Miscellaneaus.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 445, 7 February 1857, Page 7

Miscellaneaus.

St. Petersburg Past; and Present.—St. Petersburg seems entirely empty of soldiers. To a person who hacT-never been here before it would certainly- appear more replete with them than any capital in Europe. But there is a great 'contrast with 1850, when I was last here. Then,- the army of Russia was as conspicious as the.Church of Russia. The military state of the country was as obvious to the glance as its devotional peculiarities. You could not walk' 500 yards without seeing a prodigious number of religious orisons, and martial salutes. Mujiks stopped and uncovered before the doors of churches ere passing;on': soldiers stopped and uncovered to let officers pass them, facing sideways towards these. If you closed your eyes, you still felt the circumambient übiquity of church and army. The bell tolled for prayers, and the peasant muttered : the drum beat to anus, and the captain bawled. Open your eyes again, and you were bewildered by the rapid succession cf unnumbered varieties of uniform and warlike costume fleeting by you in a phantasmagoria yet more complicated by the rival frequency of sacerdotal robes, monastic habits'," and the dress of licensed beggars, who extended: for your small change a worsted-covered plate of pasteboard, signed with a violet-coloured silken crossV Now, on the other hand, the ehivrch beats the army hollow in these palladian streets. The long purple robe of the bearded secular priest whose hair has never been cut, and hangs g-auzv, fuzzy, and semi-transparent to the shoulders from beneath his low-crowned and broad-brimmed hat, brushes you at every turn. The equally long black robe of the monk relieves your eye. The brimless, tall funnel hat of the Armenian, rakishly stepped, mingles frequent and conspicuous among the other headgears ; and, altogether, these ecclesiastical garments have become for the moment, a more prominent and distinguishing street feature than even the various regimentals. No doubt there will be at Moscow a grand Greek Church representative gathering as well as a military one. But mere numbers will not be for success in the former; while the number-—. the mass—will be the most imposing element of the latter: therefore it appears that St. Petersburg appears so empty of her wonted armament. —St. Petersburg Correspondent of the Morning Post. The English Language in Russia.—Nothing seems to surprise the English traveller iri Russia more than the frequency and correctness with which his own language is spoken, especially in all official quarters, .whether civil or military. A Russian does not speak English guturaily like a German, or nasally like a Frenchman, or disjointedly like a Dane : but naturally, like an Englishman ; and his air and mien aye, for the most part, so thoroughly in Saxon keeping with his tongue, that the bold Britain is considerably puzzled to account for the phenomenon. AH who frequented the Russian Court of the Hyde-Park Glass-Mouse, in '51. will remember how essentially English, in voice, look, and bearing, were the attendants who exhibited the malachite gates, Ural quartz and other natural treasures of czarland. It. seems that the same thing is a, source of constant surprise to every member of the Bull family who sets foot within the territory of the Romonofls. English resounds everywhere; and not,. merely in compliment to the English visitor, but as an ordinary every-day occurrence. Even on the Exchange of Sk Petersburg, merchants, when they mean serious business resort to English., using French for mere conventional conversation, the native vernacular being seldom

employed except among the lower ranks, and never by : foreigners. Eew things surprise the Russians:in-regard.to England^ but among those few is our '■■ amazement at Kossuth's proficiency in English; for they, say; that there are thousands of Russians who would speak it just as well; and they regard the gift of tongues as hy no means a marvellous faculty, though a very essential, and indeed in a public functionaiy an indispensable one. Hence, not .only in St. Petersburg, but ; in -Moscow, every red tapist talks excellent English, very often much better than the Englishman he may have occasion to talk to; , -„;■ Street Sketches in" St Petersburg-.—-As you stroll along, a pale Circassian-of the Caucasus passes you in the peculiar costume. of his country. You pause, to advance and think of Schamyl and his brave mountaineers, but -he ta.kes out a 1 cambric handkerchief to wipe his face, and lights a paper cigar, and the romance is'in a moment destroyed. . You turn suddenly, and are immediately jostled by two magnificent Persians in their high conical caps, and ■ long robes of. some costly eastern material, and involuntarily quote Tennyson —". Oiled and curled like the Assyrian bull" —as you gaze on their Ninevite physiognomies and imposing beards twisted into innumerable ebony corkscrews. Next comes a group of Russian officers, fine young fellows, nearly all over six feet, with delicate—almost English features, and wearing their long and somewhat ungraceful