The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-15 00:00:00

THE CASE OF THE TORNADO.

VELOCIPEDE RIDING-SCHOOLS

The Daily News publishes an amusing article on velo-
cipede riding-schools. These abound in London just now.
East, west, north, and south of the metropolis are lessons
being given to men of all ages, with a decided run upon
bald heads and grey hair among the pupils. It is on
record that Faraday toiled up Hampstead-hill on one of
the lumbering, old-fashioned velocipedes, a picture of
which used invariably to illustrate the letter V in nursery
alphabets. But that was when the philosopher was
young, and one of the marvels of the new apparatus is
the fascination it seems to exercise over the old. About
midway between Moorgate station and that Goswell-
street which has become classical ever since the
embarrassing scene which took place in it between
Mr. Pickwick and Mrs. Bardell is one of the
best-known of the velocipede schools. From ten in
morning till six at night it is very busy. A coup(. .£
broughams and several handsome cabs are waiting at the
archway leading to it. Past these, and'up a sort of court,
and we are in a large factory,svith crowds of mechanicians
busily at work. Velocipedes in various stages of progress
.re to be seen everywhere. Long lines of wheels unvar-
nished and unpainted are seasoning, while handles, seats,
axle-trees, and smaller wheels are being manipulated, or
lie ready for use. There is as much scope for fancy about
the decorations of a velocipede, as in aught else. The
guiding bar is one of the things upon which extravagance
is expected to centre. Already we were shewn a
very handsome one in burnished steel and with
ivory handles as an " extra," and that "we shall
have to bring them out in silver before the season's over,"
is an opinion confidently expressed. Beyond the manu-
factory is the riding-school, full of life and vigour. Here
is a stout country gentleman who has come up from
a distant province for the sole purpose of receiving les-
sons. A stalwart attendant walks with him round the
room, holding him on his velocipede, by keeping an arm
firmly round his waist. Round and round the vast bare
cha,mbergo the twain, the attendant walking slowly under
his double task, and giving out instructions rather dis-
jointedly for lack of breath, " Give a looser hold to the
handles, sir— (puff)—don't grip 'em as if you were afraid of
tumbling off—(puff, pant, puff). I'll take care of that. (Pant.)
Just feel 'em like ; the lighter and gentler the better—
(puff)—and whenever you feel you are going over on one
side, just turn the opposite handle, and you'll right your.
self directly. (Pant, puff, puff.)" After a little time the
novice is told to use his feet, and he tl.en turns the wheels
slowly for himself, being still held on by the attendant-
instructor. There are no fastenings for the foot—simply
a rest, which projects out from the axle-trees ; and when-
over the handle is mismanaged, and the centre of gravity
lost, the rider comes to the ground on his feet, and so stands
up in a very comic way. It is as if a very tall man were
on a pony so small that he can at any moment allow it
to run between his legs. Two such lessons as
we saw given would, we were assured, enable
the gentleman before us to manage a velocipede
for himself, and from this stage to its complete mastery is
a mere question of practice. Several other pupils were
at work. One gentleman was taking his second lesson,
and confined his attention to moving the velocipede slowly,
and to learning how to stop it at will. Others were prac-
tising various methods of mounting and descending. The
true thing is to jump on while it is in progress, and to
then push away merrily with hand and foot. The experts
who had gone through their lessons, and were now merely
indulging in an hour's practice, played a variety of tricks
to shew their proficiency, or to extend their experience.
Sere was a man standing on the saddle—which is
far broader and more comfortable in the seat
than it appears—and balancing the velocipede by
his dexterous management of Ow u,,L1;,,,f-1).1-. w..
another cutting in and out among the rest, and describing
various figures on the floor. Skating on a large scale,
or skimming over the ground by means of wings, was
what it reminded one of most ; and very exhilarating and
delightful the rapid motion and entire mastery seemed.
Many of the gentlemen before us had rushed in from the
City for an hour's practice in the intervals of business—
the Stock Exchange contributing a considerable contin-
, gent to the amusing and animating scene. There were
plenty of young men, too ; and the practice we
saw, ranging, as it did, from the inexperienced
novice to the skilled expert, made it clear that
the use of the velocipede is easily, safely, and
quickly learnt. There has been no accident at any of the
schools since they have opened. It seems certain that the
fashion of using velocipedes will increase if riding them be

really as harmless and agreeable as it appears. The

fatigue being slight, and theprogress—though not reaching

the proposterous promises of-some of the advertisements

rapid, it seems reasonable to expect that this peculiar

form of locomotion will increase, and that it will in time
be no more singular to keep a velocipede than to carry a

walking-stick. Already the best makers are as busy as

they can well be.

Her Majesty, it is expected, will leave Windsor
for Osborne about Monday or Tuesday next.
Commercial circles in Birmingham and the neigh-
bourhood have again been startled by more extensive bill
forgeries. Mr. George Solomon, who has hitherto occu-
pied a respectable position in the town as a wholesale
stationer and paper dealer, absconded on Saturday.
The discovery has since been made that he had forged bills

to the value of £1,500 or £2,000. Amongst others he has
made use of the name of the Mayor of Worcester. Be is
said to have gone to America.
THE DRINKING CUSTOMS OF A3l ERICA. —An
eminent American physician has published some interest-
ing statistics concerning the drinking habits of that coun-
try. Taking the population at 40,000,000, he finds that
of every 300 men 122 do not drink at all, 100 drink mode-
rately, 50 are occasional drinkers, 25 drink periodically
(" spreeing "), and three are habitual inebriates.
To every 178 who drink time are confirmed
inebriates, 25 are periodical and 50 ephemeral drinkers.
There is 1 confirmed inebriate to every 594 men. Of 700
women, 600 never drink, •30 taste wino occasionally, 17
taste ardent spirits, 36 drink beer regularly, 14 drink
spirits periodically, and 3 are habitual inebriates.
There is, he declares, 1 female inebriate to every 33i
women ; for, though fewer women drink than men, more
of those who do drink become habitually intemperate.

