ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 647, 15 October 1851, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Prince Albert’s eldest brother, the Duke of Saxe Coburg, has produced an opera, entitled “ Casida.” Large quantities of chesnuts are being imported into London from New York. Several cases of plague have occurred in Genoa, the malady having been introduced by means of skins and hides, The Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey have engaged two interpreters for the convenience of foreign visitors to the edifice. The Clerkship of the Crown has become vacant by the elevation of Viscount Crowhurst to the earldom of Cottenham. One of the first coachmakers of Paris has received an order from the Egyptian Government to build fifty diligence omnibuses, for the transport of passengers across the Desert. The following is a summary from the American papers :—“A terrib’e railway riot, in which six hundred Irishmen were engaged, has occurred at Hornesville, New York. It arose out of a strike for wages. There were three killed, and many wounded. The military were called out and the ringleaders arrested. Another railroad riot took place on the central road, near Greensburg, Pennsylvania, one killed, and several wounded. Hazard’s powder mill blew up at Enfield a short time since, one killed, and three wounded. A free negro woman named Barnes was murdered at Leonard town a few days ago, and her husband is accused of the foul deed. A curious affair recently took place at Rushville, Illinois ; a blacksmith, who was a notorious drunkard, with a wife and family he did not support, was convicted of inveterate intemperance, and sold by auction for the term of four months’ labour.” Screw Steam-ship Building on the wLYde.—-On the Clyde, two firms alone, Robert Napier and Tod & M'Gregor, have contracted for, or are building, four screws each : those of the last named firm are two of them immense vessels for the American trade, about 2.,500 tons ; while the others, for the Peninsular and Oriental Company, are vessels of 1100 tons ; we do not know for what station, unless for Singapore or Sydney. One of Mr. Napier s is, we understand, to be a consort to the European in the London trade, while his other screws are vessels of about 1000 tons ; we have not heard where for. Irrespective of these, the same eminent builder has not less than other five vessels on hand, four pad-dle-steamers for the Pacific, (where Jonathan has infused some life in us) their size being about 1200 tons each, and a sailing ship for the Montreal trade, of 500 tons.— Greenock Advertiser. Jules Janin, the Feuilletonist, on THE OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE.— M, Jules Janin, who lately arrived in London commissioned by the Journal des Debats to record the wonders of the Great Exhibition, has written a letter to that journal in that characteristic, piquant and easy style which has enabled its author to take his stand among the best French writers of the day. The following extract will be read with interest * yThe sky, yesterday, was overcast with clouds; it rained at regular intervals, all the signs cf the Zodiac prognosticated a storm, and I expressed my leas for the next day. ‘Fear nothing,’ said an Englishman tome, “our Queen is fortunate ; she has the sun chained toiler car; to-day we shall have rain, to-mor-

row, fine weather. She has the privilege of the Emperor Augustus, and the month of May will not betray her.’ He spoke with the assurance of a man who was sure of what he said, and it certainly never struck him that the sun might give her Majesty the slip at the very moment she would want it for herself and her guests. These English respect and adore themselves oh their knees in the person of their Sovereign. They contemplate her just as they would contemplate their own picture, executed by a great artist, and encased in a golden frame charged with the armorial bearings of their families, To speak or think ill of the Queen, would be the height of folly in their eyes, and like that of a free man slapping his own face. These sentiments of a true people surprise us, in our days; and we, the French people, who were formerly the safeguard of all monarchies, and who never used to- separate these two forces, ‘God and the King,’ have now reached such a poiht as to admire those sentiments as something quite extraordinary. • « * * To-day we have been present at the pomps and pageant of antique royal majesty. This day, but a few minutes ago, we, the men of this rebellious age,—we who reap the discord of our tempests sowed by o«r fathers, we sceptics who blush to obey the law, and who bend our dishonoured heads to the necessity of an iron yoke, we have contemplated, but a few yards from us, tfiat thing without a name with us—a throne 1 that forgotten greatness —majesty! that almighty force—respect! From the earliest dawn we have seen a whole people hastening from every corner of this immense city, to the rendezvous to which their Queen convened them, and await her patiently and unanimously on her passage, solely fir the pleasure and happiness of presenting their homage and respect to her. The English are a strange people! always calm, hasty within certain limits only ; patient even in their enthusiasm ; they know that all must con eto pass in its turn. As they will not be governed, they govern themselves, and should one disobey the given order, the first person on the spot assists the policeman to arrest him. The very hour is expected; here you do not say eleven and mean noon ; you mean eleven. And both the Queen and her people have the politeness to be exact to their time.” Frederick VII, of Denmark and the Journalists.—Letters from Copenhagen, of the 10th, say, “ Five gentlemen connected with London Newspapers, Mr. Russell, of the Times, Mr. Lyon, Herald, Mr. Wocd-on, Chronicle, Mr. Stuart Daily Neics, and Mr. Ludwytch, of the Illustrated London News, who are at present making a tour of Zealand, presented themselves, a few days back, at the Palace of Fredericksburg, near Elsineur, to go over that remarkable building, built in 1592 by Christian IV., whose memory is as popular in Denmark as that of Henry IV. in France, As the tourists arrived just at a moment when the King, Frederick VII. was at the Palace, the attendant was obliged to refuse them permission to enter; but the King, hearing of the application which had been made by gentlemen belonging to the London press, at once sent for them to his Cabinet and gave them a most cordial reception. After having conversed with them for a length of time, his Majesty ordered proper persons to conduct them over the whole buil ling, and afterwards lunch to be set out for them. Two of the state carnages were then placed at their disposal to take them to Elsineur, where they arrived in the evening, charmed with their excursion.” —Journal de Debats. Present to Jenny Lind.—The firemen of New York have purchased a splendid box, to contain a parchment copy of the vote of thanks passed to Jenny Lind, on account of her donation of 3,000 dollars to the fire department fund. The presentation will be made upon the return of Miss Lind to New York. The first ticket for Jenny Lind’s concert at Cincinnati was sold for 575 dollars, and the first concert realised 15,000 dollars.

A Lady’s Reason for liking the Great Exhibition.—“ My dear, it is so very agreeable. You cannot tell how amusing it is ! It is much better, far, than going a-shopping. . The whole place is full of some of the prettiest things in the world—laces, silks, brocades, —and such lovely jewels — and the beauty is, you may look at them ever so. long without being expected to buy a single thing !”—- Punch.