MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 173, 27 March 1847, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Encouraging Prognostics for Liverpool. — Modern people prophesy that freetrade will double the commerce of the Mersey in the next ten years ; sanguine ones say in five. If the peace of the world be not disturbed, we are inclined to think the sanguine men will be right, and that the 3,096,444 tons of shipping that passed through the port last year, will be increased to six millions in 1851t Without entering minutely into the grounds on which we base our expectation of this extraordinary increase, we may state that the two great measures of the session, the Corn and^ Sugar Bills, have a direct tendency to concentrate here the trade of the world in both, those articles. All other things being equal (such as dock-charges, &c), the produce that pays for our manufactures will return direct to the port from which those manufactures are shipped. Every pound of Brazil and Cuba sugar that in future will be consumed in this country, will naturally be imported here. The sugar now shipped direct from Cuba and Brazil to the Baltic will find its first resting-place here, and form part of the return cargoes for the grain and timber laden-ships, that from all parts of Europe will congregate in the Mersey. — Liverpool Jour.

Sleepy Veterans. — A curious notice is posted on the chapel door of Greenwich Hospital, stating that complaint had been made that many of the pensioners are in the habit of sleeping during divine service. The boatswains are therefore directed to wake them, unless they are very old and infirm, and especially during the reading of the creed, and to report all such offenders to the captain of the week.

Early Rising on a Fine Morning. — Lite never perhaps experiences a return of fresh and young feeliug upon it as in early rising on a fine morning, whether in country or town. The healthiness of it, the quiet, the consciousness of having dene a sort of action (not to add a wise one), and the sense of power it gives you over the coming day, produce a mixture of lightness and self-possession in one's feelings, which a sick man must despair of because he does not feel it in the morning.

American Speechifying. — The style of oratofy in America is very peculiar ; the speaker, to do him justice, generally aims at the very highest order, no matter what the occasion may be. In every case, whether presenting a snuff-box, or making a motion in the Senate, he will try to give importance to the subject by the splendour of the language. The sun, moon, and stars ; oceans, deserts, hurricanes, are all introduced as necessary illustrations, to convey to the individual who receives the snuff-box the feelings of the givers ; very likely the ** Chosen People," " Mighty Republic," and " Boundless Empire," are also called into requisition. A speech usually concludes with a toast, if the meeting be a convivial one, or a sentiment, on more solemn occasions, in which great matters are condensed into a few words. I heard an honourable gentleman — an American — once address a mixed assembly of English and of his countrymen, at a sort of convivial dinner, on the subject of our present difficult relations ; his desire was peace, as was also that of the audience. The opportunity did not allow of any very long 01 ation, but he maJe the most of it ; he gave us a brief historical view of the world, from Adam to the year 1845, a slight sketch of the march of intellect and the progress of society during this period, a short struggle between the colonies and England, a succinct account of the advance of the former after the separation, a narrative of the speaker's adventures and opinions in a European tour, a comparative view* of the naval and military power of the two countries, some interesting statistics relating to their trade, a feeling appeal to Providence that our harmonious relations might not be disturbed, and concluded with the following sentiment — "England, America, and Oregon; may the latter be overwhelmed in the roaring billows of the Pacific, ere it cause the demon of discord to spread his crimson wing over the two former!" — England in the New World.

A Royal Linguist. — Seeing some vessels in the canal, which, under his. (Louis Philippe's) auspices, had been lately made from Treport to Eu, he inquired to what nations they belong, and was toll 1 there were 3 Norwegian, a Prussian, an English, and two French vessels. An hour or two afterwards, the king, accompanied by one of his ministers^ his aides-de-camp, and others, of his court,

took a walk to the banks of the canal, and stopping before a Norwegian vessel, said, " It is a long time siuce I had an opportunity of speaking the Norwegian language, but I will try." He then addressed the captain in Norwegian, and a long conversation ensued, which was kept up by the king with perfect fluency. He passed to the other Norwegians and did the same ; then coming opposite the Prussian vessel he entered into conversation with the captain in the language of his country. This, Louis Philippe speaks with as much ease as he does French. Arriving at the English vessel, he said to his attendants, " Now I will try my English." He had a long chat with the English captain, who declared afterwards that he wished he could speak English as well as the king. It must be known to many of my readers, that, in speaking English, Louis Philippe has not a foreign accent, and that after the first few minutes he is quite as fluent as in his native tougue. When he came to the French vessels, he said, with a laugh, " 1 think I can manage to make myself understood here." After his return to the chateau, he sent two dozen of wine to each of the captains to drink his health, and a hundred francs for each of the vessels, for their crews to do the same. The King of the French is one of the best linguists of the present day. He speaks English, German Spanish, and Italian, as if he was a native ; and although his opportunities of practice in them are rare, his memory is so good, that he is uever even for an instant at a loss for words. — Correspondent of the Globe.

Distress in Ireland. — The following alarming account is taken from an October paper: — •' At Skibbereen, much alarm had been created by a body of from 800 to 1000 men appearing in fall view of the town. They came ten abreast, each shouldering a spade, the iron of which was polished. The military were ordered out and took up a position within 50 yards of the multitude. This was an anxious and critical moment ; one hasty or false step taken, and many lives would in all probability have been sacrificed. Mr. Downing, an influential gentleman, addressed them at great length, and asked the multitude what could have induced them to engage in such a proceeding, which led to answers, as the narrator says, — * he wished to God the Minister of England could have heard.' 'We have come,' said they, ' because we are famishing ; because we have no food of any kind ; we could suffer death from hunger ourselves ; but can we look upon our children and our wives dying of hunger, and we ready and anxious to ! work for bread if we can only get as much as will give us one good meal a-day ? But it is not Bd. a day will give our families a meal, and Indian meal is Is. lOd. a stone. 1 After a lengthened conversation it was deemed expedient to read the Riot Act. But an universal shout was raised ' we might as well be shot as starved ; we have not eaten a morsel for 24 hours. After much solicitation they followed Mr. Downing as far as the workhouse, where they remained regularly encamped ; till Mr. Downing and the Rev. Mr. Webb, assisted by the Messrs. Lewis, distributed about fifty shillings worth of biscuit among them, when they moved to their dreary homes, sullen, discontented, and unhappy, saying: — ' that while a stack of corn remained in the country, they would not aliow their children to starve ;' and denouncing in the strongest terms the conduct of the Government." I