The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-15 00:00:00

COMMENCEMENT OF TERM.

Term commenced to-day, on which occasion the
Judges breakfasted with the Lord Chancellor at his
residence, Eaton-square, and then proceeded in
procession to their respective courts at Westminster.
Their lordships arrived shortly before two o'clock,
and immediately proceeded with public business ;
but the lateness of the hour precludes any report.

ARCIIBISIIOP MANNING has obtained of the Pope
an Indulgence of one year to all who shall devoutly

recite the Gloria Patri and Ave Maria, with tke

tentiun of obtaining from God the perfect conversion o
the English nation to the obedience of the faith and re

conciliation to th© chair of St. Peter.—The Observer.

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.--OR Saturday morning
a boy only 11 years old, named Thomas Walton, whose

parents live in Wolverhampton, died in the hospital in that
town, from the effects of shocking injuries sustained the
previous afternoon iu a pit on the Sedgley-park
Deceased had been employed with another boy in hooking-

on at the bottom of the shaft. Just as one of the loaded

skips was being drawn up the boy is stated to have become
affrighted and to have laid hold of the hook. The shaft
was only 1G yards deep, and the boy being found on the
hook as the load ascended an effort wag made t) get the

engine stopped, but it was unsuccessful. The lad held on
until he was nearly within grasp of tho bael:snian. This,
. _

however, seemed to be the limit of his endurance ; ho re-
laxed his hold, and falling to the bottom throe of his limbs
became frightfully shattered.
AN IMPORTATION FROM BROBDIGNAG--OR A
CRAB " VERY LIKE A WHALE !"—A correspondent
of the Athenmum (apparently no other than our old friend
Baron Munchauson) writes to announce that the Jardin
des Plantes has lately acquired a gigantic crab, from
Japan, the fore-lege of which aro no less than 4 feet 1 inch
in length.

" RAYMOND'S HEROINE." Three vols.—" Rar
mcnd's Heroine," says the Saturday Review, " is a story
which a reader will feel the better for having read, so
genuine is the sentiment which pervades it, so refreshing
is the acquaintance with pure and simple natures which it
offers, so pleasant are the sketches which it contains, bright
with the clear radiance of an open air life, or glowing with
the cheerful firelight of a happy home. We recommend it
to those who can appreciate the charms of a novel, through-
out which there makes itself unmistakably manifest the
impress of generous feeling and of vigorous thought. It is
also one through which there runs a vein of humour, which
at once relieves and heightens its pathos, and testifies as
strongly to the variety of its writer's powers as the more
serious passages do to their force. Of the latter no one can
entertain a doubt who has read the singularly powerful
description of Walter Lee's Dream.'"
SIGNS OF SPRING.--The cuckoo has already been
heard and swallows seen at Shepton Mallet.
Mr. GLADSTONE being unable to attend the in-
auguration of the Cobden statue at Manchester, which is
in consequence of having to go
to Paris oarfisrin Easter
connectionlionydawilh the Exhibition, the inaugura-
tion will be conducted by Mr. Geo. Wilson, formerly chair-
man of the Anti-Corn-Law League.
GOLD-BEARING-GRAVEL.—Mr. Shea reports the
discovery gold-bearing gravels in the river-valleys of
Central
Brunswick, and, judging from sienna deposits
in
tCaliforniaN California fa
which have proved rich in gold, he believes
that the New Brunswick beds may be worked at a profit.

We have to announce the death of Mr. Thomas
Vardon, for many years librarian of the House of Com-
mons, who expired on Friday morning at his official apart- '
milts at the Palace, Westminster. The late Mr. Vardon 1
was greatly respected. He was appointed to the post he
honourably and zealously filled nearly 40 years by the
Right Hon. Charles Manners Sutton (the late Viscount
Canterbury). The appointment is in the gift of the
Speaker.
SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The 35th annual
Passion-week performance of the " Messiah" takes place at
Exeter Hall on Wednesday evening next, the 17th inst.
Principal vocalists, Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Sainton-
Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Santley.
ABANDONMENT OF A SHIP.—PLYMOUTH, Sunday.
—The Norwegian barque Fido, 650 tons, of Arendal, from
Belize, with a cargo of logwood, was brought into Ply-
mouth Sound this afternoon with 7ft. of water in her hold.
She was found abandoned in lat. 43 N. long. 10.40 W. by
the American ship Plymouth Rock, who put seven men on
board to navigate her.
THE COLCHESTER MURDER.—On Friday after-
noon, Henry roge Draper, who has been committed
on the coroner's inquisition on a charge of mut-doling Mary
Ann Pettitt at Colchester on the al of Febrkiary; aVaa
brought up for examination befote the iocal Magistrates,
the mayor of the borough Clr% P. 0. Papillon), presiding
en the bencb.. The prisoner was remanded till to-day
(Monday). Draper appeared calmer when brought before
the bench, but since the close of the coroner's inquiry he
bee been much depressed in spirits. Whets the coroner's
jury came into court at on, e'cleek on Friday morning, the
foreman said, "We teturn a verdict of wilful murder—"
Draper, who Was in court, ejaculated, "Oh, my God!"—the
foreman of the jury, in continuation, added, "against
Henry Page Draper." Draper exclaimed, "Oh, my God 1
lam as innocent as the child in its mother's womb. As
Almighty God is in heaven, I am innocent." The un-
happy man, who had knelt down with his head on the
floor as the jury re-entered the court., rose on hearing the
verdict, then full down in a swoon. When he recovered
he was taken into custody by the head constable of the
borough police. When ho was finally rernaved he said,
"I appeal to the great Judge if I ever touched the woman,
or ever went to the side of the water. If I did, may
Almighty God never forgive me. Igo from bore with a
conscience fully knowing and feeling 1 never did the deed.
So help me God."
Brigadier-General Sir A. Horaford, K.C.8., has
returned to Aldershott from Ireland, whither he was des-
patched on the Fenian o.atbreak. A brigade will shortly
be formed for him of the 71st Highlanders, from Edin-
burgh, and other regiments, and it is said that several
Militia corps will also he attached to it.--United Service
Gazette.