The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-24 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

IMPRISONMENT OF INNCOCENT PERSONS.—Three young
women of creditable appearance, one of whom had an in-
fant in her arms, were placed before Mr. Selfe in the
names of Casey, O'Hara, and Ballard.
Sergeant Purchase, of the B division, stepped forward
and said—These persons havo been charged wrongly and
are innocent.
Mr. Selfe—Whero is the prosecutor?

Sergeant Purchase—He has not come hero. These
women were charged with felony and locked up on Satur-
day night, but the property alleged to have been stolen
was never lost.

Mr. Selfe—Then there was no felony committed.
The police-sergeant said—The prosecutor charged these
women with stealing a silver watch from his person, and
they were taken into custody and detained, but yesterday
afternoon I received a message from the prosecutor inform-
ing mo that ho had found his missing watch in a drawer in
his own room ; in fact that be had not had it out with him
on Saturday. When I heard this, and saw the watch, I
immediately set the women free on their own recognizances
to appear to-day.
The accused were then discharged.

REPRIEVE OF THE FOLESHILL MURDERESS.--The
convict, Sarah Campton, who was condemned to death by
Mr. Justice Byles at the Warwick assizes for the wilful
murder of her illegitimate child, Joseph Campton, at Poles-
kill, on the 28th Aug., has been reprieved.

It is rumoured that further legal changes are
contemplated, and that Mr. Karslake may be raised to the
Bench. In that case Mr: Garth, who has succeeded Lord
Chief Justice Bovill in the representation of Guildford,
will, it is belieied, be appointed Solicitor-General.
How THE METEORS WERE PREDICTED.—Profes-
sor Newton, of America, who has investigated the phe-
nomena of the November meteors, found, by comparing
together thirteen historic star-showers, occurring between
the years 902 and 1833, that a common shower existed on
November 13, which roturned with especial intensity
about every thirty-three years. We have thus two types.
In one case, meteors arc seen every year; in the
other case, in certain years only. How are these
phenomena to be explained ? By supposing that
there are independent zones or rings of meteors cir-
culating round the sun, but incli-ed to the earth's path,
through which zones the earth in its annual course succes-
sively passes. But although this explains the return of
meteors every year, it does not explain the thirty-three
years' period of the November shower. A simple modifi-
cation, however, will suffice; for imagine that, instead of
the meteors being uniformly distributed throughout the
ring, they are gathered together more towards particular
parts of the ring; and suppose that the time of revolution of
the ring differs from that of the earth, then in some year the
earth will pass through that part of the ring containing
many meteors ; in tho next year, it will pass through
a part in which there aro fewer, and may continue'
to pass through a thin part of the ring, until the difference
between the times of revolution of the earth and ring
amounting to a whole revolution, will bring the earth and
thick part of the ring again together, and the display of
some years previous will be again repeated. Now, this
supposed case is the fact, as Professor Newton has found
from investigation of the phenomena of the November me-
teors ; and he having ascertained the precise period be-
tween the successive returns of maximum intensity of the
November display, was enabled with confidence to predict
for the morning of Nov. 14, 1866, and accurately within a
few hours, the return of a period of maximum intensity.—
Chambers's Journal.

