MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 268, 23 February 1848, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Opening of the Model Lodging House St. Giles'. — The Society for the improvement of the condition of the Labouring Classes have opened their new model lodging house in George-street, St. Giles>', which they have just completed at a cost ot £5,000. It is exclusively intended to accommodate single men of the working class. The building covers an area of about 2,000 square feet, and is six stories from the basement ; the ground-floor is partly occupied by the manager, and the remainder fitted as a living room for the use of the lodgers, having tables and settees similar to a coffee house, with crockery and cooking utensils. The upper floors are divided into eight dormitories, each separated by wainscot seven feet high into thirteen separate berths, each berth furnished with decent furniture. The entire building is thoroughly ventilated, and lighted throughout with gas, the common staircase being fireproof. The total number that can be accommodated is 104, each paying 4d. per night, or 2s. per week. It is intended to fit the basement with baths, and provide a library for the use of the inmates.

Talleyrand and the Revolution of the " Three Glorious Days." — It may easily b? imagiued with what interest the retired minister and diplomate, and the chief actor in all the great revolutions of the last half-century, observed the progress of the cmeutc* which ended in the p™- 1 -" - '

dynasty, in the overthrow of which, in 1790, and the restoration of which in 1814-15, he had so great a share. On the day of the 29th July, after the troops of the line had manifested their indisposition *o fire upon the people, and the Swiss mercenaries had been repulsed in the courts of the Louvre and the Place dv Carousel, a general retrograde movement marked by much disorder, took place, and the armed force retreated p.-11-me!l, through the garden of the Tuilleries, the Rue de Rivoli, the Place Louis XV., now called the Place de la Concorde, towards the Champs Elysees and the Barriere de l'Etoile. Talleyrand, in his saloon, in which formerly sate the allied sovereigns, listened to the confused noise. His valet, impelled by irresistible curiosity, ventured to open one of the double casements which look upon the Place and the garden. "My God, Monsieur Keisir!" exclaimed his more cautious master, from the inner extremity of the sumptuous apartment; what are you about? Are you going to expose the hotel to be pillaged ?" " Fear nothing," responded M. Keisir, "the troops are in full retreat, but are not pursued by the populace." "Indeed!" observed Talleyrand, wiih a contemplative air ; wa'kiog slowly to the magnificent time-piece, which formed part of the ornaments over the fireplace, he paused, and added in a solemn tone, "Take a note thai on the 29th July, 1830, at five minutes past twelve, the elder branch of the Bourbons ceased to reign in France." — Dublin University Magazine.

Horrible Accident. — Betwixt the Lake Ontario a<i<l the Lake Eiie there is a vast and piodigious cadence of water, which falls down alter a surpris/ing and extraordinary manner, insomuch that the universe does not find its parallel. This wondeitul fall is about 600 feet high, and i composed of two great crosb streim^ ami twt falls of water, with aii*island si; pinw across the middle of it. The waters which fall from this horrible precipice do foam and boil after the most hideous manner imaginable, making an outrageous noise more terrible than that of thunder; lor when the wind blows out of the south the dismal roaring may be heard more than fifteen leagues off; the Niagara river, at the toot of the Falls, is more than a quarter of a league broad. There is already a sad Hit of fearful accidents at this place, though for a short time frequented by civilised men. The last few years have been fertile in them ; perhaps the most horrible of all was one which happened in May, 1843. A Canadian of the village of Chippewa was engaged in dragging sand from the river, three miles above the falls. Seated in his cart, he pushed the horses into the water, ignorant of the depth it sank, but a box on which he sat floated, and was soon driven by a high wind off from the land into the strong but smooth current ; he, being unable to swim, clung to the box. A boat was on shore, but by the mismanagement of the bys anders it was let loose into the stream, and floated past the unhappy man empty and use 1 ess. There was no oilier for two miles lower down ; beyond that aid was impossible. Tiie people on the beach, instead ot hastening to get a boat ready in time below, run along the shore, talking to him ol help, which stupidity rendered it of no avail ; he knew that he wa? drowned, "I'mlo-t! I'm lost!" sounded fainter and fainlei as the distance widened. This dreadful protraction lasted neatly an hour, the stream being very slow ; at first he scarcely appears to move, but the strength increases, the waters become more troubled, he spins about in the eddies, still clinging with the energy of despair to his support. He passes close by an island, so close that the box touches and stops for a moment, but the next it twists slowly round and is sucked into the current again. The last hope was that a boat might be ready on the shore at Chippewa ; it was in vain, there were none there, but the frail canoes, all high up on the beach ; by the time one of them was hunched, the boldest boatman dared not embark. For, but just above the Falls, they saw the devoted victim whirled round and round in the foaming waves, with frantic gestures appealing for aid; his frightful screams piercing through the dull roar of the torrent — "I'm lost! I'm lost!" He is now in the smooth flood of blue unbroken water, twenty feet in depth, the centre of the Canadian Fall. Yet another moment, he has loosed his hold, his hands are clasped as if in prayer, his voice his silent. Smoothly, but quick as an arrow's flight, he glides over and is seen no more, nor any trace of him from that time. — Hochelaga, cr England in the New World; by Eliot Warburton, Esq.

