ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1668, 23 June 1875, Page 2

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) London, May 4.

STRAKGERS IN THE GAtLERY

It is probable that something will shortly be done to amend the the anomalous condition of affairs existing between the press and the House of Commons. The matter was first brought into a strong light about a fortnight ago when the publishers of the Times and Daily News were summoned before the Bar of the House, for having published a let,ter reflecting upon a member of the House, which letter had been read before a committee. Perhaps this would have led to nothing, but in order to force a final settlement of the status and relations of the press one or two of the members, connected with journalise, have exerted that stupid and almost obsolete practice of calling the attention of the speaker to the presence of strangers. The result of this little game on the part of an Irish member called Biggar the other night, was to cause the expulsion of the Prince of Wales, who had come down to hear a debate on the breed of horses. This was too much for anything, and the Prince was re-admitted by the suspension of the standing orders of the House for that evening. However it was evident that sort of thing would never do, so it is probable the condition of press men will be made pleasanter than it has hitherto been. At the present time it is udeniable that were it not for newspapers Parliaments might as well not exist, and it is fully time the profession was more considered.

CAPTAIN BOYNTON'fi TRIP ACROSS

THE CHANNEL

You will have heard something of Captain Boynton, the American experimentalist, and his attempt to cross the Channel in his swimming dress, and I don't know that I have anything particular to tell you about him. All the papers have gone into hysterical ecstacies about the performance. Why I can't imagine, unless it be because th* Queen has taken a lively interest in the Yankee swimmer. We are dreaHful toadies, we. Anglo-Saxons, and the facfc of that amiable old lady with a weakness for Athol brose and tombstones, who is the nominal head of the Church and the nation, taking a fancy to anything; or anybody is quite enough to set us all to work howling pceans in its or his honour. The long and short of it is that Captain Boyton's invention means nothing at all. It is a modification of an ordinary diver's costume. It is quite impracticable for any ordinary occasion, and- may be classed among the curious things of no real service. His attempt to cross the Channel was nothing very wonderful. He was accompanied by a steamer, and was refreshed from time to time with brandy, soup, and cigars, and finally lifted out of the water after fifteen hours' immersion, and carried ashore comfortably. The thing was chiefly remarkable in my mind in consequence of the very jolly time we press fellows had of it on board the Eambler, of Gravesend, accompanying the American. If I have time, I will endeavour to semi you some account of the fune which was quite out of the common run of press work.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

The date of departure of the Arctic exploring vessels has not yet been fixed, but they are almost ready in all. rep oots, and the sooner they get away the > tter for t-heir chances of success, as the wii.tlinS! fleet has already departed. Happening 1 o he ia Portsmouth the other day, I went to have a look at the Alert and Discovery, and the appliances connected with the expedition, which are being exhibited to the public. Dogsledges', man-sledges, boitp, water bottlf-s t^ be carried in the bosom, stoves, preserved meats, ice knives, saws, and r>o!es are amongst the curiosities on view. This expedition will start with much better chances than any that has ever preceded it. So many important inventions have of late been made in connection with travelling appliances that the probabilities of achieving the objects of the search may be said to have increased ten fold.

THE WAR RUMOURS

Since my last date there have been some ugly rumours touching the ppace of Eurone, arising out of an article published in the Berlin Post. I enclose you a copy of the article in question, and you can judge for yourself whether people were justified in fancying that mischief was brewing. Things are not by any means satisfactory, I can assure you, and it seems as if a very little spark would once more set the waves of war rolling over the Continent. It will not ba from France that the provocation will come. The French have had enough fighting for some time to come, but the Ultramontanes are doing their infernal be3t to stir up discord, and it is from these pseudo-Christians that the cause will come, whigh will start the tocsin of war and death.

THOMAS CARLYLE,

The latest anecdote about Mr Carlyle is of unusual excellence.- It is to the effect that the grand old thinker was dining out with a friend, and that hi 3 table-neighbour was one of those shallow, fussy, babbling people, with a smattering of everything who are so common or so troublesome in society. The bore related his dinner with Mr Carlyle after this manner : " Really, Mr Carlyle is very poor company. In society he is nowhere. He can talk of nothing. I tried him in art, literature, history, everything, and could make nothing of him. He cannot converse a bit. In fact he puzzles me. He scarcely opened his mouth all dinner time, but at the end of it he cried out, ' For Heaven's sake put me in a room by myself and give me a pipe.' "