ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 690, 13 March 1852, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Desertion in the Army. — On Wednesday the new military regulation for the more effectually branding deserters from the army came into operation. All soldiers now sentenced to be branded for desertion will be put in hospital, and the letter “ D ” be burnt in the culprit’s left shoulder. He will remain until such time as the mark is proved to be indelibly fixed. On the above day informa-

tion was received at the War-office of no less i than 102 desertions from regiments of the line, and nine from the Royal Marines ; one, John Beatty, officer’s servant in the 27th Foot, stole twenty sovereigns and a silver watch, and another William Neagle, of the 49th Foot, broke out of the garrison cells at Birr, and got clear away, being his third desertion.— lllustrated London News. Troops for Australia. — It is understood that Governor Fitzroy has intimated to Earl Grey the necessity for a reinforcement of troops, the expense of which is to be borne by the colony. The three regiments next for foreign service are the 71st (Ist battalion), 48th and 89th, but we have reason to believe that no reinforcements will be sent, at least until the receipt of further information from the colony. Some workmen, who were lately digging in a sort of bog in New Jersey, came upon the bones of some enormous animal. After much labour they succeeded in exhuming a tusk measuring 10 feet in length, and weighing 1651 b. ; some teeth weighing over 71b. each, 10 inches long,ami 28 inches in circumference; and a fore-leg or shin-bone, measuring 3 feet 6 inches from the fetlock joint to the knee. From these specimens we presume the remains to be those of some monster of the Mastodon genus.

According to a letter from \ ienna in the German Journal of Frankfort, the Austrian Government, to mark its dissatisfaction at the release of Kossuth and his companions, has determined to demand satisfaction from the Ottoman Porte for the persecution of the Christian population of Bosnia and Herzegovina ; and has resolved to enforce the demand by assembling a body of troops on the frontiers of Turkish Croatia and Herzegovine. During a recent assize in France, it was discovered that many fires bad been prompted by agents of assurance societies, in order to terrify the farmers into assuring. The Dowager Duchess de Maille has just been burnt to death at the Chateau of La Rocheguyon, France, where she was on a visit with lie. friend, the Duchess de Larochefoucald. She was standing in her room near a waxlight, when a current of air sent the flame in the direction of her dress, which caught fire ; in a moment she was enveloped in flame. She was so dreadfully burnt that all the aid of medical art could not succeed in saving her life. Intelligence from Innspruck of the 4th states that the battalion of infantry and the staff were delayed 36 hours by a heavy fall of snow and the accumulated mass of snow on the road. The accounts caused by the overflowing of the rivets from all parts of the Crown lands are very distressing. In many parts dreadful devastations have been caused. In Murburg the largest bridges have been carried away. The rushing masses of water as they parsed through Murburg.carried with them gigantic trees, which were torn up by the roots, fragments of houses, mills, carriages, timber, utensils, boats, and numerous animals. The inundation which caused these fearful disasters appears to have been caused by the bursting of a water-spout in Carinthia. Many places in Carinthia are quite destroyed, churches and hospitals were broken down by the fury of the water, and were speedily reduced to a mass of ruins. Many corpses have been found in the Tyrol ; whole districts have been swept away; the telegraphic lines hve been destroyed, partly by the water and partly by the fall of immense masses of snow. The mails have been stopped from nearly ail parts of the country. The accounts from Agram are of the same melancholy character. The rise of the water nine or ten feet above the ordinary water-mark, combined with heavy falls of snow, and the accumulated masses of water rushing impetuously from the mountains, have caused incalculable damage.

Communication between Australia and America.—Both the private advices and the newspapers received from California last week express a strong conviction that, in consequence of the gold discovert; s in New South Wales, a line of American steamers from Central America to Sydney is likely to be formed at an early period. Already, it is said, the plan has been broached, and with the certainty that it would be well received in Australia, and would result in a remunerative traffic. The communication between San Francisco and Sydney is at present active, and it is seen that if the new discoveries should rival those of California, the completion of a steam route between the two places would confer immense advantages on both. In case of a glut in either market, early intelligence would be given, which would induce shipments from one to the other, and thus 'lend greatly to limit losses such as those which have hitherto been sustained in this uncertain trade. At the same time there is the knowledge that the productions of the two countries are sufficiently varied to cause, under the influence of the facilities of steam, the development of a natural system of ex-

ports and imports to which the various Pacific States, and especially those of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, would offer a large intermediate contribution. On the question of passenger traffic the San Francisco writers seems to entertain no doubt whatever that every one from Europe beyond the labouring class would avail themselves of the line.— Bell's Life in London, October 26.

Millennium Jubilee o» the Russian Empire.—ln the year, 1852, Russia will celebrate throughout the vast expanse of her empire the completion of her thousandth year of national existence, which will be kept with all the solemnity due to the importance of the event. The Russian empire was founded in 852, in which year the Russians, or Rossians, probably of Scandinavian origin, made their first appearance on the shores of the Bosphorus, as Warangians. Property in Great Britain.—The Committee of the House of Commons, in their report on the law of partnership, which bes with the evidence just been printed, states that, in round numbers, in 33 years since the peace, whilst lands in Great Britain have increased to 1848 only £8,500,000 in annual value, or a little more than 5 per cent., messuages, (being chiefly houses and manufactories, and warehouses in and near towns, and depending greatly on trade and commerce, have augmented above £26,000,000 in annual value, or about 30 per cent in the same period. The value of railways, gas works and other property chiefly held in shares as personal property, bad increased about twelvefold in the same period.

