The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-17 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

THE FORGERIES ON TIM LEEDS BANK. --It is under-
stood that the case of Mr. Edgelcy, who stands com-
mitted to take his trial for defrauding the late Leeds
Bank of mere than £lOO,OOO by means of forgery and
false pretences in connection with a forest company in
Servia, for which it was represented a concession had been
granted by the Servian Government, will be placed on the
list for trial before the judges on Wednesday at the Cen-
tral Criminal Court. Mr. Greenland still refuses, how-
ever, to return to give evidence, and it is thought that an
application will be made again to postpone the case.

WOOLF V. MOORE.--ACTION AGAINST THE SHERIFF OF
KENT.-Mr. Justice Blackburn had before him in the
Court of Queen's Bench the case of Woolf v. Moore.
It was an action against the Sheriff of Kent for the
escape of a debtor from his custody. It seemed that the
plaintiff sued an ensign named Fisher, and recovered
judgment for £l3O against him. On Fisher's return from
abroad the sheriff was requested to arrest him.
One Scott was sent to identify him. He was found at
an hotel, and arrested ; but he was allowed to
go at large on payment of £5O. Plaintiff said he never
gave leave for this settlement, and sued the sheriff for
£BO, the difference between the amount claimed and the
amount received. The defence was that Scott had settled
the affair, and that the sheriff had reason for believing
that. he had a right to do so. Mr. Justice Blackburn
thought not. The jury, however, returned a verdict for
the defendant. His lordship said it was necessary in such
a case to give nominal damages at least. He therefore
ordered a verdict to be entered for the plaintiff ;
damages, Is.

IMPORTANT DECISION UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY ACT.—
OUTLAWRY.—The Lords Justices of Chancery Appeal
have had before them an important case under the laws
of bankruptcy. One Stoffel, a debtor, had been outlawed,
and then petitioned for an adjudication in bankruptcy.
Having obtained protection, he applied for his release,
but Mr. Commissioner Goulburt refused his application,
on the ground that he had no locus standi, as an
outlaw, in the court. He now appealed, and the Lords
Justices held that he was not in custody for debt, but for
contempt in avoiding the lawful custody of the Queen's
courts. They had, therefore, no power to order his dis-
charge.

ACTION FOR DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL 1N.117111-. In the
Court of Common Pleas, the case of Deacon v. Ferguson
was tried. It was an action to recover damages for per-
sonal injury. The plaintiff was a young woman who
managed the house of her brother, a tradesman. While
she was crossing a street near Grosvenor-septare she was
knocked down by the defendant's horse, and the wheel of
his cart went over her right thigh and broke it. She was
in the hospital for eighteen weeks, and her leg was perma-
nently shortened. The jury found for the plaintiff ;
damages, £250.

ACTION AGAINST THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COM-
PANY. —ln the Court of Exchequer a case was tried in
which the late Greek Master at University College School
sued the Great Northern Railway Company for damages
on account of injury sustained on their line. The com-
pany paid £250 into court. The accident having been
proved and the doctors' evidence taken on both sides as
usual, the jury found a verdict for £5OO in addition to the
sum paid into court.

BlGAllt—The Central Criminal Court has opened its
December sitting. The calendar was not so large - u3ual,
but it contained several crimes of the worst character.
The principal case tried was that of Edward Giles for
bigamy. The parties concerned appear to have moved
in respectable circles, and the proceedings were insti-
tuted by the father of the first wife. It was alleged in
extenuation of the conduct of the prisoner that his first
wife had been twice attacked by insanity, and had been
for six months in Bethlehem Hospital—facts which had
been concealed from him, and which led to a separation,
and that the second wife was fully aware of all the cir-
cumstances. He was sentenced to six months' imprison-
ment.

ATTEMPTED FRAUDS ON TITS GOVERNMENT.—The
Middlesex Sessions for December has commenced
with a calendar containing the names of seventy-six pri-
soners. John Hall, the man convicted of an attempted
fraud on the Government in co-inection with the Abys-
sinian expedition, was brought up and sentenced to five
years' penal servitude. Inquiries bad been madc in the
interval since his conviction, and his antecedent. 3 disclosed
a considerable valiety of rascality.

THE SEACOMBE MURDER.—On Saturday, at the Chester
Assizes, James Markey was charged with the wilful mur-
der of Hugh M`Kewen, at Poulton-cum-Seacombe, on the
3rd February, 1867. 11`liewen was a marine store dealer
of eccentric habits; and it was known that he was in the
habit of carrying about on his person a large sum, esti-
mated by his friends at more than £2OO. On the morning
in question he was found murdered near the Great Float, a
sum of £92 being found in one of his pockets, which had
probably been overlooked by the assassin. The evidence
against the prisoner was, that he had been seen last in
company with the deceased, that he suddenly appeared
possessed of plently of money, having previously been
very poor, and that shortly after the murder he went
away to Ireland. The jury, after a few minutes' con-
sideration, returned a verdict of not guilty.

