ENGLISH NEWS.
The Manchester Guardian publishes several estimates, drawn up with great minuteness, of the proceeds of the Great Exhibition, supposing it to be kept open for six months. The highest states the probable amount at £769.800 ; and the lowest at £617,000. Queen Marie-Amelie, the widow of Louis Philippe, is about to take her residence at Rosenau, near Coburg. The Duke de Nemours will occupy the villa of the Duke Ernest of Wurtemberg. A Hamburg journal which is considered well-informed states, that Prussia and Austria have come to an understanding respecting the question of Schleswig. The basis of it is that the commissioners in Holstein are to remain in office until a new federal organ shall be established (the Diet is meant,) and are not to give up the Duchy until the latter shall have satisfied the conditions laid down by the Confederation. The Pope has made a present to the Queen of Spain of a table of exquisite beauty, the workmanship of R. man artists, and some fine Italian paintings. The Rev. John J. M’Bride was recently indicted, in North Carolina, for presenting a little slave girl with a copy of the Ten Commandments. He was found guilty, and his sentence was, “to stand one hour in the stocks, receive thirty lashes on the bare back, and be imprisoned one year in the common gaol.”
At the Central Criminal Court, Luke Glynn, and Daniel Leary were charged with assaulting Robert J. Burgan, with intent to rob him. The prosecutor, a singular Irishman, said he had been out with the prisoners and three others drinking, and having gone from one public-house to another, the prisoners seized him in the street, threw him down, and tried to rob him, but he managed to prevent them. The prosecutor having got partially through his evidence, stopped, and then said : 1 don’t want to hurt the men; I think it was a drunken spree, and if the gentleman up there (pointing to his lordship) will forgive it, I don’t want to say anything more about it. Mr. Baron Martin (laughing) said he had no objection, and thought that was the safest termination to the affair. They were then acquitted. Whilst such an uproar is making in England in reference to the appointment of a cardinal and of a Catholic hierarchy, it is interesting to turn to a debate which took place last week in the French National Assembly. M. Bourzat was called to the tribune to de-
velop his proposition relative to the suppression of the costs of installation and special salary of French cardinals. M. Bourzat observed, that cardinals did not take a French oath ; that they were Roman and recognised no other authority than that cf the Pope ; th it they served the passions of Rome and disregarded French interests.—Succeeding speakers adduced strong historical facts in refutation, and, on a division, the motion was lost by a majority of not less than 224. Easter Festivities at Rome.-—Since the accession of Pio Nono to the throne, I do not recollect a season in which the Easter ceremonies have been more fully attended by foreigners than the present one, numbers of visitors having arrived latelv from Klnrenro -- - o — J Naples, besides those who have spent the gay winter season in this city. A week or ten days, however, will suffice to disperse the band of fashionables in all directions, and the rush of travellers northwards imine.liately after the last rocket of girandola, is generally so ludicrously simultaneous that one might imagine the offended genius of ancient Rome, roused by the moonlight visits of importunate pleasure hunters to tbeForum and Colosseum, had risen menacingly from her ruined haunts, and driven forth the careless crowd. The capacious stands erected for the convenience of ladies in St. Peter's and the Sixtine Chapel, for which tickets of entrance are granted by the Pope’s majordomo, have been crammed to excess with ladies anxious to behold his Holiness bless the palms, wash the pilgrims’feet, serve them at the repast which typifies ihs. last supper, and go through the various other ceremonies which form the attraction of the holy week ; but the English clergyman, Mr. Woodward, is so much scandalised, by the abandonment of his own chapel in favour of Papal splendours, that he bitterly alluded to the fact in his sermon last Sunday, when the greater part of his congregation, usually most exemplary in their attendance, were gazing at the procession o! palms in St. Peter’s; and
lie imS iciuocu tv CvaiAp*vauioc thv luaitvi with some sight-seers of more timid consciences, who requested him to afford them an opportunity of witnessing the Pope’s henediction to-morrow (Easter Sunday), by changing the hour of morning service.— Daily News.
The Turkish sultan is said to have lately granted, as a special honor to the guards and some other corps, the right of wearing their moustaches at the full length, in the same manner as the janissaries formerly wore them. The eccentric but talented Dr. Crofts of Coventry, intends at the coming Exhibition to set the Thames on fire in reality. It appears that he has invented a composition to make water blaze on the application of flame, and at the same time explain the invention for the benefit or amusement of the public. The Princess of Prussia has accepted the invitation of the Queen of England to visit this country during the time of the Great Exhibition. Several other members of the Royal family will also visit England at the same time. A clergyman has offered £7O per annum to maintain two students at St. Augustine’s Missionary College, Canterbury, for three years, who shall afterwards proceed to one of the Australian colonies. Rouge, the celebrated German religious reformer, is now in London, and is stated to be about to lecture in the fashion of Father Gavazzi, whose lectures or sermons on Roman Catholicism have lately attracted much attention in London. It is rumoured that an intention exists on the part of government of re-uniting the civil government of Malta, with the military command, in the person of a general officer now in command of one of the districts.
