr6-Coeur ; her
Royal Highness, on the invitation of the Minis-
ter of the Interior, went to the grand apart-
ments of the prefecture, where fetes were given in
her honour. On the observation of the princess
that, not expecting to be received with such
honour she had not brought with her any jewels,
and consequently could not appear in a state
befitting her rank, the Prefect requested M. Gilliou
to submit to her Royal Highness his stock of
wares. The tradesman, confiding in the recom-
mendation of the functionary, allowed her to se-
lect different articles to the amount of 11,7121 r.,
in addition to a suite of pearls and amethysts,
valued at 6,000 fr. The Infanta was to pay for the
jewels after her return home, but the drafts of M.
Gillion were returned dishonoured, and he after-
wards found that she was hopelessly insolvent, hav-
ing enormous debts, while her sole resources con-
sisted of an allowance from the Treasury, but which
is not liable to seizure by:creditors. Her reputa-
tion in Madrid was, besides, that she coul 1 not
obtain credit for any article of the most insig-
nificant value. M. Gillion consequently brought
the present action to recover the 11,712 f. from the
Princes:, j.intly with the French Minister of the
Interior. The 6,000 f. Were claimed from the Queen
because the jewels were forwarded through .her
Majesty's diplomatic agents. The Court rejected
the demand against the French Minister and the
Queen, but condemned the Infanta Isabella-Fer-
nands to pay the sum of 11,7121., with interest
and costs.

ALARMING.

We have heard, says the Pall Mall G'azette, of a most
mysterious and disagreeable occurrence at the Towor of
London which is enough to sot the nerves of the whole
nation on edge. For some days, or rather nights
past the shadow of an axe has appeared on one
of the walls of the building ; this shadow made its last
appearance, unless we are misinformed, in 18-18, but what
it has been doing since that time we cannot say. There is
no shyness whatever about it now ; it does not object to
be stared at, and excites the curiosity of all who have the
privilege, if not the pleasure, of inspecting it.

ART AND LITERATURE GOSSIP FROM
TUE "ATHENA:UM."

The next number of the ..4thenauni is to contain a com-
plete " Survey of the Literature of Europe and America in
1869." Improvements are promised for next year's paper.

It is now certain that the Government will introduce a
new Educational Bill.

➢lr. Froude's " History of England " is selling in
America in an edition, nearly as elegant as that of Eng-
land, at a dollar-and-a-half per volume.

Mr. Sant has been made R.A.

Mr. Satchell has in hand a biographical index designed
to furnish a guide to the contents of the principal bio-
graphical dictionaries—English, French, German, Dutch,
Italian, &c.. and to all the separate lives he has been able
to meet. Mr. Satchell has got 100,000 names down; and
has been at his work ten years.

The Dowager Marchioness of Hastings, in her forthcoming
"Fairy Fancies," follows the example of the late Duchess
of Newcastle, who illustrated the " History of Alnwick
Castle," and that of the Marchioness of Waterford, who
illustrated "The Children of the Wood."

BISHOP .ALEXANDER O!' THE CHURCH.

The Bishop of Dorry, in the course of a sermon in St.
Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, said :—" They must always
remember that, whereas science moved by progress,
theology wont by regress. If their order was aposto-
lical (he added) don't give it up, as if evangelical truth
were enough. Let them not listen to those who would
lift up the axe upon their formularies. Should the formularies
—the ancient formularies—be marred by the strokes of
ignorance? Should their words be silenced by ecclesias-
tical amateurs and dilettante theologians ? If any addi-
tional reason for exhibiting their Church as an apostolic
Church were required, they might find it in the present
Council at Rome. Amidst the pageantries. the mutter
of the Mass, the strong, thick, stupefying incense
smoke, there were hearts yearning for truth. Outside
there were laymen looking on in agony. They would not
turn to a bran new Church, but they might turn to a
Church free, catholic, reformed, and apostolic. The
members of the Irish Church should, therefore, cleave to
her, exhibiting increased tenderness in the hour of her
humiliation."