ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 241, 20 November 1847, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Colonization. — It was asked in Parliament : Is the art of colonization lost? With us it seems to be lost ; but many years have not passed since it was in its prime. A century and a half ago witnessed its best exemplification in Canada, as mo:e than two centuries since saw it illustrated in Massachusetts. At the present moment Montreal affords a better representation of France under' Louis Quatorze than Tours or Caen ; and till lately, Boston gave a better notion of English society under the Stuarts than York or Nor* wich could do. To both these cities a nucleus of society had been transplanted. The pilgrims to Ma>sachusetts did not go in a loos*, make-shift fashion ; but with the orderly discipline-of a family, governed by au uniform principle, and ackuowledging'one common head. The French colonists were a type of French provincial society ; the noble, the peasant, the priest, and the ariizan were the constituent elements of a settlement, which has exhibited more harmony, unity, and individuality, than any other in those regions. Can it be said that in England men are wanting who would give to our colonial essay* the benefit of those things they so much want — high bearing, gentlemanly leeliug, evil* tivttcd taste, and strict principles ? Can it be that men of family and education, starving on ensigncies, curacies, or village practice, or lounging about Regent-street aud Piccadilly, would not willingly exchange the paltry pittance of their present state for one of ness, honour, and adventure tbroaxl ? Jf thjp

be the case, we fear the reason of it must be found in the apathy of our Government, which looks upon the senators and officials of Canada and Nova Scotia as caricaturing the service rather than deserving the confidence and earning the rewards of the British Crown ; whilst in other colonies it withholds all those prized privileges which could excite the zeal and animate the loyalty of brave, honest, and intelligent men. — Times. The News of the World'of the 25th April, from which we quote, gives the following graphic detail : — Last Tuesday night, a controversy took place between two noblemen who had formerly been members of the same ministry, and who in their present expressed opinions for j each other exhibit how little of cordiality ever existed between them, aud how small a por- ! tion of respect they could at any time have entertained for each other* These two noblemen are the Lord Brougham and Yaux (the j Lord High Chancellor), and Earl Grey (the Viscount Howick, and Under Secretary for the Colonies). * Such were their mutual positions under the Earl Grey administration ; and when we find him who was once Viscount Howick declaring of Lord Brougham, that he could assign no other cause " for the noble and learned Lord's speech but his extreme anxiety in season and out of season, with reason or without reason, whether worth their Lordship's attention or not worth it, under all circumstances and on all occasions, to hear his own voice in that House," we may be sure that in such a description of Lord Brougham we hear the echo of the late Lord Grey's opinion as to his Lord Chancellor. On the other hand, we may be certain that Lord Brougham is more angry than witty when he says of the present Earl Grey, that he has neither intellect to devise, nor the eloquence to give expression to a sneer ; " because a sneer implied something pointed, something clever, something that sunk deep, and embalmed itself in the memory." The number of statues already placed in the new Houses of Parliament is 250, and it is said that 200 more will be required. A grand and characteristic gladiatorial display recently took place in the House of Lords. The champions were that universal challenger Lord Brougham, and the pragmatical the Right Honorable Secretary of State for the colonies. The Times correspondent at St. Petersbttfgh announces a perfect glut of wheat in .ilie markets of the Russian capital. There -was on hand a superfluity of supply sufficient .to load 900* or 1000 vessels. Navigation VAras still impeded by the ice. — Liverpool Papar. The Duke de Rianzsres, husband of the Dowager Queen of Spain, has become a naturalized Frenchman, under the title o£ the Dnke.de Montmoro. The American ladies have voted the name ,«f the Haward poet, viz., Longfellow, to be -vulgar, and nowica.ll him Professor Lengthy Individual.

A Sad Teuth. — Of all kindnesses it must >be .confessed that lending books is the one Whfch meets with the least return !—(Communicated by a gentlemen who has only the third volume of Guy Mannering left out of the entire Waverley Novels, which he once possessed.) — Punch.

Test and Countertest. — A Dr. Outman, of Washington, wishing to test a magnetic somnambulist, suddenly applied to her nostrils a bottle containing cayenne pepper. The doctor suffered instantly a severe scratching in the face from tht fair subject, and subsequently a legal process, in which he was condemned to pay one farthing damages.

