MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 745, 22 September 1852, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

New Vessels. — It appears from a return just issued that in the year 1851 617 vessels were built (581 sailing and 36 steam) of timber, and 55 iron vessds,of which 7 were sailing vessels and 48 steam vessels. — News of the World, May 2. The Philpotts Family. — The rise of this family, which now contains so many eminent members (the most eminent of whom is the Bishop of Exeter), is very remarkable. The father of the bishop was first a small cowkeeper in the neighbourhood of Gloucester, and himselfsupplied several families with milk ; he then became an auctioneer, and afterwards an innkeeper. His wife lived to see one of her sons in the House of Lords, one in the House of Commons, and one an eminent merchant. All rose by the sheer force of talent. — Morning Advertiser. The Episcopal Church in the United States. — From a letter just received from Philadelphia we learn that much interest has been excited among the clergy and members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, by a letter which appeared in the Banner of the Cross, published in Philadelphia, from the pen of A. J.B. Hope. Esq., M. P. In this communication Mr. Hopp suggests ihedesirablenessofestabliibing a Protestant Episcopal Cathedral at Washington, as a metropolitan point of government and centralization for the American Church. Mr. Hope refers to St. Ninian'a Cathedral, in Scotland, and the bint is said to be received with the greater favour by American churchmen, because Mr. Hope's letter embraces " free synodical action" lay as well as clerical delegates in Church assemblies — a distinguishing feature of the American ecclesia. The views of the wrier are endorsed by the Rev. F. Ogilby, editor of the Banner, who admires the beauty, harmony, pathos, and grandeur of the Cathedral service, and who is in favour of the government of such time-honoured establishment by deans, chapter?, &c. The editor argues that in cathedrals, the "Bishop and his attending clergy may take some central position, whence the rays of truth may radiate ;" and he adds, "in every diocese the Church should have noi only a pprson, but a place as the centre of unity." The wrierof the letter adds, " The day is probably not far distant when there will be Proteitant CaiheJrals in the United States."

Decrease of Pauperism in Englakd.- -The very last official return of pauperism shows agreat reduction in the year ending Lady-day, 1851, as compared with 1850. The figures areasfollows:—Total expenditure in 1850, £5,395,021 ; in 1851, £4,970.721.— Leeds Mercury.

'The "President" Steamer. — From Barbadoes, by telegraph, via Boston, we have accounts, taken from the Grenada Chronicle, that on the 4th April a ship's figurehead of unusual dimensions was cast ashore on that island. It has been originally fully eight feet high, and is that of a senator in the act of speaking. He is partially bald, and holds a scroll in his light hand, and the left grasping a scarf, which is partially thrown over him. The papers conjecture, on what grounds we do not learn, that it may be a part-of the ill-fated steamer President — Times, May 13.

Large Families. — To the instances of unusually large numbers of children by one mother may be added that of a Lady Elphiustone, who is said, by tradition, to have had no less than 36 children, of whom 27 were living at one time. There is a story told of this lady and her husband, Lord Elphinstone, which seems to corroborate the tradition: it is that they once asked a new and somewhat bashful acquaintance to visit them, telling him that he should meet no one but their family circle. Their guest arrived shortly before dinner, and, being shown through the dinitjg-hal! on his way to the drawing-room, was much disconcerted at seeing a long table laid for about 30 people. On remonstrating with his host and hostess for having taken him in, as he thought, he was quietly informed that he had been told no more than the truth, foi that their family party, when all assembled, only fell short of thirty by one. I believe that Jobn, eighth Lord Elphinstone, and his lady, a daughter of the Earl of Lauderdale,' who lived ia the latter part of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, are the pair to whom this story refers ; and, though the Scotch peerages make no mention of such phenomenon in the Elphinstone family, yet I am strongly inclined, from the goodness of the authority from which I derive the tradition, to believe it to be true. — Notes and Queries.

