The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-25 00:00:00

MEMOIR OF DR. MUSP.RATT.

The following. sketch of the distinguished Liverpool
chemist appears in the new edition of Men of the Time' :
" Muspratt, James Sheridan, Professor of Chemistry, was
born in Dublin, March Bth, 1821. His father's subsequent
removal to Liverpool, where he surprised the busy inhabi-
tants by the magnitude of his chemical works, placed the
early education of Sheridan Muspratt in the hands first of
the Rev. Mr. Hind of Winwick, Lancashire, and afterwards
of Dr. Cowan. At this early period he evinced a taste for
chemistry; and having at thirteen travelled through France
and part of Germany, he on returning took the first step to-
wards future achievements by repairing to the Andersonian
University of Glasgow, where for nine months ho studied
in the laboratory of Professor Graham, whom he afterwards
followed to London, when that gentleman took the chair of
the late Dr. Turner in the University College, in Gower-
street. About this period, and before the age of 17, Sheri-
dan Muspratt had made sufficient progress to be entrusted
with the chemical department at the works of Peel Thomp-
son, in Manchester, and also published a paper upon chlo-
ride of lime, which attracted considerable attention.
Proceeding to America, he there entered into a trading
partnership, but soon discovered, by the loss of some
thousands, that he was better fitted for the laboratory
than the Exchange. The result was that he retired
from a field for which nature had evidently not intended
him ; and having terminated his American experience
by visiting the various States, he in the year 1843
repaired to Giessen, and placed himself under the
great Liebig, who speedily recognised in his new pupil that
love for chemistry which afterwards created betwixt them
a close friendship. By his industry and talent the young
student soon gained the admiration of all his fellow-pupils,
for whose emulation he supplied an example of indefatigable
application. Having remained two years in Giessen, gam-
ing golden opinions, Sheridan Muspratt resolved to test his
strength, and soon published a paper upon the sulphites.
This appeared in Liebig and Wohler's Annalen, was copied
into all the scientific annals, and won him his debree of
Doctor of Philosophy, a title never before granted to a man
so young. Until the appearance of this treatise little had
been known about its subject, though it had been discussed
by many chemists of eminence. After this followed a paper
on the ' Pretended Formation of Valerianic Acid from
Indigo,' which was read before the British Association at
York. At this period he, in conjuction with Professor
Hofmann, discovered toluidine and nitraniline, two organic
bases of the utmost importance. In 1854 Dr. Muspratt
left Giessen, having while there edited Plattner's Treatise
on the Blowpipe ; and in the two years following visited
various parts of Germany, in order to become personally
acquainted with her distinguished men. In 1847 he again
visited Giessen, and spent four months in its laboratory,
discovering several remarkable bodies produced from the
sulphocyanide of ethyle and methyle. A paper on this
subject was printed in Liebig's Annalen, as well as in the
Chemical Society's Transactions. In 1848 he gave a paper
on the selenites. In 1849 he proved the existence of car-
bonate of alumina; and also published some very inte-
resting remarks in Liebig's Annalen on the blowpipe, re-
actions of strontia and baryta. In 1851 one of his greatest
efforts appeared—his paper on carmufellic acid, a new acid
from cloves. This treatise has been published in the new
Proceedings of the Royal Society, and in the Philosophical
Magazine. But the most important act hitherto in his life
has been the foundation of a College of Chemistry in Liver-
pool. In 1854, a Glasgow publisher engaged Dr. Muspratt
to write a Dictionary of Chemistry, which is now publish-
ing ; the sale of it in England and America exceeds 60,000
copies monthly, and in Germany and France it has met
with a like success. . . . On his return from Giessen,
in 1848, Dr. Muspratt married Miss Susan Cushman, who
is also well known to fame by her admirable delineation of
" Juliet." Since the above appeared more honours have
been awarded to him ; the oldest university in America con-
ferring on him the title of Docter in Medicine, in proof of
their admiration of his high professional attainments.—
Mining Journal.