Gibson s Statue of the Queen. — This statue has been recently exhibited in Mr. Gibsons workshop at Rome. The artist has given the robe a narrow border of pink and blue, a novelty about which the artists in Rome are divided in opinion. The work is considered fine, for the attitude is easy and graceful, the drapery well arranged and executed, and the likeness good. - Gibson the Sculptor. — A correspondent in Rome supplies us with some information as to what our sculptors are doing in that high Temple of Arts. Gibson is at work, and has been so for some time, on, amongst a variety of other things, a basso-relievo^ for Lord Fitzwilliam, whose subject is "The Hours with the Horses of the Sun." " I have seen it," says the writer, " from the first rough chalk on the slate ; and have watched with much interest its formation in clay, in which material it yet remains. It is a very finely conceived and executed work. The female forms are very grace.ul ; and the horses ate fall of fire and spirit. The faces are less in size than the palm of my hand. The piece is intended for the north of England." He will be at Liverpool in the course of the summer, for the purpose of selecting a site for the statue of Huskisson.

Authors and Publishers. —If the reader wishes to form an idea of the rarity of works paid for by publishers, let them consider the following statement : All poems, all

sermons, all works on morals or metaphysics, are, with scarcely an exception, without a price. Novels, when by popular authors, are paid for at prices varying from £100 to £500 ; and in one or two instances, to £1500 ; when by authors unknown as novelists, but tolerably know<n in other departments, they are at the publisher's risk and half profits ; when by clergymen, gentlemen of a literary turn, titled ladigs, or aspiring clerks, the publishei either consents to print them at his own risk and profit, or else demands a sum of money for the publication, the sum varying from ££0 to £200. A first novel it never paid for. One publisher is known to print gratuitously any novel not too wretched, with the understanding that "if it succeeds," (what a latitude !) the author shall be paid "something" (another!) for his second novel. In this way ihe is enabled to keep up a running fire of new novels, scarcely one of which is ever paid for. Histories, when mere compilations, are .hack-work, and paid for as such ; when laborious works, the authors are ofteu handsomely remuuerated. It requires, however, a name, or some Jortunate chance, to get a publisher. Works of science are generally published at the risk of their authors. Unless the book be very striking indeed, an author -has a bad chance who publishes his owu work. The trade can ( nly be efficiently carried on by the trade. A publisher hast a hundred ways of "pushing" a book, of -which the author never would dream. Publishing is. an expensive luxury, which authors should eschew.; yet the delight of appearing in print is so great, that no homily can deter them. A poet was once asked by his publisher how many copies of his poem, then in sheets, the would like to have put in boards ? "The whole edition," replied the confident author. " Humph !" said the publisher, " Just as you please ; but if you take* my advice, you will only have a dozen or so." " Why not the whole?" asked the indignant poet. "Because," answered his adviser, "it spoils them/or waste paper /' ' — Frazer. When Lord Elleuborough was Lord Chief Justice, a labouring bricklayer was once bi ought into court as a witness. — When he came up to be sworn his lordship said to him " Keally, witness, when you kaye to appear before t T ae court, it is your bound, en duty to 'be more clean and decent in your appearance. *• Upon my life," said the witness, *' if your lordship comes to that, I think I'm every bit as well Jjessed as your lordship." How do you mean, sir V said his lordship angrily. " Why, faith," said the labourer, *' you come here in your working clothes, and I'm come in mine."

Strange Coincidence. — A strange coincidence las happened in the last week. Hardly was Sir Charles Napier appointed to the command of the squadron in the Mediterranean when, by the return news from Paris, we learned that the Prince de Jeinville was re-called from that station. We do not mean to say anything disparaging to the personal courage of the young sea-lion of France in this rrjatter, but we regard such a step as an evidence of very remarkable prudence on the pa.rt of Louis Phillippe. His son once very tnul apropos, as to time and place, expressed a hope, in the royal palace of England, that he might one day lie alongside a man of war commanded by Napier. The royal papa, perchance, thinking that Sir Charles is not the man to baulk such a longing, has wisely put his ambitious boy out of harm's way. Besides, it looks pacific. — Liverpool Albion, May. 24.