India Rubber. —At ten o'clock we stopped at an anatto plantation, awaiting the tide, and here we saw tbe manufacture of India rubber. The man of the house returned from the forest about noon, bringing in nearly two ! gallons of milk, which be bad been engaged since daylight in collecting from one hundred and twenty trees that had been tapped upon the present morning. This quantity of milk he " , . . • r .1. ...

when be himself attended to the trees he couM collect the same every morning for several months. But his girls could only collect from seventy trees. The seringa trees do not usually grow thickly, and such a number may require the circuit of several miles. In making the shoes two girls are the artistes, in a thatched hut, with no opening but the door. From an inverted water jar, the bottom of which had been broken out foi the purpose, issued a column of dense white smoke, from the burning of a species of palm nut, and so filled the hut that we could scarcely see the inmates. ' The lasts used were made of wood imported from the United States, and were smeared with clay to prevent adhesion. In the leg of each was a long stick serving as a handle. The last was dipped into the milk and immediately held over the smoke, which, without much discolouring, dried the surface at once. It was then re-dipped, nnd the process was repeated a dozen times until the shoe was of sufficient thickness, care being taken to give a greater numbpr of coatings to the bottom. The whole operation, irom the smearing of the last to placing the shoe in the sun required less than five minutes. Thp shoe was now of a slightly more yellowish hue than the liquid milk, but in the course of a few hours it became of a reddish brown. After an exposure of twen-ty-four hours it is figtfred as we see upou the imported shoes. This is done by the girls with small sticks of hard wood, or the needlelike spines of some of the palms. Stamping has been tried but without success. The shoe is now cut from the last and is ready for sale, l/ringing a price of from ten to twelve vintens or cents per pair. It is a long time before they assume the black hue. Brought to the city, they are sorted, the best being laid aside for exportation as shoes, the others as waste ruliber. The proper designation for this latter, ia which are included bottles, sheets, and any other form excepting selected shoes, is boracha, and this is shipped in bulk. There are a number of persons in the city who make a business of filling shoes with rice chaff and hay previous to their being packed in Loxes. They are generally fashioned into better shape by being stretched upon lasts after they arrive at their final destination. By far the greater part of the rubber exported from Fara goes to the United States, the European consumption being comparatively very small. — Edi'urd's Voyage up the Amazon. The Times gives authenticity to a current report as to the opening of a semi-diplomatic communication between the British and Roman Governments — " The Earl of Minto, now on his road to Turin, will extend his tour to Rome ; anil, though not accredited by any official introduction, or invested with any formal representative character, will be enabled by his presence at the Pontifical Court to facilitate the circuitous intercourse between two states which have so sensibly persisted in blocking up the ordinary channels of a necessary communication. The position and connexions of his lordship will be an immediate and sufficient guarantee of his responsibility, and will confer upon him much of that authority which it is as yet forbidden more directly to delegate, while his known qualifications for such a mission supply a complete assurancethat r.e interests and honour of England will be safe in his bands. In this way it is expected th.it Ministers may be enabled to communicate with a (riendly state at a very critical period of its fortunes, without rendering themselves liable to the accumulated penalties which our ingenious ancestors devised for treason. As soon as Parliament meets the letter of the law may be brought into accordance with the spirit of the age ; and, after we have graciously recognised the political existence of a power which at present commands the earnest and practical sympathies of half the population of the island, Lord Minto may be boldly , invested with a title befitting the functions he must necessarily discharge." It is siid that Dr. Wiseman is now on his return to this country, after a lengthened sojourn at Rome, bringing instructions and authority irom the Holy See for remodelling the ecclesiastical arrangements of his communion in England. Rome has hitherto possessed in England nothing more than a missionary establishment, placed under the superintendence of " Vicars Apostolic," who are nominally the Bishops of sees now in partibus infidelium ; and do not assume the titles of the dioceses in which they exercise their authority. The present order of things is now to cease ; Catholicism having, in the opinion of its rulers, attained a sufficient extension ia England to warrant the re-establishment of the hierarchy, with all its ramifications of ecclesiastical government — Deans, Chapters, Archdeacons, Ecclesiastical Courts, Sec. dec. — sas it existed prior to the Reformation, and as it at present exists in Roman Catholic Ireland. There will be, it is said, two Aichbisi.ops for he two provinces of Canterbury and York, with eight Bishops subordinate. These new Roman Bishops will not, however, assume thf »:»!•« i\,m •••« ftt nresent occupied by'th*

