MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 742, 11 September 1852, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

A Valuable Relic— A governess at Wilton house, happeuing to read the Arcadia, had discovered between two of the leaves, folded in paper as yellow from age as the printed pages between which it repossd, a lock of hair, and on the envelope enclosing the lock was written, in Sir Philip Sydney's well-known autograph, an inscription purporting that the, hair was that of her Gcacious Majesty Queen Elizabeth. None of the family bad ever heard of the treasure. So this identical volume, not only dedicated to his beloved sister, but entitled by himself The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, has remained for two centuries in the library of ber descendants, without any one of them ever taking the trouble to open the book ! The governess only, no Sydney, no Herbert, had taste enough, or curiosity enough, to take down the prose poem. I have uot the honour to know the present master of Wilton ; but, judging by reputation, I do not think that such a neglect could happen now. — Recollections of a Literary Life, Drainage of the Haarlem River. — We understand with much regret, that the drainage of this lake, which was commenced in 1846, is likely by adverse circumstances, to be delayed two or three years more, before the 50,000 or 60,000 acres of land covered by this vast sheet of water can.be laid bare. Gigantic and proportionately poiretful as were the engines furnished by Messrs. Harvey, of Hayle, and Messrs. Fox of Perrajn, they have not been proof against accidents arising from the severe work they have had to perform. The boilers are leaky and out of order, and have beensent to Amsterdam for repairs while several portions of the machinery have become unfit for service, acd will have to be replaced. To add to these difficulties, a storm on the 4th and sth instant caused considerable injury to some of the dams, and great exertions were required to prevent the breaking iv of tlie sea, and destoying the labour of three or four years. — Mining Journal. A^persoii has lately died in Paris whose history is indeed a curious one. This person is M. Breton, who was one of the principal reporters of the Moniteur and Journal dcs T)6bats for more than 35 years. His occupation as a reporter began, however, long belore 18] 6. M. Breton reported the Legislative debates of all the Assemblies of the first Revolution, and was attached to the corps of short-baud writers so early as the 26th August, 1790. During the Convention he had for colleagues with him in the reporters' gallery two young women, who, it is believed, afterwards perished by the guillotine. He was present wheu General Buonaparte dissolved the Legislative bodies during his coup d'&at of the 18th Brumaire, and in the confusion of the moment the General trod on bis foot as he was leaving the hall of debate. Pie continued at his task during the whole period of the Restoration, saw Manuel expelled from the Chamber of Deputies, and witnessed all that immediately preceded, accompanied, and followed the fall of the dynasty of the elder Bourbons. He was still, as ever, at his post when the Chamber was invaded by the mob on the 24th of February, 1848, and was present at the last debate of the Assembly dissolved by tie decrees of the 2nd of December. M. Breton was a distinguished philologist, and knew nearly all the languages of Europe. He was attached as sworn translator to the Tribunal of the Seine, and was frequently intrusted as such with important and confidential duties. Few men of the present age have witnessed so many interesting events as M. Breton. His being an eye and ear witness of all the terrible proceedings of the Assemblies of the first Revolution would alone give value to the memoirs which it is stated he has left, and which, it is added, will soon appear in feuilletons of one of the Paris morning papers.

Washington's Horsemanship. — It is related, tthatt t when a youth, there was belonging to his mother's estate, a young horse, so wild, furious, aud powerful, that no one could be found able or willing to break him. Several strong and experienced men had been thrown and baffled in the attempt. The circumstances were mentioned to George, and he resolved to try his hand with the colt. The experiment took place in the presence of a number of witnesses. He succeeded, by the usual stratagems, in decoying the animal near enough to enable him to spring upon his back. Instantly the horse leaped into the air and dashed round the field, tossing, flinging, and kicking with the greatest violence and rapidity. George kept his seat firmly aud steadily. The enraged and frantic creature flew from point to point, plunging, rearing, and foaming. But it was all in rait). Washington still maintained his position, and could not be dislodged. At last the noble animal, whose spirit was as indomitable as that of his rider, gave one desperate and mighty bound, and fell dead to the earth. It is also related, that when he assumed the command of the revolutionary army, at Cambridge, he took a fancy to a horse of the most admirable properties aud bearing, and made application for the purchase of him. The owner was unwilling to sell. While engaged in a conference on the subject, Washington mounted the animal and rode up and down the street several tiu.es. The horse seemed to feel the dignity of his rider. He pranced to and fro, and caracoled from side to side, exliibiiiog, iv every moiiou of neck and limb, the most perfect