London Wonders.—Some of us may learn for the first time that “if the streets of the metropolis were put together they would extend 3,000 miles in length,” that “ the main thoroughfares are traversed by 3,000 omnibusses and 3,500 cabs, employing 40,000 horses.” Few of us, perhaps, have consideied what amount of meat and drink is annually required to keep Old London on the move. In 1849, Murray tells us the metropolis alone consumed 1,600,000 quarters of wheat, 540,000 bullocks, 1,700,000 sheep, 28.000 calves and SB nnn nioc, Ona rr.ar. , , r*o~’ ~- ket alone supplied 4,024,400 bead of game. London the same year ate 3,000,000 salmon, which were washed down by 43,200,000 gallons of porter and ale, 2,000,000 gallons of spirits, and 65,000 pipes of wine. 13,000 cows are yearly required for London milk and, reckoning two gallons a day from every cow, we have here, “say” 72,000 gallons of “ peculiar ” consumed, if not enjoyed, by the London inhabitants. 360,000 gas lights fringe the streets. London’s arterial or water system “ supplies the enormous quantity of 44,383,328 gallons per day;” a thousand sail are employed in bringing annually to London 3,000,000 tons of coals, and to clothe and wait upon London’s people we have no fewer than 23,517 tailors, 28,579 bootmakers, 40,000 milliners and dressmakers, and 168,701 domestic servants. — Handbook of Modern London.

Effects of the “America’s'* Visit.— The Marquess of Conyngham has directed White to lengthen his beautiful yacht, the Constance, twelve feet by the bows. She is to have an American stern; and the sight that White and the other yacht-builders had of the America's bottom, while in dock on Thursday, will, wa have no doubt, be turned to account. —A gentleman who has a yacht up in frame in Mr. Joseph White’s yard has had her drawn out eight feet by tbe bows, and she is being Americanized ; but, as we have repeatedly before stated, the rig must be attended to also: there must be no more puckering and bagging of the sails. The America's are laced to tbe booms, and stand as flat as a board, and so must ours, if we intend to sail against her. —Report says that Mr. Steers, tbe American builder, took home orders for three yachts with him to New York. —lt appears very likely that the America’s triumph will be short lived, lor we understand that no less than three yacht builders have offered to construct vessels to run against her, and one of these is Mr. Charles Mare of Blackwall, th. builder of the Mystery, Belvedere, and the justly-celebrated Mosquito ; this gentleman, it it is said, has offered to build, within ten weeks, a yacht which will sail against the America for £SOO. We feel assured that if either of Watterman, Mare & Co.’s firm ; Pasco, of Miller and Ravenbill’s firm ; or White, or Ratsey, of Cowes ; or Wanhill, of Poole, were afforded the opportunity of building a yacht for racing purposes only, the Yankee would run a great risk of doffing her plumes before she re-crossed the Atlantic. The Flax Society and Lord Clarendon. —A splendid vase has just been completed at Belfast, to be presented ru the Earl of Clarendon by the Flax Society there, in token of the patronage and encouragement which the culture and manufacture of tbe flax plant have received from his Excellency through the Society. The execution of the vase is stated to be very beautiful, the three

designs upon it representing, first, a field of men and women busily engaged in flax pulling ; secondly, tbe interior of a flax mill, shewing the process of spinning ; and, thirdly, a view of the quay taken from the Queer.’sbridge, with various packages of linen, &c. in the foreground, and the shipping in the background. The three designs were executed by three of the students in the Belfast School of Design, and do much credit to tbe progress made in that establishment, in which upwards of 30 additional pupils were admitted on the opening in the last month. The presentation of tbe vase is to be accompanied with a set of magnificent damask table-cloths, also manufactured for his Excellency by the Society, some of which are of the enormous size of 9| yards in length, and 9 yards in width—tbe centre pattern of each consisting of the Clarendon arms and orders, &c.

Deathbed Influence op Popish Priests. —The Brighton Gazette says :— We learn from the foreign papers that a great sensation has been caused in Antwerp by the reading of a will of a very wealthy lady deceased there, in which her own family, in needy circumstances, are disinherited, and the whole of her property, about six millions francs, is le t to. a relation of her father confessor. The latter, it is said, will be called upon by law to give up the prize. An Irish Altar Piece.—The late Mr. Shee of Cork had his portrait painted by his kinsman, Sir Martin Archer, at the commencement of the present century, in full regimentals of the Donoughmore Cavalry, leaning gracefully on the croup of bis gallant charger. In the downfall of Ins household, the huge picture was consigned to a lumberroom, and not many years airo, having attracted the eye of Father Jack MacNamara, P.P. of Ballymartle, that ingenious padre begged a gift of it to the parish chapel, as an altar piece. The old housekeeper in charge felt flattered at tbe promotion of her deceased master to such exalted honour, and handed the canvass over to his reverence. It may be seen by the curious traveller at the present day duly decorating the village chapel in question. A few alterations in the regimentals have been thought fitting, and an angel has been painted aloft so as to represent the apostle on the road to Damascus falling from horseback, as a scroll from the angel’s mouth intimates “Paul! Paul! why persecutes! thou me ?”— Globe.

