SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 581, 26 February 1851, Page 3

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE.

[From the Allas, for India, Oct. 24.]

As the year advances our intelligence - increases but little in interest. We have not much of public importance to record. The most noticeable event of the fortnight is the Cabinet Council which was held yesterday, relative to the expediency of interfering for the settlement of the unhappy Schleswig-

Holstein affair. The result is set forth, we have no doubt upon the best authority, in the Times of this morning The Cabinet, which would not otherwise have assembled till the 6th of next month, met yesterday, at a very short notice, on a question of considerable urgency. The disgraceful conduct of Prussia in helping to protract the SchleswigHolstein war, not only in spite of a treaty of peace with Denmark, but actually under cover of the treaty, and by means of it, has led to a very natural—we might almost say legitimate consequence. The Governments of Russia and France have jointly proposed to the Government of this country that the three powers shall peremptorily require Prussia to fulfil her recent engagement with Denmark, and withdraw the support she still continues to give to the Schleswig-Holstein army. In the event of Prussia hesitating to comply with this reasonable demand, Russia and x mnee are prepared to back it, not by an unprofitable march to the territory under dispute, but in a way more congenial to their tastes—by an invasion of the Silesian provinces of Prussia on the one side, and the Rhenish on the other. In the first instance, however, they require the co-operation of England in the remonstrance with Prussia, without which they are not prepared to move at present. The answer of the British Government may perhaps be anticipated. It declines to join with Russia and France in such note as we have described, but proposes that all three powers shall separately remonstrate with Prussia on her present breach ef faith with the Danish Government. Whether the triple remonstrances will be of more avail than all the rest of the diplomacy that has been lavished on this affair, is a question on which we will not venture to give an opinion.”

Of what is more properly domestic intelligence we have no great amount to chronicle, i here have been some of those political movements which ordinarily mark the later period of the recess—as Financial Reform meetings and Protectionist gatherings. Lord Stanley s speech at Bury has been considerably discussed, it having been supposed to prefigure an abandonment of the principles of Protection. But this his lordship has denied.

The amount of crime in the country is painfully affecting the public mind. The same day reports intelligence respecting the Frimley murder—respecting an organized system of robberies, said to be under the superintendence of one of the most respectable tradesmen in London—in Essex a man of country education and position murders his mistress—at Swindon another burglary occurs besides smaller matters. Perhaps it is as well that these things should happen together, for people are alarmed at last, and the wretched state of rural discipline has a chance of amelioration.

While the crime of the country is thus unsatisfactory, the trade of the country is singularly prosperous. The Gazette of Tuesday contained but the name of a single bankrupt. °

The articles brought home from Cape Riley have been carefully examined by the naval authorities, The piece of rope is proved to have been made since 1841, as Hungarian hemp—which was used for its construction—was introduced into the navy in that year for the first time. As all the expeditions in that direction, with the exception of Franklin’s, were made previously to 1841, little doubt remains that we are at last on the track of the gallant party. If they are, after all, discovered and rescued, it will be one of the greatest triumphs of enterprise, ingenuity, and humanity.

[From the Lyttelton Times, February 15.]

The Guardian of the 16th October was brought by the Castle Eden from the Cape of Good Hope. It contains no news of much importance.

The Queen and Prince Albert had returned from Scotland to Osborne, cold weather having set in earlier than usual.

The returns of the Quarterly Revenue had been published. There appeared a considerable increase on the year’s revenue over that of the previous year, but the quarter’s return was less than that of the corresnonding quarter in 1849.

The steadiness of the English funds had ceased, and they had taken an active turn, advancing to an improvement of - 1 per cent, Consols stood at 97 f for account: three and a quarter per cents at' 98 jto |; Bank Stock 200.210 ; Exchequer bills, 655. to 68s. pm. There was a rumour of a bill to be brought into Parliament next session for dividing the diocese of London and Westminster, and creating an additional diocese of Southwark.

The Morning Chronicle has commenced a sat.of letters from its commissioners on the state of the Rural population of different parts of the Continent, commencing with France. The first meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge since the long

vacation was held yesterday afternoon, at their rooms in Lincoln’s-inn-fields. The standing committee, in accordance with a notice given at their last meeting, recommended that the sum of £3,000 should be granted and placed at the disposal of the Lord Bishop of Toronto, towards the endowment of a college of a permanent character, in connection with the church in his diocese. A letter was read from Lord Lyttelton, requesting, in behalf of the New Canterbury Association, a grant in aid of the endowment of the Bishopric about to be established in that settlement. His lordship stated that the Association was pledged to the appointment of a Bishop (the Rev. Thomas Jackson), who would takethespiritual charge of the settlement, and to provide for him an adequate endowment out of the produce of the land sales. It was stated that a considerable portion of the new diocese would extend beyond the Canterbury settlement. The standing committee proposed, and it was unanimously agreed to, that a grant of £lOO6 should be made in aid of the objects mentioned in Lord Lyttelton’s letter.— Guardian Oct. 11.

