Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 453, 7 March 1857, Page 8

Miscellaneous.

Ameeican Slavery.—The extreme advocates of slavery in the South have assumed a bold attitude, and taken their stand upon entirely new ground. According to several quotations made by the ' Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Gazette,' a Freesoilpaper.from pro-slavery journals and the speeches of pro-slavery men in the South, there is now a seriously propounded suggestion for enslaving all working men, white as well as black I Thus writes the 'Richmond Examiner.: —Until recently, the defence of slavery has laboured under great difficulties, because its apologists (for they were mere apologists) took half-way grounds. They confined the defence of slavery to meVe'negro slavery, thereby giving up the slavery principle, admit- < ing other forms of slavery to be wrong. The line of defence, however, is now changed. ' The outh now maintains that slavery is right, - 'tural, and necessary, and does not depend ■on difference of complexion. The laws ri'the we States justify the holding of white men in ndage." Another- pro-slavery paper, the iding one in South Carolina, says : —" Slavery the natural and normal condition of the labour- .£ man, whether white or black. The great il of Northern free society is that it is .burned with a servile class of. mechanics and ■ourers unfit for self-government, and yet . hed with the attributes and powers of cities. Master and slave is a relation in society necessary as that of parent and child, and the '.u'thern States will yet have to introduce it. - -air theory of free government is a delusion." •j 'Richmond Inquirer' thinks that "the ..^riTiient of universal liberty has failed"— it is " unnatural, imrnbral.and unchristian," mist give way to that system which is "old c world, universal as man," viz. the slave urn. " Free society !" exclaims ' Muscogee bama) Herald,' "We sicken at the name. at is it but a conglomeration of greasy rae.iics, filthy operatives, small-fisted farmers, moon-struck theorists?" The people of Northern States are " the northern hordes," u.iuj are " hardly lit for association with a ■thorn gentleman's body servant." The •nth Side Democrat' lias "got to hating evury.ig with the prefix 'free,'" and " {Lboniinat.eV New England free-schools "because they ! free." The ' Alabama Mail,' alluding to the •oofcing of an Irish waiter by the ruffian Herrt (a'Dcajocrat Congress man, who, on, being iud, was aequittrd); says:— "It i» getting ue that waiters at the North were convinced at they iare servants, and hot'gentlemen'in sguise. We hope this ' Herbert affair, \sl\ •ch'them prudence." Senator Butler (the -.:le of Mr. Preston S. Brooks) proposes to dis- . iichiso all men who do not possess a certain nount of -property in negroes "or land, and ys that this may already be done legally in .uifch .Carolina;'and I.he ' Day Book' "(one of .ie 'two papers'in New York which support laverv) suggests, that, the- children of native Americans,■GvTiiians, ai;d Irish, whose ■ parents uuiot su|)!>pri,■the!!-.,Vh!)iild be sold into.slavery. "•Why. do the m'en holding these opinions call themselves '; democrats?"

TnE\MfNJi:KAr- Riches oir New Zealand. • —ln spin«" quarters considerable doubts have been expressed with regard- to the mineral ■riches of New. Zealand. Direct evidence on the jeefc uiay probably tend to lessen if not to Asi such doubta. I have just returned i'rom

New Zealand. A literary mission, to which I will not myself more immediately refer —induced me to visit every part of the colony, from Auckland to Otago. During my.inland rambles various specimens of;gold, copper, and. other minerals, peculiar to-the localities'in which they were found, were submitted to my notice. The Province of Nelson, however, is the only one in which professional mining operations have at present commenced. Within nine miles of the Town of Nelson may also be seen unmistakeable proofs of. the existence of a copper mine (opened but not yet worked), which, in the quality of its ore, promists to equal any in the world. These, and other of New Zealand's valuable resources, are only partially developed. The cause for their remaining in their present dormant state may be attributed to the great want of the colony—the want of labour. — Correspondent of a Daily Paper.

A Storm in Cyprus.—The alternation of the vine plantations with those of mulberry and cotton was very pleasant to contemplate; whilst, as we rounded some bluff, we had often before us bare masses of rock surrounded by ihipiature forests of cypress-trees'and dwarf-oaks, in the most picturesque contrast. At one moment we were shut out from all prospect of the sea by abrupt hills and steep irregular rocks, whilst the mountains,which we knew-to be far distant, appeared in -the clear blue air to be drawing ever nearer and nearer to us; at another, the distant hills were quite excluded from our view by overhanging trees, whilst the broad waters of the Levant washed the very pebbles at omyfeet. The heat was great, but by no means oppressive, whilst the frequent thunder-storms which burst over Cape St. Andrias and Cape de Gotta were rather welcomed than, dreaded, so clear and. refreshing was the air subsequently. The approach of one of these numerous thunder-storms is strange and somewhat portentous. A dark heavy cloud rises over the horizon to seaward, spreading its deep black shadow over the silvery waters. A faint ripple travels regularly over the ocean, to be succeeded by a threatening heaving of the sea, as if its mighty bosom were oppressed by throbs of anguish which it would shake off by sighs. The tops of the trees all around quiver, although there is as yet no breeze ; the birds scream and flutter irresolutely about ;■ the distant mountains lose their blue panoply, and put on a robe of dusky brown, or envelope themselves altogether in dark clouds. All nature is aware of the impending tumult, a :1 awaits trembling. Every animal has sought shelter, and where in Cyprus'may not ruins be found to yield it ? The hoarse rumbling of the distant thunder is heard now, above the screaming of gulls and the sharp cawing of the rooks. A dark cloud overshadows us, and a few large drops prelude the coming deluge. Two or three vivid flashes oflightning, distinctly visible on the dark back-ground of the clouds, are followed by the roar of heaven's artillery in rapid succession, whilst a whole cataract of water is poured out of the black reservoirs above. The sea dances uneasily, every little wave capped with foam; the wind howls through trees, or amid the ivy-covered ruins— howls mournfully— the lightning flashes—the thunder roars. And now a gleam of sunshine bursts over the grass around. It is but momentary, but it is a. certnin harbinger of calmness coming. Another gleam. The rain dies away into a mist j the misfc gives place to a flood of sunshine. The drops on the leaves and on the blades of grass, and on the wet flowers glitter like gems. The sea calms itself with many a rough shake, like some rude animal. The distant mountains throw off their dark coverings, and put on their blue mantles again.. All nature is joyous. From a thousand tiny throats a song of praise bursts forth—the animals emerge from their hiding places The beams of the sun soon dry up the abundant moisture, and, amid a cool, clear, bracing air, the travellers go on their way rejoicing.— Jßlackwood's Magazine. A Model City.—:We can imagine a city with no ground floors ; with every house upon an elevated foundation ; the drainage, the gas, and the water supply, carried on through ducts easily constiucted, accessible in every part, and under constant inspection. We car. imagine the railway on the same level, noiselessly distributing its hundreds of thousands' regularly throughout the day; the omnibus—lumbering make-shift of a half civilized community— disappeared : the horse, rude slave of a barbarous unscientific time, preserved only as the slave of the rider for pleasure; a builded esplanade

