MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 631, 20 August 1851, Page 3

MISCELL ANEOUS.

The United Service Gazette states that reports are already in circulation as to the naval display during the Great Exhibition, and various ships* names have been quoted as likely to assemble at Spithead. We have reason to believe that one of the finest and best equipped fleets, not only that foreigners ever saw, but that Great Britain ever exhibited, will be formed at one of the. home ports, most probably at the North or Spithead ; and it is said the whole fleet will be under the COQUDSUd-au-Cuicf of Rear-Admiral Berkeley, C. 8., M.P., one of the Lords of the Admiralty, w:th Commodore Martin as second in command ; making a total of nine sail-of-the-line and four first-class frigates, three screw frigates, and one paddle-wheel frigate, in all, twenty ships, from 1000 to 2500 tons measurement. . < During the past year 163 gold, 1295 silver, and 2067 copper coins, making a total of 3525, were added to the collection in the British Museum, partly by purchase. Literary Retreat.—lt is not long since we announced to our readers that an initiatory movement was about to be made towards raising a fund for the purpose of endowing an institution for the benefit of those old servants of literature and fine arts, the exercise of whose talents may not have placed them in their decline of life in the position of wordly independence. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, our readers know, has munificently offered to give a piece of ground in the country for building on, and to write a new five-act play as a further contribution to the ways and means, —Messrs. Dickens, Jerrold, Forster, and the company of well-known amateurs connected with them, having volunteered to play the new drama in several of our large towns. The play was read by Mr. Macready to the amateur actors on Thursday night, and the several parts were distributed for study. As yet, we believe, the details of the theatrical campaign are not arranged : but it is nrobable that a handsome sum of money will be raised by the performance.— Athaneevm. The Emigrants’ Route.— panorama in course of preparation, and which i» intended to depict the scenes and incidents of Australian life, has attracted considerable notice amongst the lovers of art. It is the joint work of Messrs. T. Robins and Prout, and will, we think, prove in no way inferior to the best specimens as yet brought before the public notice. Mr. Robins* skill in the delineation of broken water is too well known not to raise high expectations from that portion of the work which falls especially to his care ; and indeed, the scene of departure from Plymouth, the view of Eddystone, and the blue roiling waves of the ocean have seldom been represented with equal fidelity and force. The voyage includes views of Madeira, the Cape, and other places made from sketches taken at the different localities, and every effect of storm and sunshine upon the ocean has been pourtrayed. One very beautiful effect of moonlight in the tropics will, we ata confident, attract the attention of the public. Arrived at Port Phillip, the spectator while comfortably ensconced in his stall is carried through the various and beautiful scenes of bush and farming life in fie colonies, up to the base of the Australian Alps, and brought back to Sydney, which, with its picturesque bay, forms one of the most captivating features of the work. There is a vast amount of instruction as well as amusement to be gained by this new mode of “ Foreign correspondence,” and many persons whose relatives have ventured themselves and their fortunes in colonial life will form, by the aid of these pictures, a correct idea of the existence which it involves. Mr. Prout spent many years in Australia, and from his sketches the different scenes have been composed. Great care has also been taken that the drawing of animal life should be in every instance correct, and when we mention that the pencil >of Mr. Weigbel has been employed in fhis department, it is sufficient to show that nothing remains to be desired. — Atlas.

The printing-press of a daily paper in Boston, United States, is driven in a manner of which there is no example in any other city in the Republic. Through a two-inch lead pipe, a stream of Chocbituate wafer is introduced into the meter, which only occupies twenty-four square inches. The fall of water between the Boston reservoir and this meter is about 100 feet. This two-inch stream will discharge eighty gallons o' water each minute, and in passing through, the meter will give a motive power equal to what is called three-horse power. This is more than sufficient for driving the press. It i? less hazardous than a steam engine, requires no attendance, and is always in readiness?— American paper.

To the Editor of the “ New Zealand Spectator.” Wellington, August, 13, 1851. Sir, —If you can find room for a re-print of the enclosed “ Directions for collecting Specimens of Geology and Mineralogy,” originally issued by the British Museum, and a remark that the directions are equally applicable to the intended Museum of the New Zealand Society, you will confer a favour on many of your subscribers. M. N. Z. S.