ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 750, 9 October 1852, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Military. — We believe that shortly another regiment will be ordered for the service in Australia ; in addition to which, the 99th regiment (serving in New South Wales since 1542) will be immediately relieved. It is said that the desertions from the lltb. regiment have become quite serious. — Times. SuRVKY FROM PANAMA TO StDNEY. A chart is to be formed, showing the best navigation from Panama to Sydney ; for which service H.M.S. Herald is under orders. An island adapted for the purpose of a penal settlement, and a suitable coal depot for steamers will also be selected. — Ib. The sum of £253,587, is required to be voted for the current year for convict establishments in the colonies, being an increase of £70,557 on the preceding year. — Ib.

" The Daughter op the Regiment. — Sir Francis Head, in his " Faggot of French Sticks," thus describes the French vivandieres, the originals of Jenny Lind's Figlia del Reggimento: — As we were proceeding along the ranks, I was altogether astonished to find, standing immediately on the right of every regiment, in line with the troops, and as immovably erect as themselves, one or two very nice looking women, dressed in scarlet regimental trousers, little short white aprons, and neatly ornamented blue loose frocks. Under each of their left arms they held, supported by a strap that passed diagonally across their breasts, a small barrel, beautifully painted, blue, white, and red, from which there protruded a bright silver cock, on their heads sat a tri-colour sort of Scotch bonnet. The dress altogether was wildly picturesque ; and the contrast between the soft smooth chins, slender hands, and small feet of the wearers, compared with the formal uniforms, dark* hairy faces and rough limbs of the troops, was most striking. They were the cantinieres of the different regiments ; and, being the only women in the regiment, they are, naturally enough, petted and adorned in the wav I have described.

General Changarkier. — The Pap comments on the letter of General Chaogarnier as follows :—": — " We will not recall a painful past ; we will not raiss the veil which covers many sentiments that have often been betrayed ; but has M. Changarnier so much reason to feel proud of the facts which his letter enumerates whh insulting vanity ? After having served with equal devoiedness all the Governments that have, succeeded each other in France during thirty-six years, M. Changarnier refuses hi 3 approbation to the only one which is" truly the expression of the popular wish, lie is at liberty to do so ; but has he always been so difficult in his sympathies? He had no need to remind us that after having accompanied with royal honours, the sons of Louis Philippe on board the vessel which conveyed them to exile, he came to offer to the Republic his sword and his hand, still warm from the affectionate pressure of the exiled princes. He bad no need to remind us of what he had done since that period. We remember that mysterious figure which bid in darkness its vast ambitious and ardent projects for the future. Why, then, has the popular voice, which deceives itself so raiely, so often associated the name ot General Changarnier with the souvenir of Monk ? He has saved, it is said, the cause of order and society. But was it that sj'creJ catise which he defended, and did not other aspirations disguise i themselves beneath his pretended devotedness to

a Republic ? Was bis opposition to the policy of the Prince-President a conviction or apart p!aye<J ? Did he not endeavour to create a party which should serve as a pedestal 10 his own ambition, and did he not lirestn of a dictatorship on the ruins of the power o! Louis Napoleon? Did he not encourage suhterranean factions ? Had he not newspapers devoted to him and at his orders ? Did he not extend a complaisant hand to all parties who could weaken the elect of the people ? Was it really to France that his sword was devoted, and did it not belong to some rival faction hoping for impossible restorations ? Such are the questions which the conduct of General Changarnier during the last three years have caused many people to put. We have not to solve them ; God and the conscience of M. Changarnier will penetrate the mystery of them. But when a man has himself excited all the distrust and suspicion, is it permitted to him to make a parade of his patriotism and virtues ?"

