ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 663, 10 December 1851, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

There has just been printed, by order of the House of Lords, a return, extending to more than thirty folio pages, containing, from counties in the United Kingdom, the names of persons returned to the clerks of the peace, as required by Act of Parliament, of all Jesuits and persons under monastic vows. The number is somewhat considerable, but no summary is made of the information given. Carlyle is about to publish a new work, entitled “ The Life and Letters of the late John Sterling.” During the late debate in the House of Lords, the Archbishop of Dublin adhered to the opinion which he had heretofore often expressed in speeches and writing, and now shortly recapitulated—namely, that the entrance of Jews into Parliament should be wholly left to the electors. He objected to the continuance of secular penalties on account of differences in faith, and found some fault with the present bill that it stopped short with the Jews, and did not assert the wide principle by including in its scope the removal of every religious disability and distinction to which the members of any persuasion were now subject. It was for the honor of Christianity itself that he wished to have these useless restrictions finally abrogated. In the mercantile advices from Vienna, it is stated that the Austrian Minister of Finance is understood to have three projects, on which he is at present undecided, regarding the financial condition of the country. The first is to contract a new loan ; the second is to sell crown lands to the value of 400 millions of florins (about £40,000,000 sterling), and the last is to convert the already existing Five per Cent. Metalliques into new bonds, the dividends upon which should be payable in silver, upon the holders giving 3000 florins of the old bonds, and 1000 florins cash for every 4000 florins of the new. Patent purse gloves, which have a pocket to tontain any small sum of money, a railway cicket, &c., for immediate use, have been invented. A system of banking is discovered to have prevailed in Babylon at least seven or eight hundred years before the Christian era. The House ef Commons sat at noon on the 24th July, in the new house, for the first lime this session. Since the last sitting in the new chamber, nearly a twelvemonth since, many alterations have been effected ; stained glass in the windows, and an ornamental ceil-

ing, substituted for the temporary bare planks, which formerly covered in the hall of legislation, have tended to a considerable improvement in the aspect of the house; while the lowered altitude of the plafond, and the curved form which is given to its lower sur-‘. face occasion a considerable economy of sound. As a chamber where debates are to be heard and reported, as well as laws made, the new House of Commons, though still far from perfect, presents a nearer approach than heretofore to the due fulfilment of its ostensible design. Lord Stanley has left town for India, where, it is stated, he will remain until the approach of the next session of Parliament. : A number of Poles engaged in the Hungarian revolution, and who have recently arrived in this country from Turkey, left Southampton for Havre. Th#expense to the English Government of these Hungarians and Poles who havebeen recently released from captivity in Turkey through the interference of Sir Stratfojrd Canning is about £2OOO. This expense has been incurred in preserving the refugees from Starvation while in this country, and shipping them to America. Many of the refugee officers have not been under the necessity of receiving assistance of the British Government. Two more batches of Hungarian refugees are shortly expected from Constantinople. Amongst the last party will probably be Kossuth and his family. Dr. Lingard, the celebrated historian of England, died at his residence, Hornby, a few minutes before 12 o’clock, on 17th July. At York Castle, John Ward of Easingwold, farmer’s servant, was charged with having been found trespassing on the York and Newcastle railway, near Easingwold, under the following circumstances:—He had to pass over the line with his master’s horse, and he was soon afterwards observed laid down between the rails, which place he had selected for a nap, as he felt drowsy. An engine and 16 carriages had passed over him, and he escaped unhurt, this particular engine fortunately having its fire-box unusually high. He was fined £5 for his wanton folly. Sir George Sinclair hes announced his intention of leaving the Established Church of Scotland, and joining the Free Chureh A pork-bucuer at Nottingham supplied, a few days since, above a ton of pork pies for a single day’s consumption in the refreshment rooms of the Great Exhibition.

Some idea of the extent ofsteel pen manufacture will be formed from the statement, that nearly 150 tons of steel are employed annually for this purpose, producing upwards of 250,000,000 pens. The Recorder of London remarked last week, that however many foreigners there might be in this country, he had got none of them in the calendar, and, he was happy to add, a smaller number than usual of his own countrymen.

