MISCELLANEOUS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 392, 14 September 1875, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The French Assembly, after disposing of 'bp B; ! t. will take up the bill relative to the t ; H o-ed tunnel between France and Fngluid A private bill with reference to the same project has already passed the British House of Commons, and is now before the Lords.

A London telegram of August 14th reports that the hop blight is damaging the crops, and the prospects are at present less favorable than hitherto. The Continental crop is also suffering from variable weather. An official statement by Caillaux, Minister of Public Works, to the French Assembly, estimates the total damage done to property by the inundations in the South of France, at fifteen million dollars.

The British survey of Palestine makes rapid progress. The last place identified is Bethabara, the ford of the Jordan where John baptised.

The Times of the 30th July reports that Henry Rochefort, on the 10th instant, sent a challenge to Paul de Cassaignac, calling him to come to Geneva at once, with seconds. The cause of the challenge was a certain article appearing in Le Pays , in 1872. De Cassaignac, replied with an excessively abusive letter, giving Rochefort the choice of weapons, and naming his seconds. Rochefort’s seconds have met those of Cassaignac, in Paris, to arrange for the duel. They claim that as their principal is the insulted party, he has not only the choice of weapons but the right to determine the distance. They then demanded that the men meet with pistols, at five paces, and shoot at the word of command. De Cassaignac’s seconds said this was simply murder, as when the arms of the combatants would be extended, the muzzles of their weapons would almost touch. Rochefort’s aids refused to admit the objections, and said that their principal, considering the importance of the case, had been very particular about the conditions. The friends of De Cassaignac then proposed that the distance be thirty paces, each combatant to be allowed to advance five steps after the word is given ; the time of firing to be optional ; the shooting to continue until one falls. Rochefort’s seconds declined this, and the matter rests for the present. The Daily News has a dispatch stating that a paper has been drawn up, signed by the seconds of both parties, declaring it impossible to settle the conditions of the duel.

Messrs Moody and Sankey brought their labors in England to a conclusion on Sunday night, July 12th, in the Camberwell-green Hall, which was densely crowded. There were three services during the day. On Monday the two revivalists held a final conference, intended only for the ministers who had assisted them in their labors, at Mildmay Park Hall. There were about 700 ministers present, of whom it is said 188 belonged to the Church of England. Canon Conway was among those who spoke. Mr Moody and Mr Sankey gave farewell addresses, in which they expressed their thanks to all concerned in their meetings. They are both said to have been very much affected, and Mr Moody at the end of his address quitted the platform suddenly and went away at once, in order to avoid the rush of persons who wished to bid him farewell. The chairs man of committee, on behalf of the rcvivalistsdeclined a proposal made to raise subscrip-, tions in order to present them with a testimonial.

Advices from the Gape of Good Hope state that in the Legislative Council a motion was to be introduced declaring it to be desirable that every assistance should be given by the colony to such a conference as was indicated in Lord Carnarvon’s despatch of the 4th of May. Another motion declares that the Council appreciates the deep interest taken by Lord Carnarvon in the welfare and progress of the South African colonies and States, and is of opinion that every opportunity should be given to them to discuss the important subject of their proposed confederation. The Cape Standard says that the vote of the Assembly rejecting the proposal of the Home Government was not arrived at on the fair merits of the despatch. The least which the colony could do, it considers, was to thank Earl Carnarvon for taking so mnch interest in its welfare, and to treat his desires with consideration. This, it believes, will be done by the Council. A Madrid telegram gives some account of the scheme which has been adopted by the committee appointed to frame a Spanish Constitution. The Senate is to consist of three categories of 100 membeis each—namely, one hereditary, the second elected by popular corporate bodies, and the third nominees of the Crown. Senators must have attained their thirtieth year. All Spanish grandees are also to be entitled to a seat in'the Senate, provided they have an income of not less than £2OOO a year. The Chamber of Deputies will consist of one representative for every 50,000 of the population, and will be elected for five years by direct voting. The King will have the right to dissolve simultaneously or separately the elective portion of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, but he must convoke the new Chambers within three months. The King will appoint the President and Vice-Presi-dent of the Senate, and will have the right of refusing the Royal sanction to bills passed by the Chambers. The public debt is placed under the protection of the nation. Both Spaniards and foreigners are to be allowed the free exercise of any profession or trade. Any person taken into custody must be brought before a legal tribunal or released within seventy-two hours of his arrest. No violation of domicile or correspondence will be lawful. Religious liberty is to be respected, and any Spaniard will be entitled to found educational establishments in conformity with the laws specially relating to public instruction. Either the Cortes or the Government may decree the suspension of the constitutional guarantee, but banishment will be prohibited. The breach between the Jersey States and the Government respecting the reorganization of the island militia is reported to have widened to a serious extent. The War Office required certain changes to be made in the Jersey militia, and prepared a scheme for that purpose. This did not suit the views of the island authorities, who in their turn prepared a scheme in which they left untouched the points on which the Government had laid the greatest stress, and dealt with others in a manner that excited surprise. The consequence is that the latter scheme has been rejected, and the Government, deeming further discussion useleis, has commenced to carry out its threat of stopping supplies. The pay of the adjutants and drill sergeants has been stopped—a step which is deemed preliminary to cutting off the annual grant for the whole militia service of the island.