ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 719, 23 June 1852, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Gossip op the Parisian Salons. — Stones circulate in the salons, and are greedily listened to, of the snubs inflicted upon the courtiers of i the new power, and even upon their wives. The week before last Count Flahault paid a visit to M. >Mole. Upon the entrance of this diplomatic emissary of the Tuileries two ladies rose and left the room. M. de Flahault looked surprised and asked why the ladies retired ? "For the same reason," replied M.Mo'.e sternly, " that I should have retired myself r had I not been fixed to the sofa, by the gout." Here is k another trait of the same kind. The Countess le Hon, in paying a visit to Madame de Girardin, after the name of the latter's husband had figured on one of the lists of proscriptions, was received by the lady of the house standing. The visitor seems, at first, to have taken this formal posture as- a ceremonious deference to her influential position as one of the grandest ladies of the quasi- imperial court. She condescendingly invited Madame de Girardin to sit down, and asked why one who had been upon intimate terms with her should use the ceremony of standing np in her presence. " Madame,"*replied Madame de Girardin very gravely, " I am standing up until you go away." Here is an instance of the persecution directed against the salons. The Marquise d'Osrnond, Legitimist lady, who gives brilliant reunions at her house on the Boulevard de la Madeline, received last week an official intimation from the Minister of the Interior that politics were nut approved of by the Government as a subject of conversation at parties, and that as many other subjects gave equal scope for social communication there existed no necessity for discussing the acts of 'the Governraent. Consequently the marquise was leqested to intimate to her guests that they must refrain from talkingpolitics. Madame d'Osmond, after receiving this notice, invited to her next party only ladies ; but the absence of the "lords of the creation" did not prevent the company present from jexchanging the freest criticisms possible upon the deeds of the Government, and in particular from venting their indignation, in shrill chorus, at the -invasion of private society by such monstrous prohibitions. This occured on Friday night. The next morning Madame d'Osmond received a note from M. de Moray begging her to name which of her chateaux th*e marquise would prefer for her country residence, as her sojourn at Paris any longer for-the present had become impossible ; and intimating that her return to the capital would not be permitted without an express permission from the President of the Republic. — Examiner.

Egypt. — Alexandria, January- 21. — Mr, Robert Stephsnson sailed from this port for England in his yacht Titania, on the 13th inst., having previously visited the bed of Lake Tirasch, and the Bitter Lakes on the Isthmus of Suez, with a view to determine certain geological facts respecting which doubts had been entertained. Mr. Stephenson states that evidence enough exists to show that, at a period by no means remote, Africa must have been an island, and the Mediterranean and Red # Seas united. He has collected scientific matter of considerable extent and interest, and' his researches will, doubtless, "be given to the world in one shape or other. We hear that the Pacha has intimated to the representatives of the great European powers that, owing to intelligence he has received from Constantinople ot the intention of the Vizier to enforce the proposed tanzimat in Egypt, and particularly the clause withdrawing from the present and future rulers of Egypt, the power of inflicting capital punishment for any crime whatever, he entertains serious fears for the tranquillity of the country, and he finds he cannot guarantee to persons and property the safety hitherto enjeyed. We hear, also, that owing to difficulties arising "from the abovenamed source, there, is a probability of the Egyptian Government being obliged to suspend, operations on the intended railway between Cairo and the city. A pamphlet issued by the Australian Steam Navigat.ion Company, explains at greater length than' their prospectus thfir anticipations of sue- ' cess. The advantages they will derive from the use of iron sciew vessels is demonstrated by a mass of practical testimony extracted froai the evidence before Lord" Jocelyn's committee ; and this evidence likewise establishes the probability that regular lime will be kept in the passages each way. For emigrants and*freight there can be little question the route via the Cape is the one most likely to receive immediate support ; and from the existing statistics with regard to both, the compaijy fully defend their estimates of revenue. It is nor, however, upon any advantages belonging to the route they bave chosen that the chief Confidence in the undertaking should be based. Steam to Australia, whichever way it may be directed, is yet an experiment that will be followed by many modifications, such as experience . alone can suggest. The great .point which has not yet been recognised by ihe .public is the prospect, from what has been witnessed with regard to California that a time will rapidly arrive when the demand for steam communication will be much beyond any preparation that has been raatle for it, and wheD, therefore, every route tfrat may be available will receive itsjul! share of traffic-ac-cording to the means or inclinations of different classes! The' course of the Americans on the discovery of California presents a characteristic contrast to -our own at the-pieseut moment. Instead of frittering their money in doubtful gold companies, the return from which, even supposing them started in good faith, must have depended on the vigour and honesty of persons over whom they could bave had no control, the New York

capitalists preferred to make their profits out of the affair in the.sbape of toll for reaching the new regions. They knew that- if gold existed in the ahundance alleged, the desire of people to get at" it would be limited only by the means afforded them, and that the growth of the traffic backwards and forwards would be just in proportion to their success. They bad, in fact, command of the highway between the treasure, and its seekers, and they resolved to make the most of it. California contained then only a few thousand inhabitants, yet three or^ four magnificent lines of steamships were soon started, and, down to the present time, the demand, for additional vessels has continued. Twice, at the eleventh hour, boats intended for the line between New York and Gal way have befea taken off, §nd have been sent to Nicaragua, and the-profits of all concerned have been without precedent in the history of such undertakingis. Wholly different has been the conduct of the captalists of London and Liverpool with regard to Australia. Although sbe~possessed nearly a million of thriving inhabitants at the time when her gold mines were proclaimed, end had for years been demanding an accession of hands, not a movement was made. The only inquiries were, would Government give any help, and if so, would it be possible to induce the public to risk the establishment even of one small monthly service? And while this timidity has been exhibited, respecting almost the only legitimate way in which the gold discoveries should have called forth our capital, in what manner have we expended our money ? We have been pouriDg. forth hundreds of thousands for the organization of mining labour, both in Australia and California, and have paid sometimes as much for a single lease "of land offered by the agents of speculators at San Francisco as> would have gone far to have established an -entire steam line to Sydney, that might by this time have been realizing profits, and which, by imparting immediate confidence to all the proceedings on both sides, might have hastened in many other ways, now hidden, the long "desired revival of a healthy spirit of adventure. — Times, Febiuary*l3.