The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

(ME SUN, LONDON WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 26, 1859,

The Right Hon. Sydney Herbert, M.P., and

Mrs. Herbert are entertaining a select circle at Wilton, in-

eluding his Execllency the Belgian Minister and Madame
Van de Weyer, the Right Hon. Sir George and Lady Grey,
tie Right Hon. Sir George C. Lewis, General Sir E.
Lugard, Count Strzlecki, llon. George IL C. and Lady
Alice Byng, the Rigbt Hon. J. and Hon. Mrs. Stuart
Wortley, &c.

LETTERS, &C., 10 THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.
—Yesterday the royal mail screw steamer Athenian, Lowry,
commander, left Liverpool with the mail, 66 passengers,
and a considerable cargo_ for Madeira, Teneriffc, and the
West Coast of Africa. The Armenian is the steamer which
brings the next homeward mails due in Liverpool on the
Bth of November next._

MINISTERS ON HlRE.—There is an hotel in the
city where a cartain number of broken-down ecclesiastics
are always " on hand" with a couple of sermons in pocket,
If a clergyman is called suddenly out of town, or taken ill
on the Saturday night, or hindered from preaching by any
accident, he has only to send down a messenger and a
reverend gentleman flies to hiza : the sermon is at his ser-
vice for the sum of one guinea, or less.—The Habits of

Good Society.
SINGULAR MOUSE'S NEST.—In cutting a four•
pound loaf of bread a few days ago in a farmer's family at
Barnwell, near Oundle, a small orifice was observed, and on

being followed up to the centre of the loaf a mouse's nest
was discovered, snugly and warmly constructed of the leaf
of a copybook, torn into shreds, on which reposed nine
young mice, apparently just brought into the world. What
makes it more singular is that the loaf was baked only on
the preceding day.—Cambridge Independent Press.
BEARS IN `'WISCONSIN.--The bears are committing
such ravages in the wild parts of Wisconsin that the settlers
are flying from their homes. The newspapers declare that
the animals no longer confine their visits to farmers' pigpens,
but boldly approach their dwellings and apply for admit-
tance at kitchen doors and bed-room windows.
HAPPY TERMINATION OF A LAW SUIT.—" Ir,
village near Yvetot some time back," says the Abe-11,
Cauchoise, "a case was to be argued before theijuge de paix
and just as that functionary had given notice that he was
ready to hear the particulars, the defendant, a pretty young
female, entered. On seeing her, the plaintiff rose and said,
' Mademoiselle—l have not the courage to plead against you,

and am sorry to have given you the trouble to some liere:
I abandon the case and will pay all the costs I Deign to

accept my arm l' The proposition was accepted. The ac-
quaintance thus commenced has produced its fruits, as
three days back the banns of marriage between the two
were duly published."
LONDON SCOTTISH VOLUNTEER RIFLES.—Her
Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve and accept
the services of the London Scottish Volunteer Rifles. Tho

corps is numbered as the 15th Division of the Rifle Volun-
teer Force in the county of Middlesex, and its establish-
ment will consist of a major commandant, five captains,
five lieutenants, five ensigns, an adjutant, and 500 men of
all ranks divided into five companies. Lord Elcho, M.P.,
has been unanimously chosen to command the corps, and
the committee have succeeded in obtaining the use of West-
minster Hall for evening drill on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
and Fridays, and also the Tower of London and Burlington
House, and the Secretary of State for War has issued to
the corps 100 Enfield rifles, being the first instalment of
the authorised allowance. _