The case of this officer, who behaved so as greatly
to distinguish himself as a midshipman during the
Russian war, and who, having transferred his
services from the naval to the military profession,
has acquitted himself with equal honour in the
suppression of the Indian mutinies, has been
brought under our notice. In General Michel's
despatch from Allahabad, dated Oct. 22, 1858, we
find specially mentioned " the gallantry of Lieut.
Wood, of the 17th Lancers, who (having from
paucity of officers in the 3d Cavalry, volunteered
during the campaign to command a troop of the 3d
Light Cavalry) on this occasion (a severe engage-
ment with a large force of mutineers) almost single-
handed came up to and attacked a body of the
enemy." Going back to the eventful days of the
Crimean campaign, we read, in the annals of the
heroic Naval Brigade more than one tale of bravery
in which this young officer's name is conspicuous.
On the 17th of Oct., 1854—just four years previous
to his display of valour in India—he volunteered
with Mr. Daniels to bring powder from the rear,
under heavy fire. On the 18th, a shell having
burst in the covering of a parapet magazine, he in-
stantly jumped upon it, and alone busied himself in
clearing and repairing it under a heavy fire, till
joined by Captain Peel, for which he received the
thanks of that officer. On the 19th of April, in
the following year, he was noticed by Admiral
Lushington, standing on a parapet, repairing a
Again, fir
the .18th
Sappers whose pro-
persdoee phwe
oagiv. akyp
thatt ms
ha do
uei
tl
db
daunted
have
ee e
been.n
theem y ,As afi r which was
of June, rising from a sick bed, he volunteered to
join the ladder party ; and, though wounded in the
hand, he assisted to carry the ladders up to the
Redan, and was the only naval officer who -advanced
as far as the abattis. These noble acts are well cer-
tified in letters from Lord Raglan, Sir Stephen
Lushington, and Captain Peel. The first of these
distinguished men writes a few words of admiring
smypathy on the occasion of Lieut. Wood's receiv-
ill a severe wound. The second writes to Captain
Michell, R.N.:—" I saw him (Wood) in the trenches,
and he bore it like a hero. He was Peel's A.D.C.,
and Peel tried to keep the boy from the murde-
rous fire into which they plunged with the scaling
ladders, but he would take no refusal, and went out
with the rest." And in writing to Mr. Wood him-
self, Sir Stephen says :—" You have none to thank
for the Legion of Honour but your own gallant
conduct from the first to the last crowning act,
when you walked up from the Redan, with a huge
grape shot sticking in your arm, which I took at
first for the bone protruding." Captain Peel praises
the young man's " beautiful courage in battery,"
and adds that "conduct and manners are as exem-
plary as his courage." In his memorable speech at
the Mansion-house, Lord Lyons-declared that no
brighter instance of devotion was contained in the
pages of chivalry than the conduct of Captain Peel
and his aides-de-camp, among whom Mr. Wood
came in for special notice. We have been somewhat
circumstantial in recalling the services of Mr. Henry
E. Wood, because we learn that, on the most incon -
ceivably absurd ground, he has been refused the dis-
tinction of the Victoria Cross or Order of Valour. It
appears that his name had been down for sonic
months ; but because he left the navy and sought
other ways of winning renown in the cause of his
country the genius of routine has interposed, declar-
ing that the young hero shall go unrewarded and
unhonoured. Lieutenant Wood, who is a son of
John Page Wood, Bart., has memorialised the First
Lord of the Admiralty, respectfully appealing for
justice. The fresh publicity we have given to his
case may, and we sincerely hope will, be of help iat
procurinc, him what he has so good a title to de-
mand.—Daily News.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALLS'—TRURSDLY.
EARL SPENCER'S PLATE.
6to 1 agst King-at-Arms (offered)
10 to 1 aget Actreon (taken)
100 to 6 agst Tight Fit (taken )
20 to 1 agst Zitella (taken)
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.
6to 1 agst Gladiolus (taken)
7to 1 agst Little Agnes (taken)
Bto 1 agst Newcastle (taken)
100 to 6 aget Harraton (taken freely)
20 to 1 agst Mutineer (taken)
30 to 1 agst Shaft() (offered)
CHESTER CUP.
4000 to 60 agst Raspberry (taken)
DERBY.

12 to 1 agst Promised Land (taken)