Ericsson's Caloric Ship. — The Boston (United States) Evening Transcript gives the following account of this enterprise in its journals of the sth May, after a personal visit to the works in this city, where the machinery for the new caloric ship is being built, and where also a 160-borse power trial engine is in operation on this new principle for the production of motive power: — " The idea of substituting a new and superior motive power for steam will no doubt strike many minds as extravagant, if not chimerical. We have been so accustomed to regard steam power as the ne plus ultra of attainment in subjecting the modified forces of nature to the service of man, jhat a discovery which promises to supersede this agency will have to contend with the most formidable preconceptions as well as with gigantic interests. Nevertheless it may now be predicted with confidence that we are on the eve of another great revolution, produced by the application of an agent more economical and incalculably safer than steam. A few years hence we shall hear of the ' wonders of caloric' instead of the 'wonders of steam.' To the question, ' How did you cross the Atlantic V the rejjy will be, * By caloric, of course !' On Saturday I visited the manufactory, and bad the privilege of inspecting Ericsson's caloiic engine of 60-horse power, while it was in operation, It consists of two pairs of cylinders, the working pistons of which are 72 inches in diameter. Its great peculiarities consist in its very large cylinders and pistons, working with very low pressure, and in the absence of boilers or heaters, there being no other fires employed than those in small grates under thp bottoms of the working cylinders. During the eight months that this testing engine has been in operation, not a cent has been expended for repairs or accidents. It is a beautiful and imposing object, and conveys the idea of power and symmetry much more impressively than the largest steam engine that I have ever seen. The leading principle of the" caloric engine consists in producing motive power by the employment of the expansive force of atmospheric air instead ol that of steam : the force being produced by compression of tbe air in one part of the machine, and by its dilatation by the application of heat in another part. This dilatation, however, is not effected by continuous application of combustibles, but by a peculiar process of transfer, by which the caloric is made to operate over again, viz, the heat of the air escaping from the working cylinder at each successive stroke of the engine is transferred to the cold, compressed air, entering the same ; so that in fact, a continued application of fuel is only necessary in order to make good the losses of heat occasioned by the unavoidable radiation of tbe heated parts of the machine. The obvious advantages of this great improvement are the great saving of fuel and of labour in the raanagemeut of the engine, and its perfect safety. A ship carrying the amount of coal that tbe Atlantic steamers now take for a single trip could cross and recross tbe Atlantic twice without taking in coal ;- and the voyage to China or to California could be easily accomplished l>y a caloric ship without the necessity of stopping at any port to take in fuel. Anthracite coal being far tbe best fuel for this new engine, we shall no longer have to purchase bituminous coal in England for return trip's. On the contrary, England will find it advantageous to come to us for our anthracite. A slow radiating fire without flame is what is required, and this is best supplied by our anthracite. Their being no smoke, a short pipe to carry off tbe carbonic oxide gas and other products of combustion is all that is needed. But the great advantage'of this important improvement, and that which, in the absence of other advantages, would common 1 its adoption, is the entire safety of the engine,an explosion beingimpossible. Insteam engines, if the water gets low, or if there is an excess of pressure, or any defects in the materials of which tbe boiler is composed, or an overheating of the furnace caps, occasioned by incrustation formed by salt, in marine boilers, an explosion is inevitable. But in tbe caloric engine' the 1 only result from neglect will be the stoppage of the engine. The present test engine shews that there must be- a neglect to put in fuel for the space of three hours before the speed is even slackened. Thus we have nothing to fear from a sleepy engineer, or an ambitious captain, and all the while not one quarter tbe amount of attendance and labour required to keep a steamengine in motion will be needed. When we consider the amount of human mutilation, suffering, and loss, which will be prevented for a century to come, when Us invention shall have passed into generai use, surely every philanthropist will bid God speed to this new motive engine. A caloric ship of 2,200 tons, to be called the Ericsson, is in process of construction, end is in such a state of forwardness that she will be in frames by the end of next week. I saw three out of the four working cylinders, the paddlewheels, all the valves, and valve nests, the main links and connecting rods, tbe bed plates, and main pillar blocks, and various other parts of the engines, all of them massive forms of metal, cast with the utmost precision and smoothness, and the castings pronounced by competent judges to be superior to the best in the British steamers. The cylinders are 168 inches in diameter, 72 inches larger than those in the Collins steauieis, The Ericsson will be ready for sea by October next, and her owners intend to take passengers at a reduced price in consequence of the reduced expenses finder the npw principle. The ship belongs to Mr John B. Kitchinpr, and a few other wealthy men. The Ericsson will be commanded by Captain Bowber."