THE BISHOPRIC OF NATAL —The Bishop of Cape-
town has given notice to the council of the Colonial
Bishopric? Fund that immediately after the arrival of the
next Natal mail he will bring before them the means that
should be adopted for depriving Bishop Colenso of the
letters patent granted to him by the Crown. It is an-
nounced that the clergy and laity of Natal who elected
Mr. Butler have left the selection of a new bishop to the
Bishops of Capetown and Grahamstown, subject to the
approval of the Archbishop of Canterbury. On a selection
being made his Grace will at once proceed to consecration.
Tim NEW BISHOP OF LICHFIELD. —lt is stated
(says the Staffordshire Advertiser) that the new Bishop of
Lichfield will, shortly after his enthronement, visit his
former diocese in New Zealand to make certain necessary
arrangements there, but that he will previously hold an
ordination in this diocese. It is understood that the new
bishop intends to reside in the Episcopal Palace at Lich-
field, the lease of which has lately fallen in ; and that the
affairs of the diocese will, in his absence, be administered
by one of the colonial bishops now in England.
SURVIVING AN EXECUTION. —The Italian journals
relate a most singular story. A soldier who had deserted
and taken to brigandage was captured and condemned to
death. Being brought out to the place of execution, a
firing party of five performed their painful duty, and the
sergeant commanding them, perceiving that the man was
not quite dead, gave him point blank the coup de grace.
In the belief that this was really a finishing stroke, the
body was handed over to the gravedigger ; but as night
was approaching the latter postponed his office until the
morning, leaving above ground.what he naturally supposed
to be a corpse. The unfortunate man, however, was still
alive, and the cold night air, by irritating his wounds, re-
vived him. Painfully he dragged himself to the wall of
the enclosure, against which he managed to place a
ladder which happened to be there, got over, although all
bleeding and with his arm broken by the bullets, and de-
livered himself up as prisoner to the nearest guard-house.
The Ministers of War and of Justice each claim this re-
suscitated victim of martial law, but the belief is that he
will be pardoned. His wounds arc nc4 portal, and kis
arm has been reset.

THE FEMALE SCHOOL OF ART,

On Saturday afternoon the distribution of medals
and prizes to the successful students of the Female
School of Art took place at Burlington House,
Piccadilly. Notwithstanding the wetness of the
afternoon there was a good attendance of visitors,
the larger portion of whom were ladies. The chair
was taken by Sir Francis Grant, president of the
Royal Academy ; and among the occupants of the
platform were Lady Grant, Professor Donaldson,
the Rev. J. Bach, and Messrs. R. Westmacott, R. A.,
R. Redgrave, R.A., O'Neill, R.A., Pocock, Good-
win, Valpy, Henderson, 11. A. Bowler, J. H.
Fordham, and G. Harding. Miss Gann, the super-
intendent of the school, sat at the table on the right
of the chairman.

Professor DONALDSON read the annual statement
of the committee, of which the following are the
most material portions :—The committee are happy
in being able to state that the school continues in
all essential points to progress favourably, mainly
due to the able management of Miss Gann, the
superintendent, and to the unremitting attention
bestowed upon the pupils in their studies by Miss
Wilson and Miss Bellaneye, and by Miss Williams,
the teacher of wood engraving, and all whose ser-
vices the committee are happy thus to acknow-
ledge. At the present time there are 107 students
on the books, being 34 more than at the same date
last year. At the close of the summer session the
number was 130, and the committee have little
doubt that, as the advantages offered by the school
become more extensively known, a very short period
will suffice to raise the number from 150 to 200
students, which it can easily accommodate. At the
annual second grade examination in March, 1867,
36 students presented themselves for examination,
25 passed in one or more of the papers, and
13 prizes were taken, which will be presented by
the chairman, Sir F. Grant, to the successful com-
petitors. At the annual national and local exami-
nation of the drawings at South Kensington last
April, one national silver medal was awarded to
Alice Elfrida Manly, and one national bronze to
Margaretta Clarke. Ten local prizes No. 1, and
four prizes No. 2 were awarded; and three students
were awarded honourable mention. The examiners
were Daniel Maclise, R.A., Professor Richard West-
macott, R.A., J. C. Horsley, R.A., Fred. Leighton,
A.R.A., Richard Redgrave, R.A., and H. A. Bow-
ler. Two prizes for design offered by Miss Bell, of
Alton, have been awarded, the first prize to Sarah
M'Gregor, the second prize to Emily Austin. The
first gold medal given by her Majesty, to be com-
peted for annually by the students of this school,
has been awarded to Alice Elfrida Manly for three
groups of flowers in tempera from nature. The
adjudicators were Mr. R. Westmacott, R.A., Mr.
C. W. Cope, R.A., and Miss Mutrie. The report
then dwelt upon other circumstances connected with
the working of the school, and concluded with a
congratulatory reference to the circumstance that
the gold medal of the Royal Academy and a scholar-
ship of £6O this year had been won by Miss Louisa
Star.

