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Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 603, 14 August 1858, Page 5

Auckland.—The: following "notice of the short skirmish on Mr.f Daldy's Amendment, illustrates our: late remarks on the injudicious tone of the Government in the Houses:— " We believe that all were right, and all were wrong. We admit, on the one side, that the Colonial Secretary amply justified his estimates. Out of that he came; triumphantly. But, as usual, he contrived to spoil his own : success. He was needlessly acrimonious, and one expression, repeatedly used in the course of his ad-

dress—'

•" the hon.. member has dared ;&c., !> was

not without a. tinge of bffensiveness. Times are changed indeed if it be considered undue aiida : city, in a member of the House, to find fault with the Estimates. ■ The contrast, with Mr. Daldy's marked courtesy of manner was remarkable. The ministry have it all their own way now, and can venture to say what they please; but they were tame enough some 'while ago, when braved by the Auckland Superintendent. At that time, th'eiiv obtaining a majority in the House'was a matter of great uncertainty, the Wellington, members'being expected to atten&.r—Southern.Cross '; -•■ ..' -■■.■' Sik Colin Campbell.—The 'Standard', has a letter from Luckuow containing the following anecdote regarding the Commander-in-Chief:— "When .Sir Colin: Campbell was at Calcutta, some of the humanitarians were:very mildly reproving Mr, Colvin's order for permitting the mutineers to return to their country. To the .astonishment of every one Sir Colin said:—M "should have gone beyond Mr; Colvin and ;assisted them to get .there without loss of time.' A general expression of astonishment was seen everywhere; and.' oh !' ' surely, General!' was heard on every side. One bolder than the rest at length ventured to say: ' But Sir, after what we have seen of the temper of the Queen's troops, it is doubtful if they would have obeyed PP f f n Ol' der' even from the Commander-in-The British army always, obeys orders from its officers, whatever these may be; but to escort the mutineers back to Oude would "five been something very extraordinary.' Sir. J-olm excited :— • Who spoke, of escorting to Uucle the Pandies come from Pandymoniurn ! there every man jack of them should have been sent without a moment's loss of time. They would have found plenty of friends on their arr'val, and neither troubled you with their pensions nor their presence, 'is that an order ln. y men would have refused to obey?' " o ...,1. nt!l'I'"»o Incident.—Keturning from W..A visit in New Orleans, we wore fortunate enough lo secure passage in a line steamor, with hut low r™Jpr.4. Among the ladios, one especially interested us, She was a widow of a wealthy