A Disguised Priest.— -The following was related by the Rev. Thomas Taffrey, at a meeting held in the Collegiate" lustitutioD, Liverpool, on Wednesday week :— " A few months back the "Rev. gentleman said he was walking up Marketstreet, Manchester, and turning very sharply round the corner of an adjoining street, he came so forcibly upon a Catholic Priest as nearly to knock down the latter. This circumstance gave rise to sundry apologies, and a short conversation ensued, during which sufficient time elapsed to scan narrowly the features of the Priest, In the evening of (he same day, Mr. Taffrey proceeded to the Free Trade Hall with the intention of attending a meeting held there, but being unable to obtain admittance from the crowded slate of the room, as he was turning away, his attention was arrested by a crowd of four or five hundred persons listening to an animated discussion upon the doctrines of the Church of Rome. He forced his way into the crowd, and, having listened for a short time, his mind was quite made up from the subtle and logical nature of the pro-Romish argument, that the disputant was not what bis appearance would denote — a working man. His voice appeared familiar to liim, but he could not for a time recollect when or where he had before heard it. At length he was quite convinced that it was the Priest with whom he had come in such forcible contact in the morning, and being determined to satisfy his mind upon the paint, he waited until he should have an opportunity of seeing his face. After a 3ittle time the police came up and dispersed the crowd, and, having followed the speaker to a neighbouring light, what was his astonishment to find that it was none other than the Priest, though the clerical garb cf the morning had been laid aside, and in its place was substituted a fu3tian suit, blue striped shirt, and a felt hat ! — Liverpool Paper,

A Liverpool Clairvoyance Story. — The other day, a tradesman, who had dealt somewhat largely with gentlemen of the' Corn Exchange, failed in business. Some of the knowing ones k in grain suspected that their customer must have a considerable amount of cash secreted somewhere, and, hearing of the strange disclosures reported to have been made by a professional clairvoyante, they proceeded to question her as to the suspected tradesman, The lady, in her mesmeric sleep, soon discovered the person after whom she was sent. She told the gentlemen who waited upon her, that, if they went direct to the tradesman, they would find in his waistcoat-pocket a key, and that key would open the place in which the golden treasures of the alleged bankrupt were secreted. Delighted with their success so far, the gentleman started off in a vehicle to the house of the man, and found him in the act of dressing himself. They told him he had a key in his ■ waistcoat-pocket. He replied that he had, and, on their expressing a wish to see it, he immediately produced if. Without hesitation, he took them to the door which it opened ; bnt instead of finding heaps of gold, they found some old papers and heaps of rubbish. The gentlemen were somewhat mortified at the result of their labours ; and, the news of the " search and discovery " having oozed out, the circumstance is now 3 standing joke against them, and they are heartly laughed at by their friends on the Corn Exchange. — Liverpool Mercury. The Gentlewoman. — " I cannot forbear pointing out to you, my dearest child," said Lord Collingwood to his daughter, " the great advantages that will result from a temperate conduct and sweetness of manner, to all people, on all occasions. Never forget that you are a gentlewoman, and all your words and actions should mark you gentle. I never heard your mother, your dear good mother, say a harsh or hasty thing to any person in ray life. Endeavour to imitate her. I am quick and hasty in my temper; but, my darling, it is a misfortune which, not having been sufficiently restrained in my youth, has caused me inexpressible pain. It has given me more trouble to subdue this impetuosity, than anything I ever undertook." Desperate "Pluck." — When the famous Jackson, " champion " of England, broke his leg in the second round of a prize-fight, he requested to be allowed to sit down, and offered to

finish the battle in a chair ! An Emigrant Author, — Mr. R. H. Home, the author of " Orion," and other works of merit, is amongst those who are about to try their fortune in the new world of Australia. — Daily News.

