ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 436, 6 October 1849, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The Duke of Wellington on the Ist of May entered his 80th year. Prince Albert visited Apsley House, on the occasion. Lady Horatia Western has been released from the fortress of Koulsberg, where she was 'kept prisoner, and restored to Bucharest. At the Brompton Hospital meeting M. Gnizot was a speaker, and was rapturously received. Dr. Layard is appointed paid attacM of the emhassy of Constantinople, and the trustees of the British Museum have presented him with £3000. Horace Twiss died suddenly at a meeting of. the Hock Assurance Society. Mr. Hudson. has resigned the chairmanship q( several Railway Companies, and it is expected he will also resign his seat in Parliament. ; The new, two shilling coin is to be called a florin. A few have got into circulation, but the complete issue has been deferred. . It is rumoured that ex* President Polk and his lady contemplate a visit to Europe. t A new Chartist agitation had commenced under Feargus O'Connor. At Fulwood, William Rankin, a private of (be 53rd, had been married te Miss Maclaurin, heiress of £15,000 ; who was given away )>y her father. The. bride is twenty-six, the bridegroom thirty years of age. Not less than 75 ships have sailed from Plymouth with emigrants during the year ending April Ist, 1849, and have conveyed 8254 adults to New South Wales. The number of patents sealed at Westminster during the year 1847 amounted to four hundred and ninety-eight, and the amount of Jees to £9387 ; in Scotland, during the same period, one hundred and sixty-eight, fees £2935 ; and in Ireland to seventy-six, fees £583.

The loss on worn silver coin purchased by the Mint during the year 1848, amounted to £6504 ; the purchase money having been £182,786, and the Mint value £176,282. The Marquis of Exeter is about to reduce his racing establishment at Newmarket, 33 horses (forming a portion of his stud) being announced for sal**. One of the new war medals has been conferred on the Rev. Dr. Symons, vicar of All Saints, Hereford, chaplain to the forces, who, under tbe fire of the enemy, assisted to bear to the grave and performed the funeral service over tbe remains of the lamented General Sir John Mo»e.

The Public Domain. — Few persons realise the enormous extent of territory comprehended under this term, belonging to the United States. Its area has not been precisely ascertained, but as nearly as it can be estimated from official data, it comprises 1,442,217,197 or one thousand four hundred and forty-two million two hundred and seventeen thousand one hundred and ninety-seven acres. Much of this land is unfit for cultivation, by reason of'i's being under water, rocky, mountainous, or incurably sterile ; but as a whole it is better fitted for the use and sustenance of man than any equal amount that can be found in one mass in the world. After making every allowance for worthless tracts, the Public Domain of the United States, now unoccupied and lying waste, would suffice to give every { man, woman, and child, now lying on the face of the earth, an acre of good ground each. — Buffalo Com.

