MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 186, 12 May 1847, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Law Times calculates that the profession will lose £80,000 per annum by the operation of the new Small Debts Act. The public will sympathise with the loss. A proposal will be made in next session of Parliament, concurred in by the leading members of the Ministry, of the establishment of recognised diplomatic connections with the Court of Rome. Several packages of preserved peaches have been imported into England from Sydney. King Louis Philippe is about to appear in the character of a mill-owner, having purchased the whole valley of Lamblore, where he intends to erect mills. A public meeting was held at Boston, to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament to abolish the light dues charged on shipping. T. Wise, Esq., banker and shipowner, and T. Wright, Esq., merchant and shipowner, attended. It was agreed that a petition should be prepared, and the Representatives of the borough be requested to present and support it. A number of workmen are now busily employed in laying down the wires from the station of the South-western Railway at Nineelms, to the Strand. They are proceeding along Vauxhall-street, up Kennington-lane, and over Waterloo-bridge, to a central station in the Strand, at which place it is intended the electric telegraph from all the Railways shall meet, so that an unbroken communication will be made from the most distant parts of the kingdom. In ten years, Morrison, the celebrated pill man, paid £800,000 to Government for duty.

Opening of Runic Barrows in Sweden. — The Crown Prince has lately directed several of the runic barrows or " giants' graves," in the neighbourhood of Old Upsala, to be opened at his cost. Odin's Hill was the first opened, when clear proofs were found that the hill was not formed by nature, but by human hands, although the urn, with the bones of the individual inhumed therein, and which in all probability is in the centre of the hill, had not been found. A hearth, formed of extraordinary large bricks, was first discovered in the interior, and at a distance of twenty-three yards a strong wall, of large pieces of granite, resting on a solid floor made of clay ; the wall formed the corner of a large grotto of from four to nine feet in height. There were ashes and other traces of fire. Unfortunately the advanced period of the year has for the present interrupted the works, but they will be resumed in the summer.

Polish Newspapers in France. — The National states, that, obeying the wishes of Russia, the French Government has determined to put a stop to all journals published in France in the Polish language. It appears that for the last fifteen years the Polish refugees resident in France have published weekly and monthly journals in the Polish

language, which confine themselves to the discussing and recording of such matters as are interesting to themselves and their country. The proceedings of the Russian Government and the state of the national party in Poland have thus "been brought to the knowledge of the Poles in different parts of the world. The Procureur de Roi has already called all the editors of the Polish papers hefore him, and intimated to them that they must immediately pay into the Treasury the same amount of caution-money which is required from French journals. This cautionmoney amounts to 50,000 francs ; and as all the Poles in Paris put together would have difficulty in getting together such a sum, the consequence will be that all the Polish journals must at once cease. The editors remonstrated, but without success. They were told that they must pay or cease to publish ; and that if they created public scandal by obliging the Procureur to prosecute them, they would all be forthwith ordered out o' France.

Antiquity of Drollery. — The Athenians, with all their intellectual brilliancy, were fond of what we call " broad grins" We were lately much struck by a Greek epigram upon a man with a huge nasal organ, the humour of which is precisely in the extravagant vein of the Americanisms of the present day. One Proclus is said to have had such a length of nose that he never heard himself sneeze ! Who would not take this to be a flower culled from a Kentucky newspaper ? — Athencsum. The most alaiming statements are still published in the Dublin papers as to the open trade in fire-arms, especially in the countries of Tipperary and Limetick. There are still mdny heartrending accounts ofdistress, especially in the western province. And whilst the landlords loudly remonstrate against public works, and take no effectual steps to promote drainage, or other productive works, new presentment sessions are demanded, to continue employment for the destitute labourers. The only gratifying features in the provincia' accounts are the increased supplies and reduced prices ot food, and the continued exertions of the relief committee.

Russian Justice. — A remarkable lawsuit, which has been pending two years, has just been decided by the Emperor. A wealthy Russian was betrothed to the beautiful daughter of a Polish nobleman near Warsaw, and obtained his consent to the marriage. On the day fixed for the ceremony, the bridegroom appeared, attended by a captain and two officers, the first disguised as a priest, and the latter as his witnesses ; when the unsuspecting bride was married to her Russian lover by this false priest. Two years after, the general became tired of his wife, and desired her to return to her father's house, at the -arne time informing her how she had been i tceived. She at firsf thought he was jesting ; but her cruel husband soon convinced her of the fatal truth, and shut the door of his house upon her. Her indignant father immediately brought an action against the general, but of course lost it, in all the courts against the Russian general, till at length the sentence came before the Emperor, who decided as follows :: — * As the general is not really married to his wi'e, the marriage is null and void ; but as the wife has been most scandalously imposed upon, he is dismissed with the loss of his salary and his office, without having any claim to another appointment; his whole property is given to the lady "whom he has so wantonly deceived, and he is not permitte 1 even to marry again ; and the priest and the two officers, his witnesses, to remain for life with a small salary.'