Bishops of the Established Church, hut will take their designations from other placet not heretofore episcopally dignified ; as Birmioghtra, Nottingham, Derby, Liverpool, and other populous centres of Roman Catholic influence. Dr. Wiseman himself, it is said, will succeed, under a new title, that of Bishop of Westminster, to the administration of the affairs of the London district, in the room of Dr. Griffiths, Bishop of Olena, lately deceased. — Oxford Herald.

The Movements in Italy. — If the rulers of Italy are of accord, they do not as yet go fast enough for the people, and the progress of the peaceful revolution is hastened by the popular impatience. The record of the journalist can barely keep pace with the march of events: now some great movement occcurs in Rome, now the sounds of revolt in the Neapolitan domains penetrate through the muffling of the press ; now the scene is shifted to Lucca, to Leghorn, to Genoa ; and the Austrians cannot keep stillness even in their own country. We last week learned the ready concession yielded by the Grand Duke of Lucca to the demands of his subjects ; he retracted, but only to make his concession the more complete. After his paternal proclamation, Charles Louis ran off, like Louis the Sixteenth, and repudiated his concessions : a deputation was sent to bring him back ; he declined to go home, but offered to appoint a Regency with the chief of the popular deputation at its head ; the managers of the revolution were not to be thus foiled, they threatened to confiscate the duke's goods ; on which Tie returned with haste, and did all that he was required to do. It has been ascertained, therefore, who is master in Lucca. Tuscany benefitted by this great political experiment on the obduracy of princes : the people called upon the Grand Duke Leopold to hasten his concessions, and he complied at once. A national guard is now the guardian of order in Tuscany. It has, therefore, been ascertained who is master there. Parma, a small qua-si-Austrian dutchy, seems disposed to follow Lucca. A similar spirit has been manifested in all parts of the Italian territory, though it takes an endless variety of shapes ; in Sicily and Calabria, it is armed revolt ; in the towns of the Roman States, it is fervid and clamorous loyalty to Pius the Ninth ; in Genoa, it is exulting displays in honour of the old expulsion of the Austrians : in Piedmont, it is suggestive of cries in praise of Charles Albert. la many places, " the Italian flag," a tricolor, has been unfurled, instead of the flags of the separate states ; and among the cries has been one for a " King of Italy." But the most significant of all demonstrations, perhaps, is the outbreak at Milan, the capital and headquarters of Austrian Italy. The arrival of a new Archbishop was the occasion for a sudden and irrepressible burst of cries to the honour of the Prelate's spiritual lord, the Sovereign Pontiff: the authorities were alarmed, and tried to suppress the popular feeling by force of arms : in the attempt they sustained a damaging repulse, and a few days later were fain to establish a military occupation of their own capital. The Milanese have not yet revolted : but the hint must alarm the Austrians. It is not wonderful, therefore, that the communications from Vienna to Rome are said to be couched in language that grows more and more conciliatory. Austria, if she knew her own interests, would not repel, but would invoke the intervention of Pius the Ninth m reconstructing the political constitution of the Italian States. — Spectator, Sept. 20.

