The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-20 00:00:00

AFFRAY WITH BURGLARS.

On Wednesday evening, between seven and eight
o'clock, an affray of a very serious character took place
near Farnborough, in Kent, in the attempt by two po-
licemen to apprehend four suspected housebreakers. It
appeared that on the evening in question two policemen
of the R division, in whose district Farnborough is
situated, being on duty near the town, had grounds for
suspecting that some expert thieves from London were
lurking about and intended to commit a burglary in the
neighbourhood. The two policemen proceeded in quest
of the offenders, and on approaching the Crown public-
house in Green-street•green, within a short distance of
the Farnborough station, they observed a horse and cart
with four men in it, whom they suspected to be the
persons they were on the look-out for, standing at the
door. The policemen immediately went forward, and
while one of them seized the horse's head the other
policeman called upon the men in the vehicle to alight,
when they all jumped out, and ho seized one of them,
saying that they must accompany him to the station-
house. The policeman, however, who had seised the
[can as described, was immediately attacked by his
companions, who were armed with life-preservers,
and when the other policeman went forward to his
assistance with bis staff in his hand one of the fellows
drew forth a pistol, and, presenting the muzzle at his
head, with a❑ oath swore he would blow out his brains
if he interfered in the rescue of his associate. A strt2g•
gle then took place, during which the four men used
their life-preservers, and succeeded in effecting their
escape from the two policemen, who were very much
maltreated on the occasion. The horse and cart, how-
ever, fell into their bands, and on examining the vehicle,
a bag, containing a great number of picklock keys, large
and small, some of them of the most ingeniotts construc-
tion, and adapted for opening almost every description
of lock, together with "jemmies," centre-bits, dark lan-
tern, and matches—in fact, every requisite instrument
for housebreaking was found at the bottom of it, :towed
away underneath the seat. In the course of the came
night the police cf the district succeeded in appreheende
ing one of the 'men, who is now in custody. His coLn-
panions, it is expected, will also be secured, as their
persons are well known. The horse, which they must
have driven from London, is one of extraordinary speed,
and capable, it is stated, of going a great distance in an
incredibly short space of time. The animal, as well as
the vehicle, is now in the hands of the police.

LECTURES ON CHEMICAL
AGRICULTURE.

It must be well known to all habituois of the Royal
Polytechnic Institution how every branch of the arts,
manufactures, and science is duly considered and die.
cussed in the lecture theatre and hall of this in-
structive place of amusement. But we perceive that
even the claims of agriculture and its important con•
nexion with chemistry has not been forgotten by the
ever vigilant directors of this institution. We were
truly pleased to see so many agriculturists (evidently
visitors from the Great Cattle Show) seated to beat
Mr. 4. H. Pepper's plain lecture on the first or simple
principles of agricultural chemistry.
The lecturer commenced by observing that be was
not there to teach farming, it would of course be too
ridiculous to suppose that any chemist could give a
farmer practical experience. The object of the
lecture was simply to demonstrate the valuable and
important connexion between the two. The Frc2-
fessor then proceeded to show, by analogy, that if it
is possible to observe and trace out the growth of the
human frame, that it must be equally within the
power of the chemist, by analysis, to discover the
proper food and growth of plants. Soils contained
their aliment, viz., certain organic and inorgao
elements, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, earthy
bases, acids, and other elements. Plants must, of
course, represent the soil from which they spring.
Water, organic matter, ash or earthy matter were
then proved by numerous interesting experiments to
be the proximate elements of the vegetable world.
The business of the scientific farmer was not only to
afford decaying organic matter to the soil, but also to
take care that the earthy bases and salts were ap-
plied in due proportion. These and other instructive
points were supported by conclusive arguments, by
good experiments, and a great number of excellent
diagrams of soils, manures, &c., &c.

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF MR. SMITH O'BRIEN.—
On Sunday and Monday the Victoria cutter, commanded by
a man named Ellis, was observed hovering about the island,
the wind being light until evening, when it fell calm.
Shortly before sundown, Mr. Smith O'Brien, who, notwith-
standing his avowed intention of escaping should an oppor-
tunity offer, has considerable liberty allowed him, want
down to a sandy cove, one of the few places where boat's
generally land, and just as he reached the shore a boat
with three men put in, and he rushed up to his middle
to meet it. A constable on duty covered him with hie
piece, and called to him to forbear, seconding this by rush-
big at the boat and knocking a hole in her bottom with hie
carbine. lie then pointed out to all four the folly of resis-
tance, and required them to submit quietly, which they did.
The officer in charge, meantime, haying missed his pp-
toner, came rushing down the beach, and secured him while
still in the water. He was then conducted to his house, and
the three men confined for transmission to Hobart Town. A
whale boat with six hands was sent on board the cutter,seised her, and brought her in. she, too, with the parties
on board, will be sent up immediately. It has notbeen
thought necessary to impose any restraint on Mr. S.O'Brient
greater than that. to which he was previously subjected....
Sydney Advertiser.
INCREASE OF OUTRAGES IN THE COUNTY AEMAGH•
Telegraphbeens states
ates
committed,th at
"andin
n
veiling in the baronies of 17pper Ferns and L ,
pper Orier,' a
c;bnbseocggen? nce
pre- of
enragesa•ry haying
_The
1 t'e
meeting of magistrates is about being convened, to me-
morialise the Lord. Lieutenant for an augmentation of the
county constabulary in those baronies.
MR. BASTARD THE PERVERT.--ThQ establishment
at Kitley, and also the mansion at Buckland-on-the-Moor,
belonging to E. R. P. Bastard, Esq., have been entirely
broken up, with the exception of a cpuple of persona engaged
to look after the house.