grey coats with commendable resignation. I must say, in passing, that I have frequently had to thank those gentlemen for the ready courtesy and politeness with which they invariably answered those inquiries with a stranger is obliged to make in getting through a large city for the rirst time. They all speak French, and many of them English, and are ready to assist you in any little perplexity that may arise in your peregrinations. The poor Mujiks are, I believe, equally willing to oblige, but to ask them a question, only exposes you to a torrent of fervent Sclavonic, accompanied by the wildest gesticulations, and sometimes an extempore hornpipe, j while the result is not of any very considerable ' assistance to your own organ of locality. I have watched these men with much interest and curiosity since .my arrival in Russia, and have invariably observed them to be tall and strong, in good physical condition, and having honest and open, though not always very intelligent countenances. The universal beard gives them a great air of manliness, and the manner in which they perform their work, which is often severe, indicates the possession of great muscular strength. The " Isvostchiks," the Russian equivalent for cabmen, are the finest charioteers | in the world. To see them urging their high- | metalled Cossack hurses along the Nevsky, you would fancy the Olympic games were being enacted over again, so rapid is their pace, so great the dexterity with which they dart in and out, and over, all obstacles. It is true that sometimes they leave, an unaccustomed traveller behind them on the wooden pavement, but they generally find it out, and comeback for him, giving him at the same time a caution to hold harder when, he rides in a drotschki. There were lots of them strolling in the Nevsky to-day, and they seemed very jolly and contented. A funeral next attracted my attention. The coffin was borne on a low carriage, decorated with tho usual trappings, and was preceded by mutes in cocked hats, and each bearing a light enclosed in what looked very like a miniature streetlamp. Greek priests followed, two and two, and looked exceedingly venerable in their sacerdotal robes, and long nowing beards. They are generally tall and handsome men. and are studiously graceful and stately in the performance of their religions rites.—St. Petersburg Correspondence of the Daily Nruon. Victoiua at N.\voLi-.o>-'s Gbave.—Victoria standing at the tomb of j&apoleon is a figure .which will haunt the fancies of poet and historian, ibr ever. Ages after the material witnesses of the great quarrel of the two nations may 'have perished, this touching witness of a generous reconciliation—of the tender homage of a Queen, who represents peace and good will, to the dead genius, who represented Titanic struggles arid a vast revenge—will remain, colouring history with romance. That the scene, will be painted, sung, and dramatised in coming generations we cannot doubt; for it Mends the. element-* of'all.pictorial beauty.—the dazzling ■ shrincvthe youthful Queen and her aU.enda.nfs, the grin) old warriors in their grey

cloaks and glittering casques, and in the dim light the face oi' that inscrutable personage who had brought the sympathising lady to the grave, —with the highest species of historic interest — the visible act which was to blot out past hate and extinguish ancient rivalry between two leading nations, which was to preach to both the humane lesson of forbearance, respect for each other's virtues and each other's strength— virtue too solid to be swept away by momentary revolution, —strength too real to be crushed under any combination. Meantime we are pleased to hear that the Queen has resolved to have this scene painted in her own time — a resolution pleasant in itself, and significant of a cordial sympathy continuing to nnite the courts —and to announce that she has commissioned Mr. E. M. Ward to execute the work. The picture will form an appropriate companion to the investiture of the Emperor as a Knight of the Garter, on which the same artist is engaged.— Alfienceum. MISS NIGnTINGALE AND THE WoKKING Men of England.—The workmen in a large manufactory in the neighbourhood of New-castle-upon-Trent, sent tin address to Miss Nightingale congratulating her upon her safe return to her home and friends. Miss Nightingale has returned the following reply":— " August 23. "My dear Friends, —I wish it were in my power to tell you what was in my heart when I received your'letter; your welcome home, your sympathy with what had been passing while I have been absent, have touclipd me more than I can tell in words. My dear friends, the things that are deepest in our hearts are perhaps what it is most difficult to us to express. * She had done what she could.' Those words I inscribed.on the tomb of one of my best helpers, whom I left in the grave-yard at Scutari. It has been my endeavour, in the sight of God, to do as she has done. I will not speak of reward, when permitted to do our country's work. It is what we live for. But I may say that to receive sympathy from affectionate hearts like yours is the greatest support, the greatest gratification, that it is possible for mo to receive from men. I thank you all, the 1,800, with grateful, tender affection : and I should have written before to do so, were not the business, .which my return has not ended, almost more' than I can manage. Pray believe me, dear friends; yours faithfully and gratefully, Flokenck Nightingale." Appeal to a Jury.