The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-26 00:00:00

latura marked " scandalous" and " indecorous."
But if Senator Williams does not give satisfaction
to his fellow-citizens of Oregon the people of
Idaho literally " treasure" him, for they sent him
a silver brick weighing 60 lbs., worth over #l,OOO,
highly polished and suitably inscribed. It was
presented to him for his efforts in behalf of the
territory and his course in Congress on national

affairs.
The case of George W. Cole, tried for the murder
of L. H. Hiscock, is a singular one. He was
acquitted on the 7th instant, and in the very hotel
where he shot his victim he received the congratu-
lations of his friends. The jury said they consi-
dered the prisoner sane the moment before and the
moment after the killing, but they were in doubt
as to his sanity at the instant of the homicide. The
judge instructed them that they must give the pri-
soner the benefit of the doubt, and the result was
his instant acquittal. If ever there was a &ear
case of murder, the killing of Hiscock by General
Cole was one, and the plea of insanity was a mere
farce. On some- occasions it may suit to accuse
oneself of insanity, and again to allege the insanity of
others. Commodore Meade has just been produced
in the Supreme Court Chambers before Judge
Sutherland from Bloomingdale Insane Asylum.
The Commodore was given a seat by the judge,
who talked with him to at-certain his mental condi-
tion. The Commodore told him be had been in pri-
son for 26 days, but the cause was not shown, ex-
cept that Meade was dangerous when arousel ; but
the Judge, not considering this sufficient, ordered
his release against, we suppose, some one.
Governor Boutwell, there seems strong concur-
rent testimony to believe, will succeed M'Culloch
as Secretary to the Treasury, and will be the New
England representative in the Cabinet. He has
studied Finance and Political Economy, and his
election will gratify Massachusetts, while he is well
fitted for the post. Collector Smythe, of the New
York Custom -house, is talked of as Minister to
Russia, and Mr. Johnson, it is thought, would no-
minate him could the Senate be induced to sanction
the appointment. Senator Morgan might bring his
influence to bear if he can see his way, through the
vacant Custom-house appointment to his re-election
as Senator. Cassius M. Clay, the present Minister to
Russia, although he did resign, withdrew the rest-
nation, and we are not aware that the point of law
thus raised has yet been settled. If General Banks
is to go next summer, we cannot see what could
take Mr. Smythe out of his warm, snug berth in
the New York Customs into the chilly atmosphere
of a Muscovite winter.
The law business the Erie directors now have on
hand is something considerable, almost equalling
their stock-jobbing transactions. Three suits have
been commenced to recover in all $7,300,000 from
Drew and his coadjutors on the board, of which Jay
Gould asserts the company to have been defrauded
by those directors. Judge Cardozo's injunction re-
straining receiver Davies from assuming control was
dissolved on the 9th instant by Judge Boardman
at Ithaca. Betides these suits James Fisk, junior,
has commenced two suits, the one for $lOO,OOO
against the New York Tribune, and the other for half
that sum against the Republican for commenting on
his life and adventures. The Tribune is facetious
on the subject, recommending Mr. Fisk to employ
the money, when he gets it, in building an asylum
for decayed and indigent Erie stockholders.