The abolition of death-punishment was enacted by French revolutionists of 1848. Three years have passed away, and the son of Victor Hugo is condemned in Paris to six months’ imprisonment for writing an article against the punishment of death! Every English subject will be henceforth admitted into the Prussian dominions upon a passport of the competent British authorities, without any visd of a Prussian legation br consulate, which hitherto was required. Travellers visiting the Austrian territory should bear iu mind the stringent regulations on the subject of passports. The rules are strictly enforced and persons are daily sent back for non-compliance with them. In Hungary the surveillance of the police over the traveller is incessant. The King of Sardinia has honoured Baron James Rothschild, of Paris, with the insignia of Chevalier of the Order of St. Maurisio e Lazaro. An American gentleman lias obtained the privilege for fifty years, of erecting and managing lines, of magnetic telegraph in the united kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. There is reason to expect that a similar privilege will be obtained from the government of Denmark; and, in all, it is expected that some 3.000 miles of telegraph communication will be Yankee enterprise. MW. m£ at. m mmmmSmJ L.WW amis luaugutattvu ui me statue cicvtcu uy his native town Andelys, in memory of the celebrated painter, Nicholas Poussin, has been celebrated with great pomp. The Senate of Hamburg has pretested, not only at Frankfort, Berlin, and Vienna, against the occupation of their city by the Austrians, but has addressed remonstrances to the governments of England, France, and Russia, as parties to the treaty of Vienna, which guarantees the independence of the city of Hamburg. The Berlin Ministerial journal states that the loss of life in the conflict between the people and the troops was greater than at first supposed. Several persons were killed, and from thirty to forty wounded,

The Foreign Conference and Evangelization Society for 1851 is one of the numerous societies which have grown out of the Great Exhibition, having for its special object the supply of means of religious worship according to the Protestant faith, bibles, trusts, &c., to foreigners visiting London. The first report, just published, states that the society has eleven agents employed as colporteurs, and provides, with the aid of a succession of pasteurs from the Continent, fourteen religious services weekly, in seven different places. The offices of the society are at 47, Leicester-square. A meeting was held at the Hanover square Rooms, to consider a proposal to erect and endow a college for distressed members of the medical profession or their widows, and as school for the education and inaintenancegpf their son-s. Earl Manvers took the chair, and was supported by Sir Robert IngliSp Sir Thomas Phillips, the Bishops of Durham, Ripon, and St. Mr. Freshfield, M.P., members of the Mr. Pjppert explained at some length tK nature of the proposition, and stated that Dr. Graham, of Epsom, had generously offered to place at the disposal of the council an admirable site, of 20 acres, situated in the healthiest part of Surrey, which he offered at a moderate rent during the lives of himself and Mrs. Graham, and which, at their decease, was to become the property of the society. The funds already contributed, though no public appeal has yet been made, amounts to nearly £2OOO, and he attached nearly as much value to the plot of ground obtained from Dr. Graham. Earl Manvers accepted the officeof president.

Ireland. Progress of Emigration.— Even whilst the country presents in all directions such promise of an abundant harvest, emigration continues on a considerable scale, and thousands of farmers are preparing to make their way across the Atlantic early in the autumn. The numbers now leaving our ports are much less than during the spring months ; but they ate generally of a better and more substantial class, taking with them sums of money, the savings of former yeats, or the produce of the sale of their stock and effects. The vast amount of remittances from the Irish settlers in America, and the encouraging accounts constantly received from them, have produced among our rural population an earnest desire to follow their example. From this and other causes the emigration is likely to continue, for some time at least, to as great an extent as heretofore; and the effect of this incessant drain must soon become manifest in the more general decrease of farms of small or even moderate dimensions, as well as in a further considerable diminution of our population. There are still speculations about a scarcity cf labourers at the approaching harvest. Possibly some serious inconvenience may arise from this cause, but up to this time certainly no increase has been apparent in the wages for agricultural labour. The Baltinas loe Star, an agricultural journal, in referring to the emigration since March, the date of the census returns, says :— “ We have reason to know that a further diminution in our population to the extent of of upwards of eighty thousand has taken place since March last, owing to emigration. It is true some eight or ten thousand of this number have found their way to the manufacturing and other towns in England and Scotland, many having gone over in the expectation of finding employment as harvest labourers : nevertheless, as wp Lava .-r . * ' •— Mviwiv taixuii occasion to remark, their ultimate destination is to that country where so many tens of thousands of their countrymen have found a home and from whence we understand somewhere about £1,250,000 sterling has been forwarded within the past twelve months, to enable the relatives in.this country of those residing in America to proceed to the land of their adoption. Where the drain of our population will end time alone can determine • T M l u g ’ however > is tolerably evident, should the potato be lost this year—a calamtty which we do not calculate upon—it would e highly necessary to have some ‘ plantation scheme or other carried into effect, as the emigration would such circumstances as we have indicated, g% such an impetus as would leave half the island depopulated.” After a long and animated debate, the House of Peers, on Thursday, the 17th of Inly, for the fifth time, »t. P n ment Bill for the admission of the Jews into Parliament, The division showed a majority of 36 against the bill, the majority being 22 among the Peers present in the House, and 14 among the proxies. The bill is consequently lost for the present session. In spite of this decision Mr. Aiderman Salamone last night redeemed the pledge which he gave to the electors of Greenwich, by presenting himself at the table of the Commons, and taking the oaths down to the words on u the true faith of a Christian.” The Speaker declared that no member could take his seat unless he

