MISCELLANEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 13 March 1865, Page 3

MISCELLANEA.

Till! GOVERNMENT AND THE RAILWAYS. — The Times City article save:—“ With reference to the fact that under the administration of Sir Robert Peel, in 1844, an Act of Parliament, introduced by Mr Gladstsne as President of the Board of Trade, was passed to enable the Government, on certain terms, after twenty-one years, to buy up all such railways in the United Kingdom as might thenceforth bo constructed, a report has become current among leading persons in the City that a large measure is now under the consideration of the Government to effect upon the bases of these powers a comprehensive change in the railway system of the United Kingdom. Kext year the stipulated twenty-one years expire, and the proportion of the existing mileage that will ultimately be liable to come under the operation of the act in question is believed to be nearly 85 per cent. The main condition of payment fixed in the act is that the amount shall be equal to 25 years’ purchrse of the rate of profit of the three preceding years, provided such profit has not exceeded 10 per cent.”—ln a leading article upon the same subject, however, the following explanation is offered : —“ We do not believe that a proposal to buy and work Railways has ever been entertained by the Ministry, but it may well happen that the attention of Mr. Gladstone has been recalled to the Act which he’ passed 20 years ago, and that the policy of some modification of our Railway legislation has been considered. It may have been thought that the relations between the Government and Railway Companies have been unsatisfactory, but hitherto the companies have been independent proprietors who could not be interfered with ; the time provided by the Act of 1844 was about to expire, and new arrangements could be introduced, which Railway Companies must accept under pain of being bought up. In the free development of Railway enterprise lies the security of travellers against exorbitant fares, and, indeed, even now we know that competition prevents overcharge. But the freedom of enterprise is not inconsistent with a strict supervision of the method of working Railways, and should be supplemented by it.”

Happiness.— The idea has been transmitted from generation to generation, that happiness is one large and beautiful precious stone, a single gem so rare, that all search after it is rain, all effort for it hopeless. It is not so. Happiness is a Mosaic composed of many smaller stones. Each taken apart and viewed singly, may be of little value, but when all are grouped together, and judiciously combined and set, they form a pleasing and graceful whole —a costly jewel. Trample not under foot, then, the little pleasures which a gracious providence scatters in the daily path, and which, in eager search after some great and exciting joy, we are so apt to overlook. Why should we always keep our eyes fixed on the bright, distant horizon, while there are so many lovely roses in the garden in which we are permitted to walk ? The very ardour of our chase after happiness may be the reason that she so often eludes our grasp. We partiugly strain after her when she has been graciously brought nigh unto us.

Chase and Destruction of a Blockadeeunnee.—The Bermuda Advocate gives the following account of the chase and destruction of the Lynx while attempting to run out of Wilmington on the night of the 26th of September : —“Having passed safely over the bay, the pilot acquainted the captain with the fact, when he directed his course due east, The order had no sooner been given and the helm answered, when the night became brilliantly illuminated by rockets and blue lights from all quarters. Shot after shot was fired in quick and rapid succession near and over the gallant little ship. The first one, passing through the wheelhouse, wounded the man at the wheel, and threw particles of glass and splinters over a lady passenger who had taken refuge therein. Captain Heed directed Ins steamer through the narrow passages between the hostile ships. Speed alone could save the ship from the whizzing balls, for the calmness of the sea gave the enemy too great an advantage in firing. The little steamer leaped and trembled through the water, passing successively each of the enemy’s ships, as each kept banging, banging away. A rifled shell soon passed through the cabin below the water-line, and again near the passenger who had descended from the wheelhouse. Seven more in rapid succession, struck the ship, and each time she trembled |like an aspen leaf. At one time the enemy were so near as to give the orders lor Captain Heed to heave to. 1 Drive her, Mr. Lake, drive her!’ was the cool response of the captain. A whole broadside renewed the enemy’s order, yet the Lynx, uninjured in hull, sped rapidly onward, with her immense power. 120 shots in all were fired at the ship, besides a voliy of musketry, which, whistling through the air, rattled against her sides. Ten of the fleet were thus passed, amid the most rapid and effective fire yet directed against any blockade-runner. The steamer, having now passed the blockaders, had her course changed direct, and Mr Boggs, chief officer, was sent to ascertain the damage. He soon returned, and reported eight shots below the waterline and the steamer sinking. The idea of running out and in the same night was objectionable in the extreme, and no thought of surrender once entered the captain’s head. Still, no fear or trepidation was felt by any one. All were subordinate and obedient to the captain’s orders, and no breach of discipline once occurred to mar the management of the ship. The Lynx was headed for the beach, the cotton cargo buoying her up. Fortunately the engine compartment was uninjured, and the motive power, pushed to its utmost, drove the sinking ship onward to her now certain end. Every preparation was made for the safety of the crew and passengers, ’file steamer at last struck —her steel hull sprung forward with the concussion, and on the next swell a few more yards were obtained. In the midst of perfect coolness, as if embarking fur pleasure. Captain Heed directed the transfer of the coin and bonds himself, and the pilot left the ship with the purser and passengers. No good boat was now left, yet all the crow, in perfect discipline and obedience, promised to stick to the last. The carpenter soon reported the boat repaired. The rest embarked ; Captain Reed and Chief Officer Boggs were the last on board. Six barrels of spirits of turpentine were poured over the equally combustible cotton, and almost with tears in his eyes and with a heavy, heavy heart, the captain applied the torch to his ship.”— Times, Dec. 30. ,

A Sailor JuAtPixa From a Twain at Furl Speed. —On Friday morning, about lour o’clock, as the mail train going north was passing through Broughton, on the Lancaster and Preston Railway, about a mile south of Broughton and Barton station, a sailor, a passenger in one of the secondclass carriages, stepped out of the train as it was going at full speed. He fell on the line, but fortunately received no further injuries than slight bruises on one shoulder and one knee. There were three other sailors in the same compartment, and all of them having been partaking rather too freely of grog, they had been fast asleep. One of them awakening, or only partially awakening, being under the impression that he was at Ids journey’s end, got up with the intention of alighting, and stepped out, but was surprised on finding himself cast to the ground with much force. On recovering from the shock of his fall, he saw the signal light of the station at Barton ahead, and made his way thither, and related to the astonished-station master his adventure. He remained at the station about four hours, until the arrival of the next train widen stopped there, when he was sent onwards. Except that ho startling story of a Muller-like catastrophe followed the discovery of the sailor having fallen from the carriage, the incident is something like one which occurred on the Loudon and North-Western Railway a few days ago, when a drunken sailor fell out of the train, when at full speoed, and his companions were apprehended on a charge of murder, and were only released on their companion appearing in propria persond and unhurt, to tell the police he had not been murdered. —Preston Chronicle.

All but the Notes. —lt is said that when Thomas Scott, the commentator, published an edition of 'the “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” with explanatory notes appended, he presented a copy to a pious but ignorant couple in his parish. On calling upon them some time after, he naturally inquired how they liked the book. Their reply was that they were delighted witli it, and understood it all perfectly, except the notes.