LEATHER LEGGINGS FOR SOLDIERS.—Leather
leggings are to become an article of clothing for the troops.
A circular from the Secretary of State for War has been
issued to all general officers and officers commanding corps
of infantry to the effect that each non-commissioned officer
and soldier of the Foot Guards and regiments of infantry of
the line serving at home and in the colonies is to be supplied
with them. His Royal Highness the General Commanding-
in-Chief desires the commanding officers may be apprised
that the leather leggings are to be worn over the trousers,
which are to be pulled up to the top of the boot, neatly
folded round the leg. The leggings are only to be worn in
muddy weather and at guard mounting when necessary.
TAXATION AND POPULATION.—It way be inte-
resting to note the proportion which national expenditure
bears to population in some of the European States. In 1855
the estimated population of the Austrian empire was returned
at 39,411,309, and the public expenditure was £40,268,618,
or an average of £1 Os. sd. per head. In 1857 the estimated
population of Spain was 16,301,851, and the public expendi-
ture was 18,033,001, or an average of £l2s. ld. per head.
In 1854 the population of Portugal was 3,499,121, and the
public expenditure was £2,756,292, or an average of 16s. per
head. The population of Switzerland in 1857 was estimated
at 2,500,000, and the public expenditure was £608,240, or
about ss. per head. The population of Greece in 1854 was
1,043,153, and in 1858 the public expenditure was estimated
at £640,941, or about 12s. per head.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO COLONEL WETIIERALL
IN DUBLlN.—Between eleven and twelve o'clock yester-
day (Monday) while Colonel Wetherell, Assistant Quar-
termaster-General, was riding through Grafton-street, his
horse slipped, fell, and rolled over the gallant officer, who
was immediately lifted from the ground and taken into the
establishment of Mr. Cranefield. One of the staff surgeons
was in prompt attendance, and, on examining. the colonel,
we regret to say it was discovered that one of his legs was
broken at the ankle joint, and that he had sustained some
other injuries, fortunately not of a very serious nature.
The injured gentleman was conveyed in a cab to his resi-
dence. The horse escaped without any damage being done
to him in the fall.—Freentan's Journal.
AN INDIAN SOLDIER IN DISGRACE.—CorporaI
Francis Coffey, of the 29th, was yesterday charged before
Mr. Mansfield, at Liverpool, with robbing Mrs. Michael
Kenny of a purse containing £5. The prisoner and Ser-
geant Kenny had lately returned from India, where they
had served together, and had known each other intimately
for ten years. On Monday Kenny and his wife, together
with Coffey and another corporal named Breem, left Weedon
together on furlough, Sergeant Kenny entrusting £5 to
the keeping of his wife, who plated the purse in her bosom.
On their way to Liverpool she fell asleep, and during this
time the purse was abstracted, for when they arrived at
Liverpool, she found it missing, and Coffey and his fellow-
corporal also. Coffey was afterwards apprehended in Liver-
pool, and most of the money found on him. Ho was com-
mitted for trial.
WONDERFUL ESCAPE.—As the James and Mary,
of Grangemouth, which plias between that port and Port
Dundas, was passing up the canal last Monday week, laden
with a cargo of onions, and carrying a heavy top weight, it
was capsized in Lock No. 11. Mrs. Brock, the skipper's
wife, was in the cabin when the accident occurred, and was
taken out alive, after an hour's duration of the most intense
suspense and perilous imprisonment. Before the poor woman
could be extricated the reach had to be run, and a hole cut
in the,bottom of the vessel, which was afloat keel upper-
most. Dr. Hadden waited till the woman was taken out,
when he prescribed for her recovery from exhaustion,
which was well-nigh hopeless. We are glad to learn that
the female sufferer, in a short time after her most marvellous
escape, was able, with some assistance, to walk to an ad-
joining house.—Falk irk He? ald.
LADY THIEVES AT PORTSMOUTH.—On Saturday,
as three young ladies were standing upon the footpath ad-
joining the Landport terminus, awaiting the arrival of a
cab, two respectably-dressed middle-aged females somewhat
abruptly pushed past them, called a cab, and drove away.
The young ladies cab came up at the same moment, and
had proceeded but a short distance when one of them dis-
covered she had lost her purse. She instantly gave infor-
mation to a police officer, and fortunately the cab contain-
ing the two females was yet in sight.- The policeman gave
chase, stopped the cab, arid intimated his suspicions to the
women. They indignantly asserted their innocence, and
expressed the utmost willingness to be searche3. Search
was made, and the purse was found concealed in the win-
dow slide of the door. The astonished female thieves look
dismally chapfallen, their route was altered, and they were
conveyed to the police station.
