ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 391, 15 October 1869, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The “Gazette” of the 10th of August publishes a proclamation by the Queen, which declares that gold coins made at the Branch Mint at Melbourne, in Victoria, shall be, from the date of publication in the “ Gazette,” a legal tender within all parts of Her Majesty’s dominions in which gold coins issued from Her Majesty’s Mint in London are now a legal tender. The Thames Tunnel was closed asa public footway on the night of the 20th of July. This undertaking, which at the time of its design, was considered a masterpiece of science, and which formed a communication auderthe river between Rotherhithe and

Wapping, was, after numerous difficulties, finally accomplished, and opened on the 23rd of March, 1843, having been commenced by Sir I. S. Brunei in 1824. The total cost was about L 600,000, but the East London Railway Company recently purchased it for a Httle over half that sum. The company will run their trains through the tun nel, their line bringing the inhabitants of Wapping, Shadwoll, &c., within easy dis canoe of Soutbwark-park. A gentleman who started from London for Edinburgh on a bicycle on Saturday morning, the 14th of July, reached his destination on Wednesday night following. It is stated that neither rider or vehiclee was the worse for the journey. The following letter, sent by the Queen to Mr. Peabody, on the occasion of his leaving England, is published by th “Boston Post”:—“ The Queen is very sorry that Mr. Peabody’s sudden departure has made it impossible for her to seo him before he left England, and she is concerned to hear that he is gone in bad health. She now writes him a line to express her hope that he may return to this country quite recovered, and that she may then have the opportunity, of which she has now been deprived, of seeing him and offering bira her personal thanks for all he has done for the people. There is a pauper now in the Paddington Workhouse whose history is a very sad one. He was at one time a director of the Marylebono Dank, and when it failed was served with a writ for L 150,000, He subsequently acquired a large fortune in the Southern States of America, returned to England, and was again ruined by the downfall of Overend and Gurney. Her Majesty has contributed LIOO to the funds of the University College Hospital. Mrs. Arabella Mansfield, a lady of twenty four years, has been admitted to the bar in I >wa, and praolices in partnership with her husband. A duel took place on, the sth August, in the wood of Vesiuet, between M. Gustave Flourens and M. Paul de Cassagnac. The weapon chosen was the sword, and the terms were that one of the antagonists shoo'd be so disabled as not to have power to continue. The seconds of M. Florens were MM. Ulrich de FonviHe and Arthur Arnouhl, and those of M. de Cassagnac MM. Duchec and fie la Garde. The duel lasted twenty-five minutes, and both combatants evineed the utmosteool ness, courage, and address. M. Flourens had the reputation of be ; og a being a more skilful swordsman tbau his adversary, but the latter bad in his favor thegreat advantage of afrequent experience in affairs of the sort. M. Flourens having been wounded successively in the right arm ami side, was at last run through the body just beh.w the light breart. A long f lintiug-fit led the spectators for some t> me to believe the wound mortal. Fortunately such was not the ease, and a r t.cr having vomited some blood M. Flourens recovved his consciousness. He was transported to Chatac. where every attention was paid to him, and on til's following morning Ifis position was so much improved as to allow Ifis removal to Paris. M. de"Cassagnac had been confined to Ifis bed for nearly a week, and got it'p for the purpose of proceeding to ibe ground. After having, on bis return, devoted a few minnto?, to his family, he returned to his cbqmber, whore he remains in a state of absolute repose. The cause of the encounter was a short a rtie'e in the “Pays” ream king on M. Flourens’ po l deal opinions.

They are bail-ling an air ship on the model of the California invention. Its owners announce that they will complete it within two months, and they expect it to carry them to Europe in fifteen hours. It may, but it is more likely to carry them to the other world in fifteen seconds.

A duel has just taken place Chant [ally between an English gentleman named Russell, said to Vie a relative of the Duke of Bedford, an i M. de la Poeze, a French u'entleman. • A quarrel respecting a female frequenter of one of the (lancing gardens iu Paris i said to have been the cause of the meeting. Swords were the weapons used. M. de la Poeze received three wounds, one of his lungs being perforated, and he lies in a dangerous state. Mr. Russell seems to have escaped uninjured.