The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-24 00:00:00

tugal at the Hotel de Ville on Thursday evening, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. I LATV INTE.
on the part of the municipality of Paris, his Ma-
jesty having accepted the invitation given with the (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
view to do honour to him by Baron Haussmann,
the Prefect of the Seine. His Majesty has been to
the Exhibition, and has expressed his admiration of
it in enthusiastic terms.

THE SULTAN.

LIEGE, July 24.

One of the most terrific and violent storms of
thunder and lightning experienced in Paris for years
occurred at an early hour this morning. The first
thunder-clap was not like the general run of
thunder, rumbling and threatening, but it was a
single burst of elementary violence, and sounded
like the report from a heavy cannon. Last evening
was very tranquil, but all were prostrate with the
heat. About 11 o'clock the wind began to blow
again, and the storm commenced soon after mid-
night. To-day the atmosphere is dull and heavy,
and there has been some violent rain.
For two or three dais the immense forests ex-
tending from the Maures mountains and the Prejus,
to the south of Draguignan, have been on fire. The
fire commenced in the commune Of Draguignan, and
impelled by the wind the conflagration spread to
such an extent that the local papers say, " the
country is literally in flames•" The flames could be
seen from the island of llyeres, in the Mediterra-
nean. The commander of the squadron, seeing
them, sent his crews to give assistance. The popu-
lation were active in rendering assistance. When
the last accounts reached Paris the fire continued
to progress. The disaster is attributed to the im-
prudence of some of the inhabitants of the district,
who set fire to rubbish without considering the con-
sequences of what they had done. The damage will
be of serious character, as the wood is very valuable.
The Moniteur of this evening has the following
announcement, but not in its official part :-
6, The Empress arrived on Monday afternoon at
Osborne House, Isle of Wight, after a favourable
passage."
At the Vesinet Steeplechases, on Sunday, Brada-
mante won the Prix do Croissy. For the Hacks
Sweepstakes there was a dead heat, and the prize
was shared between Katinka and Loup de Mer.
In the handicap Caprice won the Prix des Pavilions.
The Prix a Reclamer was won easily by Nemesis.

The Sultan arrived here at 1 p.m. to-day, and
was received by the King and the Count of Flan-
ders. The reception was of a very cordial cha-

racter.

After taking supper the Sultan left again at half-

past 2 a.m.

THE CRETAN INSURRECTION.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JULY 23.

The Ottoman Legation at Athens telegraphs yes-
terday to the Porte, announcing the evacuation of
the Spakia district by the insurgents and its com-
plete occupation by the Imperial troops. The whole
island is declared to have submitted.

A solemn funeral mass was performed here this
morning, accompanied by the firing of minute guns,
for the repose of the soul of the Emperor Maxi-

milian.

,:a

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 24.
An Imperial ukase bas been issued, raising the
duty on certain excisable articles.

.(This Day.)

COURT OF PROBATE.

,efore the Right Hon. Sir J. P. Wilde and a
Special Jury.)
ROWE V. HARVEY.

This was an action to try the validity of the will
of Mrs. Rowe, and it was alleged on the part of the
defendant that it had been improperly executed.
Mr. Inderwick appeared for the plaintiff and Dr.
Tristram for the defendant.
The circumstances of this case were rather
singular, and showed by what a slight mistake a
will may become vitiated.
It appeared that the will was executed by a Mrs.
Rowe, living near Exeter, who, although a married
woman, had the right of making a will. It was
executed in May, 1866, and the husband was
appointed executor, and he proceedal to propound.
While preparations for doings° were going on, it was
discovered that the witnesses, a man and his wife
named Heard, had signed their names before the
testatrix, therefore the will would become null and
void, and the legatee, a young man, under age,
named William Oliver Burrows, would lose the pro-
perty left to him, which was nearly all she had to
leave. Proceedings were then taken to prove the
invalidity of the will.
Mr. Heard, a farmer near Exeter, stated that he
was called upon to see Mrs. Rowe, who lived close
to him, and who wished him to witness her
will. He found her ill in one bed, and her hus-
band ill in another. She told aim to sign
a certain document, and he did so, and his wife
then signed it also. He was sure this was before
Mrs. Rowe signed it. He saw her sign it after-
wards.

Mrs. Heard said that she was with Mrs. Rowe
when she was ill. She asked them to sign the will,
and said that she knew that she ought to sign it
first, but that she felt sick and weak and could not
do it then, that it would not much hurt her if they
saw her sign it afterwards. She (the witness)
signed it, and saw the testatrix sign it on the same
day, because she recovered strength enough to do it.
After hearing the evilence, the learned Judge
said he could not, after the evidence he had just
heard, do otherwise than pronounce against the will.
The question of costs was reserved.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Registrar liazlitt.)
N RE SIR SAMUEL MORTON PETO, BART., M.P. BETTS,