A vessel, just arrived from Panama has brought the extraordinary large number of 2,104,000 pearl shells. So large an importation of this description of shell is believed to be entirely unprecedented.
The British Museum is now rapidly approaching towards completion 4 and the workmen are employed in putting up the railing in front of the court-yard, and in preparing the pediment. The subject 0/ the group for the pediment is “ The Progress of Civilisation.” It has been executed in high relief by Sir R. Westmacott.
A severe shock of an earthquake was experienced at Carthagena on the 7th of Feb.; two houses were destroyed, many severely damaged, and several lives lost. The export duties at this city are now abolished, but the authorities insist that all specie shipped shall pass through the custom house. Ingenious Workmanship.—There was lately set forth, as a piece of marvellous ingenuity, intended for the Exhibition, a teakettle made of a single fourpence. Within the last few days Mr. Pearsall, Dentist, of this city, has completed during his leisure hours, the entire of a tea service, numbering forty-five pieces, and all made out of a single fourpence ! there are 12 cups, 12 saucers, 12 spoons, teapot and lid, 2 cake plates, sugar tongs, cream-ewer, slop bowl, sugar-bowl, and butter-knife. It is difficult which to admire most—the delicate minuteness of this tiny set, or the beautiful shapes of the various models. They may be seen perfectly with the naked eye, but will bear the closest inspection with a powerful magnifier. We are glad the ingenious artificer has consented to send them to the Great Exhibition, and for a few days the public will have an opnortunity of inspecting them at Mr. Kirby’s, 15 Lower Sackville-street.— Freemasons' Journal,
Burning of the “Buckinghamshire,” with Troops on board. —A frightful catastrophe was made known on Wednesday at Lloyd’s—the destruction of one of the largest Indiamen,’ by fire, called the Buckinghamshire, while on her homeward voyage. This splendid ship, nearly 2,000 tons burthen, set sail for England on Thursday, the Ist of March last, under the charge of Captain Macgregor. Her crew amounted to nearly 100 hands, 30 being Englishmen, and 70 Lascars. She had on board, as steerage passengers, about 70 of the 80th regiment of Foot, with their families, and 33 cabin passengers. The passage from Calcutta down the Hooghley passed agreeably, and on the evening of the following Monday, the 4th March, she was brought up for the night and to discharge a pilot off Canterbury Point, about ten miles below Diamond harbour. The weather was fine, and most of the passengers and soldiers were on deck, singing, dancing, and otherwise amusing themselves ; all seemed happy and cheerful. As night approached they one by one disappeared below, and by half-past nine, with” the exception of the watch on deck, all had turned in and were asleep. Suddenly Capt. Macgregor received, about 10 minutes before 10 o’clock, a report that there was something wrong in the forehold, as smoke was coming out of the lower hatchway. The Captain suspecting that it emanated from some jute stowed away in that part of the bold, the pumps were got to work to prevent it getting ahead, but Ihe smoke and heat increased so rapidly as to drive the men away from the hatchway, and in ten minutes a body of flames burst forth and shot up through the quarter-deck. The scene became appalling, and tuns of water were dis-
charged on to the burning cargo in the hope that it would be extinguished, but without producing the slightest effect; the fire, in fact, strengthening itself, and, communicating with the fore rigging, the whole was quickly in a blaze. As far as the eye could stretch, nothing could be seen but sky and water, which was lit up by the glare of the fire, the night being very dark. Capt. Macgregor, perceiving the destruction of his ship was inevitable, determined, if possible, to run her ashore, the only apparent chance of saving the lives of those on board, and gave orders to his men to slip the cables, which was at once carried into execution. Although uo land could be discerned, the current fortunately favoured the plan, for, setting strong in shore it drove the burning vessel in that direction, and in the course of an hour she grounded in such a position that those who could swim could gain the land with little difficulty. In the meanwhile the fire had extended to the main hold, and the whole of the loie part of the ship, with the maiumast, presented one sheet of flame, scorching its living freight, who had taken refuge on the poop. Many of the passengers exhibited coolness, others were almost frantic with despair, and their screams rent the air. Soon after the wreck touched the shore a steamer came down to the spot, the crew of which had heard the firing of the Buckinghamshire’s signal guns, and was guided to the spot by the light of the conflagration. Her arrival at the critical moment was most providential, for had it not been the case, the boats of the burning ship could not have accommodated one-half of the number on board. Captain Macgregor with his first mate by their cool and determined zeal restored something like order among the invalids, who, the moment they found the ship had struck, commenced to throw themselves overbeard. Several did so, and were swept away by the current, and were drowned; the number was not exactly known; it was presumed, however, there were five who thus perished. Directly on the steamer hailing them, the boats were lowered, and the female passengers and children were conveyed on board of the steamer in safety. The boats quickly returned and took on board the remainder of the passengers, and lastly, the crew. Capt. Macgregor was the last to leave the wreck; it was then, with the exception of a small portion of the poop, on fire from end to end, and continued burning the whole night and two following nights and days before she glided into deep water and sank. None of the passengers saved even a change of clothing. Many of the families were reduced by the calamity to an absolute state of destitution. It is yet impossible to say how the ship caught fire. By many it is supposed she was wilfully set on fire by some of the Lascars, but no evidence has been adduced to confirm this report. She was laden with a most valuable cargo, consisting of East India produce. The total loss is calculated to exceed £120,000.