The Passengers Traffic on the Railways having a Terminus in London. — The railways from London to various parts of the country, being now in full operation, the following brief notice of the number of passenger trains daily leaving London by the several lines will be read with interest. The Great Western — On this line of lailway 19 trains start from the Paddington terminus, of this number 11 go through Exeter, 5 not further than Bristol, 13 to Oxford, including one which starts from the Didcot Junction, 10. to Gloucester, 2 only as far as Reading, 3to Maidenhead, and 2to Slough. On Sundays the number is reduced to 9, 5 of which convey passengers through to Exeter, and the same number to Oxford and Gloucester, 2 only as far as Slough, 1 to Maidenhead, and Ito Reading. The North Western (late London and Birmingham.) — North and south brauches start at twenty-two trains daily from the Euston station ; of these 1 takes passengers through to Carlisle by means of the Midland and North of England Railways, 3 to Durham, 3 to Shields, 5 to Newcastle, 7 to York, 8 to Leeds, 4 to Derby, by Birmingham, and 8 by Rugby ; 7 to Manchester, 8 to Liverpool and Chester, 4 to Lancaster, 3 only as far as Birmingham, 6 to Northampton and Peterborough, 4 not further than Rugby, 2to Aylesbury, 1 to Tring, 1 to Bilsworth, 1 to Watford, and 7 to Leamington and Warwick. On Sunday the number leaving Lon-

don is reduced to 7. The London and Brighton — Conveys passengers daily by 10 trains, of which 8 go through to Chichester, 1 not farther than Brighton, and 1 stops at Lewes. On Sundays only 4 trains are started. The Eastern Counties (Cambridge line.) To the various places on this line no fewer than 22 trains are started daily from the Shoreditch station. Five of the number convey passengers through to Norwich and Yarmouth, 1 to Brandon, 2 not further than Ely, 1 to Cambridge, 1 to Wendon, 8 to Heitford, 1 toßroxbourne, and 3 not further than Walthara. On Sundays 10 trains are started. The Eastern Counties (Colchester line.) — On this branch of the Eastern Counties 9 trains start daily, 6 go through to Tpswich, 1 not further than Colchester, and 2 to Brentwood. On Sunday the number is reduced to 6, 3 of which go the full distance, 1 to Chelmsford, and 2 to Brentwood. The South Western.— On this line 18 trains leave the Nine Elms station, 11 pi oceeding through to Southampton aud Gosport, and 7 to Guil'ord. On Sundays the number is reduced to one-half, 5 of which go the whole dfst'ance. The South Eastern. — There are 10 trains started on this line from the London-bridge and Bricklayer's Arms stations daily, through to Dover, but conveying passengers for all the branch lines. On Sundays the number is reduced to 6. The Richmond Railway. — On this railway 17 trains run daily, and on Sundays the number is limited to 13. On the Croydon and Greenwich Railways the trains run every hour (with 4 extra trains on, the former) and every quarter of an hour.

A Good Circulation. — The London Daily News has latterly increased its price per number one halfpenny — an addition which, it is stated, will bring to the proprietors an additional revenue of twenty thousand pounds per annum.

The Year Eighteen Hundred and Forty-six. — The year 1846 will long be remembered as the year iv which nothing would keep. Potatoes will not keep ; butchers' meat becomes tainted in twenty-four hours ; milk turns sour as soon as it is looked at ; a seriously aggravated mortality indicates a want of preservative power in the life, both of man and beast ; Westminster-bridge partakes of the general decay ; King's promises and Parliamentary pledges are equally going to the dogs : parties have melted like snow iv summer ; interests have rotted ; Ministers have dissolved ; laws have repealed themselves ; a law only two years old fell to pieces this spring; another act passed on its ruins, is already waiting its quietus; a third measure for Ireland has been unavoidably amplified, not to say superseded, by Government ; — lastly, (we know it to our cost,) articles will not keep. By the second day, a newspape. article becomes fit for nothing but a grocer's shop, or a volume of posthumous lemains edited by a very near relative. Having suffered ouiselves by this class of casualty, we have become rather keen and also rather merciless to the disasters of our neighbours. — Times.