CLAIM AGAINST FRENCH SHIPBUILDERS.—The
American Government has just made an applica-
tion, as plaintiff, before the Civil Tribunal of
the Seine, to claim the condemnation of several
French shipbuilders to repay a sum of 2,800,000 f.
The purport of the citation delivered to the latter
n the name of President Johnson may be thus
summed up. It commences by referring to the note
inserted in the Moniteur of the 30th of June, 1861,
by which the French Government, while recognis-
ing the Seceded States as belligerents, had, never-
theless, formally prohibited French citizens from
aiding in any manner whatever iu the equipment
and armament of any vessel of war for either of the
parties, and enjoined them to abstain from every
act which could be considered contrary to strict
neutrality. In spite of this declaration, an associa-
tion was formed in France with the object of fur-
nishing vessels to the Southern States ; and by a
deed of agreement of the 15th of April, 1863, M.
Arman contracted with M. Bullock, the Confede-
rate agent, to construct for him four vessels of war,
with the assistance of other shipbuilders--MM.
Voruz, Joliet, Babin, Mazeline, and Dubigeon.
The cost of each was to be 180,000,000 f., payable
at the time. The necessary authorisation for send-
ing out this war material was obtained upon affirma-
tion made to the Minister of Marine that the ships
n question were ordered by a foreign shipowner,
who intended them for mercantile service in the
waters of the extreme East, while at the same time
reserving the right of selling them as ships of war
to the Chinese or Japanese Governments. But
in October, 1863, the Minister of Marine
having been informed of the real destina-
tion of the. vessels, hastened to withdraw
the authorisation granted in June. However the
builders in the interval received a fresh payment on
account. A sum of 2,800,000 f. appears to have
been paid them through the house of Erlanger,
which was in Paris the financial intermediary of the
agents of the Secessionist chief. At present, that the
war has terminated, the United Stags' Government
claims from the tuilders restitution of all the
moneys which they may have thus received. It
affirms, in support of its demand, that to it alone
belongs this right, as the only recognised and regu-
lar Government of that country; that, in any case,
the agreement entered into was fraudulent, as being
contrary to the laws of neutrality, and that on this
ground also it has a right to the reimbursement
claimed, if it were only as damages for the wrong
which M. Armful and colleagues has caused it in
facilitating to the Secessionists the means of pro-
longing their rebellion. Such is, in its main out-
lines, the demand brought by President Johnson
against the French shipbuilders. Thelatter, invoking
the benefit accorded by the law of France against
foreign plaintiffs, demanded that the complainant in
this case should give security for costs, and that the
amount should be fixed at 150,000 f. The tribunal
having heard M. Lacan for M. Arman and the
other defendants, and M. Moreau for President
Johnson, admitted the exception claimed, and or-
dered the plaintiff to lodge the 150,000 f. as required.
Galignani's Messenger.

Judge—Two-and-a-kick.
Counsel—Half-a-crown, my Lud ; two-and-sixpence.
A kick, in the language of persons of the witness's station
in life, means sixpence.
Judge—Sixpence. Oh ! Sixpence. A kick—sixpence.
Counsel—lt also signifies, your Ludship, that part of a
glass bottle which a French Minister described by saying
that the bottom entered the interior. But sixpence is the
witness's meaning.
Judge—l understand.
Counsel (to Witness)--When the prisoner said he was
good for two-and-a-kick, did he do anything ?
Witness—He put down the money.
Counsel—He put down the money. Was any observation
made in the prisoner's hearing ?
Witness—Bill said, "Who stole the moke ?"
Judge--Stole the what? Stole the bloko—the man?
How could he steal the bloke ?

Counsel—Hoke, my Lud, not bloke. A moke is what
costormongers call a donkey.

Judge—Really the language of that class of persons is
very extraordinary. _ _

When the case has been completed, and the Judge sums
up, he is pretty sure to make some remark on the strange
expressions which ho has heard, speaking of them as
though they had occurred to his ear for the first time. As
thu,: " And then, gentlemen, the witness, as you heard,
used certain words, which perhaps may be new to you.
Hs spoke of a bloke, and he mentioned a moke. New,
gentlemen, bloke and moke are words that sound very
much alike, but you must know they are not convertible
toxins; that is to say, they don't mean the same thing;
for bloke, as we are informed by the learned counsel, whose
explanation of the terms is, I have no doubt, as correct as
it is clear, signifies man, and moke donkey. Not but that
some men may be termed donkeys in a certain sense ; but
that is not the sense in which the witness used the word
moke. Well ; and then, the phrase two-and-a-kick,
gentlemen, means, as you heard, not anything involving a
peculiar assault, but a sum of money—the sum of—eh.
brother Gabbles ?—two shillings and sixpence."
Whether the learned judges whom such words and
phrases as those above instanced apparently puzzle never
possessed any knowledge of them at all, or have simply
unlearned them, is a question that may be asked. There
is somewhat pleasing in the thought that the purity of the
ermine exerts ou its wearer a mysterious impulse that
expels from the memory every word of a grotesque and
undignified character which it may have been charged
with during its experience at the bar. A certain propriety,
too, appears in a judge's innocence of thieves' Latin.