The Jesuits in Rome. — The Jesuits are recovering from the disgraces and defeats they have received at Rome, as well as in other places. They are "up and stirring," frequently to be met on the thoroughfares, with thoughtful brows and hurried steps. The business of conversation is committed to their hands. Many thousand foreigners visit or sojourn in the city, to these the Jesuit frequently finds access, and by degrees winds himself into the good graces of his new acquaintances. He lends them books — not actual Roman Catholic pamphlets, but those which combine the utile cum dulci — which, perhaps, while they would descant upon some local subject, or something remarkable in the neighbourhood, gradually undermine the faith of Protestants. Then, when they have wound themselves into your confidence, they act more openly, and put into your hands a book upon "the faith" (ilfede), or a tract illustiative of the sole orthodoxy and purity of Rome. It is wonderful with what zeal they go about the business, and then it is so purely accidental —so unpremeditated. I have been told that in some cases they are successful, aud an English family, or some of its members, forsake the religion of their fathers, and enter into communion with Rome. These cases are uncommon, as we may infer from the unequivocal sounds of triumph that were raised when Mr. Scott Murray lately became a convert. They are, however, not the less vigilant and prepared for any business which demands energy and perseverance. Wherever the post of danger is, there the

Jesuits will be found. If a schism appears in a province, their missionaries are sent to bring about measures of conciliation, and to heal division. If the Church has a political motive in view, she finds no agent more adapted to her purpose from his general knowledge of the world, and skill in penetrating character, than the follower of Ignatius. If barbarous lands require apostles to spread the Gospel, none will be found equally fitted by education, and art, to combat and overcome the difficulties of the situation, with the obsequious members of the same order. They, indeed, may well be called " the forlorn hope" of the Church, placed always in the front of the battle, elated by success, and but little dispirited by defeat. The dress of this order does not differ much from the local clergy, but they may be always observed having the cravat half-covered with a piece- of white muslin. — Notes of a Residence in Rome. The British Flag. — " On my arrival at Toronto, people from all parts of the Province, propelled by a variety of feelings which they could not control, were seen centripetally, riding, driving, or walking towards the Government House. One, in pure English, described to me the astonishing luxuriance of the western district ; another, in a strong Irish brogue, the native beauty of Lake Siracoe ; another, in broad Scotch, explained to me the value of the timber trade on the Ottawa ; one confidently assured me that in his district there were veins of coal — another hinted at indications of copper — one raved about a fishery — another was in raptures about the college — some described tome Lakes Huron, Erie, Ontario — several the Falls of Niagara — all praised the climate ; * and yet,' said I to myself, as absorbed in deep melancholy I imperfectly listened to their descriptions in detail, ' and yet how is it that in the foreground of this splendid picture I can nowhere see the British Flag 1 Except by its powerful influence, how can I, inexperienced and unsupported, expect to stan.l against the difficulties which are about to assail me? Except by its eloquence, how can 1 advocate the glorious institutions of our country ? Except under its blessing, how can I even hope to prosper? With nothing to look up to, and nothing to die under, an admiral might as well attempt to fight a ship without a pennant, or to go to sea in a ship without a bottom, as that I should vainly undertake to govern Canada from a house witk nothing on its roof to greet the winds of heaven but stacks of reeking chimneys.' " In build ng, I know quite well that it is usual to commence by laying what is vulgarly called the foundation stone ; however, I determined that 1 would begin to build my political edifice from the top, and accordingly in due time there appeared on the roof of Government House, first, half a dozen workmen mysteriously hammering away, as if at their skins, then a tall strait staff wearing a small foraging cap on its head appeared, as if it bad started up by magic, or like a mushroom had risen in the night ; and lastly, an artilleryman, in his blue jacket and red cuffs, was s :en, with extended arms, to haul up, hand over bead, and to leave behind him, joyfully fluttering in the wind, the British Flag. " What were my own feelings when I first beheld this guardian angel hovering over my head I had rather not divulge, but the sensation it created throughout the Province I need not fear to describe. * There's no mistaking what that means !' exclaimed an old Canadian colonel of militia who happened to be standing with a group of his comrades, at the moment the artilleryman finished his job. ' Now what's the use of that, I should just like to know V muttered a well- known supporter of republican principles. However, the latter observation was but an exception to the rule, for the truth is, that the sight of the British Flag extinguished rather than excited all narrow jealousies, all angry feelings, all party distinctions, all provincial animosities. Its glorious history rushed through the mind and memory to the heart of almost every one who beheld it. The Irish Catholic, the Orangeman, the Scotch Presbyterian, the Methodist, the English reformer, the voters for ballot, for universal suffrage, for responsible government, or, in other terms, for ' No Governor,' for liberty and equality, and for other theoretical nousense which they did not clearly understand, as if by mutual consent, forgot their differences as they gazed together upon what all alike claimed as thsir common property, their common wealth, their common parent ; and while, as if rejoicing at the 1 sight of its congregation, the hallowed emblem fluttered over their heads — it told them they were children of one family — it admonished them to love one another — it bade them fear nothing but God, honour their sovereign, and obey their own laws. From sunrise to sunset this ' bit of bunting' was constantly, as from a pulpit, addressing itself to the good feelings of all who beheld it — and especially to the members of both branches of the legislature, who, in their way to, and return from, Parliament-

