The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-27 00:00:00

1858.

ACCIDENT TO N. P. WILLIS.—Our neighbour, N. P.
Willis, had sufficiently recovered from his late illness
to resume his daily exercise in the saddle ; but on Friday
his favourite horse took fright and threw him, dragging
him soma distance with his 711-It foot entangled in the
stirrup. He was very badly bruised with the feet of the
running horse, but fortunately no bones were broken,
and the c mfinement to his bed will be but. temporary.
IV ewburgle, News, May 10.
LAUNCEI OF A STEADIER FOR TILE NIGER EXPEDI-
TIoN.—A new steamer, caiied the RaMhow, built by Mr.
John Laird for the Niger expedition, was yesterday
(Wednesday) launched from the works of that gentlemhn
at Birkenhead. The Rainbow, which is to take the
place of the Dayspring, is constructed of steel plates,
manufactnred by the Mersey Steel and Iron Company.
Mr. John Laird has also supplied the engines of the
Rainbow. The dimensions of the new steamer are as
follows :—Length, 127 feet ; beam, 16 feet ; registered
tonnage, 160.
The statue of Napoleon I. intended for the port of
Cherbourg is now being finished in the workshops of
MM. Eck and Durand, the bronze founders. The
statue is 164 feet high ; the horse is modeled of the
Anglo-Arab breed. The resemblance of the Emperor is
considered excellent ; be wears the famous historical
costume—small hat without ornament, chasseur uni-
form, and great-coat thrown open. The left hand holds
the reins and a spy-glass, and the right is extended to-
wards the horizon, which at Cherbourg will be over the