Extraordinary Proceedings of the Roman Catholic Nunnery at Edinburgh —We have omitted from our report at the Free Commission on Wednesday, a statement of a very startling nature made by Mr. George Lyon in the course of the discussion on Popery, which may be worth quoting here as, if true, it would perhaps form of itself one of the most affective arguments against the further toleration of these monastic institutions which it is possible to procure. “ Not many days ago,”' said Mr. Lyon, a little excited in manner, “ a cab stopped at the nunnery out the way there, with three gentlemen in it and a wretched young woman. Two ladies were passing by at the time. She was forcibly taken out of the cab, with shrieks that pierced the ears of these two females who were passing. She clung to the spokes of the wheels of the cab, hut was dragged from them and immured in the nunnery ; the gate was locked upon her, and the gentlemen, if gentlemen they could be called, were seen returning in the cab.” This extraordinary statement failed not to produce, as in the circumstances it was well calculated to do, a very profound impression on the reverend court. — Glasgow Examiner,
The Guild or Literature and Art. Under this name it is proposed to erect and endow an institution, in connection with a life insurance company, for the sole advantage of professors of literature and art. The idea, which originated with Mr. Charles Dickens, began to assume a shape under the roof of Sir E. Lytton Bulwer in the autumn of last year, when Mr. Dickens and his company of amateur players were visiting at Knebworth Hall, and entertaining Sir" Edward’s guests with their dramatic representations. The subject’ being then mooted, Sir Edward was so much struck with it, that he undertook not only to make a free gift of such land as should be requisite for the erection of the proposed residence or lodges, but also to write a play (if Mr. Dickens and his company would undertake to perform it with other plays, in a
series of representations'), the whole profits of which should be devoted to the ends of the institution. The bargain was struck upon the spot; the play, a comedy in five acts, was promptly written, has since been rehearsed and prepared, and is now upon the eve of representation at Devonshire house. It will be acted by Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. Wilkie Collins, Mr. Dudley Costello, Mr. Peter Cunningham, Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Augustus Egg, A.R.A. Mr. John Forster, Mr. R. H. Horne, Mr. Douglas Jerrold, Mr. Charles Knight, Mr. Mark Lemon, Mr. J. Westland Marston, Mr. Frank Slone, Mr. John Teniel, Mr. F. W. Topham, and others. Portions of the scenery have been presented by Mr. Absolon, Mr. T. Grieve, Mr. Louis Hagbe, and Mr. Telbin. Mr. Maclise, R.A. has offered to paint a pictuie (the subject arising out of these performances), and to place it at the disposal of the guild ; and Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A. has also expressed his wish to aid the design. Valuable assistance has been rendered by Mr. Benjamin Webster, of the Royal Haymarket Theatre. The first performance will take place at Devonshire House, which the Duke of Devonshire has devoted to the purpose, on Friday the 16th of May, when the Queen and Prince Albert will honour the performances with their presence. Other representations of the comedy, and an original farce, will afterwards take place at the Hanover Square Rooms, where the moveable theatre, constructed for the purpose, and opened at Devonshire House, will be erected for those occasions. Th* society or guild will embrace seveial objects, such as life insurances, at rates of premium calculated as payable either for the whole term of life, or as altogether ceasing to be payable at a certain age ; pensions to widows ; payments destined to the education or provision of children, &c. It is proposed to establish and endow an institute, having at its disposal certain salaries, to which certain duties will be attached; together with a limited number of free residences, which, though sufficiently small to be adapted to a very moderate income, will be completed with due regard to the ordinary habits and necessary comforts of gentlemen. The officers of endowment will consist—l. Of a warden, with a bouse and salary of £2OO a-year. 2. Of members, with a bouse and £l7O, or, without a bouse, £2OO a-year. 3. Of associates, with a salary of £lOO a-year. The details of the scheme are set forth in the prospectus; they appear to be practical in their character, aud to be wisely and happily adapted to the end in view —that end being to afford aid to struggling artists or authors in such a way as shall necessitate no degrading plea of noverty — no painful exposition of calamity and want —but as shall bear the character of a tribute to merit, not of an alms to destitution, — Herald.
