The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-07 00:00:00

TALLOW

The tallow market is firm to-day, and prices are well
supported. P.Y.C. is quoted at 60s 6d per cwt. on the
spot, and 60s 3d to 60s 6d for spring delivery. Rough fat,
3s 21d per 81bs.

1857. 1858. 1859.
Stock this day.... 1 ,984 28,331 30,808
Price of Y. C. 59s 9dto 55a 0 Ito 52801 to
..t —a Od —s Od 52s 3d
Delivery last week 2,011 2,832 2,101
Ditto from June 1 79,229 70,780 68,-57
Arrivals last week 911 823 1,307
Ditto from June 1 77,233 15,959 87,74:
Price of Town .... 61s OC 57s 3d 54s 3d

ALARMING A.ND FATA2 ACCIDENT AT
ASTLEY'S THEATRE.—(This Day.)

FEROCIOUS ATTACK OF THE PERFORMING
LIONS ON THEIR KEEPERS.

This morning a most alarming circumstance
occurred at Astley's Royal Amphitheatre, owing
to the escape of the whole of the lions, the pro-
perty of Mr. Crockett,:from their den, which occu-
pied a place very near the stage.
At about a quarter before eight this morning,
the men who usually attend to cart away
the manure were startled by the loud roaring
of the lions, but as they had on former occasions
heard somewhat similar sounds they proceeded with
their work as usual: The noise, however, did not
subside, but on the contrary increased, and in a
few minutes the men were horror struck at behold-
ing one of the lions struggling with a man named
Jarvey, a yard helper in the establishment. Mr.
Crockett's animal keeper was instantly sent for, and
arrived in a very few minutes but, he not having the
power over the infuriated beasts that Mr. Crockett
had, immediately sent for that gentleman. On flag
arrival of Mr. Crockett he rushed on to the stage,
where the lion was running about with the unfor-
tunate man Jarvey in his mouth, to all appearance
quite dead. Mr. Crockett instantly seized a stable
fork, and dealt the lion a heavy blow on
the side of the head, which caused it to let
the man go ; but, instead of running away, it
turned round and seemed inclined to spring upon
his master. Another powerful blow, however,
made the enraged animal turn round and run away.
Medical aid was immediately sought for poor
Jarvey, but on the arrival of the surgeon life was
found to be extinct.

After the body of Jarvey had been removed Mr.
Crockett went in search of the three lions who were
now roaming about the theatre. One was seen
running about at a remote corner of the stage,
another was in the arena, and the
other could not be seen. The lioness
was the first that was attempted to be secured, but
this was a work of extreme danger and difficulty,
as the assistants were all afraid of even approaching
the beast. On seeing Mr. Crockett the lioness
made a dash through the pit saloon, from
thenee she rushed tp the box staircase and
entered one of the private boxes, and
took up a most threatening attitude. No-
thing daunted Mr. Crockett entered the box
placed a leathern collar round her neck, and having
secured her head, she was hauled out of the place
by ropes and finally placed in security.
From the private box Mr. Crockett saw another
of the animals playing on the stage with a quan-
tity of ribbons and stage properties, and with
comparatively little difficulty it was placed again
in the cage, and after a few minutes search the
third was recaptured.

At half-past seven this morning the watchman of
the theatre, who is on duty all night, left, at which
hour, he says, all was perfectly quiet and safe,
as he partially noticed the lion's den. In consequence
of the large lion being unwell it had been parted
from its companions, and it is supposed that in en-
deavouring to join it one of the three lions in the
other compartment of the cage must have broken
down the partition and thus displaced the iron bars.
The greatest excitement and consternation pre-
vailed for some time in the theatre, and it required
Mr. Crockett's utmost persuasion to convince the
attendants that no further danger need be
apprehended. _ _

A very searching inquiry will be made into all
the circumstances connected with the unfortunate
event before the coroner.

CRIMINAL CoURT—Jam. 7.

OLD COURT.

The January Session of the Central Criminal Court com-
menced this morning before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder,
and the Sheriff.

The Recorder's charge was very brief owing to the
shortness of the time since the court last met and the few
prisoners awaiting trial.
A number of indictments found at the last session for
perjury and conspiracy in reference to the great leather
trade frauds will have to be disposed of, and they will be
placed on the judges' list on 'Wednesday.
The judges who will be present are the Lord Chief Baron,
Mr. Justice Blackburn, and Mr. Justice Keating.

LITER4TURE.

The United Service Magazine.

The presentatitn of a library composed of pro-
fessional works to the officers at the camp of Alder
shot, by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort,
is deserving of commendation. It is by acts like
this that he will win the affections of military men

in general. There is yet, however, another branch
of the service which requires the consideration of
those high in authority. The literary requirements
of the rank and file have been hitherto much
neglected. We trust shortly to see this important
branch of our army attended to. A short chapter
on the gift to the officers of Aldershot commences

this number. The paper on " Our Military System"
is rather voluminous ; but while the writer enters
into all the abuses which at present exist in the
service, he does not form a fair estimate of the
moral character of the British soldier at the present
time. He forgets that the working classes in gene-
ral are notoriously addicted to drinking, and if their
proceedings are more obvious from the fact that
their excesses are perpetrated in publichouses open
for all to see them, there are many holding higher
stations in society whose morality, with less ex-
cuse, stands no higher. That a great improvement
would be brought about in the social position of
the soldier if more care were taken to provide him
with the means of rational occupation and amuse-
ment, is patent to all who have studied the sub-
ject ; but it is not fair to abuse the whole army on
account of a few mauvais sujets to be found in
all regiments. "Revolutionary Agents in the Art of
War" contains someinteresting details of the cannon
in use in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, of
the general improvement in ordinance, and the
complete alteration of the principle of naval war-
fare by the introduction of steam. " Sir Howard
Douglas on Iron-plated Ships" is an exemplifica-
tion of how a man of ability may be carried by
prejudice as far in excess on his own side of a
question, as his adversaries are on the other. That
this all-important subject should be fully discussed
we feel to be necessary, but there is no reason
why, in a subject of national importance, writers
should stoop to individual abuse. We are happy
to see that the Government is not rushing blindly
into the construction of new ships before the best
principle of naval architecture is fully proved to
the satisfaction of all reasonable men. For our-
selves, while entertaining the highest opinion of
iron for ship building, we feel convinced that the
"wooden walls of Old England" will still walk
the waters, despite the iron rams of our Gaelic
neighbours; and that the English seamen will in
future times have as little taste for "long bowls " as
they had in the days of Nelson. And when once
the yards of two contending ships are locked,
armour plates will not offer much check to the
English tars, when the cry of " Boarders away"
rings along the decks. " Suggestions relative to
Safety Valves" furnishes an insight into the pos-
sible cause of accidents to the boilers in steam•
boats :

5:880610.t 18s
6d61.t 0
43,898 72,632
—6 Od —s Od
2,124 1,357
51,111 55,314
1,569 1,363
816°2,928 100,852
59s 6d 61s 9d