BILLIARDS—EXCITING CONTEST BETWEEN HURST
AND BENNETT FOR .£2OO SECOND MATCH. OR Wednes-
day J. Hurst,of Liverpool, and J. Bennett, of London (late
of Leeds), two of the most celebrated provincial players of
the day, had a match of 1,000 up for £2OO, which, it will be
remembered, although the odds were much in favour of
the Livorpoolian at starting, was eventually won by Ben-
nett by 239, the play "all round" of the latter being of a
first-rate character. Tho match arose out of the great bil-
liard handicap during the Cattle-show week, and, although
Bennett was the victor, so confident were the Liverpool
party of the abilities of their champion that a fresh match
was made for another £2OO, which took place on Saturday
evening last at Messrs. Dalton and Davis's saloon, Phil-
harmonic Hall, Islington, the room being crowded by the
first players, professional and amateur. The match
was played on the fine table of Burroughes and
Watts, the same excellent accommodation and ma-
nagement being afforded as on the previous occasion.
At a quarter past six they strung for the lead, which was
gained by Bennett; they made two misses each, when
Hurst made 15, and was 17 to 2 ; a break of 31 brought him
to 48 to 21; and another fine run of 33, and he was 81 to
Bennott's 43, the betting .£l5 to £lO on Hurst. The latter
by a 55 brought his figures 18G to 83, and Hurst was 277
to 158. Bennett was now thought to come out in his ex-
pected good form, but broke down at 21, his number being
228 to Hurst's 309. The latter by a brilliant 62 brought
his number to 444 to 262 ; a 29 and ho was 490 to 299 ;
and, by a 52, 513 to 305. Bennett next placed 50 to his
account, and his number was 394 to 612. Again did Hurst
get in, and with as fine a 64 break as was ever seen made
numberhis ; 715 to 417. Once more Bennett raised the
hopes of his friends by a well-played 40, and with minor
numbers reduced his opponent's load, being 514 to 750.
Flom this time the game may bo said to have boon over,
for another 61 by Hurst, and ho was 885 to 599 ; a 34, and
he ors 930 to 628. Bennett made his score 659, but Hurst
came to 973 ; beyond his 659, Bennett did r.ot further
scorn, whoa Ilurst played out, winning by 311. There
was an interval of 20 minutes. The game finished at '2O
minutes past 10 o'clock.

" SEELY'S PIGS."—We are informed that Sir
Daniel Gooch and Mr. Watkin, M.P., have made All offer
to take from the Admiralty, at a cost of £lOO,OOO, the iron
ballast with which some of our admirals and captains
superintendent have paved her Majesty's Dockyards, and
which is now familiarly known under the name of " Mr.
Seely's pigs." The iron is said to be of a very fine cold
blast quality.—Army and Nary Gazette.
MR. ALDERMAN SALOMONS, M.P.—This gentle-
man has announced his intention of holding three public
meetings during the ensuing month, to address his consti-
tuents at Greenwich, Deptford, and Woolwich.
KENSINGTON PALACE.—We are glad.to announce
that her Majesty has made arrangements by which suitable
apartments in Kensington Palace will be provided for the
permanent residence of MIMI. the Princess Mary Adelaide
and the Prince de Tock.—Sunday Gazette.

The receipts from the working of the At:antic
telegraph up to the present time have averaged £Bl3 a day,
including Sundays and 40 days of the stoppage of the land
lines. Sine Nov. 1., however, when the price of the mes-
sage was reduced from £2O to £lO, the average receipts
have been £874, or at the rate of £205,133 per year.—
Obderver.