ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 234, 27 October 1847, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The Britannia announces that the principal lodge of the Freemasons of Bresslau has struck out of its laws the clauses which prescribed that no person could be received a mason without belonging to the Christian religion, and which particularly interdicted the admission of Jews. The Priuce of Prussia, grand master of all the masonic lodges of the kingdom, has consented to ihis modification oi the laws. The rapid fall in corn lad received a slight check, and prices had exhibited a tendency to rise again. But the accounts, Irom all parts of the country respecting the ciop continued in the highest degree favourable.

Potato Failure. — Private letters received from various districts of , the country in opposite directions tend to show that a very large proportion of the potato crop shows decided symptoms of being infected with the disease that proved so fatal to it the last and preceding jear. The general description is, that the haulm or stem has yet a healthy appearance above ground ; but black spots are | exhibited, generally beginning about an inch under the surface of the earth, and extending at short distances downwards towards the tubers. Dr. Lindley, who was appointed by the Government to investigate the subject last | year, has found the disease very general in the ! fields m the West-end of the county of Mid1 dlesex. — standard. j In the House of Lords, on the 4th June, Lord Monteagle moved lor a select committee i to consider the means by which a system of colonisation might be carried into effect, with | a view to the improvement of Ireland. His speech went over the old ground of enaigral lion, as a relief for Ireland ; but was less spe- | cific and far less comprehensive than Lord Lincoln upon the subject. Lord Monteagle made, however, a great point of encouraging [public works in the colonies : he thought they would obviate the difficulty arising from the alienation of Crown lands. Earl Grey did not oppose the motion, but explained that the main motive whicn induced him to acquiesce in the appointment of this committee was, Le trusted, that the result of .this inquiry would be to disabuse mens' minds of the dangerous error which he thought now existed as to the extent to which emigration might be carried. When confined to its proper object, no man attached a greater value to colonisation than himself. He believed that measures of this description weie calculated to be of the greatest benefit to individuals themselves, to the colonies, and to the mother country. His lordship, however, seemed to think it impossible that emigration could safely be conducted to make an imj mediate impression on the numbers of paupers ! in England and Ireland, so as sensibly to relieve the distress which had unhappily prevailed. His lordship was not unwilling to give facilities to a well-conducted system, but he could not hold out a hope of carrying out any system upon so gigantic a scale as would relieve the existing pressure. Towards the conclusion of his speech Lord Grey deprecated over interference with the colonies ; the wiser policy being to leave them almost entirely to manage their o*n affairs. Lord Fuzwilliam seconded the motion. He thought that the advantages both to Ireland and the colonies derivable from immediate and extensive emigration would amply and speedily repay the expenses. The moiion was. agreed to, and the committee named. In a debate in the Hou c c of Con mons ou Lord Lincoln's plan of " colonization," Mr. Hume is reported by the Spectator to have obseived, " that the whole system of colonial government required revision, for it is the misgovernment of the colonies which checks emigration." The admirers of Mr. O'Connell, have resolved to hooour his remains with a grand funeral procession through London, should they pass through en route for Ireland ; and the Roman Catholic clergymen intend, it is said, to have a solemn high mass and requiem performed over them in Moorfield's Chapel. It is said that the whole of the lauded property in Kerry, including Derrynane Abbey and the town residence in Merrion Square, have been bequ athed lo Mr. Maurice O'Counell, M.P. Mr. Daniel O'Connell, jun., h> left £5000, being part of a policy of insurance effected on the life of his father. The name of Mr. Morgan O'Connell, who is already handsomely provided for in the Prerogative Court, is not, it is added, mentioned in the will. These are the only items which have transpired ; but it generally believed that there would be a tolerably heavy draw upon the funds of the Insurance Offices, consequent on the death of Mr. O'Connell, to make provision for the rest of his family. A. phenomenon, which was nearly attended b the most disastrous consequences, lately

occurred in the Black sea. An Austrian steamer, of Lloyd's company, the Stomdoul, was proceeding to Constantinople, in a calm state of the weather, and was within an hour's distance of Synope, when sundenly the sea opened under it, assuming the form of a vast tunnel : the waves, in closing, covered it almost entirely, swept the deck, and did the most serious damage. The shock was so violent that several leaks were sprung ; and the vessel was some time in recovering itself from this terrible pressure and getting lairly .afloat again. It rose, however, after some pitching; but injured to such an extent, that if another shock had taken place it would inevitably have been lost, ship and cargo. It was with the greatest difficulty that it reached the port of Synopp to refit ; after which it proceeded to Constantinople, where it arrived safe and sound. Those who were , witnesses of this accident thought at first it might have originated in an earthquake ; but nothing of the sort Iku occurred elsewhere. It must be admitted that some submarine dislodgment opened under the ribs of the vessel an abyss into which the waves rushed, and in this way they formed a gulf, iv which she narrowly escaped being smashed and up.