EXTRACTS FROM ENGLISH PAPERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 90, 9 June 1843, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM ENGLISH PAPERS.

Her Majesty contributed upwards of 600/. to the public charities in Scotland during her visit to that countrv.

The Earle of Erne, at the Cork Cattle show, took the pledge of total abstinence, as did Sir Richard Musgrave'. The marriage of the daughter of the Duchess de Berri, with the Archduke Stephen, son pf the Palatine of Hungary, has been decided on by the court of Vienna. A marriage between' the Duke of Bordeaux, and a daughter of the Emperor Nicholas is on the tapis, and is the favourite project of the Duke d’Angouleme. The news from Spain has .been looked to with intense anxiety. The rising of new towns and cities to join the revolutionary movement at Barcelona has been much talked of, and two regiments were said to have revolted in Arragou. At Barcelona the foreign consuls have interfered to prevent a threatened bombardment of that place by the Queen’s troops. The streets are barricaded by the insurgents. Upwards of 500 soldiers have been killed# and the popular cause has also lost great nnm'bers of partizans by death. The junta has taken measures to preserve order.

By the packet ship, Patrick Henry, whieh sailed from New York on the Bth ult., we learn that the cabinet was expected to be reorganized before the meeting of congress this month. Mr. Webster was expected to retire, and Mr. Cushing to occupy his seat. Two frigates had been sent to Yera Cruz to protect American interests.

Repeal of the Income Tax. —At one of the stated meetings of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, held at their Hall in Huntersquare,

Mr. Robert Cadell begged to submit a motion for an early meeting of the Company, to consider of a petition to Parliament for the repeal of the Income tax, not three years hence, but on the close of the first year, oil the' sth of April. Every one was aware of the glorious news of the last few days; they had removed every reason given by Sir Robert Peel for the imposition of this abominable tax. The fears from collision with the United States were at an end; the Chinese war, :one cof the principal' reasons for the impost, is closed; the Affghan war, one other reason for it, may be said to have ceased ! but, above all, nearly five millions of money is to be paid, which will meet half the declared deficiency of the revenue, 6ne main cause of the tax ; a saving on the Three-and-a-Half per cents, will bring in one million more; and there is the grinding of the drain on our incomes for the difference. During the war, which many here must recollect, the severity of ten per cent, was less felt, because every man’s hand was full, prices high, money yielding a high interest, and we had, as a nation, the monopoly of the world. The tax was not felt by those Robert Peel meant to feel it; he thought to relieve those who had some one hundred and fifty pounds a year, while, infact, he had placed it on the lower of working clssses. The rich cut down their establishments.; tlie middle classes save it by their economy ; every trader feels the effect of all this ; and the poof man-servant or maid-servant is turned adrift—they are the real sufferers. Now is the time to make a movement. The greatest political blunder of our time was by Lord John Russell, in not protesting against this tax, as one only to

be levied in peace, on thd day it was tabled by Sir Robert Peel. Let that eminent nobleman go forthwith to the Guildhall of London, and lead a crusade against this tax, and he will be responded to from one end of Great Britain to the other ; and let him give forth, that longer than the sth April, 1843, it shall not last. The meeting received this proposal with one burst of approbation, and appointed a meeting to be held in their Hall, on Friday, the 2nd December, to take the subject into considera-’ iioti:*—Scotsman.

