Misscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 529, 28 November 1857, Page 5

Misscellaneous.

Pbincb Aibebt's Pbomotion.—Prince Al* bert has received the honour of promotion, but the public will be as much mystified as ourselves when it learns the rank to which the Prince has been raised. His Royal Highness has been promoted to be.' Prince Consort!" He is made what he already is. This seems to convert his Royal Highness, boldly, into a kind of identical proposition; and the conversion into himself raises in the mind a variety of puzzling questions as to the consequences. Nothing has been happier than the married life of the Prince hitherto; what is to happen after he is made officially * Prince Consort t' We observe that peraona who are appointed to any office under the Crown kiss han bon the. occasion; but it is not reported that Prince Alkerfc kissed hands 'on his appointment to b« Prince Consort* The

Leading Journal accompanies the first an nouncement of this intelligence with an ex pi a tion that only increases the perplexity. "N----one can object," says the ' Times/ "to the distinction which is thus conferred on the husband of the Queen after 17 yeare of married life." But when we look to the capacities of the House of Commons for objection, the assumption appears too strong. People might naturally object to the distinction, since it is a distinction without a difference, —unless, indeed, there is to be a difference, and then every reasonable person might object. Another explanation is still more incomprehensible. " Suffice it to say, that it makes Prince Albert legally, as he is already actually, a member of the British Royal Family." This compells us to ask in what relation he stands to the Royal children, if not " legally ?" Some questions had already been raised as to the position of Prince Albert towards the heir-apparent, as the Prince of Wales advances in years and takes a more conspicuous place before the public. The position of Prince Albert in the order of precedence had already been settled, and yet there was something indeterminate in his relations on public occasions. Perhaps that is now rendered more definite, though the public understood it well enough before. It is also explained, however, that hitherto Prince Albert had had no recognised or recognisable title abroad, and that his being made " Prince Consort of the United Kingdom"—whatever that may mean—places him in the " Royal" rank on the continent, whereas hitherto he has only stood in the " Serene" rank :—" Her Majesty has then certainly transgressed no bound of moderation when, after a rein of twenty years, she confers on her husband a title which, without giving him any authority at home, assures to him a high and definite ! position abroad. . . . His Royal High- ! ness the Prince Consort of the United Kingdom will be to us pretty much the same as his Royal Highness the Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. But, in spite of the poet, there is much in a name; and, if there be increased homage rendered to the new title on the banks of' the Spree or the Danube, the English people will be happy to sanction and adopt it." The Queen has indeed crowned the proverbial devotion of English wives; for what ordinary woman would thus actually equip her husband for going out " on the spree ?"— Spectator.

Ths New Guano Island of Elide.—The California papers of the beginning of July notice the arrival of the schooner Caroline E. Foote, Captain A. J. North, from Elide Island, Lower California, with a cargo of one hundred and twenty tons guano. The guano had been tested, and found superior to the Peruvian guano. This is stated to be the first cargo ever taken from that Island, which is claimed by Captain J. B. G. Isham and others. There are large quantities of it found upon the island, which appears likely to prove a profitable speculation to those engaged in the enterprise. A suit was pending between Captain Isham and Mr. A. J. North, as to the disputed ownership of the island, about which the ' San Francisco Herald' reports,—"Captain Ishatn was one of the first to become acquainted with the. rich deposits on the island, and lie, claims, in company with certain., associates, to own the guano thereon,.by-virtue of a deed of sale from the Mexican Government, within whose territory the island lies. With the view of taking possession, Captain Isham and associates fitted out the schooner Caroline E. Foote with provisions, men, guns, and ammunition, and left this port the Ist of May last for the island. But before this, Richard Perry and Edward Webber had gone to the island and taken possession—the former by virtue of having been the first to discover the guano. This he swore to; but we believe that one Captain Nye was the first to make the existence of guano on this island known to the world, and to him is ascribed the discovery. A mercantile hou«e in this city had obtained a ship load of the guano, and claimed an interest in the island. The complainants aver that, upon the arrival of the Caroline E. Foote at Elide, Captain Isham and others proceeded to a house which they had built, and, after some conversation, the captain drew and brought to bear on each a Derringer pistol, told them they were his prisoners, and commanded them to surrender at once, or take the consequences. Having no alternative, they surrendered, and were liberated on promising to go on board the vessel next day. This occurred on the" 26th day of May, and upon this, and some other coercive measures on the vessel, are founded the charges of assault with intent to commit felony. The suit was also commenced against a third person, named Benj. Bowden, but there was no proof that he had participated in the assault, and he was dismissed. Captain Isham and friends at first treated the charge in a frivolous manner, and did not deem it necessary to employ counsel, but finally employed Mr. S. Aeydenfeldt to represent them. The prosecution was conducted _by United States District Attorney Bianding. One material point of objection to the complaint was, that the offence was committed in the territory of Mexico, and therefore, not within the jurisdiction of the United States. The parties, however, being all American, Justice Hanrahan considered the;charge sufficiently substantiated to hold the defendants for trialy As the question of title was not at issue, no* documents were bi'ought forward to prove that defendants were the lawful owners of the guano.

