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

POLICE IN2'ELLIGENC.E.-(THIS

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
ROBBERY BY A 44 GENTLEMAN" AT THE PRINCESS'S
TnEaTnE.Alfred Wiggins, described on the charge-sheet
as a "gentleman," of 21, Walcot-square, Kennington, and"
who was attired in a fashionable cloak or coat, was charged
with stealing from the person of Mr. James Marks, of 5,
Edward-terrace, Caledonian-road, cheesemonger, at the
hall of the Princess's Theatre, a silver watch, of the value
of Sh.
The prosecutor said that on the previous night about
twelve he was in the hall of the Princess's Theatre, Oxford-
street, about leaving, when his attention was attracted to
the prisoner, by noticing him eyeing his gold Albert
chain in a very peculiar manner. The prisoner then walked
up to him, looked him hard in the face, then thrust his
fingers into his, waistcoat pocket, and took his watch off at
the swivel, leaving the guard hanging down his waistcoat;
but the whole transaction was done with such rapidity
that he was unable to prevent him carrying out his object.
As soon as he had got his watch his hand went under his
cloak, and he then_ charged him with stealing his watch ;
a little altercation took place, and he heard the watch fall,
and his (witness's) brother picked it up.
In answer to the magistrate (Mr. Bingham), the prose-
secutor said that he hadnot the slightest doubt about it, and
that on his taxing him with the robbery he muttered some-
thing which he could not understand, and then offered him
his " card."
The prisoner, in answer to the magistrate, said he would
rather have it settled at once, and would plead guilty.
A constable having stated that he had been seen about
the theatre before, he was committed for six months with
hard labour.

MEMOIR OF DR. 3IUSPRATT.

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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 Mu.a_pratt 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 he 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, gain-
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 degree of
Doctor of Philosophy, a title never before graiated 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 othyle and meth*. A paper en 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 ; th 6 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.