Duke of Wellington. — It may be picking to our readers to take a review of the life and brilliant actions of “ the Duke;” the subjoined summary is therefore laid before them 1769, May 1. Born at Dangan Castl6, county of Meath—l7B7, March. Entered the army as ensign—l 794. Served in Holland under the Earl of Moira and the Duke of York—--1797, February. Arrived ini Bengal—lßo3, September 23. Battle of Assye—lßo3, November 29. Battle of Argaum—lßos. Arrived in England from India —180(5.^Married the Hon. Catherine Pakenham—lßo7.. Appointed Secretary for Ireland Lord Cathcart in the expedition to Copenhagen —IBOB, July. Sailed for Portugal—lßoß, August; 17. Battle of Rolica —1808, August 21. Battle of Vimeira —1808, September. Returned to England after the Convention of Cintra—--1809, April. Returned to Portugal May 12. Passage of the Douro at Oporto—--1809, July 27, 28.Talavera—1810, September 27. Busaca —1810, October. Retreat to Torres Vedras— 1811, March. Advance from Torres Vedras —1811, May 4. Fuentes d’Onoro—lßl2, January 19. Ciudad Rodrigo taken by storm. 1812, April 6. Badajoz taken by storm —1812, July 22. Salamanca—lßl2, October. Retreat from Burgos—lßl3, June 21. Vittoria—lßl3, July 26, 37, 28, 30. Battles of the Pyrenees—--1813, November 10. Passage of the Nivelle—--1813, December 11,12,13. Batties of theNive ’ —lßl4, February 27. Orthes —1814, April 10. Toulouse —1814, August. Went Ambassador to Paris —1815, February. To Vienna—lßls, June 18. Battle of Waterloo—lß22. To the Congi*ess at Verona —1826. To St. Petersburgh on a special embassy—lß27, April. Resigned office on Mr. Canning being made Prime Minister—--1828. Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts —1829 .CatholicEmancipation—lß3o. Resigned office —1834. Elected Chancellor of Oxford—--1834-5. In office from November to April—--1842. Leader of the House, of Lords.— Atlas. Electrical Calico Printing. —On Monday week; at tke Polyteehnic Institution, a Lecture was delivered by Professor Bachhoffner, on a newly discovered function of electricity, the exercise of which, it is affirmed, may be advantageously applied to the cotton and other piece-goods and manufactures of the country. Mr. Baggs, a gentleman well-known in the ' scientific World for his researches in electrochemistry and o :her branches of electrical investigation, has. discovered a method of applying the oxides of Various metals to the purposes of dyeing cotton cloths by the agency of electricity; and in such a way that economy, rapidity and variety of pattern and tint, are all allied to the “ tie plus ultra” of the art —fast colours. In a n-otice of this kind it will hardly be expected that we should enter into the theory of the invention, which would' involve the necessity of describing the numerous kinds of mordants used in the business of dyeing, as well as those peculiar phenomena of volatio electricity which have successfully been brought to bear hpon 1 the accomplishment of the end proposed. We prefer, therefore, stating the results of one or tWo experiments tried in our presence. A piece of white colico, prepared in the ordinary Way for the dyer, was extended upon a sheet of m,etal; some pattern-stamps, made of various metals (not charged with any.colour whatever), were then pressed upon the fabric, but with no result# the lecturer stating that unless a stream of electricity were applied to the metallic pattern, no impression would be left on the cloth. The two wires from the galvanic battery were then connected with the apparatus, one with the metal plate on which the cloth was spread, and the other with the pattern itsejif, by which the necessary circuit became established, The effect was instantaneous; the pattern on the stamp was immediately transferred to the cloth, and the impression was made as often as it was possible for the lecturer to remove the stamp from one place to another. The colours, as we have said, depend upon the medals and mordants employed. In order to prove that the invention might be practically carried out, a length of calico cloth was passed under a cylinder in the usual way. It went in white, and came out perfectly printed with a welldefined pattern in-colours. Both Professor Bachhoffner and Mrv Baggs, the inventor besought their most attentive and very numerous audience to consider. that they were not “dyers;” their object was not to show how perfectly the thing could' be done, but that it could be done at all —and this they fully established. Electricity is daily making many important disclosures, of which this invention of Mr. Baggs appears at once to be the most, extraordinary and most useful. House Flies. —These troublesome little •insects may be effectually destroyed without the

use of poison. Take half a teaspoonful o( brown sugar, half a teaspoonfui of black pepper,and one teaspoonful of cream ; mix them together, place it in a plate in a room where the flies are troublesome, and they will soon disappear. The Fish Market. Flounders were of course flat, but to the surprise of every one they showed an inclination to come round towards the afternoon, and there were one of two transactions in whelks, but they were all of a comparatively insignificant character. Lobsters claws were lazy at the oyening, but closed heavily; and those who had a hand in them would gladly have been released if such a course had been possible.— Punch.