A banquet was held on Thursday at the Freemasons’ Tavern, in commemoration of the German revolution of 1848-49; General Haug in the chair. Upwards of 500 persons including several ladies, attended. Behind the seat of the chairman, hung a dark curtain, upon which was printed in large red letters the name of “Robert Blum.” The Marseillaise Hymn was played some half-a-dozen times under tremendous enthusiasm. The following gentlemen addressed the meeting: —M. Mazzini, Dr. Tausenau, Ronge, Ruge, Struve, Dr. Franks, and Professor Kinkel. The chairman said it was intended to transmit to Germany a full report of the proceedings, “ and scatter copies of it by thousands over the length and breadth of the land, in order that they may revive the patriotic yearnings for liberty shown by the people on former occasions, and thus prepare them for the great events which it was anticipated would speedily take place in Germany.” The “ lion” of the evening was Mazzini, at whose entrance the whole assembly rose with acclamations. His thin figure, long pointed beard, and shortlycropped hair, presented a striking contrast to the more portly forms and somewhat pedadogue aspect of his Teutonic associates. He spoke in French, entering into the original idea of the universal brotherhood of all nations, he reduced his whole theory of temporal and spiritual government into one neat formula, that for an emperor he would substitute the people, and that for the Pope he would substitute— nature.
The Bourdon” Bell of Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.—This gigantic bell, whose knells have marked many a worldevent in modern history, has been mute for some time past, as the belfry was in such condition, that eighty men were scarcely able to swing the immense mass into tone. In consequence of the general restoration, the architects, Messrs, Delassus and ViolletLeduc, have devised an apparatus of pullies, by which six persons will be henceforth capable of the same performance. The *• Bourdon” was first cast at the end of the 14th century, at the cost of Jean Montaigu, brother of the then bishop ; it weight was then only 15,000 lbs. In 1682 it was re-cast by Florentin Leguay, and augmented to its pre-
sent weight of 13.000 XIV. was present at its bamS?? 1 U it the name of Emanuel? a, general fusion of bella during but was taken down in tbf ’"'W not elevated again until Easter t «!? 4 ’ *1 celebration of the Concordat ’ i?° 2 ’ consider it the largest bell in (V* M 1‘ i. «r. otn l y the most brating musical instruments.— A Servant’s Right.—l WflH ,. .on of a gentleman in the who, having engaged a farm-ierv him very satisfactory in all resneM that he invariably came into ‘he into his master’s room, with k; “John,” he said to him one dav’'r” ways keep your hat on when vou the house. “Well, Sir, haven’tl a C -”? e ** “Yes, I suppose you have.” have a right to, why shouldn’t !?'• if l a poser from one man to another k have equal rights. So, after a all flection, he shrewdly asked, «» • what’ll you take—how much you ask to take off your hat when inf” “Well, that reqoi.es con"i£> guess.” -‘ Take the thing into coL®? l then, and tell me to-morrow morning 7? morrow comes. “ Well, John, hart J* sidered what additional wages you are for taking your hat off?” “Well «• guess its worth a dollar a month."' J! settled then, John, you shall have -21 dollar a month and the gentleman JZ a good servant, while John’s hat was in his hand when he entered his house' 11 Professor Johnston's Notes in America. Hook and a friend came to abridge - "B you know who built this bridge?” asked of Hook. “ No, but if you go over you w]| be tolled.”
When Lord Tenterden and Mr, fata Richards were on the circuit, they oucerisited together the cathedral at Canterbun" The latter took notice of a man there with j very fine voice. “Ah!” said Tenderdea, “ that’s the only man I ever envied. Wlm at school in this town we v. ere candidates it. gether for a chorister’s place, and he obtained it
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 641, 24 September 1851, Page 3
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3,655ENGLISH NEWS. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 641, 24 September 1851, Page 3
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