The Emperor on Board Wages.— Some years ago, it appears, the Empress of all the Russias took it into her bead to look into the state of her house-keeping. She ordered the daily reports of expenditure to be brought to her, and found, in the first she took up, the following rather singular item :— A bottle of rum for the Naslednik (heir to tbe Crown). This struck her as strange, and excited her curiosity to look further back; but what was her astonishment when, for years past, she found a bottle of rum set dowp every day to tbe account of tbe Naslednik. Shocked to find her son such a confirmed drunkard, she continued her investigations, and found that, even in his infancy he had made the same enormous consumption of spirits—that in h.s cradle, and on the day of birth he was still charged with the daily bottle. And on referring back to before his birth, the bottle was still put down. This was inexplicable. Continuing her researches, however, the Empress at last got to the first bottle. It was set down in some year of the last century, and the following note was on the margin :—“On account of violent toothache, a tea-spoonful with sugar to be given ; by order of the physician of the imperial court.” So, because the Emperor Alexander, when heir apparent, had taken a teaspoonful of rum for the toothache, a bottle had ever since been daily drawn from tbe imperial cellar, and nominally consumed by him and his successors. This was rather too strong, and led to further investigations; and the Empress informed her husband of the discoveries she had made. He read, and calculated, and cyphered, and at last exclaimed, “If this goes on I shall have to pledge my lands in order to pay for my table. An end must be put to this, —I will put myself out to board.” And no sooner said than done. Next day the imperial kitchen existed no longer. A liberal contract was entered into, for the board of the whole impeiial household: a great economy was effected, everybody was better fed, and all were content save cooks and butlers. Blackwood.

Dejanira and her Hercules in Switzerland.—Adelaide Swerte has just created a terrible sensation in the quiet’valley of Chamouni. Her lover, an apothecary, of the name of Canlh, had. allowed her access to his drug closet. In consequence of some deep resentment, treacherously dissembled, however, the damsel having possessed herself of a quantity of fulminating cotton, introduced it into the lining of a neckcloth, with large folds falling over the breast, and presented it to Carlh on bis going out shooting. She had remarked that, whpn in the enjoyment of his

pipe, sparks had often fallen on his shirt front. Not returning to the village search was made in the mountains, where he was found with his neck and skull horribly shattered.

A Zoological Problem. —On the 3rd day of October, 1851, and towards the hour of evening, one of the boa constrictors in the Zoological-gardens of the Regent’s Park received a present of two rabbits for his supper. ....As he has not had any food for some weeks, it is supposed that the rabbits will be a very acceptable present for bis serene lengthiness. Tbe cool air of autumn is tempered by a warming apparatus in his saloon, but, in case he should wish for a still greater degree of heat, a blanket is given him to creep under, or under the folds of which he may enroll himself at his pleasure. It is not a tine household blanket, but a thick, rough, railway blanket-wrapper of the largest size. All his comforts being thus attended to, the keeper of the serpent house bows and takes his departure for the night In the course of the night of the 3rd of October last past the watchman, as usual, entered tbe serpent house. Walking round, and holding up his lantern to the different cases, he perceived that the boa constrictor’s “ supper” was hopping about the cage in a very unconcerned manner, but, on turning from the rabbits to their proprietor, what was his dismay at perceiving that tbe serpent had seized upon one corner of the thick rough blanket in preference, and was drawing it down his distended throat. Away ran the watchman to call up the head keeper. .. ..The head keeper knowing it would be in vain to get the blanket back after “ matters had gone so far,” hoped that the serpent would disgorge it of his own accord, if left to himself quietly, as soon as be found he had made a mistake in the food he had chosen. Both head keeper and watchman, therefore, went away. It is the opinion of Mr. Mitchell, the Secretary of the Zoological Society, who is constantly studying the habits of animals, that the serpent has no palate; and that in the night he had made a dart and a snap at one of the rabbits, but, missing it in the darkness, had caught a mouthful of the blanket ; and, conceiving it to be a very good rabbit, (but with rather a loose skin we should suppose), had never troubled himself with any further considerations. In the morning, when tbe head keeper went to the serpent-house in a very anxious state of mind as to the result, there he saw the two rabbits silting up by the side of the serpent’s waterpan washing their faces, to be nice and tidy for the day, and the last two inches of the thick railway blanket just going down the serpent’s throat. Since this event the serpent has never shown any signs of having discovered his blunder or any disposition to disgorge his bedding He lies torpid, as usual after a good meal, drinks more water than he drinks in general, and perseveres with full reliance on his wonderful powers and peculiar organization. The blanket can be seen to have moved several feet down his body. It is now about the middle (October 28th.) Mill he manage it somehow, or. wi4 he die ? This is the problem.— Dickens' Household Words.