English Extracts.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 26, 31 January 1844, Page 3

English Extracts.

Average Speed on Railways.— In a paper read at the last meeting of the statis* tical Society, the following returns were given, as showing the average rate travelled oa lines which (he greatest speed is attained Average speed, Railways. exclusive of stoppages. Northern and Eastern 36 miles per hour, Great Western 33 Newcastle Sc North Hiields.. SO North Midland *9 Birmingham and Derby 29 Midland Counties 21 Cheater and Birkenhead .... 28 .. London and Birmingham .... 27 Manchester Sc Birmingham .. *5 .. The average speed (exclusive of stoppages) on all the lineals 2t{ miles per hoar. Execution of Charles M’Cay at Glasgow.— I Ins man suffered the extreme penalty of llte law upon a gibbet, which had been erected during the preceding night in fiont of the courthouse, and opposite the green. Me was tried on llte 28th ot April last, and convicted of having murdered Catharine M Kechme, Ilia wife, on the 18th of December precedtog. The orowd in attendance was immense. It is said that the amount of treasure, in gold, diamoods, &c. t captured by Sir Charles Napier at Hyderabad, fall« little short of three millions of money. The share of the gallant' General is eatis mated at not less than £200,000. A new coal-pit,[about 100 fathoms deep, was lately opened near the fort at Whitehaven, and has been named “Ihe Dill# of Wellington Pit.’’

Earl Grey whs a»rrealty indisposed ; his elde# •on, Viacount Howick, had arrived in town from Daicbet, to be in constaut attendance on the ooblo Ead. • ... Tbe merchants who claim compensation for the opium delivered to Captain Elliott, bave acceded to the terms proposed by government. Booth’s patent grease for railway axlei, is com* posed of common soda half a pound, and water one. gallon, to which 3lba. of clean tallow, and 6lbs of prim oil are added-; or, instead of these, 10 lbs of palm oil, or Blbs of tallow. The mixtare is then heated to 210 deg, Fahrenheit, and well stirred till it cools down to 60 or 70 dtg. Fahrenheit, when it is ready for use, The amount of gold and silver coin now in circulation in France is estimated, says the Conrrt'er Francois, at three million and a half of Francs. It is reported in London, that several fresh discoveries have been made of more Jaux pat by the employes in the Custom House; aud mo»t important disclosures are expected to be made in the manner basinesa-is allowed to be Conducted in this branch of the revenue. The number of marriage* celebrated in the year ondinp 30th June, 1842 wait' 114,431, according to Ihe rites of the Church. It, is evident, therefore, that four-fifth ol the Dt-we ner* marry according to tbe riles of the Established t butch. The Glasgow Union Banking Company and the Bank of Sir William Forbes, Bart., Hunter, & Co. ol Edinburgh, have united under the title of “ Ibo Uuino Bank of Scotland’'. " An insurrection of negroes hns broken out at MataozdS,aud the laihuad leading to Cardinal waa seriously injured by the insurgent?. The number of returned letters nas increased to such an* stem from ibeir being refused in conseqtirnco of not being pre-paid, that the post-office wnthorities are disposed to recommend to the Lordt the triastiiy the immediate abolition of prepayment in money, making it imperative on all persous transmitting letters through the post to use the stamps or stao ped euvellapes. General Boyes, ex-president of Hayti, is expeoted shortly at Haris. It is stated that the greater part of his fortune is placed in tbe French funds. A fire lately broke oot at Dobrona, in Austria, which destroyed’SCO houses, the Catholic oharcb. and the town hall. The Manchester and-Leeds Railway Compaoj have started three cheap train*, one of them tunning' to liuddetsfield and back*for one fare. The subscription for the family of the late Dr* Maginn amounts to half of which-has bee# expended iu fitting out the sou of the deceased ae a cadet for India' Tbe monument in oelebration of the patriot Hampden, was opened to tbe publio On the 19th June,'at a field at Chalgrose. Buckinghamshire, th# spot where 200 years ago he received his death woond, fighting wttb the royalist forces of Char* les I. The publication of Dr. Pusey’s sermon tot which he has been suspended, is delayed, in conse* qtienc* of the very serious illuess ot that gentle* mao. During a brief stay in Belgium ia 1810, the Emperor Napoleon who wm always simply clad, walking one morning, attended by only one aid-de-camp io th# gardens of the same palace, met one of the under gardeners, whose jovial face attracted his notice. The Emperor asked him if he wa3 contented and happy; “Yes, Sir/’ answered the man ( who knew him not) 44 lam in the midst of what 1 love, but I am on' y an under gardener, ’’ and at that word he sighed. Na» poleon, who never disapproved of ambitious ideas, smiled and asked hiax what he would desire ? * 4 Oh Sir, to tell you wou/d be a folly, as it is not to be obtained.” 44 Never mind,”-said the Emperor, “ say what it by magic then, if. I ever obtain what £ have so long dreamed of.” “I am not a magician,” replied Napoleon, 44 but I am attached to the Emperor’s household, and perhaps he might be ab'e to realise your wishes.’’ 44 You are too kind, Sir, ’’said tbe man, * 4 it is certain that his power could effect my object, which is to be head-gardener at the Palace of Malmaison.” “ 1 will think of it,” answered Napoleon, on the point of betraying himself, “ but do not dispair, ” and after some further conversation, the Emperor continued his promenade, leaving Brussels the succeeding day. For the two months which followed this interview very extraordinary ideas agitated the poor gardeners mind. He recollected every w ord that had passed, and, by dint of constant ( recapitulation, ha at last persuaded himself that he should receive speedily his nomination. A short time alter an official ‘letter arrived, with the Imperial seal.Mvhich on opening did contain the appointment he had so anx# iousiy hoped for. On arriving at Melraai* son, almost the first one he met there was his still unknown friend of Lacken. whom he only then discovered was the whose memory and power had been exerted in his favour, and who became the object of ever after. This person occupied the place of principa l botanical gardener at the death of his beloved mistress, the Empress Josephiue.