The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-31 00:00:00

MR. MURPHY AT HOME.

At the Ashton-under-Lyne Borough Court, on Thurs-
day, Thomas Jackson, landlord of the Theatre and Con-
cert Tavern in that town, was charged with keeping his
house open on the morning of the 22nd inst. without having
a special license. The defendant was also charged with
harbouring two of the borough police force on the same
morning. Sergeant Holland said that on the night of the
21st inst. he was not able to meet with Constables Ash-
worth and Clarkson on their beat. At ten minutes past
two in the morning, whilst under a window of the
defendant's house, he heard the voices of the constables.
Through the keyhole he saw the defendant's wife go with
a tray and glasses into the parlour, where the constables
were. Witness could hear distinctly all that went on in
the room. Bets were offered of ss. as to who could shoot
through the hat of a person they called Murphy. Witness
heard three shots fired. He knew the voices of the con-
stables and the voice of Mr. Murphy, whom he had
talked with and heard lecture. He was talking amongst
the others, but witness could not tell what he said. On wit-
ness knocking at the door Mrs. Jackson let the constables
out. When witness got into the room he there found Murphy,
who is a lodger in the house. There were with him his
assistant and Constable Eagan, who was not on duty.
There was also a man named Knott, connected with the
mill at Newton Moor, and a woman named Jane Chap-
man. Murphy had a glass of spirits before him, and he
asked witness to drink. The defendant's wife said they
all came in together. There was a revolver lying on the
table. The defendant's plea was that all the drink
had been ordered by Murphy, but not paid for that
night. The defendant also stated that the constables
came into the house and asked to look at Murphy, and
when they got into the room Murphy asked them to have
a glass.—Ashworth, one of the constables, stated that they
had whisky, which Mr. Murphy paid for. Murphy and
Knott shot, but only for sport. Murphy refused to bet.
The revolver was loaded, and witness saw marks made on
the wall.—The defendant was fined £1 on the first charge,
and 10s. on the second charge.---Murphy has announced
that he will hold a meeting in favour of the suspended eon-
ataDies, and he has made some stronQ remarks on the case.

It has been determined to erect a memorial
church in honour of the late Dr. John Lonsdale, Bishop of
Lichfield, in the town of Derby, which forms part of the
diocese over which he so long presided.

DISCOVERY OF A GOLDEN HOARD.—An old lady
named Evans expired last week in the town of Swansea,
and on removing the furniture from her cottage for the
purpose of disposing of it by auction a box, containing
1,600 sovereigns was discovered. As the deceased left no
will, the next of kin claims the well-kept hoard.

KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE ELECTION.—This election
took place on Thursday. Mr. W. H. Maxwell (Liberal)
was proposed by Mr. Oswald, of Auchencruive, and
seconded by Mr. Corrie, of Southport. There being no
other candidate he was declared to be duly elected. In
his address returning thanks he said he was a Liberal,'
but would support the present Ministry in any good
measure.

FINANCIAL REFORM. —A preliminary meeting has
been held at 10, Bridge-street, Westminster, of gentlemen
favourable to a reduction of the national expenditure and
taxation. The first resolution adopted was as follows :
" That in order to secure the full benefits of Reform, there
must be a large reduction of expenditure, an extension of
trade and manufactures and employment, and that
any surplus thus obtained shall be applied to the
reduction of duties on articles of general consump-
tion, especially those on tea, corn, coffee, sugar, and
other necessaries." It was also resolved that public
meetings should be held throughout the metropolis, one
at least in each parliamentary borough, in aid of the ob
jects of the association ; and a committee of influential
gentlemen was named to make the necessary arrange-
eats.

FENIANISM IN CHATHAM GARRISON.—The sen_
tence passed by the general court-martial which recently
assembled at Chatham for the trial of Privates J. Molloy
and P. Daley, of the 2nd Battalion of the Ist Royals,
having been submitted to her Majesty for approval, was
promulgated to the troops in garrison at a general parade.
Both prisoners were arraigned for using seditious and
Fenian language in the public streets at Chatham. At
the time the prisoners were arrested Daley was very
violent, and assaulted the noncommissioned officer in com-
mand of the escort which conducted him to the guard-
room. The court sentenced Daley to five years' penal
servitude, and Molloy to two years' imprisonment with
hard labour, both prisoners to be marked with the letters
‘:` B. C.," and to be dismissed from her Majesty's service
with ignominy.
The Conservative party in Bristol have at length deter-
mined to bring out a candidate to contest the seat soon,
to be made vacant by the resignation of Sir Morton Peto.
They have selected Mr. John Win. Miles, of Kingsweston
Park, a brother of Sir W. Niles and of Mr. P. W. G.
Miles. who formerly represented the city, to stand as their
champion. Mr. Miles is a member of the eminent banking
firm of that name, a director of the Great "Western Rail-
way, and of the Great Western Cotton 'Works. He is
also a member of the Municipal Council. The Liberal
Association has issued an address, asking the electors to
withhold their promises, "as a gentleman of undoubted
itness will solicit their suffrages." Sir Morton Peto's
cankruptcy took place nearly eight months ago, and his
party is still unprepared with a candidate.

Amongst the speakers at the annual meeting of the
Manchester Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, was
Mr. Bazley, the senior member for the city. The hon.
'gentleman said the prospects of the cotton industry were
brightening. There had been an `immense' depreciation
in the value not only of the raw material but also of
goods—the losses in Liverpool alone from this cause durin3,
the past year having amounted to little less than five mil-
lions—but the solvency of the district had upon the witola
been well maintained. He urged the chamber to con-
tinue their efforts to obtain permanent supplies of cotton
at moderate prices, for, "instead of depending upon
America and India alone, they ought to have twenty im-
portant sources of supply." Among the other subjects
touched upon in the hon. gentleman's speech was that of
the bankruptcy law. He pointed out the gross injustice
which creditors suffered under the existing system, and
urged the importance of pressing for a thorough reform of
the law.