BIRMINGHAM ANNUAL AND MILITARY
STEEPLECHASES.—THURSDAY.
Selling Steeplechase of 5 soya each, with 20 added. Four-
year-olds and upwards. Winners extra. Two miles.
6 subs.
Mr. Land's Humming Bird by Cotherstone, 4 yrs, £2O,
9st 71b (ammidgl 1
Mr. West's Picco, £4O, list 71b (Owner 2
Mr. Worthington's Redan Hero, 4 pa, £lOO, 1 lat (Leeds 3
Betting-2 to 1 agst Harry of Hereford, 4to 1 each agst
Firefly and Picco, sto 1 agst Foxhunter. Won by half a
length, bad third. Harry of Hereford fell near the top of
the hill, and Foxhunter blundered over him, and Firefly
fell at the preceding fence. Nightingall, the rider of Harry
of Hereford, fractured his collar-bone. The winner was
bought in for 22 guineas.
Grand Military Gold Cup, value £lOO, added to a sweep-
stakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 added by the town of
Birmingham. 12st each. Winners extra. The second
to save his stake. Certain allowances. Three miles.
24 subs.
Captain Hunt's Goldsmith, 12st 101 b (inc. 101 b ex)
(Owner) 1
Mr. G. Egerton's Clear the Way, 12st (Lieut. Backhouse) 2
Viscount Talon's Young Magnet, 13st (inc. Ist ex)
(Owner) 3
Captain Lindsay's Marmion, 125 t.... (Captain Barclay) 4
Captain E. H. Yyso's Ballinasloe, 12st 51b (inc. 141 b ex)::
(Mr. Boyce) 5
Betting-2 to 1 agst Baalbec, sto 2 agst Goldsmith, 6to
1 each agst Balinasloe and Young Magnet. Goldsmith
made play throughout, and won by three lengths ; same
distance between the second and third; very bad fourth.
The Count and Baalbec fell, and Long Odds refused.
The Hunt Cup of 5 soya each, with a silver cup value £5O
added; list 71b each. Allowances and penalties. Gen-
tlemen riders ; professionals 101 b extra. The second to
save his stake. Three miles. 13 subs.
Mr. B. Land's Odiham, list 71b (Mr. Edwards) 1
Mr. A. Pryse's Paymaster, llst 71b .. (Mr. Thomas) 2
Mr. Harper's Premier, llst 71b (T. Price) 3
The following also ran :—Cliff Pigeon, Whaley, Lucy's
Minna, and Border Chief.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Odiham, 3to 1 agst Cliff Pigeon, 6
to 1 each agst Border Chief and Whaley, 10 to 1 agst Pay-
master. Won by four lengths; six lengths between the
second and third.
Veteran Stakes, sweepstakes of 10 soya each, h ft, with a
Silver Cup added by the members of the Union Club,
Birmingham ; 12st each. Winners extra. Three miles.
16 subs.
Sir E. Hutchinson nas Chance, 12st ..(Captain Barclay) 1
Mr. Robertson's Jack Barber, 12st .. (Captain Bernand) 2
Betting-4 to lon Chance, who won by half a length. The
rider of Jack Barber broke his stirrup leather a short dis-
tance from home.
The Erdington Plate Handicap, with 30 added. Winners
extra. Two miles and a half.
Mr. Barber's Physician, by Gameboy, 9st • . (Smethurst) 1
Mr. Hudson's Topsy, 9st 51b .. (Knott 2
Mr. Golby's Maria Agnes,9st 91b (in.:7lbex.) (G. Stevens 3
Mr. Page's The Doctor, 9st 21b (Whitman 4
Betting-5 to 2 agst Young Ragman, 4to 1 each agst
Theodine and Maria Agnes, 5 to 1 each agst Sportsman
and Topsy. A good race in, won by a neck ; two lengths
between the second and third, bad fourth, Sportsman was
fifth, and Ragman sixth.

BETTING ON THE COURSE.
NORTHAMPTON STAKES.
6to 1 agst Gladiolus (offered)
7to 1 agst Newcastle (taken)
12 to 1 agst Little Agnes (taken)

HORSES STRUCK OUT OF THEIR ENGAGE-
MENTS.
March 21, at 2 a.m., Bandboy, out of all his engage-
ments.

March 21, at 5 p.m., Alec and Shamrock so Green, out
of all engagements made by Mr. T. Walker.
March 21, after 6, Draperyjout of the Newmarket and
Great Metropolitan Handicaps.
March 22, at 9 a.m., f by the Cossack—Testatrix, out of
the Whittlebury Stakes at Northampton.
March 22, at 9 a.m., Katherine Logie, out of all her en-
gagements.
March 23, at 10.15 a.m., Upperhand, out of the Whittle-
bury Stakes at Northampton.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Diphtheria—Ulcerous Sore Throat.—This disease has
lately become so rapid and fatal in its attacks, that it
behoves every one living at a distance from medical aid to
sonic be provided with antidote immediately applicable on
the appearance of the disorder. For such purpose Hol-
loway's preparations can be confidently recommended, as
they never can be productive of harm, but must always
soothe the system, repress inflammation, check ulceration,
and allay the irritative fever always accompanying this
complaint. The ointment is applied externally to the
throat, chest, and back, where it exercises a wonderfully
preservative influence over nerves, lymphatics, and glands,
while the pills exert an equally beneficial power internally
over the throat and air passages.