—Gentlemen of the jury, I quote from Shakspcare when I say to you, "To be or not to be licked—that's the question." My client is a national stump machine—he flings his wrath in pailfuls, and it is ' dangerous to run a snag against his interests. Let me be made fodder for a fool, and chowder for a powder mill .if lie is guilty, notwithstanding the criminal absurdities alleged against him. Do you believe that my client is so destitute of the common principle of humanity, so full of the fog of human nature, so wrapped up in the moral insensibility of his being, as deliberately to pick up a tater, and throw it at the nasal protuberance of the prosecutor ? No, not while you can discern a star in the northern sky, while the waters of Ohio roll and the race of buffaloes nestle on the Eocky Mountains, this immutable principle will remain, that my client is a gentleman, tater or no tater.— -American %>aper. A"■ Royal Mattress.—-The ex-King Louis of Bavaria, who recently attained his seventieth year, was, a few days ago, waited on at his chateau at Ludwigshahe in the Palatinate, by a deputation from Strasburg, in which place °he was born, who paid their respects to him on the occasion. The King received them most kindly, promised to visit their city, and related to them a curious circumstance. At the time of his birth, in August, 178(5, his father, who was then only Prince dcs Deux Ponts, commanded the Alsace regiment in the service of France, which was in the garrison at Strasburg; and in a tew days after the birth he was astonished to see that all his grenadiers had cut off their beards and moustaches. On inquiring why they had done so, one of the men stepped forward and said that they had determined to beg his acceptance of a velvet mattress for the newlyborn prince, and that they had stuffed'it .with their beards and moustaches! " I have the mattress still," cried the king, "and will show, it to you!" .The mattress was produced, and the King added, "I do not think there is in the world a bed .which can be culled more strictly I military than that]"

Messrs. Willis advertise that old favourite the Cashmere, 620 tons, Pearson, for Auckland about the Isth November:—Arid the Maori, 700 tons, Petterbridge, for Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago about the 20th of that month. The ships placed on the berth by Messrs. Young, for Auckland, are the Royal Charlie 480 tons, S. R. Thomas, to sail October 20th • and the Kenilworth, 580 tons, J. Thorn, Nov.' 15th. For Wellington and Canterbury, the' Heroes of Alma, 800 tons, T. Silk, Nov. 15th. The Kenilworth is a fine Sunderland built ship - of 623 tons, placed'l3 years on the first letter. Plymouth, Oct. 17.—The barque Prince of Wales, Capt. M. Nolan, from New Zealand, arrived in the Sound this morning, She left Auckland on the 14th of July, and is bound with Admiralty spars for Portsmouth for orders. Spoke off the Falkland Islands, the Edwin Herbert, out 63 days, from Liverpool for Coquimbo. Among the passengers are Dr. Sinclair, lt:N.l who has retired from the office of Colonial Secretary, which he held for 14 years ; Mr. I). A; Brittan, Dr. Mahon, R.N , Captain Cooper 58th,'and Messrs. F. C. A. Boyds, F. B. Paul, and' F. A. Whitaker, who have presented Captain Nolan with a letter expressive of their approbation of his conduct on the passage home — Times, Oct. 8. The Black Ball clipper ship Indian Queen is reported by the Canterbury off Wellington Heads on the 28th ult. Addition of Fractions.—A case which demands the attention of the Committee on Adul - teration is mentioned in an Irish journal; and as the writer evidently speaks from sad experience, we are inclined to give every credit to his paragraph. He says: —"Poisonous adulteration of whiskey was never practised to such an extent as at present by the admixture of onethird spirits, one-third aquafortis, one-third vitriol, and one-third water! This is the sort generally vended in drams to the public."— Limerick Chronicle. —Now, whether the gentleman who penned this neat analysis had left one-half of his senses in his night-cap, lost onehalf in taking the dram which he analyzed, and only brought the remaining half to bear upon the subject, we cannot vouch ; but, as he is evidently acquainted with the arithmetic of the bar and the general chemistry of the public-houses, we do expect that his skill will be made available in bringing delinquencies of the class he has already exerted himself upon before the eyes of the country. Orthographic.—A shoemaker received a note from a lady to whom he was particularly attached, requesting him to make her a pair of shoes, and not knowing exactly the style she required, he despatched a written missive to her asking her whether she would like them " Wround or Esq. Toad." Tne fair one, indignant at this rich specimen of 'orthography, replied " Kneether." HOW THKY GI!T THROUGH BUSINESS AT Washington.