buildings, had to walk almost underneath it twice a day during the session. In all weathers it was there to welcome them, as well as all conditions of men ; sometimes, in the burning heat of summer, it hung motionless against the staff, as if it had just fainted away from the dull, sultry mugginess of the atmosphere ; at other times it was occasionally almost veiled by the white snow-storm, termed ' poudre,' that was drifting across it. Some one truly enough declared that ' the harder it blew the smaller it grew ;' for, as there were flags of several sizes, it was deemed prudent to select one suited to the force of the gale, until, during the hurricanes that occasionally occur, it was reduced from its smallest size to a ' British Jack' scarcely bigger than a common pocket handkerchief ; nevertheless, large or small, blow high or blow low, this faithful sentinel was always at his post. " For many years the English, Irish, and Scotch inhabitants of Upper Canada had been in the habit, on the days of their respective patron saints, of meeting, and (very prudently before dinner) of marching together arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, or * shoulder to shoulder,' in procession down King-street to Government House, which forms the western extremity of that handsome thoroughfare of the city. These assemblages were naturally productive of glorious recollections and of noble sentiments ; and, as I have already stated, they allayed rather than excited all provincial disputes. It was highly desirable to encourage them ; and as for some time there had been carefully preserved in the government store an immense silk standard, sent from England, and which had been hoisted on a flagstaff opposite Parliament-buildings on the opening of the Provincial Legislature, on the birthday of the Sovereign, and on other State occasions, I directed that on the three days alluded to the artilleryman who had charge of the flag-staff on Government House should lower the ordinary flag so soon as the head of the procession, preceded by its band, made its appearance ; and then, as it approached, to haul up this great Imperial Standard. " It would be difficult to describe to those who have never been long from England, and quite unnecessary to explain to those who have, the feelings with which the followers of each of these three processions received the compliment, so justly due to the distinguished day on which they had respectively assembled. Every man as he marched toAards the Imperial Standard, which he saw majestically rising in the sky to receive him, fell convinced thu his stature was increasing, that his chest was expanding, that the muscles of his legs were growing stronger, and that his foot was descending firmer and heavier to the ground. The musicians' lungs grew evidently stouter, the drummers' arms moved quicker; the national airs of * God save the Queen,' • St. Patrick's Day in the Morning,' and • Scots wha hae wi Wallace bled,' resounded I louder and louder ; and as the sacred object upon which every eye was fixed in its ascension slowly floated and undulated across the pure deep blue sky, it gradually revealed to view a glittering mass of hieroglyphics out of which every man ravenously selected those which he conceived to be especially his onu. " ' What animals are those ?' said a man through his nose, on St. George's Day, as he pointed to the congregation of Lions with fists clenched ready to box, and of Unicorns quite as eager to butt, that were waving over his head. 'Is it animals you're spaking after V sharply replied a young Irishman, who like the querist had been standing in the crowd, waiting to see the procession of Englishmen arrive : ' one of ihim animals I tell ye is the Irish Hakp ; and so get out o' that, ye Yankee, or 111 bate the sotrl out o' ye P Now it so happened that by the time the last words were ejaculated, the young Irishman's white teeth had almost reached the middle-aged querist's eyebrows ; and as they were evidently advancing, and as the surgical operation proposed strongly resembled that of taking the kernel out of a nut, or an oyster out of its shell, the republican naturalist deemed it prudent instantly to decamp, or, as it is termed by his fellow-countrymen, to absquantilute" — Sir F. Head's Emigrant.