took the oaths in entirety, and ordered Mr. withdraw. Sir F. Thesiger then moved that a new writ be issued for Greenwich, but ultimately withdrew the motion, at the request of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who suggested that no further-proceed-ings should take place until Monday, when Lord John Russell will state the course which the Government tfill pursue on the subject. Afier the lapse of 100 years, the gammon of bacon has been claimed by a couple in good circumstances, as farmers, at Felsted, Essex, named Murrell, but, failing to obtain it from the lord of the manor, the inhabitants of Dunmow have procured one by subscription, which will be presented to them, on their taking the usual oajths, at Broomhill’s, near this town, on Wednesday, the 16th July. The couple will drive to theground, escorted by a band of music, in their own carriage and horses. A large number of persons are expected to witness the ceremony.

The following remarkable phenomenon was witnessed by a farmer in the neighbourhood of Hawick. Walking over a hill on his farm early on the morning of the 13th of Mav last his attention was arrested by a light cloud of pale mist of remarkable form, being perfectly circular, slowly uprising fron the neighbouring valley. The sun was shining brightly around him from the other side, and, as the cloud gradually floated up, still retaining its form, which was very like that of tbe halo often observed round the moon, he found it present an inner circle, much smaller but well defined and containing, as in a frame, a human figure of most colossal proportions. He saluted the spectre with a bow, which was returned by the airy phantom with the utmost promptitude. He then walked away for a little, on returning, found the shadow still visible, which continued to bow and otherwise imitate every motion he made, thus proving it to be a reflection of his own form in the cloud. This apparition is identical in appearance and cause with the famous “Spectre of the Brocken,” with perhaps the additional beauty of the enclosing circles, which we nowhere find recorded in the accounts of the German travellers. Of course, owing to thegreat difference in altitude, and vast extent of that reflecting surface of Harzian mist, it will be deficient in magnitude to our Germanic ghost. The New Reform Bill.—We have reason to believe that the expectations formed by the more advanced Liberal politicians of the House of Commons as to the comprehensive character of the Reform Bill of 1852, are well founded; that a very large extension of the suffrage, based cn the residence principle, will be proposed ; that an educational fas distinguished merely from a property) test for the exercise of the electoral right will be established ; that though the ballot will not be supported by Lord John Russell individually, he will leave it an open question among his official adherents, some of whom have very recently been pledged to its recognition. —Liverpool .Albion.

The Leeds Times says : —“ We have just now before us some impressions taken from guttapercha printing types, manufactured by John Burmiston, of this town, the printer of a small monthly publication, called the Northern Luminary. The impressions are almos t equal to those obtained from metal types, decidedly superior to wood, and the maker avows that they can be produced at a much less cost. He intended to have exhibited specimens at tbe World’s Fair, but his application for space has been rejected by the local Committee.”— Observer.

’l’he Female Column in the Census of 1851.—1 t appears from the return, that the increase of females is greater in proportion than that of males. In 1841 there were 493,303 more females than males in ? c r *\\?" T tain ' In 1851 the is xn 1841 the excess of females in the metropolis was 124,367. In 1851 it is 154,429— an increase greater than the whole increase of population would lead one to expect. This growing disproportion of the sexes has lately attracted the attention of philanthropists, and has suggested the scheme for conveying such women as are qualified tor it, to colonies where the disproportion is the other way. In this country so great an excess of the “weaker” vessel, is undoubtedly a very great evil; for in this, as in other matters, plenty produces cheapness, and nothing is more to be regretted than a state of society which puts women, more than nature intends, at the mercy of men.- ThearmV navy commerce, and colonies, however essential to a national power, glory, and wealth, have their drawback in this as in some other serious points, fo some extent we suffer the evils of those barbarous tribes among whom the males are so often decimated in war, that their women, through their mere superabundance, lose the dignity of their sex. England will earn its great power and glory at a very dear rate, if the disproportion, which has alreadv become serious enough to attract the attention of thoughtful observers, should continue to increase at ns present rate.— Times.

Statistics of Litigation.—Some curious I returns are given in the first report of the ! common law commissioners just printed, of litigation in the common law courts of Westminster. In the four years, 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849, the three courts issued 403,313 writs. The appearances entered were 212,777 ; the rules to plead were 156,629; and in that period the judgments signed were 11,964. The commissioners remark, that—•“ It appears that one-half of the cases in which writs are issued begin and end with the first step —the writ of summons—and that before the time for pleading has expired, which varies from twelve to sixteen days, more than one-fourth of the actions in which appearances have been entered are settled. The probability is that all these are for clear and undisputed demands.” The Commissioners recommend that the appearances to be entered, and the rules to plead, should be abolished, and that, with the startling facts disclosed by the statistical information, the proceedings in actions should be shortened. Ihe number of rules to plead indicate the number of cases in which declarations have been delivered, and in which the plaintiffs have taken the step to force the defendants to plead or submit to judgment. The charge for a writ of summons is from £1 10s. to £2, and the cost out of pocket is ss. The writ alone is effective in about half the cases to induce a settlement.

