ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 15 February 1851, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

The Guardian of the 16th of October \vas_ brought by the "Castle Eden" from die Gape of Good Hope. It contains no news of much importance. The Queen and Prince Albert had returned from Scotland to Osborne, cold weather having set in earlier than usus.l. The returns of the Quarterly Revenue had been published. There appeared a considerable increase on the year's revenue over that of the previous year, but the quarter's return was less than that of the corresponding quarter in 1849. The steadiness of the English, funds had ceased, and they had taken an active turn, advancing to an improvement of 1 percent. Consols stood at 97& for account: three and a quarter per cents at 98^ to U ; Bank Stock, 209. 210; Exchequer bills, 655. to 68s. p.m. There was a rumour of a bill to be brought into Parliament next session for dividing the dioceses of London and Westminster, and creating; an additional diocese of Southwark. The Morning Chronicle has commenced a set of letters from its commissioners on the State of the Rural Population of different parts of the Continent, commencing with France. The first meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge since the long vacation was held yesterday afternoon, at their rooms in Lincoln's-inn-fields. The standing Committee, in accordance with, a notice given at their last meeting, recommended that the sum of SfiOOl. should be granted and placed at the disposal of the Lord Bishop of Toronto, towards the endowment of a College of a permanent character, in connection with the church in his diocese. A letter was read from the Lord Lyttelton, requesting, in behalf of the New Canterbury Association, a grant in aid of the endowment of the Bishopric about to be established in that settlement. His lordship stated that the Association was pledged to the appointment of a Bishop (the Rev. Thomas Jackson), who would take the spiritual charge of the settlement, and to provide for him an adequate endowment out of the produce of the land sales. It was stated that a considerable portion of the new diocese would extend beyond the Canterbury Settlement. The standing Committee proposed, and it was unanimously agreed to, that a grant of 1,000/. should be made in aid of the objects mentioned in Lord Lyttelton'sletter.— Guardian, October 11th.

The masters, students, and officers of the Training College, Battersea, presented Dr. Jackson with a Testimonial in the shape of a handsome piece of plate, consisting of a centrepiece, or epergne, executed in bright and frosted silver, and representing a tree with drooping branches, at the apex of which rises a gracefullyshaped concave of the same metal, in which is a cut-glass receptacle for fruit or flowers. On three sides of the pedestal are three appropriate inscriptions :

"Presented to the Rev. Thomas Jack?1 jn, D.D., Bishop Designate of Lyttelton, New Zealand, and late Principal of the Training College, Battersea, by the masters, students, and officers of that College—Sept. 10, ]850."

The right hand inscription is as follows:—" This offering* is respectfulty made by the Masters and Students of the Battersea Training College, in grateful remembrance of valuable talents and services devoted to the training of schoolmasters for the Church of England during a period of six years. They sorrow in parting. But while they remember his persevering zeal and the distinguished blessings which have attended his labours as Principal of the college, they feel the assurance that in his exalted station abroad, be will be as favoured and successful as he has been in England."

The third side contains the following names of the Testimonial Committee: Treasurer, Mr. G. Martin; Mr. Thomas Tate. Mr. C. F. Zurhurst, Mr. J. P. Viner, Mr. J. L. Kemvorthy, Mr. G. I. Stevenson, Mr. J. W. Marriott, and Mr. W. "William.

It was presented at a breakfast" held in the gardens belonging to Mr. Fowndes. Amongst the guests were several of the promoters of the Canterbury scheme.

