ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 175, 3 April 1847, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

M. Dumont in Birmingham. — Birmingham, Friday. — M. Dumont, the French Minister of Public Works, who is on a visit in England to inspect the working of our railway and canal systems, visited Birmingham, this week, with several eminent French engineers. They inspected the stations of the railways having their termini in Birmingham, and then proceeded to the works of the Patent Shaft and Axletree Company, at Wednesbury, to witness their mode of manufacturing axles ; one. of which, at the request of M. Dumont, was tested, and although a ball of about one ton -weight was dropped on its centre, from a height of twenty feet, sixteen times, the ends resting at the distance of four feet eight and a half inches, as on the railway, each alternate blow being given on opposite sides, it remained unbroken. The public are aware that high protective duties are levied in France upon all foreign iron ; and shaped iron, such as axles, is absolutely prohibited ; but it is understood to be the intention of the French Government to relax these duties on iron required for railway purposes. Such is the hint communicated in Birmingham this week. It is to be hoped that this temporary relaxation will lead to the entire abolition of the monopoly at present maintained by the iron interest, who are the great advocates of protection in France.

The Dutch. — Nothing can exceed the cleanliness, the personal propriety, and the apparent comfort of the people of Holland. I did not see a house or fence out of repair, or a garden that was not carefully cultivated. We met no ragged or dirty persons, nor any drunken men ; neither did I see any indication that drunkenness is the vice of any portion of the people. I was assured that bastardy was almost unknown ; and although we were, during hours in the day, much in the public thoroughfares, we saw only two beggars, and they in manners and appearance scarcely came within the designation. The Dutch people appear to be strongly attached to their government, and few countries possess a population in which the domestic and social duties are discharged with such constancy. A scrupulous ceremony and cautious foresight seem to be the characteristic virtues of every class. To spend their full annual income is accounted a species of crime. The same systematic prudence pervades every part of the community, agricultural and commercial, and thus the Dutch people are enabled to bear up against the most formidable physical difficulties, and to secure a larger amount of individual comfort than probably any other country. — Professor Kay.

Newmaeket Railway. — The turning of the first sod of the Chesterford and Newmarket Railway — a " sporting line," intended for the accommodation especially of the racing patrons of Newmarket — was performed last week at Dullingham. Master Jeaffreson, the heir of General Jeaffreson, boldly wielded the spade, before a large concourse of people of all degrees. Lord George Manners, the chairman of the company, and Mr. Pigott, made speeches. Mr. Figott afterwards entertained a party at his mansion. After the repast, among other toasts was that of " Mr. Shelly and the Jockey Club." In returning thanks, Mr. Shelly said — " The Jockey Club felt that a railway to Newmarket would not only be a great con-

venience to parties anxious to participate in the truly British sport of racing, but would also enable members of Parliament to superintend a race, and run back to London in time for the same night's debate." The workmen were feasted with beef and beer by the contractor, Mr. Jackson.

A Contrast. — Mexico was colonised just 100 years before Massachusetts. Her first settlers were the noblest spirits of Spain in her Augustan age, the epoch of Cervantes, Cortes, Pizarro, Columbus, Gonsalvo de Cordova, Cardinal Ximenes, and the great and good Isabella. Massachusetts was settled by the poor pilgrims of Plymouth, who carried with them nothing but their own hard virtues and indomitable energy. Mexico, with a rich soil, and a climate adopted to the production of everything which grows out of the earth, and possessing every metal used by man — Massachusetts, with a sterile soil and ungenial climate, and no single article for exportation but ice and rock — how have these blessings, profusely given by Providence, being improved on the one hand, and obstacles overcome on the other? What is now the respective condition of the two countries ? In productive industry, wide-spread diffusion of knowledge, public institutions of every kind, general happiness, and continually increasing prosperity; in letters, arts, morals, religion ; in everything which makes a people great, there is not in the world, and there never was in the world, such a commonwealth as Massachusetts. " There she is ! look at her " — and Mexico Thompson's Recollections of Mexico.

Pottery Materials. — At the present day the finer materials required for pottery purposes are brought from considerable distances. The flint is brought from Gravesend and Northfleet, 650 miles ; various clays and stones from Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, varying from 300 to 460 miles. These distances are reckoned by water carriage to Liverpool, from which place the materials are conveyed to the Potteries by canal, thus adding another fifty miles ! The chertstone, for the grinding mill is from Wales. Gypsum, which yields the plaster of Paris, of which the moulds are made, is from Derbyshire. The cost of transit is heavy ; for instance, the clay, which in Cornwall, sells at 18s. per ton, costs in the Potteries from 365. to 385.. China clay — in Cornwall, 275. per ton ; Potteries, 435. 6d. Devon and Dorset blue clay — in Cornwall 18s. per ton ; Potteries, 365. Black ditto— Cornwall, 125.; Potteries, 275. per ton. — The Art Union.

American Politeness. — To ladies the best seats, the best of everything, is always allotted. A friend of raiue told me of a little affair at a New-York theatre, the other might, illustrative of my assertion. A stiffnecked Englishman had engaged a frpnt place,, and, of course, the best corner; when the curtain rose he was duly seated, operaglass in hand, to enjoy the -performance. A lady and gentleman came into the box shortly afterwards ; the cavalier in escort, seeing that the place where our friend sat was the best, called his attention, saying " the lady, sir," and motioned that the corner should be vacated. The possessor, partly because he disliked the imperative mood, and partly because it bored him to be disturbed, refused. Some words ensued, which attracted the attention of the sovereign people in the pit, who magisterially inquired what was the matter. The American came to the front of the box and said, " There is an Englishman here, who will not give up his place to a lady." Immediately their majesties swarmed up by dozens over the barriers, seized the offender, very gently though, and carried him to the entrance ; he kicked, cursed, and fought, all in vain ; he excited neither the pity nor the anger of his stern executioners ; they placed him carefully on his feet again at the steps, one man handing him his hat, another his opera-glass, and a third the price he had paid for his ticket of admission, then quietly shut the door upon him, and returned to their places. The shade of the departed Judge Lynch must have rejoiced at such an angelic administration of his law. — England in the New World.