After the reading of the statement, the cards,
prizes, and certificates were distributed to the suc7
cessful competitors, who, upon their names being
called out, advanced to the platform and received
the rewards of their exertions from the hands of Sir
Francis Grant. Several of the young ladies had
gained more than one mark of distinction, and
they were on each appearance warmly applauded by
their fellow-students and their friends. The
warmest and most general expressions of admira-
tion were reserved for Miss Alice Manly, who re-
ceived a silver medal for three groups of flowers,
painted from nature, and a gold medal, presented
by the Queen, for the best drawing executed in the
school during the twelvemonth ; and Miss Marga-
retta Clarke, who had gained a bronze medal for a
sheet of botanical studies ornamentally arranged.
To many of the young ladies Sir Francis said a few
words of approval or encouragement as he shook
them cordially by the hand. Miss Manly he espe-
cially complimented upon the beauty of her draw-
ings, which he described as works of " surpassing
excellence." Having concluled the distribution,
Sir F. GRANT, who was received with loud ap•
plause, said—l am now permitted to address to you
a few brief observations. First, I desire to express
the great satisfaction that I have experienced from
listening to the statement which has been read by
Professor Donaldson ; and next, I am anxious to
offer my congratulations to those young ladies who
have been successful in obtaining prizes. I must
also say a word of encouragement to those who have
not gained prizes, but whose works have received a
great deal of admiration ; and I particularly desire
to impress upon all the students the necessity of
persevering in the earnest labour which they have
already displayed, and which must certainly lead to
excellence hereafter. I rejoice to bear that this ad-
mirable institution has received substantial aid from
the Queen, from the Princess of Wales, and from
other members of the royal family. lam glad to
have the opportunity of saying how much art has
ever been indebted to the enlightened sup-
port it has received from her Majesty. The Queen
is herself an artist of no ordinary ability, and there-
fore well able to appreciate talent in others, and on
those occasions on which I have had the honour in
my professional capacity to be admitted to her pre-
sence I have been highly gratified by the interest
which she has graciously expressed in the progress
and prosperity of the younger artists of the country
who are coming into public notice. (Applause.) I
learn with deep satisfaction that her Majesty has
become the purchaser of one of Miss Manly's beau-
tiful water-colour drawings, and I cannot but feel
that it must be an encom agement to all the students
to know that their labours and their merits are not
overlooked by their Sovereign. One day last
1 week I had the pleasure of going over the Female
School of Art, accompanied by its valued
and excellent superintendent, Miss Gann.—(ap-
plause)—and I can assure you that I was highly
gratified. I found there numerous students receiv-
ing a sound and valuable education, and I saw
many young ladies displaying great ability in draw-
ing from the antique, from the life, from the flat, or
from model. I was especially struck with one
beautiful painting in monochrome, from the antique,
and upon inquiring by whom it had been executed
I was delighted but infinitely surprised to find that
it was the work of Miss Manly. (Applause.) It is
very extraordinary to see such varied excellence in
such different departments of art ; and - having
already admired her remarkable drawings of
flowers, I cannot but prognosticate a brilliant
future from so successful a beginning. I hope she
will allow me to remind her and all the other stu-
dents that true genius—l rejoice to think that true
genius is always accompanied by modesty and
industry—true genius, ever learning and ever
ascending, in its own estimation never reaches the
summit. (Applause.) I take the most lively inte-
rest in the remarkable progress which female art is
making in this country. It is delightful to reflect
that young ladies of good education and limited
means are no longer confined to one profession,
alwayslaborious and sometimes anomalous- —the pro-
fession of a governess. I speak with the deepest
respect of that honourable and accomplished class,
but at the same time we must all rejoice that the
door has been thrown wide open leading to another
profession in which ladies have proved themselves
so eminently qualified to excel. For my own part
I have always been a warm advocate of the
admission of lady students to the Royal
Academy, and I hope they will always enjoy th,,
same privileges as the male students. When the
medals are awarded at the Royal Academy, the
names of the winners are never known until the
moment of distribution. Last week, when I had
to present the gold medal and scholarship, I was
surprised and delighted to read out the name of
Miss Louisa Star. A young and graceful lady was
led with trembling steps to receive the highest
prize the Royal Academy can confer, amid raptur-
ous applause ; and, to their honour be it said, none
more enthusiastic in their praise than the very stu-
dents whom this young lady had successfully dis-
tanced. (Applause.) I think this i 3 a very seri-
ous consideration for us men who call ourselves the
lords of creation. We may well tremble in our
shoes when we see this great " storm wave" of
female talent and enterprise rolling rapidly for-