ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 2, 5 August 1842, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Romance in Real Life. —One of those extraordinary incidents which are sometimes found to occur, took place last week in the town of Wexford. An itinerant son of Thespis, who had been performing nightly on his humble stage in the Old Racket Court, sent to a neigh-bouring-town for a favourite performer to “star” it during the Christmas holidays, and, in obedience to the call, George Harvey, in appearance a smart neglige, lad under 20 years of age, presented himself before the audience on “ boxing” night. His various performances as a comedian, songster, dancer, tumbler, &c., wGre rapturously applauded, and the little theatre was filled and emptied several times during the evening-, every one, on each occasion, praising the talents of George Harvey. Among those who, in succession, filled the gallery, was a lad about 13 years old, and he was observed to notice Master George very particularly. He frequently interrupted the applause by his restlessness, and occasionally shouted, “ She’s no man ; she’s my sister Mary ; sure, I know who she is.” So importunate did the boy finally become, that he made his way into the very sanctuary of the establishment, and embraced so closely and determinedly him he called sister, that the father and friends of the young urchin were sent for. Then, however, the tender feelings of nature, overcame the actor; and instead of George Harvey proving- himself a man, he stood revealed, confessed, and acknowledged, the identical sister, Mary Bulger, who had been absent nearly four years. Mary retired with her friends, and has become again the inmate of her father’s roof, Her history is simply this. Being of a lively, docile, and romantic temperament, she left Wexford without any fixed object in view, and arriving in Dublin she in vain sought a situation suitable to her sex and wishes, when her buoyant mind suggested an exchange of attire, and she immediately donned the second-hand suit of a postilion, and earned for a short time something in that line. While thus engaged, the celebrated fair of Donnybrook attracted her to its fun and follies, and there, in' her livery suit, she engaged with the proprietor of a travelling booth or caravan, as a graceful male dancer, in the name of George Harvey. Being, for her circumstances, pretty well educated, George soon became a proficient in every department of the profession, and a general favourite, not only with the manager, but with the whole company. It speaks strongly for the propriety of her moral character, that in

the guise of male attire, and in such a profession, during three years and four months,'it was not only not known, hut not even suspected by an individual among all with whom she was so intimately associated, that, George Harvey was other than what he appeared and represented himself. Her late employer regrets to he deprived of her valuable assistance; and as Mary Bulger has become a star in her way, it is said that she is likely to resume her favourite career in life, hut in the habiliments and character suitable to her sex.— Observer. A Singular Jury. —Rather an unusual circumstance occurred at the Hertfordshire quarter sessions on Monday last. A man named Tho-. mas Godfrey was charged with stealing a quantity of wheat, the property of his mistress, a widow, and convicted on the clearest evidence. The deputy clerk of the peace had, however, scarcely recorded the verdict, when Mr. Pryor, the counsel for the prisoner, rose to move an arrest of judgment, on the ground that an improper affirmation had been administered to one of the jurors, a Quaker, or rather that this juror had made no. affirmation at all. The affirmation repeated to him by the clerk began with, << You being one of the people called Quakeis, do solemnly affirm,” and ended with, “ So help you, God.” In addition to this singular informality, the clerk of the peace had neglected to require the Quaker juror to repeat the words of the affirmation after him. The court, after a short consultation, admitted the objection of the worthy counsel, and ordered the prisoner to be discharged. Shortly after this occurrence, the jury returned a verdict (in the case of a young girl charged with shoplifting) of “ Guilty of stealing, hut without a felonious intention.” Mr Woodswortli, counsel for the prisoner, submitted that such a verdict was a verdict. of acquittal. The court also admitted the objection, and ordered the prisoner to he discharged.

Singular Advertisement —Matrimony.— Wanted, by a gentleman, a wife. She must possess affable manners, an agreeable person, and a temper as good as may be ; money not so much an object as economical habits; accomplishments would be desirable, but are not a great object. The advertiser would prefer a lady not much given to talking. This would form a desirable opportunity for a lady not long arrived in the colony, the advertiser having a great objection to colonial habits and manners. The gentleman is a young man of genteel manners, good temper, well educated, and of good exterior. ' N.B. —No widow need apply. To prevent unnecessary application, thick leys and large feet are a decided objection. —Colonial Paper. [We think that in the present scarcity of marriageable ladies in Port Nicholson, ihe above advertisement might have been inserted by many of our fashionable young men in Wellington . —Printer s Devil. ]