Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 568, 14 April 1858, Page 5

Miscellaneous.

Loss of Life by Indian Mutinies.—The Calcutta correspondent of the "Nonconformist," In a letter received by the last mail, has a#ived, after much careful inquiry, at an estimate of the loss of life among the English and East Indian population during the dreadful massacres of this rebellion. In several stations tHe number has been ascertained with great exactness, a few having been killed out of a great many, and the survivors calculating by name each one who is missing. But in cases like Delhi, Futtehgur, and Cawnpore, where a whole population was cut off, it is possible Only to arrive at an approximation to the truth. This list is of course at present imperfect, intelligence being still required from Lucknow, Agra, Indore, and other I places before it is possible to make it both corI rect and complete. It does not include a single I native, nor any persons killed in the different 5 battles; it is the list only.of those massacred [■ or of those who have died from fever and sunstroke in striving to escape; nevertheless, its items make a total of 1524 officers, civilians, clerks, missionaries, women, children and others. Of this large number, the loss of military officers amounts to 674. If the entire story of their sufferings and those of the survivors be carefully weighed, it will surely be found that we have passed this year through one of the most frightful calamities ever recorded among a civilized people. A. Most Bloody Duel. —A. duel took place between Mr. C. M. Blair and Colonel Casey, Jat Stockton, which resulted in the death of the , latter. We quote from the "Stockton Argus" the following particulars, which show this to be about the bloodiest and most desperate duel on record :-—" A duel came off at an early hour " on Tuesday morning, a few miles from this city, between Mr. C. M. Blair and Colonel Casey, both of Merced County. A bitter animosity . has for some time past existed between the f parties, growing out of a rivalry in the effort to obtain the hand of a Miss L , ,a young . lady of prepossessing personal appearance and • accomplishments, at present residing with her ' father on the Stanislaus. Mr. Blair and Col- : onel Casey met in the bar-room of the Webberhouse on Monday morning, each accompanied by friends, where a conversation ensued bet tween them, at first apparently in a friendly t manner ; but Blair, becoming vexed at the in- \ difference which his rival assumed, made some j, severe charges, which Casey denounced as false, 's and at the same time, rising from his seat, struck Blair a severe blow with his fist. Casey drew his revolver, but was prevented using it .j by persons present. Blair, being unarmed, step- ■ ped baclc, but was pursued by Casey, who dealt him another severe blow upon the face. The

friends of the parties, however, succeeded in preventing bloodshed and restoring order, shortly after which arrangements were made for a settlement of the difficulty by other means. Yesterday morning was fixed as the time of meeting at a place three miles from the city, where the parties met at about day light, accompanied by a few spectators. The ground was measured, a distance of ten paces, and, the word being given, shots were exchanged. On the first fire each party missed j aim.^ The second shot took effect upon Casey, causing a slight flesh wound. Upon attempting the third shot, the cylinder upon Casey's pistol refused to revolve in consequence of an exploded cap lodging upon the tube. Firing was then discontinued for about ten minutes, during which time the weapons (Colt's six shooters) were reloaded in every chamber, and firing was again resumed. Each party exchanged six Bhots in quick succession without the ' word,' three of which took effect upon Casey, while Blair escaped without injury. The most dangerous wound about Casey was a shot which entered the peritoneum or abdominal lining. A ball also passed through the abdominal muscles. Notwithstanding the wound of Colonel Casey, it is said that he exhibited an apparent unconcern throughout the firing. He was brought into the city by his friends, and is at present at the Magnolia house. Blair, as might have been expected, has made his escape, probably to await the result of Casey's wounds. We have kndwn Colonel Casey for a number of years as one of the earliest settlers upon the farming lands along the Tuolumne -river. He is known and esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances as a gentleman worthy of all confidence; and we trust that the unfortunate affair in which he has become fnvolved may not terminate fatally. The duel was, undoubtedly, one of the most desperate on j record, and we only regret the necessity that compelled the resort to such hazardous means j of adjusting a personal difficulty." The " San j Joaquin Republican " says that, badly wounded as Colonel Casey was, he insisted upon having another round of six shots each, which his friends, of course, prohibited.— Californian paper. There is a very large amount of sickness at Berlin at present: when winter sets in there is j generally a good deal of illness, but this year it ' is much greater than usual. Among the sufferers is the venerable Humboldt j Compiegne keeps up its reputation for gaiety and sport. Lord Cowley has made a long stay there, and Count Walewski only returned to Paris oil Tuesday Nov. 17. The fete-day of the Empress, Sunday, was celebrated by a review; her Majesty and the Imperial Prince showing themselves to the soldiers from a window. The ' Spectateur,' late ' Assembled Nationale,' took the liberty of publishing a piquant article, beginning—"Apropos of incomes made from the* Bourse, the forest of Compiegne presents a singular spectacle everyday when the hunting is over"; and then the writer describes how the gentlemen in court uniforms ride steeple-chase {fashion upon Compiegne; where they find their agents from the Bourse, who give information and take orders- The Government has thought it necessary to check the scandal by " warning" the journal, on the grounds that its statements are radically false. It has for, some time been understood that among foreign Protestant Princes available for the second of Qneen Victoria's daughters, a favourable eye had been cast on the heir to the King of Holland ; and this understanding seems now to be confirmed by the uncontradicted report from the. Hague, that the King had sent a special ambassador to this country, General Yon Omphal, to demand for the Prince of Orange the hand of the Princess Alice.