' Schoolboys at a Ball. — When Dr. Parr, the eminent Greek scholar, was head master of the grammar school at Norwich, he received many civilities from the resident gentry of the neighbourhood, in part requital of which he bethought himself of giving a ball to his country acquaintance. The scene of the festivity was a large school-room, which was separated by great folding-doors from a dormitory in which about sixty boys took their nightly repose. On the evening of the hall, they had all been sent to bed earlier than usual, but the Doctor had not estimated the mercurial temperament of boyhood in flattering himself that sleep would keep them quiet on such a night. No sooner had the dancing commenced, than the whole school slunk out of bed, and in a compact mass crowded against the folding doors, to obtain, through a keyhole, alternate glimpses of the outer revelry. Now, the doors were not strong enough to withstand such unusual pressure, and at length with a crash gave way, pouring into the ball-room, bead over heels, a perfect cataract of half-naked urchins ! The disturbance of the moment, the rage of the Doctor, the consternation of the ladies, the gambols of the detected hoys, are all beyond description. — Dolman's Magazine.

Fasting Good both for Mind and Body. — A degree of abstemiousness is, by all reasonable persons, allowed to be favourable to mental effort ; but an occasional fast is also found, in certain constitutions, to invigorate

both mind and body. It seems to give time for the functions to complete their work, and then to rest for a while. Fasting, for a moderate period, diminishes the carbon in the blood, and thus prevents drowsiness, while promoting a free circulation of highly vitalized blood through the brain ; and as on this kind of supply the ready power of the mind depends, a clearness and rapidity of perception may reasonably be expected under such circumstances, provided the muscles are not much in demand. Those who by mental habit can take advantage of this state may then attain the highest ecstacy of meditative abstraction. Probably the greater number of persons who think th 'mselves morally and physically in health, would find how greatly they are mistaken, if they could but be induced to bring their appetites more into subjection, and wait for something like an urgent demand for nourishment before they indulged in eating. Instead of submitting to custom, and regularly resorting to the table three or four times a day for the mere gratification of the palate, the wise plan would be sometimes completely to break through the habit, and enjoy the quickening powers of a rational will triumphing over animal appetite. Thus health of body and mental fortitude, which together constitute the best assurance of intellectual power, may be equally promoted. — The Body in relation to the Mind, by G. Moore, M.D.

The Vintage in the Claret Country — On tbe best estates in Medoc they generally begin ;be vintage in the first fortnight of September. If the season seem favourable they wait till the grapes and the soil are dry, and the weather sufficiently constant to allow the work to begin without any fear of interruption. The vintagers are disposed in the following manner : — The women and children are employed to cut off the grapes. They ought to reject and pick away whatever is defective, unripe, parched or rotten. One cutter is allotted to every row of vines, and the grapes thus cut are put into baskets. For every eight rows of vine there are two carriers of bastes, or buckets, thirty-two of which makes a charge or load, which again is composed of two small tubs, called donilles, placed on a cart. A carrier, termed a videpanier, receives the basket of every vintager as soon as it is full, and empties it into the bucket, which is carried on the back of another to be emptied into the tubf placed in the cart. A commandant, or inspector, is set over twelve rfyes, (a rdge means a furrow, it is here a measure of 100 feet long and one foot broad,) whose duty it is to hasten the cutters, and to see that they do not forget any of the grapes. When the two tubs on the cart are full the bouviei , or ox-driver, conveys the load to the cuvier, a spacious outhouse, where the wine is made. When the tubs have arrived in the cuvier, they are received by four or five men, who empty their contents into the pressoir, or wine press, which is made either of wood or stone, and composed of four sides, sixteen inches high, and joined at right angles, having a bottom of nine square feet. This press is about two feet from the ground, and slightly inclines towards the front. The men next scrape the grapes off the stalks ; this is done either with rakes or by rubbing the bunches on a wire sieve. The stalks having been carried away into another press to drain, the grapes are thrown into a heap and trodden by the men, who, bare-legged, and following each other, tread round the base of the heap till the whole is gradually levelled and crushed. Some proprietors are averse to the foulage, or treading of grapes ; confining the operation to the egrappage, or scraping the grapes from the stalks, they instantly pour the fruit entire into the yat. While this operation is being ptrformed, a hole in the front of the press allows the mout, or juice, to escape into a tub, called gargouille. The men empty this juice into long buckets, termed comportes, which are traversed near the top by a long stick, for the purpose of being carried by two men, who pour the juice into the cuves or vats. It is uiual to fill these vats only to within fifteen inches of the top, otherwise there would be a risk of losing much wine at the time of fermentation. — Bordeaux: its wines, and the Claret Country.