We are glad to learn that all the principal Mahommedan inhabitants of Bombay have sent a memorial to Lord Elphinatone, expressive of thi-sr loyally and attachment to the British Government. The document is signed by Cazee, Mouvieß, and aU the great officers of the faith.

Visit op the Queen to the James Baines and the Champion op the Seas—The fame of the great clipper ships James Baines and Champion of the Seas (says the •' Times''; having reached her Majesty through the public journals and the reports of. the authorities, and those being now within convenient reach of the Court at Osborne, her Majesty, on Tuesday morning, communicated her desire to the naval and military commanders in chief at Portsmouth that the embarkation of the troops might not take place until she had inspected them, and the ships destined to carry them to their destination. Accordingly, "intimation was given to Captain M'Donnell of the James Baines, and Captain M'Kirdy, of the Champion of the Seas, by the port admiral, of the Queen's intention. At a quarter to six the royal steam yacht Fairy, Captain the honorable Joseph Denman, having on board the Queen, Prince Consort, the Princess Royal, and Prince Alfred, arrived at Portsmouth harbour. Her Majesty took position on the Royal stage and the troops marched past in slow and quick time, the band playing their regimental airs as they parsed. Lieutenant-Co-lonel Cameron crmmanded the 42nd, and Lieu-tenant-Colonel Kelly the 34th. Major-General Scarlett, was her Majesty's escort in this inspection; after which the royal visitors were conducted to the Lady Jocelyn. At the gangway Captain Bird received her Majesty, and conducted her round the ship and between decks, of the elegant and costly fitting and handsome accommodation of which vessel the Queen and Prince expressed their admiration. On leaving the Lady Jocelyn, her Majesty bowed her thanks and was conducted by "Colonel Wright to the James Baines; her majesty was received by Captain M'Donnell and Mr. T. M. Mackay the owner, at the gangway, and conducted by them over the noble clipper. Her Majesty personally examiner! the dry and neat provisions supplied for the officers and troops, and expressed her satisfaction at their excellence. She afterwards ascended to the poop and took a view of the great length of deck, thence decended to the troop deck, and walked round it, perhaps the most wonderful and unexampled between deck Her Majesty ever visited, and which appeared to create her lively surprise. On ascending to the quarter deck she thanked Captain M'Donnell, who had welcomed her Majesty to the James Baines, and lefb in her yacht for Osborne at 7 p.m., cheered by thousands of 1c: people aflo it and on shore. The James Baines and Chnmpion of the Seas embarked the 17th and 20th Regiments on Thursday, and were to drop out to Spithead on Friday. The embai-kations were superintended by Colonel Wright, in whose hands were placed the following noble letter by the owner of the Black Ball line of packets:—" On board the James Baines at Portsmouth, Thursday, August 6. My dear Sir, —As I know, from the experience of being a soldiers son, that there is more glory than riches in the profession of arms, I believe there must be many sorrowing hearts among the poor soldiers wives; and, as a substantial proof of the deep intere-t felt., by; the owners of the James Baines:aiwLthe Champion of the Seas. afe_these sad partings, I beg to encloses cheque for £200, which I shall feel obliged by your dividing between the commanding officers of the troops now embarking in these ships. Tour's very faithfully, T. M. Mackay. To Lieut. Col. Wright, Assist. Quarter-master General.

