The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-27 00:00:00

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER NEAR DRIIRT-LANE.—Yes-
terday, from inquiries made at King's College Hospital
respecting the young woman Emily Geary, it was ascer-
tained that favourable symptoms had set in, and hopes
were entertained of her ultimate recovery.
A MAN or LIISI?.ZESS.—A public meeting was held at
Cape Town on the 2d of April, to devise means for the
relief of the distressed passengers who had escaped from
the ship Joseph Somes. A very liberal spirit was shown,
and a large sum was subscribed. The secretary of the
Commercial Exchange, Mr. Eaton, announced that hav-
ing found from experience that there was no time like
the present, "he had brought down with him cheque
books of all the banks. He knew what it was to collect
subscriptions."
THE CROPS IN THE WEST.—The weather of late has
been favourable for the growing crops which in every part
of Devonshire are exceedingly promising. The wheat and
barley present a most healthy and luxuriant appear-
ance, and grass is abundant in the pasture fields.
Potatoes have come up vigorous and healthy, and
large quantities have been sown this year. If the
season continues favourable there is every prospect
of a bountiful harvest. The apple crop in Devon
shire was a total failure last year, which has been
much felt in the county, in consequence of the
large quantity of. cider which is made for exportation
and home consumption by the labouring population.
This year, however, there is every likelihood of an abun-
dant crop. The cold weather in the early spring gave a
wholesome check to the bud, but the genial weather of
the last few weeks has caused the apple trees to blossom
most luxuriantly. The fruit in many orchards has set
well, and, with a continuance of recent fine weather, the
bearing of apples throughout the county will, in all pro-
bability, be larger than has been known for several
years. .

It has been stated that Admiral Virgin had been sud-
denly dismissed by the Swedish Government from the
post of its Minister Plenipotentiary at Copenhagen. A
letter from Hamburg of the 22d says that this step has
been taken in consequence of his not having possessed
sufficient influence to prevent M. de Scheele, the Danish
Minister, from sending to France, England, Sweden,
and Russia his anti-Scandinavian note of Feb. 18,
which has deeply offended the Swedish Cabinet ; or, at
least, for not having taken care to inform his Govern-
ment that M. de Scheele was so exceedingly hostile to
Scandinavian ideas.

THE ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL, Nitw-Cnoss.—The
annual meeting of this Corporation was held yesterday
at the United Service Institution, Whitehall. It was
numerously attended, Admiral Bowles, C. 8., presiding,
supported lay Admirals Sir Charles Ogle, Sir W. O.
Pell, Sir G. Back, W. A. B. Hamilton, and H. Mey-
nell ; Captains Burton, Barnett, Currie, Gostling
Liardet, WHardy, Whish, and Oldmixon ; Colonel
Congdon, R.M., the Rev. E. Kitson (Greenwich Hospi-
tal), Mr. Ferdinand Brand, and several others. The
preliminary business having been disposed of. the .secre-
tary read the annual report, which stated that, although
the school had within the last two years been twice
extended, it has now it; full complement of 270 pupils
(of whom 54 are the sons of civilians) ; that the funded
property now exceeds 10,000/., of which 1711. had been
added since the list report; that the late Sir B. F.
Outram and Captain W. Langhorne, R.N., had
each bequeathed legacies of 1001. ; that the con-
tingent legacy of the late Mr. Malcolm, surgeon, R.N.,
of 1,0001. to found a university scholarship, bad now
come into the possession of the school; that the former
pupils continued to distinguish themselves, among whom
Mr. J. C. Dawkins had obtained a foundation scholar-
ship at Durham University, Mr. W. M. Brydone had
been appointed engineer-in-chief of the Great Northern
Railway, and Captain E. M. Boxer, R.A., had been
recommended by Government for a grant of 5,0001.
for his inventions and improvements of fuses and shells ;
several have been decorated with the Order of the
Legion of Honour, and Lieutenant Dowell, R.M.A.,
has received the Victoria Cross for distinguished gal
'entry during the late war ; that Mr. M. C. Wilkinson,
of B)mbay, and Captain Kent, 77th Regiment, had pro-
jected a subscription for a monument to the memory of
their schoolfellows who fell in the; Russian war, and their
appeal had been warmly responded to. The construction
of the basin of the swimming-bath will at once be
Proceeded with, so as to provide the boys with a sum-
mer bath after the Midsummer holydays ; the comple-
tion of the original design, which includes an iron and
glass roof, dressing-boxes, and warming apparatus, being
deferred until further subscriptions shall justify the
same. The study of the German language had now
been included in the general system of education, and
in conclusion the council strongly appealed for an
increased number of annual subscribers in order to
maintain the establishment in its present efficient state.
The report was adopted. The 52d bye-law was altered so
as to admit of those pupils who proceed to the universities
remaining in the school until the age of 19, instead of
18, as heretofore ; and the meeting having elected direc-
tors and auditors, after a vote of thanks to the chairman
and council for their able management of the institution,
then adjourned.
MADAME TOMMIE'S EXHIBITION.—SeVeraI portrait
models of distinguished military officers have lately been
added to this collection, and among them the portrait of
his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief. His Royal
Highness is represented in the uniform of a General,
decorated with numerous military orders. This figure
is a most excellent likeness of the gallant Prince, and re-
flects great credit on the artists employed in its con.
struction.

A BLIND ANGLER.—A remarkable feat occurred on
the Nith the other day, when a blind man played
and landed a salmon, originally hooked by another
person who was unequal to the task. The blind
man threw his line, and booked, played, and
killed another salmon. Dumfries Standard, In
publishing this feat, the editor of the Border Adver-
tiser gives the following equally wonderful case :
" Our contemporary seems to think this an unparalleled
feat, but we are aware of a far more eitraordinary
blind fisher in our neighbourhood. Mr. W. Rankin,
of St. Boswells, who has been stone blind for ten
years, aorta en the trade of linendraper and gene-
ral merchant—is a fishing tackle, fly, boot, and rod
maker, and is an excellent fisher whether with fly, worm,
or minnow. He is in the constant habit of going
out to the Tweed on favourable fishing days, accom-
panied by his sagacious dog, which leads him to and
from his favourite haunts. So well is he accustomed to
the sport that he knows every stone and every cast in
the wide reaches of the river within a mile east and west
of St. Boswells, and is generally a very successful angler,
landing his fish (whether trout or salmon) without av-
sistance from any one even in the rockiest water. We
have frequently witnessed his exploits with equal in-
terest and wonder at the love of the pastime which is so
strong as to overcome natural impediments that might
in ordinary eases be deemed insurmountable."