The Virgin's Robe at Toledo. — No one knows the value of this treasure. During the Peninsular war the Archbishop, in order to spare the French general too great a temptation, conveyed it, together with whatever else deserved the precaution, to Cadiz. It is embroidered almost entirely with pearls, on a tissue of silver ; but none of the silver is visible without separating the pearls, diamonds, &c, with the fingers, Most of the larger pearls possess the irregular sort of beaten shape often observed in the best specimens : some are enormous. Numbers of diamonds, rubies, and other stones, are admitted into the upper part, to vary aud enliven the effect of the different designs of the embroidery. In another case is extended the front piece, worn together with the roba, which is open in front. The robe sits near/y in the fashion of a lady's cloak, but perfectly stiff, and widening as it descends, so much as to make the figure assume the appearance of a triangle, of which the base is longer thai, the two other sides. The opening in front corresponds with the outer line of the two sides, being wider below than above, although not in as great a degree. This opening is occupied by the front piece, which is much smaller than the robe, but still more valuable, being principally worked in brilliants. It contains also every variety of precious stones introduced as their colours may happen to accord with the design. In addition to these is shown the dress of the Bambino, similar in materials to the two otfiers, but the pearls and diamonds more equally distributed: But the marvel of this costume is the crown. This ornament adds to the splendour of its materials the most exquisite and elaborate workmanship. It would require hours to appreciate the labour and taste displayed in all its details. Marshal Soult, could he but see it, would order masses for the soul of the prelate who spared him such a temptation. The

diamonds, especially those which compose a crest surmounting the centre, are of the purest water, and of immense size. But in the midst of the dazzling and harmonious intricacy of this gem of all colours there is a centre of attraction which took my fancy more than the rest. Immediately under the centre ball, an immense spherical emerald, which supports the diamond cross, is a small bird suspended on a hook within the crown. All the parts of this bird are composed of white enamel, except the body, around which the wings, legs, neck, and head, are attached, and which consists of a pearl, of an oval form, about the size of a sparrow's egg. The movement of the statue during a procession keeps the bird from its hook) in constant agitation, and produces the effect of a living bird enclosed in a cage of precious stones. — Well's Picturesque Antiquities of Spain.

Stage Coaches. — In the year 1672, when throughout the kingdom only six stag<? coaches were constantly going, a pamphlet was written by one John Cresset, of the Charter-house, for their suppression, and among the many grave reasons given against their continuance is the following :—": — " Those stage coaches make gentlemen come to London upon every small occasion, which otherwise they would not do but upon urgent necessity ; nay, the conveniency of the passage makes theii wives often come up, who, rather than come such long journies on horseback, would stay at home. Here, when they come to town they must presently be in the mode, get fine clothes go to plays and treats ; and by these means get such a habit of idleness, and love to pleasure, that they are uneasy ever after." — Monthly Magazine of June, 1814.

Important Roles in Seamanship. — The following rules, which were received recently by a gentleman of Dundee, from Colonel Reid, C. 8., Governor of Barbadoes, author of the " Theory of Storms," have been published in the Dundee Courier : — "Every rule applicable to ships which have become involved in storms is invaluable. Captain Andrews, commander of the royal mail steamer Medway, on leaving Bermuda for England, in September 22, 1846, suggested the following : — By keeping the wind on the starboard quarter, when in a revolving storm in the northern hemisphere, ships gradually sail from the storm's centre, and, by keeping the wind on the port quarter when in the southern hemisphere, ships sail gradually from the centre of a revolving storm. This rule applies to three-quarters of the storm's circle. But there is always one quadrant in a progressive whirlwind storm more dangerous than the, other three, being that over which the storm's centre passes in its progress, and there would be danger in applying the rule with a ship in this quadrant. Within the tropics, whilst the course of storms tends towards the west, the quadrant of greater danger will be on the west side. But these quadrants will gradually change their position as the storms recurve ; and in high latitudes, as the course of the storms becomes easterly, so will these quadrants of greatest dangers come to be ou the east side of the storm. In order to know which is the quadrant of greatest danger, the theory must be studied until it is understood, An example of Captain Andrews' rule for the southern hemisphere was practised by Captain Mocrsom, R. N., when commander of the frigate Andromache at Mauritius, in 1826, and is the more remarkable, because it was executed by Captain Moorsom before the theory of storms was understood. Leaving Her Majesty's ship Ariadne in Port Louis harbour, at the wUh of her commander, Captain Moorsom put to sea in the Andromache^ with the wind at S.E., veering to S.S.E., predetermined to steer without regard to the compass, and to keep the wind as it veered, always upon the larboard or port quarter. He had come to this decision from attentively studying the log books of ships which had encountered hurricanes in the neighbourhood of Mauritius, and observed that the wind veered there in a uniform manner. By steering as described, Captaiu Moorsom gradually carried his frigate from the centre of the storm until he had gained its opposite side and moderate weather. Then, having the wind at north-tast, he brought his ship upon the starboard tack, in order to return to the Mauritius, which port she reached uninjured. By comparing extracts fi'om the two log-books, it appears tbat the Ariadne, in Port Louis harbour, was in the centre of the hurricane, and had the storm very severely ; whilst the Andromache, by putting to sea, and being steered so as to keep the wind on the port quarter, had comparatively moderate weather."

