ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 217, 28 August 1847, Page 2

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Her Majesty held a drawing room, (the first of the season,) at St. James's Palace, on the 27th March. The dresses on the occasion were very magnificent. Her Majesty's train was of green poplin figured with gold shamrocks, and was richly trimmed with gold lace. The petticoat was of white satin, trimmed with gold lace and ivy, ornamented with diamonds. Her Majestys head-dress was formed of a wreath of ivy and diamonds, and also of feathers. The inauguration of his Royal Highness Prince Albert as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge took place at Buckingham Palace, on the afternoon of the 25th March. The address for the occasion was delivered by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Rev. Dr. Phillpot ; and replied to in a brief but terse speech from his Royal Highness. In the evening a grand dinner was given at Buckingham Palace, to the members of the deputation from the University of Cambridge, including Henry Phillpot, D.D., Vice-Chan-cellor, and Master of Catherine-hall; Thomas Crick, B. D., Public Orator ; the Master of Colleges, and severdl others. There were present at the festive board, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Northampton, the Bishop of London, the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell, the Right Honorable the Speak-

er of the House of Commons, the Right Honorable Henry Goulburn, the Honorable C. E. Law, Mr. G. E. Anson, Colonel the Honorable C. B. Phipps, and LieutenantColonel F. H. Seymour. We are sorry to perceive that the destitution in Ireland was unabated, and the weather bitterly cold — unsually so for the season of the year. In consequence of a government order to dismiss 20 per cent, of the labourers now employed on the public works, most appalling results are anticipated. It is stated by the Times correspondent, that at Clonmel (March 30) — "all the public officers, and those who have attended the relief committees, are quite satisfied that the food system cannot be worked ou 1 . Government have bee&duly informed that the population (armed) will rise and plunder everything — th*»y are resolved to do so, and tell us openly, that the dragoons may as well, and better, shoot them at once. This is a fact. In ten days, when the works stop, you will see dreadful scenes. Remember that the county taxes cannot be levied by the officers at Clonmel; they stated so to the grand jury ; therefore what chance have the poor-rate collectors ? The banks declare they never had such lodgments from the farmers, who, of course, do not pay one farthing of rent ; and yet, without a guinea, the landlords are to subscribe, advance seed, and employ hundreds of labourers. The thing is an absurdity." The deaths every week from starvation and sickness produced by want, were as numerous as ever. In the Cork workhouse alone, during the week ending 31st March, no less than 175 beings departed this life. At Skibbereen fever was still raging ; and at Bandon several of the Poor Law Guardians had been attacked, and one (Mr. Alcock, Justice of the Peace) had fallen a victim. Emigration all the while was going on, more extensively even than the past year ; among the adventurers, flying from the scenes of famine, desolation, and murder, in their native land, were manvsubstantial farmers and theii families. Mr. O'Connell, says the Globe, of the 29th March, who arrived in Paris on Friday, does not seem to have suffered fr,om his journey ; and the only thing of which he complained was great personal fatigue from the effects of the journey, and considerable mental depression. The twelve medical gentlemen who have seen Mr. O'Connell have given it as their opinion thai he has no organic disease ; and that the depression of spirits from which he suffers will probably be greatly relieved by cliange of climate and by totally abstaining fiom business.

Military Colonization of New Zealand. — Tlie Government are ready to grant a tree passage to New Zealand to Mich of the pensioners of Chelsea Hospital as choose to emigrate to that colony, together v/vh their wives and families, who are noi more than forty- seven years of age ; an outfit to be provided, and on their arrival in the colony they will be given an acre of land and 2s. 6d. per day for seven years, during which period they will be military colonists ; at the expiration of that time they will receive a grant of ten acres, and be free colonists. The wife and family, in the event of decease, to have a free passage to England, should they wish to return. — Times. The late Mr. W. Clowes. — We have to record the death of one we may properly terra distinguished. Mr. W. Clowes, the head of the largest printing establishment in Europe expired, after a short illness, on Tuesday evening. He was the architect of his own fortune, having come up to London, some fort, years ago, atter the expiration of his apprenticeship to a printer in his native town of Chichester. He soon after commenced business on his own account, in a small way : and by unwearied industry and perseverance, gradually established a respectable connexion. He was among the first, a qaarter of a century ago, to see the new era of printing that was opened by the introduction of the steampress ; and his engines at Northumberland court were the earliest applied to the production of books. The demand for cheap literature, of which the Penny Magazine was the most extraordinary example, gave new impulse to the energies of Mr. Clowes; and, in connexion with a vast amount of Government business, gradually established the gigantic establishment of Duke-street, Stam-ford-street, so often described an.l so celebrated wherever English books penetrate. To have accomplished the great results of his business from small beginnings required the efforts of no common man. Mr. Clowes did not aspire to the honours of the learned printers ; but he possessed the highest powers of Lusiness organisation ; and an energy which overcame every ordinary difficulty, and in many instances accomplished undertakings whi( h are almost marvels. To work off half a million sheet's of paper in a week — to set up the type and complete the impression of a thousand folio pages of a parliamentary report in the same time — to print the Nautical Almanac, consisting of 500 to 600 pages of figures, without a single error, in sixteen or

seventeen days, are amongst the recorded wonders of Mr. Clowes' establishment. The labours of Mr. Clowes' life mil be permanently associated with the intellectual development and the perseveriug energy which are the distinguished characteristics of our own times ; and his loss will be deeply lamented by a large circle of friends, to whom he was endeared by his kind and generous nature. — Morning Chronicle. The Paris papers announce the death of Mademoiselle Mars, the celebrated actress, at Paris, on the 20th March. She was born in Paris in 1778, and made her first appearance at the Theatre Montaurier, in 1793, at the age of fifteen ; and during the present century has reigned supreme at the Theatre Frangais.