ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 670, 3 January 1852, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Excursion-trains are now telling strongly upon the Monday’s attendance at the Crystal Palace, Thenumber of the visitors is still very large on the “ shilling days,” and small on Saturday. After Parliament rises, the Saturday’s price is to be lowered to half-a-crown Two accidents have happened within the building this week. The pair of lovers on the large stone fountain in the British nave fell down, breaking the ornamental figures and doing other damage. rope broke in the mediaeval rot m, and several silver lamps, with large candles, and other decorations, were dropped on the ground : regarded by some as typical ol another and more spiritual species of downfall ! — S/.ectator. 1 he lighting of the General Post-office with gas cost +13047 in 1847: last year, it cost only £1485, owing to the reduction in price, from competition. I he Morning Post lands the “last new fashion ; in this case, with good reason. It is a fashion set by the Queen, and followed by many of her most distinguished subjects, of paying all tradesmen’s accounts every three months, instead of allowing them to run for an indefinite lime, with al! mam er of ill results. Ti e Post notes that this new fashion is a revival of one which prevailed during the Regency of George the Fourth. 1 he first execution of capital punishment in Prussia has just taken place, in conformity with the prescriptions of the new penal code, which excludes publicity. The sentence was carried out in the prison court in piesence of persons deputed to witness the fact. I hrough a private letter from Athens we learn that workmen employed four miles from the city in draining the field of Marathon, found the place of sepulture of the warriors who fell there in the memorable battle 490 years before the birth of Christ.— Morning Chronicle. Workmen are employed at present in repairing the cases containing the orange-trees of the Tuileries garden. These trees are of great age, some going back as far as seven hundred years, and the youngest three hundred. Every twenty years the eat th in each case is changed, and during the three following years they appear sickly. They then acquiie fresh strength, and throw out an immense quantity of b'ossoms. It is this periouical. change of nourishment which has led to their longevity.— Galignani's Messenger. The Exhibition Fetes at Paris. The Parisian letes in connection with the great Exhibition were the absorbing topic of European conversation, and were really bril.

liant and satisfactory in the highest degree, drawing an immense number to the French capital. They commenced on Saturday, August 2, with a grand dinner to 500 visitors at the Hotel de Ville, followed by a concert in which the Orchestra of the Conservatoire exhibited its remarkable talent. The Prefer de la Seine, and the municipal council of Paris issued upwards of 1000 formal invitations to the Royal Commissioners, the foreign commissioners, the members of the various juries, the executive and special commissioners, the mayors of the principal towns of the Kingdom, the presidents and secretaries of the leading scientific societies, and a large number of the nobility and other distinguished patrons of art and science. An especial invitation was forwarded to the Lord Mayor of London and the Lady Mayoress, for whom a suite of apartments was prepared at the Hotel de Ville by the Prefet de la Seine, whose guests they were during the period of the fete. About 259 of those most intimately and actively engaged in the direction of the Exhibition had provided for their use a special train, which left London on the Ist of August. The party proceeded vid Boulogne, and arrived in Paris at seven o’clock the same evening. In addition to the special entertainments arranged for the festive period, every kind of facility was afforded for visiting all that is curious and interesting in Paris and the neighbourhood.

The public entertainments extended over a period of five days. On the second day the National Museum and Palace of Versailles were opened to the guests. The English visitors, however they might have been dazzled and astoniihed by the civic splendours of the Hotel de Ville, were equally delighted with the pleasure of a new and unique character which awaited them on ihe thiid day in the gorgeous apartments and enchanting gardens of St. Cloud. The beautiful grounds were literally covered with one of the most brilliant assemblages ever witnessed. Military bands, graceful fountains, and magnificent avenues of trees in turn contributed to the pleasurable excitement. Refreshments were served in the Orangery, the Lord Mayor of London opening the feast in propria persona. The President of the Republic himself promenaded the grounds, and secured the comfort and happiness of his numerous guests. Of the ball at the Hotel de Ville on the next-day, it is sufficient to say that about 6000 were present, without the slightest attendant inconvenience, beyond that produced by the excessive warmth, and that every expectation was abundantly fulfi led. Of the high temperature of the atmosphere of the apartments, indeed, proof was given by the Mandarin Keying, who with his experience of a small cabin in the Junk at the meuth of a main sewer into the Thames, might be observed fanning himself at intervals, with a luxurious looking instrument of Chinese manufacture.

On the sth day the magnificent hospitality of the French Capital was again exerted when a breakfast was given to the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London, and the Delegates of the Exhibition. After this the company visited the Jardin des Plantes, and the Prison of Magas, and then proceeded to the stands provided for them on the Champ de Mars, to witness a mimic scene of “glorious war.” A performance at the Opera formed the last attraction of this day, as well as the last public mark of honour on the occasion from France to her neighbours.— Lyttelton Times. The Roman Catiioiic Cathedral.—lf the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Peter’s is ever built in London, on what ground will it be erected ? On the ground ol Indulgence.

A Form that wants Reforming.—The favourite objection with several members against Aiderman Salomons taking his seat is, that there is “no form for it.” The objection is not a bad one, for it stands to reason that if there is “ no form,” the honourable member can hardly sit down upon it. — Ibid.