The _ ich papers appear wonderful 47'
_ - -
with the proceedings taken in this country
spect of its Navy, but it is highly instructi't to. ir‘
remark that the particular feature which is re-
garded with astonishment on the other side of' the
Channel never provoked a single observation an ong
ourselves. The French arc amazed at the mo‘gni-
:-L
tude of our resources and at the prodigious ex tent
of the operations which these resources pe:rinit
us to undertake without hesitation or misgiving.
Englishmen were struck with the deficiencies: re-
ported ; Frenchmen arc surprised at the reso-
lutions adopted for supplying them. A Parisian
journal declares that all the dockyards of all
the maritime Powers in the world could not,
even by combining their efforts, accomplish in
single year what we propose to effect before this
time twelvemonth—viz., the construction of 2G
powerful men-of-war, including 15 line-of-battle
ships. In this reflection there is probably some
truth, but there is another circumstance in the calm
more remarkable still, and that is, that this per-
formance will cost us next to nothing in comparison
with the gross sums which have been voted from ye ar
to year. Millions after millions have been supplied
and expended with the result of a defective fl e et,
when all of a sudden it is resolved to raise the streni ;th
of this fleet 50 per cent., and we are assured that the
thing can be done for some £900,000. It must not
be forgotten that a good deal of this wiprk
consists rather in conversion than construction, :Ind
that even the new ships to be launched have b eon
for some time in course of building ; but, after all
allowances on this score, the contrast between w hat
money fails to do when it is loosely expended .and
what it can be made to do when it is rigorously
applied is very striking indeed.
We do not expect much from Sir J. Pakingt6n's
explanatory figures. He has undertaken' to pre-
sent a strict account of the Dockyard expenditure
for the whole period, reviewed by Lord Clarence
Paget, and he affirms that the document will . show
the application of every sixpence of the public
money. We do not doubt it ; but, for all this, it is
possible that the case may be left just where it
stands. Nobody supposes that our naval charges
are materially affected by peculation or embezzle-
ment. We have not come to that pass in this
country. Lord Clarence Paget himself expressly
stated that he did not suspect any malversation
whatever ; in fact, he went the length of explain-
ing the manner in which he conceived the funds
to have been wasted. What he said was, not
that £5,000,000 was absolutely unaccounted for,
but that it was unaccounted fur in sub-
stantial returns—that there was no equivalent
for it in ships actually afloat. This seems
undeniable, and it will signify very little, there,-
fore, to the general conclusion whether the
money has been swallowed up in one kind of
" accidental" expense or another. There is no
escaping from the dilemma in which recent disclo-
sures have placed us. Either £900,000 will not do
what it is expected to do, or twenty times that
sum ought to have done a good deal more than it
has done.