Execution of Rush. — Norwich, Saturday, April 21. — This great criminal underwent the extreme sentence of the law this day at noon. As may be imagined, the concourse was immense. The day was brilliant in the extreme ; the several trains brought in great crowds, and the Castle hill was covered with one dense mass of human beings. At last the death-knell began to toll from the spire of St. Peter's Mancroft, and shortly after twelve o'clock, the dreadful procession emerged from the Castle, and took its way to the drop. First came the sheriffs and javelin men, and then followed the convict, attended by the governor and executioner ; on their way they were met by the chaplain, who read the funeral service with a loud voice. The wretched prisoner moved along with great firmness. He was dressed in black, wore patent leather boots, and had his shirt collar, which was scrupulously clean, turned over. As his head was bare, his features could be distinctly , marked. They bad undergone no perceptible change since his trial. Perhaps he might have looked somewhat paler, but his determined expression had not changed, and the man was in all respects the same unwavering, resolute being who for six days conducted bis own defence in a court of justice, though oppressed, not only by the corviction of his enormous guilt, but also by the knowledge that it had been so clearly brought home to him. His step never faltered, and he regularly marched to his doom. On catching sight of the scaffold, he lifted his eyes to Heaven, raised as far as he could his pinioned hands, and shook his bead mournfully from side to side once or twice. The pantomime was perfect, conveying almost as clearly as words a protest of innocence, combined with resignation to his fate. As he walked along he asked the goveruor what the words were with which the burial service ended. He was told it was with the benediction, " The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c, and be requested that the drop might fall when the chaplain came to those words. The wretched man then mounted the scaffold, but instead, of looking to the crowd without, turned his face to the castle walls. Calcraft immediately drew the white night cap over his head, and, fastening the fatal rope to the beam, adjusted the noose to the neck. The unhappy man, even at this dreadful moment, had not lost his coolness. " This does not go easy," he said, " put the thing a little highest—^take- your time — don't be in a hurry." These were his last words. The rope was in the right place — the drop fell — and in an instant the murderer was dead. No struggles ensued, and the dreadful ceremony was performed as quickly and as well as is practicable, and with fewer revolting circumstances than usual. During the whole time the crowd without maintained a solemn silence, and the only sounds that accompanied the fall of the body, and jerking of the tightened rope, were one or two faint shrieks. After being suspended for one hour the body was cut down and carried back to the castle on a litter. There a cast was taken from it, after which it was placed in a shell previous to interment' within the precincts. At five o'clock the fea-i tares had undergone so great a change that no one could recognise them. The hair had been' shared off, and the crauiological development might be accurately observed. The appearances presented certainly seemed to justify the verdict of the jury. Thus perished, while still in the prime of life, James Blomfield Rush, the perpetrator of the Stanfield Hall murderi.

Thirty-five thousand copies of Dickens's new serial, David Copperfield, which is to appear on the Ist proximo, will be issued. The illustrations for the first number are, " Our pew -at Church," and " I experience 'a hospitality." The scene is laid in tha country. " Our pew" contains Daniel Copperfield as an imp of a boy. The congregation is fast asleep — clerk, beadle, and all, except an old gentleman squinting at a lady — the clergyman doling out a dreary sermon, and some little boys eating apples with a sly look at the sleeping beadle. The hospitality consists in the pouring a mass of hot water from a huge kettle. Charles Dickens is about to go into the Church, to take orders, to become a clergyman of the Establishment, to don the surplice, to undertake the ministry, to be ordained. I put it in these various ways, lest, speaking of a comic writer, one should be suspected of joking. But such is the statement, upon very high authority, which adds that Miss Burdett Coutts, with whom, as I have told you, Mr, Dickens is most intimate, will charge herself with his fortunes and his preferment ? and the Bishop of London, with whom Miss Coutts munificence towards the Church gives her just and great influence, is to transfer the author of " Pickwick" into a sound divine.

. Wellington Testimonial. — The following jeu d'esprit has been submitted to the Committee as an advisable inscription for the Wellington Testimonial. We do not think it inappropriate ; and at all events, it possesses the merit of rhyme and brevity, two very essential points for making things easily remembered :—: — " The rider's a duke ; and the bravest son Of the isles of the Thames and the Shannon ; And the horse is the genuine son of a gun, For he's made of the Frenchman's cannon ;"

Hints for Constitutional Ass-ociates. —A few days ago(says a London contemporary) a man named Gaufret was brought before the Correctional Tribunal at Paris on the charge of being a vagabond. He had been arrested in the street in the night, and had no place of residence. In answer to the Tribunal he stated that he was an author by profession, but that nothing could be gained by literature at present. He, however, declared that he had the means of living, and that was to attend democratic and socialist banquets. "What does that mean ?" said the President. "Why," answered the prisoner, " the getters- up of the banquets sometimes -calculate on having six thousand guests; but in reality have only six hundred. That being discouraging to their cause, they get a number of men to attend, allowing them three francs for each attendance, as much food as they can eat and to take away the leavings. I was one of the most occupied of those men, being able at a pinch to make a speech or propose a toast." The President said that the law did not consider attendance at political banquets a regular means of living, and he accordingly condemned the unfortunate author to a month's imprisonment.