BEQWESTS BY THE LATE MR. WHYTE, BOOKSELLER
—We understand that the late Mr. William Whyte,
bookseller, has left some valuable bequests to the Free
Church. He leaves a sum of 7,0001. to found a church
at the Cowgatehead ; 5,0001. of which is to be devoted
to the building of the church, and 2,0001. for an endow-
ment for the minister's stipend. He has also bequeathed
about 1,500/. to found bursaries in connection with the
New College, Edinburgh, and a similar sum for the
benefit of native converts in India ; 2001. to the General
Sustentation Fund ; 2001. to the Scheme for the Con-
version cf the Jews ; 2001. to the Colonial Scheme ;
sum of 2001. or 3001. to the Aged and Infirm Nlinistere!,
and 3001. or 4001. to Lady Glenorchy's Church, of which
he was an elder, and 2001. to the School for the Indus-
trious Blind.—.Edinburglt Advertiser.
Advices from Riga mention that the ceremony of
turning the first turf and commencing the works for
the Riga Dunaburg Railway took place on the 20th
inst. The Greek Archbishop of the surrounding pro-
vinces attending with his choir, as did also the princi-
pat Reformed clergy with theirs. A procession was
formed to conduct Prince Suwaroff, the Governor-
G,neral, from the Exchange to the spot, in which all
the authorities took part, together with the various
guilds with their banners. The day was kept as a
general holiday, and great interest was manifested by
all classes in the event. After the ceremony the autho-
rities and principal inhabitants, to the number of 600,
dined in a large pavilion erected on the spot. These
proceedings, however, it is added, had nothing to do
with the practical commencement of the works, which
are already in progress on several poi.o'a of the line, so
that it is hoped to have by the end of this season a eon-
sidereble portion ready for receiving the rails.
The Earl of Lucan proposes to move the following
amendment when the House of Lords takes into consi-
deration the Commons' reasons for disagreeing with their
lordships' amendments :—"Provided also, that when-
ever any of her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish
religion shall be required to take the oath appointed Ly
this act on any occasion other than an application to be
admitted to sit and vote in either house of Parliament,
the words And I make this declaration upon the true
faith of a Christian' shall be omitted ; and that from and
after the passing of this act it shall be lawful for the
House of Lords and for the House of Commons, respec-
tively, by resolution of the house, to determine that the
form of the said oath, so far as such oath rests upon or
refers to the Christian faith, shall, for the purpose only
of such oath being administered to persons professing
the Jewish religion, be modified, and to make such modi
fication accordingly in such manner as to each such
house shall seem best calculated to adapt the form of
the said oath to the honest and conscientious scruples of
the said persons professing the Jewish religion."
NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK LIFE-BOATS AND LIFE-
SAVING APPARATUS. —YARMOUTH, MAY 24. —Te e
Surveyor-General of the Beard of Trade has just con-
cluded his tour of inspection on the lifeboats and rockets
and mortar apparatus on the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts.
He has, we believe, expressed his satisfaction with the
renovated life-beats and mortar and rocket apparatus sta-
tioned on this and the neighbouring coast of Suffolk. It
will be remembered that last winter loud complaints were
made of the inefficiency of the life-boats and life-saving
apparatus on the Norfolk coast. Since then the whole
of the Norfolk lifeboats have been transferred to the
management of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
which has already built new lifeb oats for Winterton and
Palling, transporting carriages for the same, and has
either built or altered houses for their reception. The so-
ciety is now engaged in building new lifeboats for Yar-
mouth, Mundesley, Becton, and Cromer, together with
carriages and howes for them. We, therefore, trust that
before nett winter sets in we shad have all our life-
boat-stations in a thoroughly efficient state on this dan-
gerous line of coast, along which hundreds of colliers and
other vessels are daily passing to and fro. Much credit
is also due to the Norfolk branch of the above institu-
tion for the cordial manner with which it co-operates with
it. We believe that the best results will follow from
this important inspection of the means of saving life
from shipwreck on the part of the Board of Trade, whose
officer performs his duty with much zeal and intelli-
gence. lie orders the lifeboats out, and superintends
both the evrching of the boats and mortar appa-
ratus. Ho proceeded northward on his tour of inspec-
tOn, and we doubt net the lifeboats of the institution on
that line of coast will give him equal satisfaction.
THE CROPS AND THE WHEAT MARKET.—AII nature
gives evidence of the influence of the recent showers ar d
warmth ; the trees are everywhere in foil foliage, and
the pastures have made astonishing progress, so much so
that, to use a common expression, one can almost " see
the grass grow." The fruit trees are everywhere giving
krge promise ; in fact, vegetation of all kinds is going
on at a rate that will rapidly suffice to make up for any
backwardness which the earlier cold and dry spring had
induced. The grain crops are looking splezdilly ; all
traces of the yellow and pinched condition, which had
in places begun to be observable having nearly, if not
entirely vanished. The earlier sown wheats are won-
derfully strong and vigorous with a thick plant and
heavy flag, whilst the latter sown are also "coming
along" most satisfactorily. Peas and beans are also fast
improving since the rains, as are oats and barley. In
fact, the appearance of all the crops is most promising.
All that remains now to be wished for is a fine summer
to convert that promise into a golden performance. Toe
grain market, which recently was depressed, seems to
have rallied, and effected a partial recovery. Prices
throughout the provinces have been firmer during the
past week ; for, notwithstanding the abundant pro-
mise of the growing crops, farmers do not appear
disposed to sell other than sparingly at existing
prices ; and as millers and factors are short of stock,
what trade is done is transacted at slightly im-
proved rates. But still markets are dull, since neither
holders nor speculators are prepared to act upon any-very
decided opinion—except indeed, it be an opinion that no
one can at present see the way very clearly as to future
prices. Hence op‘ratione are limited, and are likely to
be so for the present.—Sussex A cd vertiser.
A MATTER OP TASTE.—A German rag-picker, known
only by the name of Searburgher, who, with his family,
has been until lately living in what is known as the
"Rag-picker's Retreat," No. 330, East Thirteenth street,
has disgusted his fellow-tradesmen, and drawn upon
himself considerable persecution by indulging in dead
cats and rata for food. These he gathered from the streete,
usually to the number of five or six daily, as be found
them in the practice of his vocation. Upon his arrival
home he skinned them, served up their flesh for food, in
the shape of fricassees, stews, and roasts, according to
his fancy. The fur of the cats he laid aside for making
pillows, chair cushions, and mattresses. The skins we:e
hung up around the room to dry, preparatory to being
sold to dealers in such articles. His associate rag-pickers
noticed his habit of collecting the carcasses of rats and
cats, and thinking it strange, inquired of him what he
did with them. He gave them to understand it was for
the purpose of obtaining their skins and furs. They
were sot long, however, in discovering the fact that he
ate the carcases, and that his family also derived their
_principal subsistence from this loathsome species cf
off.il. When this fact became generally known, the
ierliznation of the ragpickers livii.g in the enmo
house was excited to such a pitch, that they deter-
mined to stone him out of the premise,. Oe his
return home a day or two since, the incensed crowd
seisol his cart, in which were five dead cats and two
rats. They threw the dead carcasses into the street, and
gave them to understand that, unless he and his family
left the heuse immediately, they would lay violent hands
on him. Fearing that they might carry their threat
into execution, he gathered up his store of rags, and a
few articles of furniture, and left with his fatni!y.
compelled him to leave behind his stock of fur, and al-o
the skins of the cats and rats which were hung upon the
strings, covering nearly the entire walls of his apart-
ments. Toe exile made his way to 121, Willet-street, a
house occupied exclusively by rag-pickers, and was re-
fused admittance. It is net known where he finally suc-
ceeded in finding quarters, but it is rumoured that be
miived to the vicinity of Ninetieth-street, on the east
si is of tt • town. They folio ved him until ha left the
Eleventh Ward, when they gav, up th„hase. Health
Wardea Green, of the E eventh Ward, in his report to
the City Inspector, confirmed tee story of Sharburgher's
col eating dead cats from the streets, and dressing; and,
together with his family, eating them, lie says this
strange individual is about 40 years* of age, a robust,
y-looking man, and that his wife and two children
compare favourably with people of their class. The Rag-
pick re' Retreat alluded to is a four-story brick tene-
ment, and is entered through an alley-way. There are
11 families in the house, embracing 63 p reone, besides
about an epic' number of does, which they employ ie
dregeing their caris.—New York paper.
DR. MUSPRATT AND THE NEVI YORK COLLEGE OF
PHARMACY.—At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of
the Ne w York College of Pharmacy, held at their rooms
on the evening of April 1, 1853, the following preamble
an I resolution was unanimously adopted :—" Whereas
it has been reported that Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, Presi-
deritof the College of Chemistry, Liverpool, contemplates
making a visit to the United States, and the eminent
services rendered by him towards the advancement cf
coeualeal science entitle him to our special regards ;
heref •re, be it resolved,—That a committee be appointed
from the board of trustees, whose duty it shall be, in
the event of the arrival of Dr. Mu3pratt, to wait upon
hhn, and extend him a welcome on the part of the
college, and proffer such attentions as may be deemed
proper on the occasion." In pursuance with the above
resolution, the following gentlemen were named to act
as the committee—John Meakin, President; George
Berrian, Secretary.—. New York Tribune.