The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-21 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

ARSON. —A somewhat singular case of arson was tried
on Saturday at Maidstone Assizes. A youth, named
Saunders, aged 17, had been in a training ship at
Greenhithe, and having had a few days' leave
of absence returned to his old bad companions, sold
his clothes, and commenced wandering about the
country. In a half-starved and desperate condition
he craved food at a farmer's near Maidstone, and on being
refused, avenged himself by setting a light to a waggonfull
of wheat left by the harvesters ready to be carried. The
waggon and corn were wholly consumed. The prisoner
received an excellent character from the captain of the
training•ship, but Judge Channel sentenced him to seven
years' penal servitude.

PROBATE.—The protracted will case, Hunt and another
v, Anderson, which has occupied the Court of Probate for
so many days, was brought to a conclusion on Saturday.
The jury intimated that they had heard sufficient evidence
on the issues before them, and a verdict was taken for
the defendant, on the ground of the incapacity of the tes-
tator, the pleas of undue influence and fraud having been
withdrawn.

The Queen is about to clothe Mr. Digby Wyatt
with the honours of knighthood.

Two more election petitions were presented at
Dublin on Friday—one against the return of Mr. Weguelin
for Youghal; the other against tho return of Mr. O'Beirne
for Cashel. Bribery and treating are alleged in both in-
stances. In tho case of Cashel, tho petitioner, Mr. Mun-
ster, the defeated candidate, claims the seat for himself.
As the Charleville and Kilwallock police were
scouring a district of the country round the latter town a
night or so ago, " in search of Fenians reported to be drill-
ing,' the pistol of one of the policemen accidentally want
off and shot a comrade who was crossing in front of him at
the moment.

The Weekly Register has authority to deny the
statement that unexpected difficulties have presented them-
selves respecting the Catholic cathedral in Westminster, and
that the project is likely to bo abandoned for the present.'
The site for the cathedral has been secured, and the Arch-
b'shop's house, as well as the schools, will be commenced
upon soon after the new year.

A man has been apprehenLd on suspicion of
being the murderer of Annie Houghton. A number of col-
liers employed in a mine near the Ackhurst-hill farm (the
scene of the tragedy) have boon brought into the presence
of the surviving girl, Catherine, and sho identified one of
those men as the murderer of her sister. He was at once
taken into custody.

At the Liverpool Assizes, on Friday, a collier's
widow recovered £lOO damages for herself, and £5O each
for her two children, for the loss of her husband, who was
killed by the negligence of the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway Company, in not fencing a a part of their lino
near Chorley, whereby ho and a horse belonging to his
father-in-law were killed.

At a meeting lately at Ripon, under the presi-
dency of the Bishop of the diocese, to consider the best mode
of providing a permanent memorial of the late Archbishop
Longley, who for twenty years presided over the diocese of
IL was resolved to place a winnow ,n the west front
of the cathedral, end a subscription was entered into to de•
fray the cot

It is s'Ated that marriages have been arranged be-
tween Mr, George Stewart Forbes, son of Sir Charles Forbes,
of Newe, and 111.1a3 Dudley Ward, daughter of the lion. Mr.
ncl Mrs. Dudley Ward, and niece of the Earl of Dudley;

tween Lord Ernest Vane Tempest, second son of the
Marquis of Londonderry, snd Miss Maly Towns-
•.:end Hutchinson, second daughter of Mr. Thomas ilutchin-

The police have succeeded in discovering more of
the missing property which, it is alleged, the prisoner
Thomas Searle has stolen from the Rotherham Post-
office. Amongst the articles found in his lodgings
were sc me microscope•, magnifying glasses, and a
large quantity of pill boxes, &c. Several parsons have
applied at the Rotherham Police-office and identified some
of the property.
THE STICKNEY MURDERESS.—We hear that the
female prisoner, Priscilla Biggadike, has conducted herself
with great decorum since the trial, though there are as
yet but few symptoms of penitence. On being informed
by the governor of the Castle that Monday, the 28th inst.,
woald be the day of her execution, she merely expressed
surprise at its being so soon, and that so short a time was
left her.—Lincoln Mercury.
The attendance at the funeral of the Rev. Dr.
Cooke at Belfast was very large. The procession
extended to a length of two miles. Nearly all the publio
boards and institutions of the town were remounted. Every
religious denomination took part in the ceremony. The pall
bearers were the Mayor of Belfast, the Lord Primate, the
Bishop of Down and Connor, Mr. M'Clure, M.P., Mr. John-
ston, M.P., and Mr. O'Neill, M.P. The shops were closed,
and business was almost wholly suspended.
MR. BRIGHT ON THE WINE DRINKING HABITS
OF LADIES.—At a meeting of the United Kingdom Band
of Hope Union, Mr. Whitbread, M.P., said he travelled
a few days since with the President of the Board of Trade
(Mr. Bright) by rail, and the right hon. gentleman, speak.
ing of the temperance movement, and his own attachment
to it, said he felt certain it would make great progress in
the country. Mr. Bright said he found that ladies took a
great deal more drink than they ought. "I am shocked,"
said Mr. Bright, "to see the excessive use of wine by
ladies."

- TEE FIGHTING WOMEN OF ZENANA. —lite woman's
rights movement seems to have extended itself in a very
inconvenient manner to the farthest East, So at least the
unlucky Rajah of ;feypore must be of opinion. There
has occurred of late so much insubordination among the
female members of his family that he found it necessary
to put a special guardian over them, by name Futteh
Singh. This man kept a strict watch upon the doors,
and otherwise was so industrious in the performance of
his duty, and placed so many restrictions on personal
freedom, that he raised a rebellion among the gentle
recluses. One day they all set upon him, gave him a
"good beating," abused him to their hearts' content, and
wound up with breaking one of his arms. There were
two thousand women attacking him all at once. Poor
Singh!
TRIFLING WITH CHLOROFORM.--Another case of
death produced by the self-administration of chloroform
for the relief of pain has been reported in the daily
papers. It has now often happened that persons have
inhaled chloroform after' having laid themselves down in
bed, and have died, not from the direct effects of the
anaesthetic, but from suffocation, due to the position
assumed during anaesthesia. It cannot be too
strongly impressed upon the public that the self-use of
chloroform must always be highly dangerous, and can
scarcely ever be justifiable. We fear that a custom has
sprung up of permitting patients labouring under painful
diseases of an intermittent kind to take chloroform when
paroxysms occur ; and we would strongly urge that the
dangers of such a practice are too great to be incurred
on account of any considerations of convenience.—The
La ncet.

IMPERIAL VISIT TO QUEEN ISABELLA. The
Emperor, Empress, and Prince Imperial of France paid a
visit on Friday to Queen Isabella at the Hotel du Pavillon
do Rohn. About three o'clock their Majesties arrived,
ac::ortipanied by two chamberlains and as many ladies
4,f honour. At the foot .of the staircase the Queen,
King-Consort, and Prince of the Asturias, with
their suites, received the august visitors. The
whole party at once proceeded to the Spanish apart-
ments, the King giving his arm to the Empress,
Napoleon 111. to the Queen, and the two Princes
behind. The visit lasted about three-quarters of an hour.
On the Emperor and Empress withdrawing, the Spanish
sovereigns conducted their visitors to the bottom of the
staircase. When half-way down, his Majesty of France
stopped, and said to the Queen, "I beseech you to come
no further." But her Majesty insisted, and even went
to the door of the imperial carriage. Then the Empress
suddenly advanced to the Queen, and, embracing
her, said, "A Dios, mia cara amiga 1" Shortly after tho
Spanish party returned the vita at the Tuileries.—
Galignani.