EXTRACTS. MILITARY FLOGGING. [From the "South Australian Register."]

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 91, 27 February 1847, Page 4

EXTRACTS. MILITARY FLOGGING. [From the "South Australian Register."]

The! question of flogging in the Navy without court martial is beginning to attract attention. The service, on account of that practice, is growing daily more unpopular. Military flogging is exciting the most intense interest. Not only has Colonel Whyte of the 7th Hussars just had a poor fellow flogged to death for striking a sergeant, but it came out at the inquest that the most brutal lacerations are frequently inflicted by him, and sometimes for offences so trivial as not to deserve the name. He has chosen also the most powerful men to •wield the cat, that the torture may be the more dreadful. The Coroner's jury expressed the deepest disgust at the system of flogging in the army: but at the same time found that the revolting torture was in this case legally inflicted, and that the death of the victim was its result. The number of lashes was one hundred and fity. The question has been brought before Parliament to no effect j but the Duke of Wellington, as Comman-der-in-chief, has forbidden courts martial to award more than fifty lashes for any offence. The former limit was two hundred. This is not a satisfactory arrangement, as an evil-disposed officer could so manage to increase the severity of these strokes, that their number would avail little. A skilful Russian torturer can produce death by twelve blows of the knout. A "Lieutenant from the ranks" writes as follows to the Times:— -'I saw soldiers flogged upon the ramparts of Brussels, by order of Colonel Jones, late of Marylebone, who was commandant of that garrispn, within three weeks of their being wounded at Waterloo ; and I* well remember two of these cases, whose writhings caused their scarcely healed wound to gush out bleeding through the adhesive plaster covering them, and whose wrists were cut to the bone by the cords in their writhings, and took many more weeks to heal than did their backs. I have seen this officer flog men at the at the halberds until they fainted, when he ordered them to be taken down, laid on a form, and the remaining lashes given as (/" upon dead corpse." It is intimated that this Colonel Jones (now in his grave) was the lionliearted patriot, who spouted at political unions, and wrote such stirring stuff for the Times, under the signature of " Radical !" Punch has addressed some touching " Lines on the Lash," to the Queen, which we quote :-*- Queeh of Christian England, hearken ; Know, the nation that thou i wayest, That a guilty shade doth darken : Wilt thou chase it? for thou mayesr, Thy wish only need be spoken In the Senate of the land And the cursed lash is broken ; For thy wish is a command. Royal woman ! hast thou thought That the men who guard thy crown, And to shield thee think it nought • To lay life and member down,, For a trifling word of scorn, For a hasty threat or blow, Have their flesh to pieces torn While the living blood doth flow! Thy defender thou hast seen In his red and gold array'd, Hast admired his gallant mien At review or or parade. Hast thou ever seen him stripp'd ? Hast thou heard him shriek or groan Whilst his quivering flesh was vhipp'd— ,_ Whlpp'd by piecemenl from the bone? Hast thou traced him to the bed, Wheie, in torments worse than death, He at length hath bow'd the head, And, ha(h yielded up the breath ? Gracious Lady, credit us, It h true that such things be. Should the soldier perish thus— He who would have died for thee 1 Let thy queenly voice be heard — Who shall dare to disobey? — It but costs thy royal word, And the la^h is cast away.' With thyself it rests to scour From our arms the loathsome stain ; Then of mercy show thy power, And immortal be thy reign !

Effects or Shot on Iron Ships.— -Some remarkable tesults have been produced by the experimental shot practice from the Excellent on the iron steamer Ruby ; and it is expected the Adm i rally will, in consequence, stop the building of iion steamers for the present. The shots which hit the Ruhy not only penetrated the side first struck, but in some instances pasted through the other side, carrying with it whole plates of iron. In action this would risk the total loss of a vessel : for, on heeling over to leeward, such a body of water would rush in, that nothing could prevent her sinking, with all on board. A representation of this impoi taut circumstance, arising from the recent trials, has been made to the Admiralty, and should further experimental firing prove that serious risk will be occasioned to iron vessels of war, when exposed to the chance of being struck by heavy shot, it is doubtful whether the Board will not abolish tjiem as men-of-war. The Morning Chronicle states that the number in Birmingham has, since the opening of the various railway! which now centfre in that town (between 1829 and 1845), increased from ten to forty; and the quantity of fiih consumed 'from 400 to 3910 tons annually.