forms of grace tnd strength. As he pawed the ground, and trod the eariK, and tossellm fli wing main', the owner was so struck with adminlion at his appearance, at the superior aspect he piesented when mounted by so matchless a horseman and at the perfect adaptation there was between the nobie steed and the noble rider, that he exclaimed, upon dismounting, " Sir, you shall have the horse on your own terms. He is the horse for you ; and no other man is fit to ride him." — Life of Washington. The Ocean, of Brest, states that the Lords of the Admiralty in England have presented to Captain Tunteler, of the Gertruida, a handsome telescope, for his exertions in saving 25 persons of the Amazon steamer, burnt at sea on January 3rd. Queen Victoria has presented him with a gold medal, and the Transatlantic steam-packet service with £50. An amateur chemist had discovered that oat straw and the other common straws of this country can be converted into cotton by M. Claussen'a process, in the same way as flax straw. — Standard. Louis Napoleon. — Last week, President Bonaparte told the French people (hat he would not seek to be made Emperor unless the " enemies of order" compelled him to assume the dignity in self-defence. Rumours circulated this week in his own journals, of attempts to re-organise the secret societies, and an expectation of new arrests pervading Paris, have excited suspicions that he is preparing to be forced to crown himslf. It may be asked, would he be more absolute as Emperor than he is as President ? Perhaps not ; but he would convert a ten years' lease into a life tenure; would establish a dynasty, with the right of hereditary succession ; might aid by marriage his recognition as one of the corporation of European sovereigns: might perhaps, were the Great Powers of Europe to evince dit inclination to bis aggrandisement, arouse the torpid nationality of Frenchmen in his favour, Meanwhile, the President or Emperor, or whatever he is or is to be, having attited the legislators of France in suitable liveries, is devising uniforms for the subordinate functionaries of government ; and having received the oaths of fidelity of the senate and legislative body, has issued a decree to regulate the manner in which all other functionaries, down to gardes champetres and auctioneers, shall take theirs. Strange, that a man who set so little store by his own oath to maintain the late constitution should expect anything from the oaths of others to maintain his power. — Spectator, April 10. Peel Monument. — The penny subscription •towards the fund for erecting a monument to the memory of the late Sir R. Peel has been wound up. The to<al amount is £1,737 Os. 6d., and larger subscriptions have been promised. The accounts having been audited, it was resolved that the money should be placed in the funds in the names of Lord John Russell, Sir James Graham, and Mr. Hume, as joint ttustees. — Ibid.

Metropolitan Freehold Land Society. — At a meeting of the members and promoters of this society, just held, it was stated that the number of societies in England alone was 170, and the number of members eurolled was 200,000, whilst the amount of subscriptions invested was £3,000,000 -per annum. The .public -were becoming generally alive to their importance and usefulness. — Ibid. Brewers, &c. — An amended return was, on Tuesday, printed respecting brewers and others. In England, in the year ending the 10th of October last, there were 2,305 brewers, of whom 64 are in London ; and 60,124 victuallers, of whom 4,357 are in London, There are of licensed beer 5e11er5 '37,266 to sell beer to be drunk upon the premises. In the United Kingdom there are 2,548 brewers and 59,266 victuallers. The Athemeum states that Col. Rawlinson has opened out the entire place of sepulture of the kings and Queens of Assyria. There they lie, it is said, "in huge stone sarcophagi, with ponderous lids decorated with the royal ornaments and costume, just as they were deposited more than 3000 years ago."

The Royal Academy. — The private view of this year's exhibition took place on Friday. The total number of works exhibited in oils, water- colours, crayons, and in the sculpture department, is 1492. The general character of the exhibition is certainly not above, if it be up to, the average mark. There are hardly so many 'great pictures" as usually hang upon the walls. Only a few of the landscape paintings are of such a nature as to create any decided sensations, although, there are many excellent ones. Portraits abound in drearycopiousness. The leading members of the academy, indeed, are to a considerable extent altogether unpreedented. — Morning Chronicle.