MISCELLANEOUS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 257, 6 February 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The-Late Sik R. M'Cltjre.—Rear*--'", Admiral Sherard Osborn," writing W tixe(-/ x ' Times,' pays the following tribute-, t&V* the memory of a brother officer 'London, on< the 14th instant; passed from this world the brave spirit of Viee-Amirali Sir Robert M'Clure, the illustrious sea--man and navigator who, in the years •■ 185Q, 1851, 1852, 1853, and 1854, led « the crew of Her Majesty's ship Investigator by vessel and sledge across the great " ice-incumbered sea/ from the Pacific to < the Atlantic Ocean, via Banks* Land and Melville Island, thus achieving what is known as a .North- West Passage. Stern, cool, and bold in all 'perils,, severe as a disciplinarian, self-reliant, yet modest as became an officer,, with a granite-like view of has duty to his country and profession,. Robert M'Clure would in .war have been a great leader, -and it was hii " good'fortune during a period of profound; peace to find "a. field &r all these valuablequalities,, and to add fresh glory to a Kavy: the life blood of-which is honor and" re--.' nown. - ■»-- ' »

Mfc. Disraeli's Ancestry.—Among the interesting events .that took place-, io the middle of last eeotuxy, - *must T not~ omit to record the arrival <oL' 'Benjamnfr D'lsraeli in England. How lttSFicestorshad abandoned the Spanish peninsula*, sought refuge in Venice, and assumed-.the-;* •"*■ name of D'lsraeli—an appellation neves- ' before born by Jews—is a "twice tolii tale," well known to most of our readers.. Under the shelter of the Lion of St. Mark's the family of * D'lsraeli followed commercial pursuits and prospeied. For two. centuries they flourished as merchants, protected by the " Queen of the Adriatic "" In the year 1747. the then representativeof the lineage despatched his younger *on v Benjamin, "to a country where a settled dynasty reigned, and where public opinion, was presumed to be in favor of freedom of conscience. Benjamin D'lsraeli fixed his. residence in England, and in time becamethe father of Isaac D'lsraeli, and thegrandfather of the distinguished author of . "-Lothair," and ex-Prime Minister "of England.—' Jewish Chronicle * "Plundering and Blundsbing."* —rThe phrase " plundering and blimdering,",.used by Mr. Disraeli in his celebra- - ted Bath letter, is not original. In October, 1869, a lecture was delivered in Ipswich by, Mr. Mfred B. Pearson, B.A.* onthe public career of Mr. Disraeli, and. the speaker, prefaced his. remarks with the - statement that it was time, "when theGovernment of the country was in thehands of a plundering and blundering administration." Like his lamous progeni- ~ tor, the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition is.an earnest collector.of«the "curiosities of literature,*' and he seems to havecome across a report oi this lecture, and: to have, treasured up the phrase until thfc , present time.—' Court Journal .^ "A Deserving Woctor.w'YoittebjEf glad to hear, .John," said a,firmer,,,to; his. shepherd one day, " that the University of St Andrews has -made .our uiinister jv Doctor." ** i am naeways surprised at. that," said the shepherd; V.majr than: twenty years syne he cured my wife o' a colic. 1 think he should hae rrmde-a, r _, doctor lang syne !'*" . . \ IVersh, VYersh —Kirsty and Jenny*

two country lassies, were supping their '* parritch" from the same bicker in the harvest-field one morning. " Hech/\ "said Kirsty to her neighbor, '" Jenny, bu£.. thaeY awfu' wersh pun-itch?-'* .are they." said ".Jenny, " they are.^that.;, - D'ye ken what they put ma in mind b" fc . Jist o* a kiss frae u.body. ye dinna like.,,""