above the railway; above the aqueduct, th* drainage and gas ducts, on a level with the lowest floor of the houses; the whole of the under* derground of life accessible to the inspector and the workman, ventilated, and "constructed to assist in maintaining the health of the whole metropolis, instead of being the source of poison. We can imagine trades and callings distributed into classes and districts ; the penny railway ride being only a customary portion of the rent. The houses of all classes, palaces ; the roofs, emancipated from smoke, garden terraces ; and the view from any elevated tower, a picture of health and beauty, of animated movement without crowding.— Spectator.

Mutual Attachment.^ —A lady walking on Broadway a short time ago, a gentleman's batton caught in the fringe of ;her shawl. Some moments elapsed before the parties were separated, "lam attached to you, madam," said the gentleman, good-humouredly, while he wasindustriously trying to get loose. *' The attachment is mutual, sir," was the good-humoured reply. A Good Choice. —A schoolboy being asked by the teacher how he should flog him, replied, "If you please, sir, I should like to have it upon the Italian system of writing—the heavy strokes upwards, and the down ones light."

Why does a blacksmith seem the most dissatisfied of all mechanics. Because he is continually striking for wages.

The Stranger Guest—At the Lockbar Agricultural Society's dinner an incident occurred which formed a very interesting finale to the day's proceedings. A gentleman, apparently a tourist, arrived at the liotel just as the party were to sit down to dinner; he asked, and was immediately granted permission to join. Throughout the evening he made himself particularly agreeable, and :;is health whs proposed as " The Stranger," and very cordially drunk.. On rising to return thanks, he said, " In the course of my life I have seen some rough days and many pleasant onus. I have lived ten months in a snow-drift without once waiming myself at a fire. I have had my mocassins cut oft'niy legs with a hatchet; I have had to kill my own food with, my own giui, and I have been reduced to the necessity of living on bones; but all these things are easily forgotten when I meet such a pleasant party as is now around me. As lam a>i entire stanger to you all, and as 1 iiave received so much kindness from \om, it is but fair that you should know w;u> 1 am. \ly name is Ray, and \ o.u may have heard it associated with the Franklin expedition." At this announcement the astonished party started to their feet and gave Dr. Rae a most enthusiastic reception. The cheering lasted several minutes, after which Dr. R;:e showed some of the art cles which had indicated the probable fate of Sir John Franklin and his party. Th'^e consisted of a piece of gold and two silver watches, a small anchor, several coins, a spoon with a crest engraved on it, &c. -Dr. Rae has been on a visit to Mr. Edward Elliee, M.P., at Glenquoich, and was on his way to Metizies.— Edinburgh Courant,

It appears that Mr. Spurgeon has paid Cheltenham a visit. A correspondent of the • Cheltenham, Examiner'observing that audible laughter from a whole congregation., though it be excited b\ the preacher, is rather iudecoious in a place of worship, quotes a few of his strange sayings :—

" I believe there may be holy devils seven- or eight weeks before there are Unitarian Christians." —" There is not a sheet of brown pnper between a Unitarian and an iv.fidel." —" Some people make fools of themselves in the pulpit."—" Some of my brother ministers I don't entertain an infinitestimal grain oi' respect for."—"Some of you will perhaps say, 'My life is short.' Come, I'll stick it on a save-all; God likes to use up all the small pieces

of candles. "■

■ li Little faith would be drowned in a

cart-rut after a- heavy- d.:\v."—-" Faith is milk—full assurance is cream : if the milk stand long enough cream will come, or it must he some of the London mixture."—" Prayer and Faith are like the Siamese twins'; when one is. ill the other'is ill." -

Some weeks a^o the captain of an English frigate biought his family ashore to show them the lions of Seville It appears that'the ladies of the parry wore hats, bnt.the Sevillians unhappily disdisapproved of this style of head-dress, and manifested their displeasure by howls and growls. A mob collected, consisting of priests, and many persons who, from their atiire, mig'it have been supposed io beioi)<r to the upper class cf s-och-iv. ant! the barbarians positively pelted our countrywomen, who were compelled to'retreat precipitately across the Plaza Magdalcna lo ii.c 'Joiida de Madrid, wheie they found protection.

Increase .jf Publications.—The'numhn- of "book packets," exclusive of newspapers', which now pass through the London Office, is at the raw of about 1,400,000 pev annum, being ;m increase of more than a million, or 273 per cent, on the number in 1854. .