Simple Truth. —A ludicrous mistake occurred at a funeral in Marylebone : —The' clergyman had proceeded with the service until he came to that part which says, “ Our departed brother or sister :” he then turned to the mourner who stood nearest to him, and asked whether it was a brother or sister ? The man, imagining it referred to the relationship to himself, very innocently replied, “ No relation at all, Sir —only an acquaintance.”— Jofid-Bull; An. English lady who went to make purchases in Jamaica, accompanied by her black maid, was repeatedly addressed by the negro shopman as “ massa,” whereupon her sable follower exaimed, with .a look of infinite contempt, “Why for you speak sosli bad. English no grammar, sabby Why for you call my jVlissus ‘ massa ?’ Stupid fellah !—him’s a; she.’? , Of all apparently innocent habits, lying in bed perhaps is the worst; amidst all the different, habits through which people have attained to a long life, it is said that in this one respect, and- in this only, they have all agreed. No very long lived man has been a late riser.

Funeral of an Actor. —The Marseilles journals contain an account of the funeral of Darboville, the actor, who, as we yesterday stated, died suddenly a few days ago. The deceased having, during his long residence in Marselles, enjoyed general esteem as a man, as well as admiration as an actor, tlie refusal of the Catholic clergy to perform the sacred rites at his funeral, on account of the profession he had followed, appears to have excited a strong sensation in that city. It will be seen, by the following extract from the Semaphore of Marseilles, that in consequence of this refusal a Protestant pastor was applied to, and the Protestant funeral service was on this occasion performed over a Catholic, at the instance of his own family and friends “THe funeral of Darboville took place yesterday (25th Nov.) An immense crowd of all classes accompanied to the burial ground the remains of this amiable artist. The Clergy having refused, notwithstanding the sad and earnest entreaties of his family, to be present at the funeral ceremony, some of Darboville’s friends made an appeal to the ministers of the Reformed Church, who, after having consulted the consistory, hastened to perform the last duties to the deceased, according to the rites of the Protestant Church. When the body arrived at the gates of the cemetery, the worthy pastor suspended the marih of the procession, and did not hesitate to pray with evangelical unction for Divine mercy on the soul of a man, against whose entire life no other reproach could be brought than that he had endeavoured to give innocent amusement to his fellow-citizens. The words of the minister of the Reformed Church produced a deep religious impression upon the minds of many thousands who were .assembled together on the occasion-. After the prayers, the Protestant bearers, who had placed the coffin at the gates of the Catholic cemetery, withdrew With the minister. It was taken up by Catholic bearers, and carried to the family vault.— Galignani.

Eating and Drinking. — l tell you honestly, said Dr. Abernethy, what I think is the whole cause of the complicated maladies of the human frame; it is their gormandizing, and stuffing and stimulating the digestive organs to excess, thereby creating irritation. The.state of their minds is another grand cause—the fidgeting and discontenting themselves about,that, which cannot be helped—passions of all kinds—malignant passions and worldly cares pressing upon the mind, disturb the central action and do a great deal of harm. So much for the doctor. We have societies for the suppression of intemperance in drinking. Excellent institutions. Why not a society for the same moral usefulness in the excess in eating ? The inordinate indulgenceineatinghas slain thousands — thousands have dug their graves with the knife and fork. —Boston Daily Circular.

A Genuine Irish Bull. —Mr. M‘Keon in a speech on the appointment bill, in the House of Representatives, on Thursday morning of last week, uttered one of the purest pieces of native Irish. Pie was making some allusion to the Rhode Island business, when Mr. Proffit objected, and inquired whether it was in order. Mr. M‘Keon in reply extended his arms very tragically, and in a triumphant tone said—“ The gentleman is very .uneasy at this reference. It appears, then, that a\ shot sent without any aim struck exactly where it was intended!” The house roared most explosively for some minutes. —American Paper.