planter, and was returning with only one child to her father's house. Her devotion to the child was very touching, and the eyes of her old black nurse would,fill with tears as she besought her mistress " not to love that, boy too much, or the Lord would take him away from her." We passed through the canal of Louisville, and stopped for a fe v minutes at the wharf, when the nurse, wishing to see the city, walked out on the guard, at the back of the boat, where, by a sudden effort, the child sprang from her arms into the terrible current that sweeps towards the falls, and dissapeared immediately. Theconfusion which ensued, attracted the attention of a gentlemanwho was sitting in the fore part of the boat quietly reading. Rising hastily ho asked.for some article that the child had worn. The nurse handed him a tiny apron she had torn off in her efforts to retain the babe in her arms." Turning to a splendid Newfoundland; dog that was eagerly watching his countenance, hepointed first to the apron and then where the child had gone under. In an instant the noble dog leaped into the rushing water, and also disappeared. At this time the excitement was intense, and some persons on shore, supposing that the dog was lost as well as the child, they procured a boat and started off to search for the body. Just at this moment the dog was seen with something in his mouth. Bravely he struggled with the waves, but it was evidentthat liis strength was failing fast, and more than one breast gave a sigh of relief as the boat reached him, and it was announced that he was stiil alive. They were brought on board—the dog and the child. Giving a single glance.to satisfy herself that the child was really living, the young mother.rushed forward, and sinking beside tile dog, threw her arms around his neck and burst into tears. Not many could view the sight unmoved, and as she carressedand kissed his shaggy head, she looked up to his owner, and said :—" Oh sir, I must have this dog ; I am rich ; take all I have—everything—but give me my child's preserver."-1-" The gentleman smiled, and patting his dog's head, said :—I am • very glad, madam; he has been of.serviceto you, but nothing in the world could induce me to part with him." The dog looked as though he perfectly understood what they.'were talking about, and giving his sides a,shake, laid himself down at his master's feet with an expression in . his large eyes that said plainer than words— " No,, nothing shall part us." .";'...' /. ,L Oxford College.—An Oxford College is an expensive hotel. But -however this may be, why this difference in different colleges? Why at one place do you get a good dinner for one and.sixpence; at another, a cold one for three, shillings ; -at a third, a recherche, banquet for a. half a crown ; at a fourth, grease and grizzle for seven and sixpence ? It does not depend;on the numbers resident. Merton and Magdalen, have as many as Lincoln, yet are twice as.expensive. Nor do the riches of the foundations diminish the taxes of the; students.. The revenue, of ; Merton is £7220; that of Magdalen, noti precisely known, but estimated by Huber at £13,450; but that of Lincoln is only £2353.. Again, it does not "depend on the; quality; of--the. instruction or the reputation of the tutors.. Merton perhaps the most expensive college,in, Oxford, is in no way celebrated for scholar-, ship; and in the last 25 years, it has only pro-, duced. 7 first-class men against 23 of Trinity, 41. of Christ Church, and 56 of Balliol. Again, the. tutor's fees makes very little difference varying iii different colleges never more than one pound, or -two, per. term. Lastly, the bedrooms are as, tiny and close', the commons, as dry, and the. fare and accommodations every whit as poor, in the dearest as in the cheapest house. The; fact is ; that at Oxford they rigidly preserve the prestige of position, and for this prestige you pay. The Merton man snubs the Lincoln commoners ; the gentleman commoner of Christ. Church .never sets foot in Worcester; the swell, from New is unknown at Josus, where.the. Welsh Jonesses are so numerous, that it is an old joke to inquire at the lodge for that Mr. Jones who.uses a tooth-brush. Again, each establishment makes the best business it can. If a college, be fashionable, the; applications ai-e numerous, and the terms remain high. . If another be slighted, its prudent governors. attract customers by: their slow scale of charges. Balliol, for instancy the best college for. scholarship;. lias sometiiiies a ballance of £2500 when all expenses are paid, and have yet no hesitation in collecting from their junior members no less than £300 per annum for the kitchen fire. — Titan. ■

The Dukedom of Devon shiee. —The following remarkable letter appears in 'Morning Post:— Sir,— I have seen in a French paper an article translated from the ' Court Journal,' stating that a son of the late pretended Duke of Devonshire claims the .titles and estates which his father was allowed to enjoy, since which a copy of the article which appeared has been forwarded to me. To that article I beg to reply, and request you to insert the samo in your journal. The late Lord George Cavendish (my father) married ivy mother in the year 1780. She was a Catholic. The marriage was first performed agreeably to the rites of the Protestant Church; secondly, by a Catholic priest, according to the rites of the Catholic Church. The certificates of the marriages are in my possession, properly and duly attested by four witnesses. The late Lord George Cavendish (my father) was perfectly aware of the hite pretended duke having been substituted in place of a girl. His would-be fathor never had a son, and Lord George allowed the said son to enjoy the titles and the states of his aoidhant lather during his lifo. The pretended duke may have broken his promise, and contracted a secret marriage, and his son may now come forth and Jay claim to the titles and estates of his fathor ;,/ii6 law prevents this, but the law

does and will prevent his entering into possession of the property to which his father had no legal claim. lam willing to give this son (if he exists) all the real benefits attached to his birth ; but the claims he sets up can never be justified in the presence of the facts above stated. 1 have in my possession all the necessary documents and 'papers, duly attested, to prove the substitution of the pretended duke, and no time will be lost to,place them before the competent tribunals, with the firm persuasion that justice will be given to gui qite droit. I am not a young man, have no family, but a dearly beloved wife, to whom I forward this insertion. The title of duke has few charms for me, but I will not suffer that title and the estates attached to it to fall into the hands of those who have no just claims to enjoy them. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Henry Cavendish.