—The Times' special correspondent describes the scene in the House of Representatives on the last night of the session:— " The race of legislation, accelerated for some time past, became a perfect rush, and the work of weeks was disposed of in minutes ; all the powers were highly condensed and in rapid action. To the outsiders it looked very like confusion; but perhaps it was more in appearance than reality. The committees and leaders have the thread in hands; and the Speaker, Mr. Banks, was cool, watchful, and self-possessed— the model of a presiding officer. The public galleries were filled to suffocation, though no party or 'campaign' speeches were expected— the time for oratory had passed,.; it was all clear and quick voting. Above all, the ladies had gathered in immense forec, and their gallery was one vast flutter of fans. Considering the state of the thermometer and the working day parterre of gentlemen they looked down on, their presence in such numbers was something of a riddle. The rotunda, which divides the ' house,' from the Senate, was the grand promenade of tlie night, and would have' been almost gay but for the serious, business-like look of the men—the expression seen on ' Change when the funds, are capricious and quotations fluctuating, many eager faces flitted about in the gaslight, arrested by nothing of art or nature round them ; others took matters more coolly,. sre oki ng the tim c away, having a private'understanding with destiny that made; them safe. Outside,.the rays of a biight southern moon fell pn the white marble portico and

terrace, a welcome retreat from the oven-like atmosphere within, .whence you. , looked, far throu"-hthe sum trier night, over 'the -mingling foliage and;rpofs of the well-wooded city, to the broad hel't of river beyond.it; below, carriages dashed up and "departed, with a louder rattle than at noon ; while in. the foreground gleamed the statue of Washington, directly facing the windowsoftheCapitaljblazingwith'light'at these unusual hours. He holds.his."right'iiand aloft in admonition—perhapsI'^.6'; economy, for the members have just votedthemselves ah increase of pay, and .the '.appropriations' of this ■ session amount to some 70,000,000: dollars. 'This is in hard money; but if the value of the lands granted to railway companies is' included that gum, it is asserted,.might'be nearly doubled. In fact, the Government of the United States is in a singular—amohff the governments of the world, the very singular—position of being embarrassed by riches. It-could'easily pay off its debt, but its bond-holders will not sell, and the" Treasury is.offering premium's of 10 and 16 per cent, for the surrender of its own certificates. If creditors will not be paid off, what can be done? The Federal revenue : increases - far beyond the demands of the exclusively Federal expenditure; it is at this moment rising to a! larger amount tha.h ever, from the enormous imports Europe is 'pouring through? the Customs. This pleasing; fabt is perfectly well known; and there is no lack of speculators upon it, quite prepared to relieve tlncle Sam of any inconvenient' superfluity, boldly maintaining that depletion ml such a case is a work of charity. The question1 is how the Exchequer can be"got at constitutionally. Increase of pay to officials whose salaries were fixed in simpler and cheaper times; magnificent public works, new: pxiblic offices on the grandest scale, new winajs and a towering dome to the ."Capitol.'till the official portion of Washington is wholly in r the hands of masons and architects ; books'published at; a scale of outlay that oUglit: to make literature look up and be proud, for £90,000 sterling spent on a single work oiit-does the; merely commercial spirit of 5 the Row;' exploring expeditions, surveys, experiments, may all be found opposite handsome sums in the estimates; vlastly,: the representatives have done yiolence.. to their feelings and doubled their own pay—a seat in either house is now worth about .'.£7000 a year—all this expenditure is far-from exhausting the Treasury. But 'there are other means of obtaining a hold .on it, more affected by the prailatory class this wealth appears to have called into existence. Never was a government that had so many .' claims, oh it; agency for claims is a _ regular profession; One bill" that passed in the rush of the 16th deserves to be noted, as it was on a subject likely, to have been crashed out of sight ■ unless a disinterested friend or two; had attended to it; it had no party Out of doors ito back it.: It is-a, bill.giving to dramatic", authors a copyright in their productions. Whether it will ultimately check the large importations of French produce in an English form, and of the scarcer original English article also, remains to be seen. Before, there was no protection whatever for the "writer, but as there are ma,ny cities and theatres, and a popular piece will>no\v pay its author, it is possible American ..talent may attempt the drama. The Act will not'apply to' English writers not resident in the country.