The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-01-19 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

BRANDY FROM COAL.—Brandy distilled from coal is one of the proposed applications of chemical science to support the wants of man, which is just now creating some sensation. Hitherto brandy has been made indifferently from potatoes, wine, beetroot, and other vegetable sources ; but from coal, villainous black mineral,!mirabile dicttc! The experiments of Berthelot, which demonstrated the possibility of producing alcohol from common coal, have so seized upon the imagination of some French Yankees, that it is seriously proposed .to distil alcohol first from coal, and after dilution to give it the colour and taste of the best vin cognac. I have no doubt that the thing will be tried, for brandies have risen enormously. Possibly it may succeed, for Frenchmen are not only ingenious, patient, and persevering, but very enterprising. For the information, probably amu'ement, of your readers, I may state that the modus operandi is as follows: Coal gas is first distilled in the ordinary way, and conducted into a receiver. It contains about eight per cent of hydrogenous bi-carbon in a gaseous:state, which is separated therefrom (rather a complicated affair), and introduced into a close vessel, containing sulphuric acid ; the vessel is agitated until the acid absorbs the gas. Water is then mixed with it, and the whole distilled for alcohol, which is brought over. Good news for the Londonderrys and Lambtons, if the chemical experiment should prove capable of being applied to a manufacturing purpose. Our coati districts transformed into brandyproducing countries, rivalling with Angouleme itself, will be one of the curiosities of the nineteenth century, although, probably, our children may find nothing unusual in asking for a drop of the best old Northumberland, or, a glass of Durham water, hot, with a slice of lemon, and not too much sugar.—Alining Journal. MURDER OF ABo y.—A few days ago the body of a lad, four years old, was discovered in the river Exe, near Starcross ; and the state in which it was found indicates too plainly that the deceased had come by his death by foul means. The face and head were enveloped in a black apron, which was Dinned tightly, and fastened by strings round the body. A coroner's inquest has been held, at which Dr. Pycroft, who had made a post-mortem examination of the body, gave it as his opinion that death was produced by violent means. A verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown" has been returned, and active steps are being taken to obtain a clue to the perpretator or perpretators of the murder THE ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AT CHURWELL nesday, an inquest was held at the Leeds Court-hotk before Mr, Blackburn, borough co Groner, on the body David Steel, who had died from a gunshot wound received during a struggle which took place on Sunday morning last, on the premises of Messrs. Crowther and Co., woollen-cloth manufacturers, of Churwell, between a gang of thieves and a number of watchers. The evidence tendered on this occasion showed that after the thieves came out of the mill, two of the watchers, named Holroyd and Hirst. rushed forward, the latter calling out to the thieves, "If you don't stand, I'll fire!" ImmediatelY afterwards Holroyd was knocked down, and then a shot was fired by the thieves, apparentlyfrom a pistol. Hirst heard the' whiz of the shot-aitpssed close to him on his right side, and he immediately fired in the direction of the thieves. The deceased then ran past him in the direction of the watchhouse, which communicates with the road, but fell near the door. lie lay there for a short time, until the other thieves had been secured after a very desperate struggle, when he was found in an exhausted state. lie was removed to the Leeds Infirmary, where he died on Tuesday morning. After a lengthened inquiry, the jury returned a verdict of "justifiable homicide." Richardson, one of the watchmen, who was seriously injured, is recovering.  of which he has  70n_ Wed.  TRADE REPORT  -FRIDAY  Corroisi: In the cornmelij•lnent of the week general dulness characterised the Cotton Market, but prices remained without material change ; yesterday, howevef, on receipt of —' announcing the unconditional terms propesed by the Allies, a brisk demand was expe I acceptance by lidiisii, of th  I considerabl  zeneral