ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 201, 3 July 1847, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

St atistiqal Society.—The second monthly meeting of this society was held on Monday* -night at "the' Society's rooms in St. Jaraes's-square. Col. Sykes, F.R.S., in the chair. A paper was read by Dr. Guy upon the average duration of life among sovereign princes. The average duration of life (as inferred from the age at death) of sovereign princes since the Christian era (excluding violent deaths) was shown to have gradually and steadily increased from about fifty-two years in the first five centuries, to aLout fiftyeight years in the last century. The most striking result of the tables exhibited was the continuance of the gradual diminution in the duration of life previously found in ascending from the lower through the higher classes of society. Thus, the most recent comparisons give the whole expectation of life at twenty - one years of age in the three classes of sovereigns, the aristocracy, and the gentry of this country, as 54, 65, and 67»- years respectively, and at the age of 51 the expectation is 64, 72, and 74 years. Thus kings are placed at the bottom of the scale. The lessened duration of life among the higher classes has been said to arise mainly from their less constmt and regular use of physical exercise. But in the discussion that ensued, Colonel Sykes, Dr. Farr, Dr. Guy, and others, allowing for this deficiency, were still inclined, from their own experience and researches, to allow the greater weight, in accounting for the proved disparity, to those sanatory conditions which liave recently excited so much public attention. The meeting was adjourned to the 18th of January.—Atlas, December 26.

The Dry Dock, Malta. — This stupendous work at the head of the Dockyard creek, on the S.E. and by E. side ot the Great Harbour, was commenced by driving the first pile May 10th, 1842. The first stone was laid May.lst, 1844, under the plans of Mi. Scamp and carried out by Mr. Walter Elliott. It is fast approaching towards completion. The extreme length, from the gates to the centre of the bow, is 274 feet ; and to the square 222 feet ; the width 82 feet ; and the depth from the level of the water 25 feet. It is constructed of limestone, principally from Gozo, being less porous than any other stone found in these islands. At either end will be two capstans of great power. Except, of course, tbe entrance, the dock is ' surrounded by arched vaults, offromense strength, which will be available for stores. Surrounding the dock, and 40 feet from its margin, factories, smithies, carpenters' workshops, &c, will be erected. There are two engines, of 20 horse power each, which have been employed from' the commencement of the work in pumping out the water, in order to set the masonry dry,

and the same engines will be permanently fixed for pumping out the water from the dock (which it is calculated they will do in ten hours) when a vessel is docked; and al»o for driving the machinery of the new factories. The engines are under the superintendence of Mr. Hamshaw. The dock will be able to receive a ] 20-gun ship, or the largest steam frigate (with her paddles on) in the navy. Until recently, there were 2000 persons at work in the quarries or elsewhere connected with the dock, having in their families about 5000 souls. Now, however, there are only 300 employed. The first-class masons receive Is. 4d. a day; second class, Is. 2d. a day; third class, Is. Id.; labourers first class Is.; second class, lOd. The cost of the dock it is estimated, will be about £90,000, independently of factories, &c, which are not yet estimated. The amount has been paid out of funds granted for the purpose by the British Government. This will be the most valuable and complete dry dock in the Mediterranean, we may almost say in the known world.

Greece. — The advices from Athens by the Levant mail are to the lOih ultimo. M. Colletti having written to M. Mussuris, the Turkish envoy at Athens, on the increased emigration to Turkey, a copy of the letter was transmitted to Lord Palraerston. The following is an extract from his lordship's letter to Sir Edmond Lyons ou the subject :—": — " I set out upon the principle that all who reside in Greece, whether they have lived there for a long time, or arrive from any part of Turkey, enjoy the incontestable right of quitting Greece when they please. When the three powers created the kingdom of Greece, they wished to establish a free state, and not a prison. It is natural that the government should see with an unfavourable eye Greeks preferring to emigrate into Turkey, instead of remaining in the kingdom ; but it is the fault of the Greek government if this preference exists. If the Greek Ministry persists in its system of bad government, and if, besides, brigandage, oppression, and murders increase,because they remain unpunished ; if there be no security for the property of peaceful and laborious inhabitants, it would be astonishing, in fact, if those who can quit the kingdom should remain any longer in it. I desire that you may transmit officially to M. Colletti a copy < f this letter." The Moniieur Grec announces that Colletti's health is so much improved that he will be soon enabled to resume his duties. — Liverpool Albion, Jan. 4.

A Formidable Plant. — About a league from Campos the country abounds with an arboreous species of jatropha, with small white flowers, and sinuate leaves, not unlike those of ihe holly, but larger. The footstalks of the leaves are furnished with a few longpointed prickles, and, without being aware of their nature, I laid hold of a branch to collect a few specimens, but had no sooner done so than my whole hand felt as if it had been dipped into boiling oil, caused by the venom of the prickles, which, in many places, had punctured the skin, and it was intolerably painful for several hours. On my next attempt I was more cautious, and succeeded in obtaining a few specimens. This plant is called by the inhabitants favella, and in the dry season they scrape down the bark and wood, which they put into the pools where the large pigeons and other birds resort. After having drunk of its poisoned water, they either die or become much stupified, and in this state are taken and eaten by the people. — Gardner's Travels in Brazil.

Caution to Persons Purchasing Jewellery. — Not only the public, but the whole of the jewellery trade, will do well to be upon their guard when purchasing articles of jewellery set with brilliants, as a great number of imitation ones, of a very novel and ingenious construction, are now in England and offered for sale. So well is the deception managed that many competent judges have not been able to distingguish the deception. It is not genera'ly known that in jewellery set with brilliants the stone is from twenty to thirty times more valuable than the gold and workmanship, which, therefore, are always of the best description. So it is with these imitations. The superior quality of the gold, and exquisite workmanship, warrant an ordinary judge in coming ttf the conclusion that it would not be wasted on anything but a real stone. The stones are what are termed doublets, that is, half diamond and half paste, and are never set transparent. These imitations are made in the following manner: — A rose diamond (which is but half the thickness of a brilliant, and has a fiat bottom) is taken, and the pointed top polished, forming the table top always on brilliants ; a hack or bottom is then cut out of the paste to fit, and is placed cone downwards, into the chamber intended for its reception. This has a flat top, the entire circumference of the diamond, and forms the other half, or that part of the brilliant which lies beneath the setting ; the fiat back of the diamond is then laid upon it, and the setting burnished over. It is impossible to detect the deception until the stone is upset, and then

the imitation back becomes apparent. The diamond being uppermost, it will cut glass and stand the usual test of a brilliant, whilst the silver foil used beneath the paste being tinted, makes it appear like a jewel of the first water. It is calculated that upward of £600 per cent, profit will be realised by the sale of them. — Liverpool Albion.