Husband Catching — Of a certain divine an anecdote is told, which Hook used to say exceeded any specimen of cool assurance that even he had exhibited. A young clerical friend of his, staying at his bouse, happened to be sitting up one night reading, after the family, as he supposed, had retired lo rest. The door opened, and his host re-appeared in his dressing gown and slippers. "My dear boy," said the latter seating himself, and look* ing pathetically at bis guest, " I have a few words to say — don't look alarmed — they will prove agreeable enough to you — rely upon it. The fact is, Mrs. and myself have for j some time observed the attention which you [ have paid to Betsey. We can make every allowance, knowing your excellent principles as we do, for the diffidence which has hitherto tied your tongue, but it has been carried far enough. I.n a worldly point of view, Betsey, of course, might do better, yet we have all the highest esteem for your character and v dis-position^-and then our daughter — she is very dear to us — and where her happiness is at stake all minor considerations must give way. We have, therefore, after due deliberation — I must own not altogether without hesitation — made up our minds to the match. What must be ; must be ; you are a worthy fellow, and therefore, at a word, you hive our free and cordial consent. Only make our child happy, and we ask no more. The astonished divine, half petrified, laid down his book. " My dear sir," he began to murmur, " here is some dreadful mistake. I really never thought — that is I never intended — " " No ! no ! I know you did not. Your modesty, indeed is one of those traits which has made you to deservedly a favourite with as all. But, my dear boy, a parent's eyes are chary. Anxiety sharpens them. We taw what you thought you had so well concealed. Betsey, too, is just the girl to be so won. Well! -Well! say no more about. it ; it's, allover now. God bless you both ! Only make

her « good husband — here she is. X have told Mrs, to bring her down again ! for the sooner young folks are put oat of suspense the better. Settle in? matter as you like; we will leave you together." Thus saying, the considerate papa bestowed a most affectionate kiss upon his daughter, who was at this juncture led into the room by her mother, both en deshabille, shook his future-son-in-law by the hand, and with a " There, go along,' Mrs, ," turning his wife out of the room, and left the lovers (?) to their tfte-a-t&e. What was to be done ? Common humanity, I to say nothing of politeness, demanded nothing less than a proposal ; it was tendered ac* ! cordingly, and we need scarcely add very grac- ' iously received,, — Memoirs of Hook. , A bad hat, taken to an evening party,' frequently comes out the next day as good as new.

The Frying Pan and the Fire. — A HINT TO THE CLAMOURERS J?OR A VIRTUOUS Pauper Immigration. — We understand-that, an alteration — severe, certainly, but wnoleslie' ' — is about to he made in the system of prison discipline, in the mother-country^ J^to^-jr paupers, it is well knowu, often commit theftj^ 1 or do damage, for the purpose of procuring for themselves the better diet and accommodation of a gaol. Henceforward it is intended to commit all convicts who may violate the gaol regulations to — the workhouse, for transmission to those Colonies who raise good immigration funds. — Punch.

A New Division of Horse. — An lonian paper, speaking of the late war," -sky's, " part of Sharpes horse has just arrived;** Which part ! It is a complete toss-up wire- - ther it is heads or tails ? or .was Sharpes horse like Munchausen's, that ran ever so far without its hind quarters, which we look upon as a story too good to be believed " by half." However, on the principle that half a loaf is better than none, we suppose that half a horse is better than no horse. But we hope Sharpe will soon find the missing part of his horse, • and that he will take better measures to keep it together for the future, or else part with it altogether ; for a horse that is liable to fall off, or to be cut off, in the rear, in the man-ncr above suggested, is only fit for Astley's, "to appear in several pieces." Perhaps, however, it was found our cavalry did not compete in numbers with the enemy's, and so this new division was hit upon in order to make every British horse equal to Sikhs. — Punch. Burn's Justice. — Lighting an editor's fire with rejected contributions. — Ibid.