The following announcement of the progress of the building- for the Exhibition of 1851 appears in the Times of Saturday :—" At length the actual work of erecting a building wherein the products of the Industry of all Nations are to he collected has been commenced. Within

the vast boarding" which has been put up round the site selected n busy scene presents itself. The levels and measurements of the ground necessary before commencing" operations have all been completed, and the iron pillars upon which the structure is to rest are being iixed in their places. A large portion of the materials to be used are already within the enclosure, and the working sheds and other preparations and facilities for pushing- on the great undertakinghaving been finished, the inhabitants of the metropolis will now, from day to day, be able to watch the progress made. In three months from this time, an edifice, constructed entirely of iron and glass, covering more than eighteen acres of land, and capable of giving house-room to all that is rare and valuable in human industry, is to rise from its foundations. Within as short a period it seems almost impossible to imagine that a work of such magnitude can be completed, but those who have undertaken the contract, and are responsible for its performance, speak confidently on the subject. In the mean time there is nothing" to be seen within the enclosure but heaps of iron, a few sheds, some cranes, two or three slender scaffoldings, and about 250 or 300 workmen, all busily engaged at their appointed tasks. At the main entrance crowds of labourers are collected in the hope of employment, and where between the cracks of the boarding a glimpse of the interior can be obtained, the idle and curious assemble to watch."

The Doncaster Gazelle announces the serious illness of the Duke of Newcastle, giving- no hope of his recovery. The Earl of Lincoln arrived at Clumber on Monday week, and, Lords Charles and Robert, and the Ladies Clinton, are in hourly attendance on their noble parent. Prayers were offered for his Grace on Sunday last in Worksop and other churches in the neighbourhood. The replies at the town residence of his Grace to numerous inquiries represent his Grace to remain " much in the same state."

The Manchester subscription of working men to the national monument of Sir Robert Peel amounts to 150/., subscribed by thirty-six thousand persons, besides which there are still 250 subscription lists in the hands of the canvassers, which should increase the number of subscribers to at least fifty thousand, and the subscriptions to upwards of 200?.

An importation of a cerial grain, resembling Indian corn, but of a smaller and whiter descriptioiij having- taken place from Jaffa, and some doubts existing as to its liability to duty, the case *as submitted to the consideration of the authorities. It has been decided by them, after the inspection and hearing the opinion of the trade, that tlie grain was admissible free of duty.

The Lentil.—A New British Crop.— The lentil is at present exciting- considerable attention as a garden and field croj) in Scotland, and seems peculiarly adapted for cottage allotments. The analyses of chemists shew it to be highly nutritive : and indeed it contains more nitrogenous matter than any other legime. Its nutritious qualities have been known and acted upon from the earliest times, as is shewn by its mention in Scripture ; and at the present time it is extensively used in continental Europe, and especially in the East, where it is considered " the best food for those that undertake long journeys," while " the Hindoos add lens to their rice diet Avhen engaged in laborious work." It remained for M. Guillerez to bring this crop before the notice of British farmers, through the medium of the Scottish Agricultural Journal, and his experiments have proved highly satisfactory. Lord Murray has also taken up the subject, and his lordship, it is said, contemplated sending up the produce of his crop to the great Exhibition of 1851. The following is M. Guillerez's useful account of the mode of preparing- lentils:—" Steep the lentils in cold water an hour or two ; withdraw them in a goblet with enough of water to cover the surface, a little butter, some salt, flavour with parsley, place the whole on a slow lire. They must boil slowly, and you must take care to add water enough to keep the surface covered, but merely covered. You may boil them with ham, bacon, sausage, or merely with water and salt, to prepare "them afterwards with onion, a la mailre d'holcL In schools, barracks, or large boarding establishments, they are often boiled merely in water and salt, then they are allowed to cool and. the water run out, and in that slate

you dress them with oil and vinegar, &c; li] ie a French salad. When the lentil is bruised, or ground into meal, it makes an excellent'puree* with wild fowls or roasted game. It is prepared also like peas for soup, dumplings, puddin<>&c. One single pound of meal makes a sufficient soup for fifteen persons, or a pudding-, dumpling (puree) for six, and the pound costs from two to three pence in France and Germany. Being" more nutritious than potatoes, peas beans, &c, they would make a capital substitute for the iirst vegetable, especially in times of scarcity, should it be proved by experience that they grow in this country more luxuriant* even than in France, and now I have no doubt that they will grow, since the lentils sown by me last year in Queensferry are more luxuriant this year, than the seed I got from Lord Murray and from France, which is the best test that they are already acclimated."