Mr. William Howitt writes again to the Star on the
subject of the National Debt. It will be remembered that
in a previous letter Mr. Howitt shewed that during half a
century, for the most part of the highest national pros-
perity, the debt had maintained itself against all attempts
to reduce it. Mr. Howitt now lays down that
Peace, prosperity, and developing commerce cannot
arrest taxation or reduce the debt ; and he proves
his proposition by statistics. Pitt, he says, per-
suaded us to spend 1,000 millions of money, hut
the man who shall persuade us to discharge the debt will
perform a far more glorious task, The writer lays the
odium of our alleged loss of prestige in certain trades on
the National Debt, for he says we want to sell our goods
its cheap as we can, while our workmen require greater
wages than those of other countries, simply because they
have more taxes to pay.
Several eminent clergymen and doctors met on Thurs-
day at the town residence of Mr. Mitford, M.P., for the
purpose of taking steps to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases. It was urged that as these diseases were com-
municated to innocent persons, society ought to use means
to prevent the misery thus spread. Rules were drawn up
and an association formed, the object of which will be to
press for the extension of the Contagious Diseases Act,
1806, to the civil population of the United Kingdom.
Further, they will promote refuges and hospitals for those
who desire to leave their previous mode of life, and oppose
every shape of what is known as tho " continental
system." Dr. Skey sends an earnestly-written letter to the
Times arguing the case of this new association.

Mr. Gladstone has been speaking at Chester on a subjeo
upon which he holds somewhat pronounced views—the
finances of public charities. The occasion was the annual
meeting of the Royal Infirmary, and the Marquis of West.
minster was in the chair. The right hon. gentleman said
he was by no means sure that a deficit, provided it be mo-
derate, was not to be regarded as a healthy and useful
-feature in such anlinstitution, because it was not, liko
others, depending upon a limited fund. The rule for a con.
siderable standing surplus of income, so as to be con-
tinually acquiring invested property, would be a mistake.
It was well to pursue a liberal course, to meet, to the
best of their power, all demands made upon the institu-
tion, and trust to the benevolence of the community for
supply.

One of the parishes in the borough of Leicester has
furnished a striking illustration of the manner in which
the ratepaying clauses of the Reform Bill work. The
select vestry, finding that to summon defaulters would
cost the parish over £2OO instead of 20s. and less hereto.
fore, applied to the bench of magistrates sitting at the
town Hall, with the view of obtaining a reduction in the
Cost for summoning. It appears that in this one parish
alone there are no fewer than 2,250 persons who have not
paid their rates during the past quarter ; that rate col-
lectors are treated with the greatest contempt ; and that
were the people summoned it was extremely likely that
many would be found in such a state of poverty that they
would have to be excused payment. In as many instances
arrangements have been made with landlords to pay the
rates, but in the cases in question the tenants have had
their week's rents reduced in order that they may Duke
:the payment themselves ; still they refuse to comply with
the provisions of the Reform Bill. It has been decided
to oummon a few of the defaulters atfust, ftria example.

7
\00.:
Cart VtA*
--MEgtZ (44°/1 , 1
1` 1 c „

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Jan. 30.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by Princess Christian and Princess
Louise.

Her Majesty walked in the grounds this morn-
ing, accompanied by Princess Louise.
_. _ _

Since Monday last Prince Leopold has been con-
fined to his room by severe indisposition. His
Royal Highness is better to-day, and is progressing
very satisfactorily.

THE BISHOP OF CAPETOWN.

The following correspondence has been forwarded
.0 us :

" Iledgefield-house, Inverness, Jan. 25.
"My Lord,—l feel it right to inform you that
permission has been asked by the Metropolitan of
Capetown and two of his suffragans to allow the
use of one of our churches in Scotland, in which
they may consecrate the Rev. Mr. Macrorie,
Bishop Designate for the diocese of Natal. This
request is based upon the fact that there
is no provision in the English law for the
consecration of a bishop of ' a voluntary
religious association,' which, by the judgment
of the Privy Council, the Church in South Africa
has been declared to be. And we further are as-
sured that, unless the consecration of the Bishop
Designate shall take place before the Bishops of
Grahamstown and the Orange Free State leave
England for their respective dioceses, which they
do early in next month, very great delay in the con-
secration of the Bishop must take place, owing to
the extreme difficulty, attended with great expense,
of bringing together three Bishops for this purpose
in the extended province of Capetown.
" I have further to inform you that, in reply to a
communication from myself, his Grace the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury informs me that he sees no
objection to the consecration taking place in Scot-
land, in accordance with the request of the South
African bishops.—l have the honour to be, my
Lord, your faithful brother,

" ROBERT EDEN, Bishop of Moray,
&c., Primus."

" The Palace, Ripon, Jan. 29.

" Right Rev. Sir,—l have the honour to acknow-
ledge your letter of the 25th inst., in which you
inform me of the stepslwhich Bishop Gray has taken
with a view to consecrate a rival Bishop for Natal
in some church in Scotland.

" No one can more deeply deplore than I do the
existing state of things in the diocese of Natal.
But I sincerely deprecate the course which Bishop
Gray is adopting. The case of Bishop Colenso
has never yet been tried on its own merits before
any tribunal which the law of the land recognizes
as competent to deal with the question.
" Till this has been done, it appears to me that
the consecration of a rival Bishop will tend to ag-
gravate the existing strife and confusion, without
producing any countervailing advantage.--I have
the honour to remain, Right Rev. Sir, your faithful
brother,

~ R. Rum"