A Modern Ghost Story. — The evening waned into night as we sat listening to Mr. Lyle's pleasant stories. " I could fancy those sounds were the wailing of spirits in distress," said our host (Mr. Lyle), as we hearkened to the rushing and moaning of the blasts. " Yes,4tis just-upon such a nigfit as this that legends say they wander over the scenes they knew in life. Hark '. one could almost declare that was the voice of a Banshee," cried my mother. " Why, some people do believe that this house is haunted, and that at certain times there are terrible sights to be seen by those who are bold enough to watch ; but I have never been so fortnDate as to see or hear any of them." He stopped suddenly, for, proceeding as it were from the depths of the forest, and swelling louder and louder as it neared the house, came a most feaiful and unearthly wailing. Nothing that I have ever heard can give an idea of the sound : it was appalling. We all except Mr. Lyle started to our feet, and grasped tne nearest thing to us, as if for protection. It seemed that when the cry reached the house it stopped, and for a few minutes all was silent. "It is very strange," said Mr. Lyle. " I never heard anything like — ." Again the fearful sound was heard; this time close to us. Helen, my mother, and I, clang together, too much terrified to speak. There was a large old room, generally unused,* adjoining the north side of that in which we were assembled 4 and all at once the cry appeared to come from thence. It was answered by a louder burst of wailing from without, accompanied with a strange mysterious rustling which frightened Helen and me dreadfully. Then after a short silence, the noise came from the other side of the house, and echoed shrilly through the rooms and passages. *' Surely this is some trick," said Mr. Lyle ; " I will go and see if I can detect anything." In spite of our entreaties that he would not leave us our host went. out into the hull, where he was met by the thTee female servants and the coachman — the only domestics he employed, except a lad who was in training for a footman, and who had gone home this evening to see a sick mother. " Oh, sir !" cried the party, as with one voice, " What will become of us ? Do you hear the sperrits? — There! — Oh, Lord!'' and as they spoke the shrill unearthly moaning struck us again with inexpressible terror. There were innumerable passages in the bouse intersecting each other in various directions, and ever.'as Mr. Lyle walked through them the wailing seemed to accompany him ; sometimes shrieking close before him, sometimes moaning and dying away in the distance. It sounded inside as well as out : and was at times attended with a rushing noise, as if some heavy body were moving through the air : the inexplicable cause of which rendered the effect appalling. When after an hour's search Mr. Lyle came back to us, looking pale as a spectre, and declared that he .could discover nothing, we all, servants and guests, clung to each other, as if numbers and proximity, gave security. In this manner we spent the night, the supernatural noises still continuing at intervals ; but when morning dawned, and the gray light came ia through the chinks of the shutters, the cries ceased. Then, persuaded by our host, whose distress at our alarm was very great, we all went into my mother's room to get some rest ; some upon chairs, others on the floor, but Helen and I ou the bed with her. "We only felt safe ,when the morning light filled the room, and found us altogether. After a few hours' restless sleep, wo all met in the breakfastroom the next morning, and traces of the night's terrors were apparent in the countenance and manner of each. Every one looked pale and apprehensive, making nerrous attempts" at cheerfulness and ease, which were complete failures. Generally speaking, daylight and sunshine dispel all superstitious fears : one cannot think of ghosts where every corner is radiant, and closets o.uly are shady. But it was not so with us ; for though the day was unusually brilliant, and the air musical with the songs of summer birds, the shrill and piteous wailing of the night, and the mysterious rushing as of winged spirits, still sounded ia our ears. After an uncomfortable breakfast, we all set out in a body upon a tour of investigation ; but, unfortunately, just as we reached the ball some neighbours, whose promised visit we had forgotten in the excitement, drove up to spend the day. All our plans for prosecuting the search were now at an end. Evening came at length. The deep long shadows cast from the forest trees lay upon the ground ; but (0 us tbe scene had lost its

beauty, and wbat bad hitherto been so lovely now seemed gloomy and portentous. At last the visitors drove off and we" were left alone. We sat mute snd abstracted, Mr. -Lyle and my mother endeavouring to sustain a disjointed conversation, "We will have candles," said he : *' it is getting dusk, I fancy." Mr. Lyle rose to ring the bell ; but before its summons died away a heavy rushing swept past the open window, and the wailing of the night before was repeated. A loud cry of terror broke from Helen as she sprang from her seat and clung to her mother, while I leaned against ihe table, ray heart beating violently. At this moment the door opened, and lights were brought in by the lad who had been from home the night before. He proceeded to shut the windows, seeming to take no notice of our alarm. Just as be had unloosed the last curtain the cry again pierced the silence ; but this time close by, as if at the door. Helen fell back in her chair, fainting with alarm. Mr. Lyle started, and his eye fell upon the boy, who was hurrying away. " Stop," said he in a loud clear voice, which made us all look up ; *' you know something of this, I see : what is this noi&e?" The lad stood still, looking pertinaciously upon the carpet. " Answer me : what is this noise V" The boy made no reply. Again the wailing cry was heard. "If you do not speak at once I will send John off for a constable, and have you put into the cage till you do." " I'm sure, sir. I didn't think no harm, 11 began the boy stammering. He could get no further. Mr. Lyle stretched out his hand to the bell, saying — " I shall' ask you no more questions : you know the consequences of disobedience." Fortunately this insinuation was sufficient. With much circumlocution of rustic speech the boy explained the mystery. It appeared that late the eveniug before he had determined to rob an owl's nest, which he had discovered in one of the large old trees in the forest. The young ones were ready to fly, and fearing to leave them for another day, lest they should abscond from their paternal rooftree, he secured them at once, and lodged them, safely and secretly as he thought, in an old cage in the chimney of* the dark unused room before spoken of. Somehow or other the fledglings got out, and commenced fluttering and screaming along the passages, while the old birds wandered round and round the house crying for their imprisoned brood. When the boy came back and heard from his fellow-servants their horrid account of the last night's terrors he at once suspected the cause, especially as he found stray feathers laying about the ball and lobby; but, as he could no where find the birds, he hoped they had escaped, and therefore kept his own counsel. " And where are the birds now, sir ?" asked his master sternly. "Go and bring them here instantly." In a few minutes the boy returned, and a prolonged peal of laughter greeted his appearance. We had been endeavouring to teach him to wait properly, and one of the maxims most carefully impressed upon his memory was to bring in even/thing upon a waiter. In obedience to this rule he now entered carrying a huge tray at arm's length, upon which, sliding from side to side of the smooth and slippery surface, were two young white owls ! Anything more ridiculous cannot well be conceived. The solemn birds seemed trying in vain to keep up appearances — winking and blinking at the light, and shaking their feathers (which dislodged a great quantity of soot), while they slid to and fro upon the tray, maintaining a gravity of look which was perfectly irresistible. The boy, too, covered with soot, and staring with wonder and fear, while vainly endeavouring to keep the tray still and pacify the birds, completed the drollery of the scene. Such was the ludicrous solution of the seemingly inexplicable cause of our dreadful terrors. — Florence Sachville, or Self-Depen-dence, by Mrs. Burbury.