THE MIDNIGHT MEETING MOVEMENT.—The
tenth annual meeting of this society was held on Wednes-
day in Hanover-square Rooms. General Walker pre-
sided, supported by numerous friends of the institution.
It appeared from the report, read by Mr. John Stabb, the
secretary, that various meetings had been held in different
parts of the metropolis, and that no meeting had been
convened without several women and girls having
been induced to leave their life of shame. The
report, in its conclusion, referred to the fearful
traffic which is carried on to keep up a supply
of young girls for immoral purposes, and contended that
the fact should be pressed upon the attention of the Legis-
lature until more stringent means were adopted for its
suppression. The receipts for the past year were
£1,401 lls. 2d., and there was a balance in hand of
£25 19s. 2d. Speeches in support of the society's object
were delivered by Mr. George Williams, Rev. J. Davis,
Rev. J. H. Wilson, and other gentlemen, and a vote of
thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.
The value of glass in the cultivation of fruit
will, no doubt, be amply exemplified in the forthcoming
season. Speaking generally, we believe the orchards
and wall fruit-trees are as yet perfectly safe. Pear-trees
that were whitening in February are now quite brown,
but this is the result of the discoloration of
the outer scales and bracts ; the unopened buds
appear to be unharmed. Peach-wails are for the most
part, even in southern parts, only just acquiring their
first blush of colour, and since the weather has im-
proved somewhat they appear to be safe. Nevertheless,
we apprehend that those who grow fruit in
orchard-houses will have the best of it in 1869,
that is, of course, so far as their skill will carry them ; at
present, at all events, well-kept orchard-houses have
plenty of fruit to show, btmiuhntee
rwatl
witrhkteiaeeel tnls
lebegeerupseenplrfvooohbri
act
tiboi tittriht
defence
walls%eevunnescidtieui
ioiri isfee
cmtar
oak pne mattersyn.
h intoaTf rohdsrea
hrcaeic
powfsuiner
was nothing
ec asut that
e
the town besieged ; assuredly there is nothing like glasp
for the defence of peach and nectarine trees from t; 1';
til s
treacherous assaults of a Briti 1 pring,—Ga2.aenc,6
ifogazine.

There issued from the Foreign-office on Wedbesday Copies
of a correspondence respecting the seizure of the
Tornado off Cadiz, by the Spanish frigate Gerona,
the reason given for the seizure being that she
was a Chilian privateer. The correspondence consists
of sixty-five letters, most of which relate to the claims of the
Tornado's crew to receive compensation from the Spanish
Government for the loss they sustained by reason of the
seizure of their ship. These letters range in date over
the period between the 7th of March, 1868, to the 26th
February, 1869. Lord Clardenden wrote on the 12th
of February the sixty-fourth letter of the series, in
which he instructs Sir John Crampton, British Minister at
Madrid, to "speak seriously to Senor Lorenzana„ in the
name of her Majesty's Government, on this long protracted
case." To this Sir John replies, under date Feb. 26th,
that he has executed his chief's behest, and that Senor
Lorenzana promises that so soon as the Minister of Marine
has pronounced his decision upon the question of the appoint-
ment of a special tribunal to try whether the Tornado was,
or was not, "a good prize," that decision shall be communi-
cated to her Majesty's Government. So the matter stands
at present. The ship was seized on the 22d of August,
1866.

THE GREAT CENTRAL GAS COMPANY

FRAUDS.

Some misapprehension seems to exist with reference
to Higgs and the amount of his frauds and de-
ficiencies, which have been stated at £50,000 and even
£BO,OOO. It is now feared that £150,000 will hardly
cover the full extent of his depredations upon the
company and the public. Not only have large sums
received for coke never found their way to the company's
bankers, but forged debentures to a considerable amount, it
is said, are afloat, upon which Higgs regularly paid the
dividends as they fell due in order to keep their issue from
the company's knowledge. These debenture bonds, it
is affirmed, although issued fraudulently, bear the bond
fide signatures of the directors and the common seal of the
company. On the eve of his departure, Higgs offered to
pay a wine merchant in Coleman•street an account of
£3OO, and for this purpose drew a cheque for £6OO, and it
being past banking hours, he got the wine merchant to
cash it and give him the balance. His estate will realise,
it is said, about £30,000. This the creditors have sought
to appropriate for the benefit of all concerned ; and the
gas company, it is said, are willing to abandon criminal
proceedings and go in with the other creditors and share in
this sum. It is believed that Higgs has sought refuge in
Spain.

At the Judges' Chambers, onl,Wednesday, before Mr.
Justice Keating, a case relating to Benjamin Higgs, the
absconding clerk of the Central Gas Company was heard.
The Guarantee Society has seized his property at
Teddington, where he kept a well-appointed esta-
blishment ; and the • plaintiff in this action, Mr.
Krihl issued an execution and put in an officer.
There were several other claimants to the property, but
the chief point at issue was the dispute between the
Guarantee Society and the execution creditor. The case
was ordered to stand over till Monday, when the several
claims would be heard.