ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 97, 4 July 1846, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

A new planet has been discovered by Professor Encke, of Berlin. It has the appearance of a star of the 9th magnitude, and has received the name of Astraea. There is a great scarcity of grain in India, and the price of rice has lisen considerably. It is contemplated by Government to form 9 harbours of refuge on the south-east coast of England., to give shelter to our merchant fleets. M. C. Dupin, in a paper lately read at the French Institute, repiesents these harbours as so many " centres of aggression, capable df containing five naval armies," ready to pounce at all limes upon the French coasts in seven hours. - In December, the price of potatoes in London was from 2d. to 4d. per lb., being four times the price they were in the December preceding. A statue of the poet Campbell is to he erected in Glasgow, his native town. The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge have received a donation of £4,000 from an unknown friend. On the 11th of December the highest tide known for 25 years laid the whole of the streets adjoining the Thames under water, from London Bridge to Fulham, Qis6sing damage to a very great amount. An old man of miserly habits, who resided in Dean Street, Fetter Lane, lately died and bequeathed £6,000 to the Queen, towards paying off the national debt. ' . By the explosion of a steam-boiler, on the works of Messrs. Kitts and Rothwell, Bolton, ten persons were killed, and twice that number severely wounded. The war in Africa has become a serious affair for the French. With a reinforcement of 20,000 men, making the amount of force under his command 100,000 men, Marshal Bugeaud calculated on driving the enemy before him to the west. While preparing for this, Abd-el-Kader succeeded in stimulating the eastern tribes, who had acknowledged the French supremacy, into active warfare. One of the Emir's lieutenants, Bou-Mara, has carried the war into the heart of the French province, cutting off small detachments of troops, and even attacking fortified towns. For six weeks the French were compelled to act pureljTon the defensive, and the Marshal . had written home for further reinforcements. The magistrates of the north riding of Tipperary have issued an address to the -British

public on the state of that unfortunate county. Murder, robbery, firing houses, assaults, and , threatening notices are daily occurrences, and are perpetrated in the most public manner^ yet such is the state of feeling, that although hundreds of witnesses could inform against the lawless band who are leagued against thefc peace of society, no one can be found to come forward to denounce them. Within six months, there occurred in that division of the county alone 16 murders, 16 attempts at murder, and 52 cases of firing into houses, robberies for arms, and grievous assaults. The object of the address is to get the support of men of all shades of politics in obtaining from Government stringent measures for remedying this state of things. H.M.S. Penelope has captured a steamslaver on the coast of Africa. She was American built, and had a high pressure engine of 40 horse power. '

Linen Manufacture. — History and chronology more frequently record those events that tend to the glory, rather than to the prosperity of nations. Thus, in the various tables of remarkable events, the establishment of the great staple of Ireland — the linen manufacture — is omitted. It was on the 13th of October, 1711, that his Grace the Duke of Ormond, having appointed trustees for the linen manfacture of Ireland, they were, by his Grace's direction, summoned to the Castle of Dublin, when the deed of their appointment was read to them. The individual who, in establishing the linen manufacture in Ireland, contributed so much to its prosperity, deserves to be memoried amongst our most illustrious countrymen, whether statesmen, legislators, or warriors* The name of this person, now so little known, was Lewis Crommolin, who, in the space of 14 years, with a colony of about 70 persons, brought from Holland to Lisburn, overcame many difficulties and obstacles, and settled the linen manufacture" in the northern counties by a vote of the Irish Parliament, on the 30th of October, 1707-

The Superga near Turin. — Among the objects most immediately attracting the attention of the traveller, in the general picture or coup d'cril of Turin, the Superga may be mentioned — achurch, or rather mausoleum, for the royal family of Piedmont. It is situated on a high hill, at a short distance from Turin ; and was erected in fulfilment of a vow offered up to heaven by Victor Amadeus, when the city was invested in 1706 by Phillip, Duke of Orleans; and this jlace was selected for its site, because it was here that the King and Piince Eugene stood while they laid the plan of the battle by which the siege was raised, and Piedmont wrested from the dominion cf the French. As you approach Turin, the eye rests on this magnificent structure ; on leaving the city you still see it ; and as you travel down the valley, it is again beheld with interest and admiration. — Bell's Observatidns on Italy.