The Sun. — 1844-11-02 (London, England)

METHOD PRACTISED IN GERMANY IN PAINTING WALLS AND CEILINGS.—For large paintings it is desirable that the ground should ba somewhat rough. In Munich it prepared as follows:—A mortar composed of three parts of sand and one of lime is spread on the wall. When this is dune, the whole surface, while moist, is rubbed with a linen cloth ; the result is a granulated ground, like rough paper. For small works, ornaments, &c., the ground requires to be smooth, and in such casts finely-pounded white marble should be mixed with the lime instead of sand ; the mortar so composed being then carefully spread and made even. The encaustic vehicle is prepared as follows :—To one pound of rectified spirit of turpentine add half a p-)und of Damara resin and a quarter of a pound of wax. The resin should be pounded to powder, and the cut up in small pieces. Both are then to ba put into an earthenware or copper vessel, and the spirit of turpentine poured on them. Fiala the vessel on a moderate charcoal fire, so that the solution may take place slowly. When the ingredients are dissolved, the vehicle is ready for use, and should be kept in a glass bottle well stopped, to prevent the volatile oil from escaping. Should the mixture be • come too thick in time, spirit of turpentine may be added. The colours are ground in such a quantity ofehis vehicle as is necessary to saturate them. If during the grinding the pigment tends to set (dry), spirit of turpentine should be added. For extensive paintings the colours are kept in glass vessels. For smaller works they may be tied up in bladders, like colours for oil painting. The same colours which are employed in oil may also be used in encaustic-painting.—The Builder.  SUICIDE OP A PARISH OFFlCER.—Thursday forenoon Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an inquest on the body of Mr. Robert Fairs, aged 49, at his late residence, No. 3, Charles street, Northampton-square, Clerkenwell. It appearad from the evidence that the deceased held the office of registrar of births, marriages, and deaths, for one -of the districts of Clerkenweu, as also that of a collector, which latter situation he had filled for a number of years, and was highly respected by the parishioners. On Tuesday morning the deceased got an rather before his usual time, leaving his wife in bed. From thence he proceeded to the servant's room, and told her to get up. Some time after this the servant went down stairs, and on entering the back kitchen she found her master lying on the floor weltering in blood, he having cut his throat in a shocking manner. An alarm was given, and medical aid procured, but life was extinct. The deceased had been very desponding of late in consequence of pecuniary embarrassments, and had only a few days before endeavoured to take poison, but was prevented. The jury ultimately returned a verdict of " Temporary insanity."  On Friday afternoon the Bankruptcy Court was crowded during the examination of Michael Jacob, a Jewish hoiolvent. The keen and cautious answers of an  . -ancient Hebrew, named Alexander, living in— Sunderland, created ciasiderable amusement, and the order of the Court was now and then disturbed by laughter, as the wily dealer parried the cross-examination to which he was subjected. Among other questions, the Commissioner inquired what sum the bankrupt had asked of the witness for certain spying-glasses, to which Alexander replied, in the true phraseology of Holywell-street, that he had asked " a good prishe."-7'yne Mercury. STABBING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OY the e:,.l,ibition of the laughing gas, by Professor Elliotson, at Washington Hall last evening, a sailor under the effects of the exhiliration cut the rope with which he was Confined, rushed amongst the spectators, and seizing another sailor, gave him several severe and dangerous wounds with a jack-knife. The wounded man was taken across the street, and upon examination by physicians it was found that a deep wound was inflicted under the shoulder, and another in the back, near the vertebrm. The sailors were unknown to each other. The wounds are not considered ,iportal.—Boston Post.