The masters, students, and officers of the Training College, Battersea, presented Dr. Jackson with a Testimonial in the shape of a handsome piece of plate, consisting of a centre piece, or epergne, executed in bright and frosted silver, and representing a tree with drooping branches, at the apex of which rises a gracefully shaped concave of the same metal, in which is a cut-glass receptacle for fruit or flowers. On three sides of the pedestal are three appropriate inscriptions : n n Pr u e 2 ted r?°- the Rev - Thomas J ackson, D.D., Bishop Designate of Lyttelton, New Zeaand, and late Principal of the Training College, Battersea, by the masters, students, and officers of that College—Sept. 10, 1850.” .The righthand inscription is as follows-— Inis offering is respectfully made by the masters and students of the Battersea Training’ college, in grateful remembrance of valuable talents and services devoted to the train?™ o f schoolmasters for the Church of England during a period of six years. They sorrow in parting. But while they remember his persevering zeal and the distinguished blessings which have attended his labours as Principal of the College, .x»ey .eex .ue assurance that in his exalted station abroad, he will be as favoured and successful as he has been in England.” The third side contains the following names of the Testimonial Committee: Treasurer Mr G. Martin ; Mr. Thomas Tate, Mr. C. F *Zurhurst Mr J. P. Viner, Mr. J. L. Kenworthy, Mr. G. I. Stevenson Mr J vv Mr. W. Wilham.

It was presented at a breakfast held iu the gardens belonging to Mr. Fowndes. Amongst the guests were several of the promoters of the Canterbury scheme.

The following announcement of the progress of the building for the Exhibition of 1851 appears in the Times of Saturday:—“At length the actual .work of erecting a building wherein the products of the Industry of afi Nations are to be collected has commenced. Within the vast boarding which has been put up round the site selected a busy scene presents itself. The levels and measurements of the ground necessary before commencing operations have all been completed, and the iron pillars upon which the structure is to rest are being fixed in their places. A large portion of the materials to be used are already within the enclosure, and the working sheds and other preparations and facilities for pushing on the great undertaking having been finished, the inhabitants of the metropolis wilt now, from day to day, be able to watch the progress made. In three months from this time, an edifice, constructed entirely of iron and glass, covering more than eighteen acres of land, and capable of giving house-room to all that is rare and valuable in human industry, is to rise from its foundations. Within so short a period it seems almost impossible to imagine that 3 work of such magnitude can be completed, but those who have undertaken the contract and are responsible for its performance, speak confidently on the subject. In the mean time there is nothing to be seen within the enclosure but heaps of iron, a few sheds, some cranes, two or three slender scaffoldings, and about 250 or 300 workmen, all busily engaged at their appointed tasks. At the main entrance crowds of labourers are collected in the hope of employment, and where between the cracks of the boarding a glimpse of the interior can be obtained, the idle and curious assemble to watch.”

The Doncaster Gazette announces the serious illness of the Duke of Newcastle, giving no hope of his recovery. The Earl of Lin* coin arrived at Clumber on Monday week, and Lords Charles and Robert, and the Ladies Clinton, are in hourly attendance on their noble parent. Prayers were offered for his Grace on Sunday last in Worksop and other churches in the neighbourhood. The replies at the town residence of his Grace to numerous inquiries represent his Grace to remain “ much in the same state.”

The Manchester subscription of working men to the national monument to Sir Robert Peel amounts to £l5O, subscribed by thirtysix thousand persons, besides which there art

still 250 subscription lists in the hands of the canvassers, which should increase the number of subscribers to at least fifty thousand, and the subscriptions to upwards of £2OO. An importation of a cerial grain, resembling Indian corn, but of a smaller and whiter description, having taken place from Jaffa, and some doubts existing as to its liability to duty, the case was submitted to the consideration of the authorities. It has been decided by them, after the inspection and hearing the opinion of the trade, that the grain was admissable free of duty. The Lentil.— A New British Crop. • —The lentil is at present exciting considerable attention as a garden and field crop in Scotland, and seems peculiarly adapted for cottage allotments. The analyses of chemists shew it to be highly nutritive : and indeed it contains more nitrogenous matter than any other legume. Its nutritious qualities have been known and acted upon from the earliest times, as is shewn by its mention in Scripture ; and at the present time it is extensively used in continental Europe, and especially in the East, where it is considered “the best food for those that undertake long journeys,” while * f the Hindoos add lens to their rice diet when engaged in laborious work.” It remained for M. Guillerez to bring this crop before the notice of British farmers, through the medium of the Scottish Agricultural Journal, and his experiments have proved highly satisfactory. Lord Murray has also taken up the subject, and his lordship, it is said, contemplated sending up the produce of his crop to the great Exhibition of 1851. The following is M. Guillerez’s useful account of the mode of preparing lentils : —’“Steep the lentils in cold water an hour or two; withdraw them in a goblet with enough of water to cover the surface, a little butter, some salt, flavour with parsley, place the whole on a slow fire. They must boil slowly, and you must take care to add water enough to keep the surface covered. You may boil them with ham, bacon, sausage, or merely with water and salt, to prepare them afterwards with onion, d la maltre d’hdtcl. In schools, hayracks, or large boarding establishments they are often boiled merely in water and salt, then they are allowed to cool and the water run out, and in that state you dress them with oil and vinegar, &c., like a French salad. When the lentil is bruised, orgound into meal, it makes an excellent 4 puree’ with wild fowls or roasted game. It is prepared also like peas for soup, dumplings, pudding, &c. One single pound of 'meal makes a sufficient soup for fifteen persons, or a pudding, dumpling (puree) for six, and the pound costs from two to three pence in France and Germany. Being more nutritious than potatoes, peas, beans, &c., they would make a capital substitute for the first vegetable, especially in times of scarcity, should it be proved by experience that they grow in this country more luxuriant even than in France, and now I have no doubt that they will grow, since the lentils sown by me last year in Queensferry are more luxuriant this year than the seed I got from Lord Murray and from France, which is the best test that they are already acclimated.”