ACCIDENT TO tIER MAJESTY'S SHIP BEAGLE'S GIG.
spcaptain'sithea, was entering Portsmouth
d
gig of her Majesty's ship
Beagle,—Yesterday,
e st e r da y , as
anchoredHarbour, having put back from her attempt to reach the
ship, owing to the heavy sea and wind prevailing at the
time, she wee unfortunately, in trying to cross a steam tug's
bow, which was laying-to at the harbour's mouth, caught
thaet
by thei.tide and swept towards the steamer, when the crew
and four sitters in the stern sheets became frightened and
jumped overboard to avoid the csllision. The steamboat
picked up five people. The surgeon of the ship, who was
one of the sitters in the stern sheets, was picked up by Mr.
Pearson, belonging to the Liverpool revenue cutter, and a
seaman was picked up by a waterman named Martin. As
there were four seamen in the boat in addition to the four
sitters in the stern sheets, it is feared that one of the men
was lost, as on inquiry only five men were on board the
Victory, and two (the surgeon and seaman) were landed at
Portsmouth. As the steam tug was not on the move, had
the men sat still in their boat there is every probability
that no accident would have occurred.
EXTRAORDINARY ASSAULT.—At the petty ses-
sions held at Ashburton last week before Mr. C. H. Monro,
Mr. J. H. Amory, Mr. H. B. Wrey, and Mr. Woodley,
county magistrates, Mr. Cockayne was charged by Mr.
John Stuart Littler, a young gentleman of 20 years of age,
and a son of the late Gen. Sir John Littler, with assault.
The defendant is the complainant's stepfather, and the evi-
dence given by the latter was to the effect that a short time
ago he was in his room dressing, and had on his trousers
and flannel shirt, when Mr. Cockayne entered with a cane,
accompanied by Mr. Enrick, who had a walking-stick, and
Arscott, a labourer, and the coachman, each having straps.
Mr. Cockayne said to complainant, " I have a duty to per-
form," and then instructed Arscott to seize him, but ho
evinced reluctance to do so. Mr. Cockayne then ordered
him to take down histrousers, which, however, complainant
refused to do, upon which Mr. Cockayne did it himself,
pushed the complainant on the bed. and commenced caning
him. He gave him 20 lashes, upon which the complainant
asked him how many more he was to have, and defendant
said, " I shall complete the number to 39." He then
pushed up complainant's shirt and struck him ever the
back and arms, leaning blue stripes there for some time
afterwards. For the defence it was urged that the punish-
ment was only a reasonable one for some matter alleged
against the complainant. The chairman said, in giving
judgment, that the defendant was convicted of a
cowardly, brutal, and indecent assault. The bench
had at first considered that they could only do
their duty by sending the case to the sessions.
They bad, however, resolved to inflict on him a penalty of
£5, or in default of payment to be sent to gaol for two
months with hard labour.
REWARDS FOR SAVING LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK.
—SOUTHWOLD, OCT. 24.—A public meeting was held here
to-day in the Town-hall ; Col. Bence Bence in the chair ;
for the'purpose of prtsenting the silver medal of the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution to John Craigie, coxswain of
the Southwold lifeboat; anti the second service clasp to B.
Herrington, who had on a former occasion received the
society's medal, accompanied by copies of the institution's
vote inscribed on parchment, in testimony of their highly
meritorious and gel:ant services, with otheis, in rescuing- in
the Southwold lifeboat, which belongs to the National In-
stitution, ten men and the master's wife from the Prussian
brig Lucinde, of Memel, during the night of the 17th ult.
The Town-hall was well filled on this occasion by ladies and
gentlemen. A procession had previously been formed by the
lifeboat's crew from the boat-house to the hall, it being
headed by Lieut. Simmons, R.N„ honorary secretary of
the Southwold branch of the institution, who carried a beau-
tiful silk flag, on which was inscribed the name of the
Southwold lifeboat, and the Southwold arms worked in it.
The flag was some years ago presented to the lifeboat by
Miss Sheriffe,. The chairman having made some appropri-
ate remarks, Miss Sheriffe, amidst the applause of the spec .
tators, presented a medal to each of the abovenamed men.
The crew of the lifeboat, consisting of 15 men, had previ-
ously been awarded £2 each for their gallant services; but
each man was on this occasion presented inaddition, with
a well-bound decoy Bible, inside which'
name and a suitable inscription, stating
. .
was written his
name the cause of its pre-
sentation. The Lord Provost requested the honour of Lord
Brougham for a guest during his visi • '
t to Edinburgh next
week. Lord Brougham, however, writes that h
gaged to be with his sister-in-law and nephews thiu ,ti:' en-
and sons of the late Mr. John Brougham, , e view
at present resid-
ing at Warriston House. His lordship is to 'arrive on
Tuesday and leave cal Thursday,