Peruvian Camp Followers. — With every Peruvian army march nearly as many women as it comprises men. Unpalatable as such a following would be to European commanders, it is encouraged and deemed indispensable by Peruvian generals. The Indian women, as enduring and hardy as their husbands, set out two or three hours before the troops, and precede t hem about the same time

at ihe halting place. They immediately col- I lect wood tor fires, and prepare the rations, which tiny carry with them, for their husbands, sons, and brothers. Without them, in the more desolate ami mountainous districts, the soldiers would sometimes risk starvation. They are no impediment to the rapid march of a column, which they, on the contrary accelerate, by saviug the men trouble, and affording them time to repose. During a battle they remain in the vie uity of the troops, but far enough off not to impede their movements. The fight over, they seek out the wounded and take care of them. The lot of these poor women, who go by the name of rabonas, is any thiug but an enviable one ; lor, besides their many privations and hardships, they meet with much ill-usage at the hands of the soldiery, to which, however, they submit with incredible patience. — Article on Peru, in BlackwootTs Magazine. " Now then Stupid." — The above exclamation, conveying the strongest indigna-. tion, uttered in a tone of the deepest contempt, is generally made when one person in the street runs against another. The reprimand is so simple however, and so beautifully adapted to the smallest capacity, that, we think, it might be advantageously used for more general purposes ; for instance : — When a gatekeeper in one of the parks stops a small parcel or turns away a velveteen coat, it would do him no harm to call out to him, " Now then, stupid !" A manager, when he talks about an " enlightened British public, to whom an appeal is never made in vain," would invent something better if he were invariably stopt by the gallery admonition of " Now, then stupid !" Any young gentleman who goes through the toe-and heel-evolutions of the Polka, and executes every one of the attitudes of that intricate dance, might easily be checked by a good-natured friend quietly saying to him, " Now then, stupid !" A hair-dresser, the moment he has said, " Your hair is very dry, sir ; a little of our Cream of Human Kindness would do it a deal of good, sir,' might be gradually taught better if he always met with the exclamation of " Now then, stupid !" An actor, would, in time, give up the antediluvian sentiment of " the man who would strike a lovely woman in distress, &c," if he were always stopt in the middle by a general call of " Now then, stupid !" The Lord Mayor, also, might probably give up the practice of exhibi.ing himself on the ninth of November in his gingerbread carriage, if he were received, every year, with uuiversal cries of — •' Now then, stupid !" When a male dancer comes forward to the "footlights on his toes, stands on one leg, gives n sickly grin, and then begins to kick his legs and throw his naked arms about, the nuisance migbt'be very soon put down if he were always received with unanimous shouts of — 41 Now then, stupid !" When we see a pretty young lady walking out on a wet day with very thin shoes, we should certainly cry out to her, if it were not for an innate modesty which stifles the words — " Now then, stupid !" When a fine-whiskered preacher, with white kid gloves, diamond studs, Macassar ringlets, and a cambric pocket-haudkerchief, talks in a lisp about the vanities of this world, we must say we always feel the strongest inclination — only weareawed by the majesty of the beadle ! — to shout out to him — " Now then stupid !" Whenever we see a fresh portrait of Harrison Ainsworth, we always feel inclined to indulge in the same exclamation. The same desire always seizes us when an Irish gentleman gets up in the middle of an agreeable party to propose somebody's health, and in the most sickening nonsense compliments him to his face. And lastly, when we see an eld man, who ought to know better, take up the Morning Herald and actually read it, it is always with the greatest difficulty we can refrain from shouting cut to him — " Now then, stupid !" -—Punch.