AND CRAMPTON.
These bankrupts were described as contractors
or constructing public works, and builders, carry-

ug on business at Great George-street, West•

minster, and they were adjudicated bankrupts upon

he petition of Messrs. Warden and Sons of the

Railway Iron Works, Edgbaston-street, Birming-
ham on the 3d inst. To-day was appointed

or the proof of debts and choice of assignees,

but no accounts are yet filed, though the
firm have admitted the validity of the pro-
ceedings in bankruptcy in the usual manner.
The petitioning creditors, Messrs. Warden and Son,
claim in respect of a dishonoured bill of exchange
for £lllBs. 6d., and some goods sold, £3l 12s. 6d.,

making, in all, £143 is. Of course, there was the

usual amount of confusion consequent upon these

meetings, and the court was crowded with the
creditors against the firm.
Mr. Denton, Mr. John Linklater, Mr. Clark, Mr.
Lawrence, and other solicitors, appeared for creditors
and the firm—Sir S. M. Pete and his partners being
also present.

Mr. Linklater, who appeared on behalf of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company,
tendered a proof for over £6,661,914 14s. 2d.

against the bankrupts, and when the learned
gentleman mentioned the circumstances there
was Borne laughter. ne observed that
there was no occasion for any laughter in the
matter, which was really very serious. He might
say that the directors, in justice to the shareholders
and the public, intended to prosecute this claim to
the uttermost. He was aware that bankrupts made
a counter claim against the Loudon, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company of some £300,000. Look-
ing at the magnitude of the company's claim, per-
haps it would not be admitted to-day, but it might
be put upon the proceedings and investigated upon
a future occasion. He confessed that he did not see
why those who represented the bankrupts should
receive the claim with claim.

Mr. Lawrence, for the bankrupts, said that it was
clear the claim could not be admitted, nor did he
think that his learned friend would insist upon
pressing his claim to-day.
Mr. Liuklater objected to Mr. Lawrence being
heard, and after a short but very decent wrangle,
Mr. Lawrence proceeded, and said he coal state
positively that the railway company owed the firm
£340,000.

Mr. Linklater asked that the claim might be
formally received.
Mr. Lawrence objected.
Mr. Reed, for several large creditors, said that he
strongly protested against the large claim of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company
being put on the proceedings in any way that could
prejudice the interests of the other creditors. It
was clear that while the bankrupts disputed the
£6,661,000 claimed by the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company, Mr. Linklater had no
right to appear. Mr. Reed said he should ask that
the case might be adjourned, so that the matter
might be fully considered.
Mr. Link later remarked that he never heard of
such a thing as a claim being taken off the files of
proceedings after it had been once put on.
Mr. Lawrence said that the Court should be very
careful before it allowed this claim to pass.
Mr. Maynard remarked that the admission of this
claim would seriously affect the position of other
creditors in the matter of dividend.
Mr. Linklater denied this, and contended that all
he now asked for was that the claim should be for-
mally put upon the proceedings with a note that it
was disputed.
Mr. Lawrence said that such a course would cer-
tainly be most mischievous. In the discussion that
was proceeding it was candidly mentioned that it
was proposed to appoint as assignees the three gen-
tlemen who had already been carrying on the estate
under inspection—viz., Messrs. Bishop, Fothergill,
and bolt.

Sir M. Peto was then examined as to certain bills,
and he said that they were all accepted on the part
of Peto, Betts, and Crampton. There had been two
firms—Peto, Betts, and Co., and Peto, Betts, and
Crampton. Witness could not say when the title
of the firm was altered. The first firm was in ex-
istence prior to the second. The latter firm was
formed in 1862 for the purpose of carrying on the
works of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway
Company, and other works. Witness could not say
what were the liabilities of Peto, Betts, and Co.
They were more than £500,000. The liabilities in
respect of Peto, Betts, and Crampton were, irre-
spective of the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way Company, over £2,000,000, including loans,
for which witness had become liable for the benefit of
the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Comyany.
Baring Brothers held securities for money advanced.
The securities were bills of exchange, which had
been discounted by Baring Brothers, on account of
the witness's firm.
By Mr. Lawrence—l did not personally obtain
discount for the bills. Our cashier did that work.
Proof was tendered on behalf of the Bank of Eno--
land fcr a sum of £lO,OOO, and Mr. Reed objected
that the proof was not properly tendered.
Mr. Registrar Hazlitt said he should admit the
proof.
Mr. Reed then intimated that he should take the
opinion of the Commissioner upon the subject.
Many large proofs were tendered, but the whole
proceedings were conducted amidst a constant buzz
of conversation that was most unpleasant.
I A day was named for the next meeting.

DEATH OF Mus. ABDY.—We have to record the
death of Mrs. Abdy, a lady who has long been well known
for her poetical writings. Her earliest contributions ap-
peared in the pages of the New Monthly, under the signa-
ture of " M. A.," and sho subsequently became connected
with the Metropolitan while it was under the editorial care
of Thomas Campbell. Her poems have been collected in
five volumes. The mother of the deceased was the sister
of Horace and James Smith, tho authors of the "Rejected
Addresses."