Consequences of Imperfect French. —A few days ago, in the Free Church Assembly, Dr. Paterson said he was not at all at home on his visit to the south of France. He understood a French address, and knew well enough what he thought, and what he wished to say ; but how to express it was a very difficult matter. (Laughter.) He recollected, on one occasion, when asking for a draught of lemonade, or some other similar refreshment. an almanac was brought to him—(laughter)— and on another occasion a box of lucifer matches—(renewed laughter)—and he recollected of a foreign friend who happened to be in that assembly, and who had learnt that a bare country was called a barren country —and he (Dr. Paterson) believed that the two words were etymologically connected—this gentleman, with reference to a number of venerable fathers whom be saw in this Assembly, said he felt “ very much overawed to speak before so many barren heads.”—Edinburgh Neivs. The Great Chess Tournament.—This long disputed contest is at length decided. Yesterday Messrs. Staunton and Williams sat down to play their eight hand final game; they had each won three games with one drawn game. After about five hours’ play Mr. Williams was the victor, winning four games to Mr. Staunton’s three. The final result, therefore, of the tournament is—Herr Anderssen is the victor, beating his four antagonists; Mr. Wyvill second, having been three times victorious, but beaten by Anderssen; Mr. Williams third, Mr. Staunton fourth, HerrSzen fifth, Captain Kennedy Cl’vfll HI !* — 1 Ti/T 11 ~‘***‘b avxvooio. iiuimiZ uuil JLVIUCkiOW, Who have not played off, seventh and eighth. Fatal consequences of a Vapor Bath. —A wine dealer in Paris was advised by his physician, in June last, to try a vapor bath. The man charged with the preparation of it neglected to attend him. The unfortunate victim opened the valve by which tbe vapor entered, but was unable to close it. The steam rushed in, and completely suffocated him. He was literally boiiert. 'The deceased’s widow having sued, the negligent party was condemned to 8 days’ imprisonment, and to pay 10,000 francs as damages. A Red Rover on the Thames.—ln Whitechapel County Court, on Saturday week, a curious action was tried, in which a retired Tailor, named Jamieson, was plaintiff, and an old Man-of-war’s man, named Ramsay. was defend-n* Tk„ , J ’ m. U “"‘“S CO W6ic laid at £oo. The plaintiff w a retired tailor possessing a villa, called Labour’s Retreat, on tbe banks of the Thames. The defendant is an old man-of-war’s man, who some time ago became possessed of considerable property in Whitechapel; but preferring to be afloat he equipped a yacht of six guns, the Tom Bowling, m which he lives. In the evidence it appeared that on the Easter Monday the plaintiff (Jamieson) holds a festive anniversary, in remembrance of the day on which his wiie (Hed and cannon are Jet off to announce the joyful tidings. It happened that on the last anniversary the Tom Bowling was cruising off Labour s Retreat, and when the crew smeit the powder, all hands were piped to action, and they returned the fire. The firing on noth sides continued some time, until the aWT 1 en > PS i° nes intheir guns, and ridUlgATom s duck and streaming bunting. The shoHin Slo j n - WaS an d l be boatswain " S S r Un f’. seriousi y damaged the taiihln rA, c,llmne ys. Captain Ramsay for th® ,IS «- Cf 7 t 0 deraand satisfaction for the insult offered to his flag; and having rashed the tailor’s friends, the captain chai- ’

lenged the tailor himself, and him the choice of sword/ ' P ° h,e ’y off e , > thinking it ? swooned away; upon whic J ai JJ than fj. ordered him to be taken J • he coming to his senses th/ -? nson6r . and under llio batches’ ’th' k b kepi Ike "hole night, bew.t ! lorwn.of being kijnap pe g bl Xm'* termed his captors. In ik- y p r ® tes . g.i brought before the defendant conrt-niarlW for and being found guilty, W S M ", S,,’ yard-arm He begged for '• <£ i and as a last resource, offomd y ’ The sentence was then’ commute fliction of an operation performs/ ‘° ‘ he : ‘ a ' when first crossing the line T n H°° Sa ’ lor ’ was transported to Herne Bav r Bte| * from home, without a shilling u i • rty Mr. G. E. Williams, for defen ? b ” pocketed that the plaintiff deserved ff'* COnt?niJ ' whichhehadbroughtonhimsjjf tl that although the plaintiff had /a d “ esaid properly in loading his ?° e sl ia >’ had retaliated rather too severX. | the circumstances, he should onlv U ? der damages, without costs. — Belk i? f 5 London. Us in