' It deserves to be noticed, as characteristic of our
national temperament in such matters, that the pre-
sent inquiry was provoked, not by any increase of
charges, but by a deficiency of results. The an-
nouncement which created so much sensation
was not that Ministers wanted an extra million
for the navy, but that the navy wanted a whole
squadron of line-of-battle ships and frigates. If
money's worth had been forthcoming there would
have been but little talk about money. Even
the reference made to the French marine did not
affect the question in its essentials. We have before
remarked that the actual proportions of the French
fleet are not more than commensurate with the
natural requirements of that Power. Our own
shortcomings were positive, not comparative.
Our line - of- battle fleet was weak, not simply
as contrasted with that of our neighbours, but as
compared with that which we possessed in
former times. In explanation of the fact, it was
said that all our efforts were absorbed for a certain
period in the construction of smaller vessels, and
that, as there was a limit to the general rate of
shipbuilding, what was gained in one department
was necessarily lost in another. On this remark
we can only say that, if the facts are so, the result,
when illustrated by the acknowledgment of the
French journals, becomes very satisfactory. If the
construction of ships of war can only proceed at a
given rate, and that rate is higher in the case of
England than in that of all the other maritime
Powers together, it is clear that with good adminis-
tration, we need never be uneasy about our position
on the seas. All we have to do is to vote reasonable
supplies, and to provide proper management. The
first are never refused ; the latter, we trust, may
spring at last out of the investigation now pending.
A country like England must always work at
some disadvaßtagc in the maintenance of its navy.
This is part of the price paid for supremacy.
France and Russia may regulate their fleets as they
please, but we cannot be left behind. We must needs
keep up with the progress of na7al architecture and
nautical science ; we must have the best of ships and
the most powerful of armaments. The consequence
of this obligation is that we must be at the charge
of experiments in every new discovery, while
other nations may avail themselves of our, conclu-
sions and follow us at their leisure. Even the
proportions of our Marine must be governed to
some extent by the development of other Navies,
but, on the other hand, it must be recollected that
our fleet discharges a variety of duties for us. It
answers the purposes both of frontier fortresses
and a great standing army. We can regulate our
military establishments by our own wants alone,
by the demands of India and the colonies. We
have few fortifications except round our great
arsenals, and, if we want a larger navy than other
Powers, we possess, as is now admitted, infinitely
greater facilities for creating and maintaining it.
It cannot have escaped the notice of the public
that except for these " accidental expenses," which
run away with untold sums, the entire cost of our
dockyards might be regulated with something
almost like precision. A given establishment will
turn out so many line-of-battle ships, so many
frigates, and so many smaller vessels, every year,
and it is perfectly certain that the wear and tear
of ships will never, under ordinary circumstances,
be equivalent to the new supplies. Supposing, for
instance, that our annual accession of strength is
represented by hall-a-dozen ships and frigates, it is
beyond all question that this number of ships and
frigates will not have fallen to pieces during that
period, so that our aggregate force ought
always to be rather on the increase than other-
wise. In fact, if it were not that ships got
out of fashion and were left in arrear by new
models, our rate of building might be very safely
reduced. We have obtained during the recent
debates some very useful elements of reckoning.
We have been told how much a line-of-battle ship
costs, and how much a frigate. We have learnt
how many vessels of various classes the Royal
yards can turn out every year under ordinary con•
ditions, and, finally, we have heard from the First
Lord of the Admiralty what amount of strength
the British line-of-battle fleet ought to possess.
Now, from data like these we do think that a
system might be constructed of some regularity and
certainty; nor can we understand how it is that
the " theory " of proceeding in such matters should
be so constantly upset. Why should there be de-
mands so sudden or extraordinary as to interfere
with contemplated arrangements ? Admitting that
the construction of gunboats was an exceptional
case, that is only a single instance in a long series
of years. If the regular production of our dock-
yards inc►udes, as we are told it does, vessels of
every class,--not only line-of-battle ships and
frigates, but smaller vessels also, how is it that all
of a sudden there arises an urgent call ter this or
that description of vessel to the exclusion of others?
These are some of the points which \VC hope to
see cleared up by the forthcoming explanations.
The worst of the whole matter is its mystery.
Sir John Pakington himself must have felt that
there was something wrong, or he would not have
instituted inquiries; naval men generally must feel
so, for they are always the first with their pro-
tests, and the public jump naturally to the same
conclusion from a simple comparison of expendi-
ture with results. All agree that there is no foul
play, but all suspect that there is bad administra-
tion, and this we cannot afford to go on with.—
Times.

DEATHS FROM EATING MONKSHOOD.--A lament-
able event occurred at Ecclesfield-hall, near Sheffield, a few
days ago. The occupiers of the hall were Mr. and Mrs.
Greaves, the former of whom was 81 years of age, and the
latter was 76. Mrs. Greaves prepared a salad for dinner,
and, unfortunately, when she pinked the materials for the
salad in the garden, she gathered with them a quantity of
;Teen leaves from a plant of monkshood. Both she and
her husband ate heartily of the salad, soon after doing
which they were both seized with violent pains, and died
poisoned.
HERO.—On Sa-
turday ELlasCot3cluEptli.
BO3ult;rrthAeNyoluNuDglLAN
re-
turned home from India, where he had been during the
heat of the revolt. Capt.
.Butter, although a young man,
was with the 93d in the Crimea, and has subsequently taken
part in several of the most memorable feats of arms against
the revolted sepoys. Ho was at the taking of Lucknow ;
and,
being attached as an aide-de-camp to General Adrian
Hope, he was beside that distinguished commander when
he fell. Capt. Butter on one occasion had a horse shot
under him, and had many narrow escapes during the pro-
gress of the war. He has been promoted to a captaincy in
the 15th Regiment, which is at present in this country—
hence his return. The tenants of Faskally, and others,
resolved to give him a cordial welcome. A triumphal arch
was erected in the village of Pitlochrie, and a large crowd
received the captain with enthusiastic demonstrations of re-
joicing. In the evening the village was illuminated, IA
honour of the occasion.--. Perth awricr.