Phogkess of the Gbeat Eastern.—The results of the labour of more than 1000 men continuously employed upon the Great Eastern ar j showing themselves more evidently every day. During the last six weeks great progress has been made in every part of the vessel. The whole of the heavy parts of her machinery are in their places, and the work in this department is so forward that, with one exception, it could be completed, if necessary, in five or six weeks. The exception is the crank axle for one of the paddle engines, a new one having to be cast, which will be ready, however, long before it is required. The paddles are in a very forward state, and form very important objects. The whole of the side decks of the forward firstclass compartments are laid and bulked, and several of the state rooms are completed as regards the works of carpenters and joiners. These rooms will be of dimensions surpassing everything that ever has yet been seen in a ship. The arrangements for launcHng the Great Eiistern are also rapidly progressing, and it is now expected that important event will take place during the spring tides of October.

A few days since a girl of 17, residing at Bridgegate, Glasgow, had her neck fractured in a straggle arising from a young man having attempted to kiss her. No extra violence, it was said, had been used. The medical attendant reported that the injury sustained appeared to be partial dislocation of the vertebrae of the neck, causing great difficulty in respiration and swallowing, he presumed from pressure on the respiratory nerve.

The Government of the Netherlands have presented to the States General a projet de loi having for its object the abolition of slavery in the West Indies. The basis of the project will be an indemnity, which -is calculated at 34,000,000 guilders, to be paid to the proprietors of slaves.

The •Moniteur dv Calvados' states that a woi'kman of Orne, in that department, having read in some foolish book of the great properties possessed by a rope which had served to hang a man, committed suicide and left behind him the following note: —"Farewell my wife and children! as I have no fortune to bequeath I leave you an article which will enable you to succeed in all your attempts. Divide amongst you the rope with which I have hanged, myself."

A Comet. —The famous comet of 1556, was popularly expected to return on ;the 14th June, and to destroy the world. The fear of this disastrous event was spread all over Europe, leading to some serious and some ridiculous r-e.-ults.; Disturbances lately took place on the Russian ; frontier of Gallieia. The peasants, believing that the world was, about to come to an end, gave way to numerous excesses, and were guilty of encroachments on other people's property. The authorities were compelled to send for troops to put an end to the outbreak.—A rich manufacturer of Berlin became completely deTanged about the time when the comet was ex;pected. Hearing the explosion of a firework manufactory, about the time when the comet ■was expected, he thought (in common with rsome others) the last day had arrived ; and in a ifit of delirium he took up a hatchet with which 'Hie inflicted a severe wound on the head of a .-friend, and then pursued his wife and children »for the purpose of killing them. They cried for assistance and some neighbours came and succeeded in disarming the unfortunate man, •who was conve\'ed to the lunatic asylum.—A iearned clergyman," of Glasgow, at a prayer meeting of his flock took an affecting farewell -of them—remarking, in a very pathetic manner, that in all probability that v/as the last occa--sion up >n which thpy would meet in this world. A Mormon preacher at Southampton, said in his sermon—" Shall I tell you, 1113' brethren, •when the comet shall come and strike the earth ? When Brigham Young chooses to say the word, then will the comet come and strike the earth." —-Some sharp fellows on the Continent have •.discovered that tiie nose of the Man in the Moon is already flattened by a visitation of the comet, and that therefore it must be very near.—The emigration from Conuaught is said to have doublad since the approaching destruction of that wicked district by-the comet was first announced, the inhabitants hiving adopted the notion that the terrible stranger will spare " ir.rrin parts." — Letters from Malta mention* ■that, ut n tew minutes after o p.m. on Sunday, the 14th of June, a bright luminous band of variegated hues was observed to shoot across the heavens in a direction from east to west, remaining visible merely for a few minutes. Unusually cool weather prevailed, especially toward sunset and throughout the night. Many considered this to have been the predicted cornet, for averting the consequences of a crash by a collision of our earth with which, prayers had been offered by the devout in the Roman Catholic churches of the island, on the nights of ?the 12th and 13th of June.-—M. Le Verrier has ;.annotinced that on the night of the 23rd June, --a new comet was discovered in the constellation .Perseus.