A Duel ad Absuedum.—A curious duel has just"taken place near the town of Kander,in Denmark. The combatants were two journemen tailors, who, after quarrelling over their cups, determined to settle the dispute in a gentlemanlike manner. As no pistols were at hand, they procured two muskets, .which were loaded, and the distance was fixed at 60 paces. The person considered the aggrieved party, fired first, and his opponent fell to the ground. The former, thinking he had killed his man, threw away his musket, and took to his heels, when the latter, who had merely fallen from fright at the report, jumped up, and ran after him, calling on him to stop, as he had a right to have his shot also. Both were shortly after arrested, and the muskets confiscated. ;

Capillary Attraction.—ln a respectable street in Paris lives a bronze manufacturer, a certain Monsieur X., who has a daughter. This girl is truly a " Fair One of the Golden Locks." Her hair, is the finest ever seen on a woman's head, silky, flowing, and .abundant. Lord S. saw Mdlle. X., and was magnetised by the beauty of her capillary attraction. He then l'ented an.apartment directly opposite the house of M. X., and passed everyday in admiring the head of hair referred to. Soon this delight'of his eyes was notrgreat pnpuglx for his heart, and he called upon X. and asked for a private interview, which was granted. "Sir, said he, "I come to make you a proposition, which concerns your daughter. I hope that 3'ou will accept it, for it has nothing in it not..perfectly honorable. " Speak, sir." " Sir, my name is Lord S. You have"^without,doubt heard of my ' name, of my rank; of my fortune. I come to beg you to accept me as the hair-dresser of your daughter." X. showed signs.of anger. " Permit me, sir," added Lord S., " to repeat to you that my proposition is completely pure and lioiiorablei I will not address a word to Mdlle. X. I will dress her hair every day, and every day I will give her a guinea. You shall be there, you or any other person* you may wish." " But, my Lord—" "Do not answer me. Consult your daughter, if you wish. Here is my address. I give you two days to reflect. This is Monday; if by Wednesday evening I do not receive an answer, I will blow out my brains." And Lord S. went onfc. He had spoken in so decided a tone, that X. believed him capable of executing his menace. He spoke of the matter to his daughtei", who was in favour of accepting this singular proposition. On Tuesday Lord S. was informed that it was not desired that he. should blowout his'brains. From that time he has been every noon to the lady's house. He was introduced, to her, and since then he has every day dressed her magnificent hair, into which he plunges his aristocratic hands with ecstacy. As to Mdlle. X., she appeared fascinated with her lordly hair-dresser. He performs: his duty with dexterity, taste, and skill. .He never addresses to her a. word nor a compliment. As soon as the task is over he places a guinea on the marble table, makes a respectful bow to the lady, and takes his leave. His guinea is every day given to a poor family, and thus his eccentricity is made the cause of agood action. : Of course it is believed that this vaudeville of real: life will finish with a marriage. \ ■■■■■-.: POISOXS A2fD THEIR ANTIDOTES.—AceUentaI poisoning, although not very frequent, occurs sufficiently often to cause it to be a matter of importance that each individual should know the antidote, counteracting influence to be applied when any case comes under notice. There is often.no time to send for a medical man, and •many human lives have been-lost while waiting for the doctor. Oxalic acid, or salt of lemons, is often' mistaken for Epsom salts, and causes death in a short time; a safe antidote for this, and all other, acids, is magnesia made into a paste with water, or a" solution with common soap. In the case of prussic acid, however, or laurel water, cloride of lime, and bi-chlorid of iron are effectual remedies. Tartar emetic is another poison often taking designedly, or in mistake, and large quantities of warm water should be given to induce vomiting, and powdered Peruvian bark. For arsenic, the lydrated oxide of iron is the only euro, in a dose thirty times greater than that of the poison, while for poisoning by lead in any form, sulphate of magnesia, potash and soda is a safe antidote. Mercury, or corrosive sublimate, is counteracted by the white of eggs or milk, and for sulphate of zinc or white vitriol, cream, butter, and chalk will act as preventives. For poisoning by copper, the white of eggs, iron filings, pnissiate of potash will stay its action, and for sulphuretted hydrogen and carbonic acid, free from exposure to the air, and n leech . or two applied to the head, have proved successful. For all other poisons such as fungi, poisonous mushrooms, laudanum, strychnine, mix vomiea and vegetables generally, it is always safe to administer, an emetic.— JLoiuh/u