The System upon which the present Government is acting in its Colonial appointments is eminently satisfactory. Instead of being given, as has hitherto been almost uniformly the practice, to the partizans of the Minister, they have in every recent instance been made the rewards of efficient public service, and in this respect partake rather of the character of promotions than appointments. Thus, Lord Elgin, after acting with much ability as Governor of' Jamaica, has been appointed to the more important post of Governor-General of Canada; Sir Charles E. Grey, late Governor of'Barbadoes, will succeed Lord Elgin in Jamaica ; while Lieutenant-Governor Colonel Reid, from Bermuda, will replace Sir C. E. Grey ; and be'himself succeeded at Bermuda by Captain Elliot. The only fresh appointment is, therefore, to the least 1 important post; and the principle is established that; a Colonial Governor, by an able and diligent discharge of his duty, may rise through regular gradations to the highest honors and emoluments of the departments.— Times* A Greek Vessel at Cork.— lmmense ■ crowds of the curious have visited a Greek ves- ' sel, the Anolte, freighted with Indian grain on account of Government, and now tying at our 1 quajs. The peculiar construction and equip- j ment'of'the vessel have attracted the attention ! of many, but the "cut," costume, complexion,! and movemenls of the crew hare arrested in-! tense wonderment. It would be hard to say, whether the long jack boots, the ample inexpres- 1 sibles— •resembling long gowns tucked slightly! up — the close fitting jackets— the red* tasselled 1 caps — the bronzed visages — daik ejes — or large mustaches, were most admired. Free Trade in corn has already opened the way for visitors,none of w hose nation scarcely ever before sailed for purposes of traffic, up the river Lee. Those Gieeks are decidedly the "Lions" of the day.— So excessive was the popular curiosity, that application had to be made to the mayor for protection against the people who thronged on board, and it was with much difficulty, after his Worship had ordered the attendance of the police, that the captain in his cabin, or the crew on deck, could be saved from inconvenient and, occasionally rude intrusion, At one time the whole ship's company apprehended violence, and were preparing their arms for defence 5 but the presence of the police bi ought both parties to an amicable understanding. Each seemed to be particularly amused — the Greeks at the curiosity they excited, and the crowd at the curiosities they saw. Who can be surprised at the astonishment to which the Christian " pale faces" give rise, on their first appearance on some Pagan shore, when the sunburnt physiognomies, and ample flowing nether garments of these strangers excite such general and inordinate curiosity among ourselves t — Cork Reporter. America. — By the arrival of the Great Western, Captain Matthews, we have received New York papers to the 20th ultimo, five days later than the last arrival. The intelligence brought is not of any particular interest. Political excitement having subsided with the adjournment of Congress, more attention was directed to commercial matters, and the mercantile community were prepaiing to send forward to England their surplus produce of grain and flour. Of these they had abundant supplies, the crops having been highly favourable in all parts of the Union. Large quantities of grain weie arriving on the coast for shipment, and the prices being lower than in former yean, the demand was fully equal to the supply. Several State elec tions had taken place, and the Whigs had added to their strength in every instance. It was expected that the new tariff would be modified as soon as the next Congress assembles ; and that some important alterations would be made in the duties upon coal arid iron, which would be increased. The additional duty on coal was spoken of as certain ; and a duty upon tea and coffee would probably be levied for the purpose of meeting the increased expenditure. Already the difficultien of the campaign in Mexico begin to be felt,and in some places the American troops had refused to advance. The natural obstacles of the country which they had to encounter, required the encouragement and example of their officers to induce them to go forward, and, to add to the disasters, the yellow fever had-broken out on board of the blockading squadron, which, as we anticipated, had not ventuied upon the bombardment of the Castle of St. Juan de Ulloa. General Kearney's division was within 130 miles from Bent's fort, pushing forward to Santa Fe. — Hampshire Telegraph, September 12. Apples have not escaped disease at home, those brought to London being found to decay speedily after gathering, and more extended reports shew that the failure of the crop appeari likely to be general throughout Europe. So severely has this disease affected the Herefordshire orchards that the price of cider has much advanced, as this year's supply will be very limited.

WHAT HAS BECOME OF PUSEYISM ? What are the Puseyites doing? A lull seems to have overtaken them. True, we hear of a stray sheep returning to the fold of the "Fisherman" once a week, but the great tumult of another Exodus is quelled. Dr. Pusey preaches rarely a Popish sermon. Mr. Bennett, of the Oaken Cross and Wilton-place, has had but one procession of the sisterhood of mercy and charity, and that was on St. Barnabas' Day. The fiery vicar of Leamington has been dumb, and at least decorous, since his exhibition before his bishop. Mr. Irons. ofßromp* ton, must be fasting ; Dr. Hook doing penance ; and Dr. Dodsworth extinguishing his wax tapers. Even the Bishop of Exeter has time to discuss Corn Laws instead of Catholic usages, and even his diocese is quiet. The Bishop of Oxford is busy smitinghip and thigh the Protectionists, reserving the Puseyites for another occasion ; and our own Diocesan has not given any additional orders when to light or extinguish candles, or to exchange the gown for the surplice with the rapidity of a first-rate artist on the boards. East Farleigh is almost forgotten, and poor Sibthorpe is suspended still between Lambeth and the Vatican. Bishop Skinner is at Cheltenham, drinkingithe waters in the Pump Room instead of fulminating curses at Aberdeen ; and Lady Lothian is on a visit at Leeds, after exhausting the grotesque for models of Puseyite chapels. Has Pius IX. prescribed a fast 1 or is it the calm that precedes another explosion ? If the Romanists of Oxford are thus criminally quiet, what are those of Oscott doing ? Have they no charms, nor incantations, nor tender appeals to interchange ? Has Mr. Ward's wife mesmerized him 1 Does the fare of Dr. Wiseman disagree with the stomach of Mr. Newman t Pray, gentlemen, explain yourselves. Speak out. You run the risk of being forgotten, and what punishment could you suffer more dreadful ?—/ttlas%? — /ttlas%

Rome. — Letters from Rome, of the iSthinst. state that the Sacred College offered every possible opposition to. the measures of reform <»<mternfJlated by the Pope and Cardinal Gfz'zi. His Holiness,' however, Was not to bedetßr'red from his purpose ; and'Tafious improvements in the civil administration and the organizalionof the municipal councils, long claimed by the population, were in progress of preparation. OWe of the cardinals-having observed to the Pope, that if he did not alter his system the people would demand a constitution, " And why should I ndt accede to their desire," replied his Holiness, "if a constitution were necessary to the welfare bf ' my subjects ?"— Times,