The Bee-Hive : — 1869-03-13 (London, England)

EARLY ARRIVAL OF STORKS.  A journal -mentions the apparition of a flight of storks, and hence argues that we shall see no more winter this year. It may be as well to mention that on more than one occasion the arrival of migratory birds of this description has deceived the inhabitants of the latitudes. For example, it is recorded that in 1625 the weather continued very mild up to the end of February, and clouds of storks arrived and established themselves in the neighbourhood of Tours. Their return was regarded as a happy omen, but the weather suddenly changed. and there was a hard frost during the whole of March. Mere than a hundred years afterwards, if we are to believe the Mcrcure Galant, the storks made another mistake, and arrived in France a month before the snow and frost disappeared. However, they are not very liable to error, and are still respected in France with a veneration bordering on that accorded to them by the ancient Egyptians and the Red Indians of North America. The stork certainly possesses two great requisites for preservation—it is useful and tough, it is voracious as regards vermin, and its flesh defies most appetites. In parts of France the boxes placed in the trees for these birds to inhabit form a peculiar feature in the country. The male and female stork, after passing the winter on the banks of the Nile, return to their old box : they are proverbial for their domestic fidelity. At times the peasants tame a young bird and keep it through the winter, when it becomes an inmate of the house, and is soon on free and easy terms with the other inhabitants.  BANKRUPTCY OF LORD ALBERT CLINTON.—This bankruptcy case again came before the con.missioner in Basinghall-street. The bankrupt, Albert Sydney Pelham Clinton, commonly called Lord Albert Clinton, was described as late of St. James's-place, Piccadilly, and other addresses. of no occupation. He was adjudicated upon the petition of a creditor on the 3rd of October last, and on the 13th of the same month he obtained an order for release from Whiteeross-street Prison. At the last sitting held on Jan. 29, it appeared that no accounts were filed, and the hearing was adjourned at the bankrupt's expense. The aecounts have since been prepared by Mr. C. Brown, and show the following result : Creditors unsecured, £21,146 ; ditto, holding security, £2,436 ; ditto, payable in full, £46. Property in the hands of creditors, £3,396 consisting of bankrupt's leversionary interest on the death of his mother, formerly Countess of Lincoln. The bankrupt es imates his expenditure to have been at the rate of £4.500 a year during each of the two years before the adjudication. The largest creditors appear to be mouey-lenders at the West-cud. Mr. Sydney appeared for the assignees. and Mr. Linklater supported the bankrupt, Mr. Roberts, who appeared for creditors claiming to ' prove, desired to investigate the accounts : and, after some discussion, the hearing was adjourned f, r additional information.  THE ATTEMPTED MEMDER AT ALDERSHOT CAMP. —Mr. Inspector Smith, of the metropolitan police, apprehended Private Alexander Wilkinson, of the Ist Bavalion 25th King's Own Borderers, on a charge of attempting to murder another private of the same regiment, named John Gleeson, by stabbing him with his bayonet on Monday. the Ist inst. The prisoner had, since the commission of the act, been confined in the regimental guard-room, but by direction of the camp authorities he was taken into custody in order to be dealt with by the civil power. On being taken b(•fore Capt. Birch, one of the magistrates of the northern division of the county of Hants, he was formally remanded until Thursday, 4th inst., when he will be brought before a full bench of magistrates at Aldershot. Wilkinson, woo it was said was under the influence of drink, although a defaulter and confined to barracks, made a stab at the corporal of the escort that was conveying him to the guard-room; but, fortunately, the bayonet caught in one of his button-holes, and only inflicted a bruise on his breast. The prisoner, shortly after his arrest, made a most determined attempt to commit suicide, and is, consequently, closely watched by the police.  PRESENTATION TO A. HARius, ESQ., OF THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA HOUSE, COVENT-GARDEN.—The close of a more than usually prosperous season at the royal Italian Opera House, Covent-garden, has been signalised by a presentation of a very interesting nature to Mr. A. Harris, the highly-esteemed stage-manager. The testimonial consists of a magnificent centre-piece in silver (from the well-known atelier of Benson, of 25, Old Bond-street), in which a central stem, beautifully modelled and chased, supports a richly-engraved and cut-glass fruit-dish, is surmounted this a vase for flowers. The base on either side s surmounted by a semi-nude female figure, in a graceful recumbent position, and the whole is mounted on a carved and polished ebonised stand, hearing a silver plate with appropriate inscription. The presentation took place on Saturday evening, the i 6th inst , after the performance, n the presence of the artists and employes of the establishment. and many private friends. who were desirous of testifying in this manner to their appreciation of the untrorm urbanity anti kindness of feeling which have always characterised Mr. Harris durinWthe many years of his connection with the Covent-ga-den house. .AMONG the strangers present at the last ball at the Tuilcries, Miss Milner Gibson was one of the most admired. ller dress was composed of pale rose-coloured hauze, with roses looping her skirts and roses in her air. 

Article type: Incident