The Sun. — 1870-05-18 (London, England)

SUICIDE OF A "SPIRITUALIST."—A. chemist's assistant in Melbourne, named George Thompson, has destroyed himself by taking prussic acid. The only reason his friends could give for his desire to put an end to his life was that his mind had become affected in consequence of his having joined the ranks of the Spiritualists. The coroner's jury adopted the same view, declaring in their verdict their opinion that the deceased was of unsound mind, " brought on through reading books on Spiritualism." The following till has been circulated and posted throughout Fermanagh :—" Rise, sons of civil and religious liberty, Orange and Green ! Meet me in Enniskillen on Friday next, in Fair-green, in defence of the Queen and her throne, in defence of your lives and rights, in defiance of all party government, in defiance of ascendancy and police magistrates who write in the press that peaceable inhabitants are shocked to see loyal men carriny arms to defend themselves against assassination. United we stand ; divided we fall." Great excitement prevails, and shots have been fired in the streets.  It is probable that the Tariff Bill will fail, as the Protectionists have a majority in the Representatives when they-unite their forces, althk,ugh the irouruasters of Pennsylvania have been defeated. Mr. Wells may have his office of Commissioner, which shortly will lapse, and his tenure renewed, though he does not want it, as it has made him one of the best -abused men in the country, while the pay scarcely suffices for the support of his family. He, General Hawley, White of the Chicago Tribune, Grosvenor of the St. Louis Democrat, Nordhoff of the 'Evening Post, the lafe Secretary of the Treasury, Mr 3/PCulloch, and Amasa Walker, met at Washington to discuss the position, arriving at the conclusion that the business depression throughout the country is attributable to the absurd tariff, and the irredeemable currency. As regards the latter they propose contraction as a means to resume specie payment; a reform iu the Civil Service; and, of course, for the former a modification of the tariff, deciding to push for these objects regardless of party. Mr Covode and other prominent Representatives declared ou Thursday during a debate on the tariff amendments that the bill was certain to fail.  The Representatives were brought up by the Speaker the other day with what sailor's call "a round turn." Like naughty schoolboys they played truant, but unlike schoolboys they are paid for the work they are supposed to do ; so they have ❑ot even the schoolboys' right to absent themselves without leave as they have been in the habit of doing. For the preceding two months the absentees averaged about 75 daily, little less than onethird of the House. Mr. Dawes, who is acting as Speaker, moved on the 23d of April to curtail the indefinite leave already granted to May '2, unless otherwise ordered by the House, and a copy of the warrant to the sergeant-atarms for the arrest, of members was given. Next day brought a crowd before the bar, and the House suspended business to hear the excuses. A member from Kentucky was a very good boy, and bad never been absent befure ; bad only been delayed by stopping to purchase some books. One gentleman was excused, as he was illin bed on Friday evening; it was not, however, on his own motion, for he did not ask to be excused, but, on the contrary, pointed to the example -he had been set by other big boys—the Chairmen of the Committees of Ways oad Meals and on Appropriations. The latter happened to be Mr. Dawes himself, who declared that he had not been absent as asserted, though at the time . of adjournment be was not in the Hall ; Mr. Schenck, however, could not rebut the accusation, for he had been out on a spree all Thursday, and had had the Tariff Bill postponed, while he was larkingabout Virginia with his Ohio friends. In a penitent tone he admitted the fact. Ho had gone to Mount Vernon with the Ohio Assemblymen who had come up in a body to Washington ; but it was the only day he had taken for recreation during the session, and the fine inflicted would be cheerfully paid. Mr. Lynch commented severely on the ludicrous appearance of the two members—the ono in his capacity of judge, and the other as prosecuting attorney. Mr. Dawes, annoyed at theso remarks, asked what the gentleman from Maine meant ; and, after receiving an explanation, asked if he (Mr. Lynch) had any respect for what belonged to a gentleman ? to which Mr. Lynch replied by expressing his great respect for Mr. Dawes himself. It appears that those Ohio legislators bad acted as a sort of disorderly inundation, for other members had to be excused as they were entertaining them; and one day On being admitted to the privilege of the floor the noise fairly overpowered the Speaker. General Schenck gave notice that he would  move fora call of the House daily to ascertain, as he said, who were present, but we prosumo ho meant who wero absent.