Wonders of Nature. — The comparative strength of the insect tribes has ever been a subject of wonder and of admiration lo the naturalist. The strength of these minute creatures is enormous ; their muscular power in relation to their size, far exceeds that of any other animal. The grasshopper will spring 200 times the length of its own body. The dragon-fly, by its strength of wing, will sustain itself in the air for along summer day with unabated speed. The house-fly, makes 600 strokes with its wings, which will carry it five feet in every second. — Poetry of Science. Extensive Saie of Irish Encumbered .Estates. — The most considerable sales that have yet taken place in the Encumbered Estates Court have been recently effected. The gross sura realized amounts to £166,040. Many of the lots produced from twenty to thirty years' pnrchase. The estate of Cargains, in the county j of Roscoramon, -fetched the sum of £41,790, •being about £35 an acre, and equal to 52^ years' purchase on the present profit rent. To say that the market value of land has improved would give but a very inadequate idea of the extraordinary advance which has taken place in the offers daily made, and the avidity with which purchasers seek to obtain well-circumstanced lots. The prices now ranging show how completely sacrificed were the great majority of the estates sold in this court during the first year and more of tits operation. Gold. — During the -last three years there has been added to the quantity of gold p/eviously in use in the world, ahout 650,000 pounds troy weight — value, ty our pr-esent standard, some £30,000,000 sterling. Prospects or the Haryest in Ireland. — The weather continues as favourable as could be desired, with occasional showers that promote the growth of the various crops, all of which afford promise of a very abundant harvest. From Donegal, Mayo, and some other counties, there are reports of " missing " of certain descriptions of potatoes, which had been very prolific in the yield last year ; but there is not yet the slightest

indication of a reappearance of the old bligbt. The breadth of' potatoes planted all through the country is immense, and one of the most productive crops ever known is generally anticipated. From all accounts we are likely to be blessed with great abundance of all the products of the earth. At the country fairs sheep are advancing, owing to the very high price of wool. House of Commons. — Emigration from Ireland. — Mr. Scully wished the Secretary for the Colonies to inform him whether it was the intention of her Majesty's government to apply any portion of the large funds recently received from Australia in aid of emigration from Ireland to that colony ; and, if so, whether any part of these funds would be applied in assisting the emigration of well conducted youths from the Irish workhouses. Sir J. Pakington said that the best answer he could give to the first portion of the honourable gentleman's question was to state that the practice of the Emigration Commissioners had been to send out emigrants from the different portions of the United Kingdom as nearly as possible in proportion to the population of each ; but in consequence of some difficulty in fiuding the necessary number of emigrants from Scotland last year, it happened at this moment the Irish proportion of emigrants was in advance of the proportion which had been sent out from England or Scotland to the extent of 6000 persons. (Hear hear.) Under these circumstances, the course which the Commissioners would have taken in ordinary times would have been to send out no more emigrants from Ireland until the proportion from the different branches of the kingdom ; was fairly adjusted (Hear, hear) ; but in consequence of the extraordinary state of things which existed at this moment, the Commissioners were not taking that course. On the cojntrary, their selecting agents were at present in Ireland making arrangements for the emigration of a certain number of Irish families ; but a preference was given to families in which the females were more numerous than males, (Hear, hear.) He begged to remind the hon. gentleman that in 1850 no fewer than 4000 young women were sent out to the colonies from the Irish workhouses; but it appeared that the colonies did not like the emigrants so received (laughter), and consequently that practice would not again be resorted to. With respect to the honorable gentleman's second question, he begged to say that as the Commissioners bad resolved to give a preference to emigrants with families, it would be inconsistent with that regulation to select young men from the Irish workhouses. (Hear.)

A Commercial Love-Letter. — In France women take an active part in the business of life. The combination of romance and reality is curiously illustrated by the following letter, found in a railway carriage: — "Paris, April 2, 1852. In reply to your's of the 20ih ult., which duly came to band, I beg to say that I have duly forwarded the samples you asked for, together with the price current of the article in question. And now I return to. the subject of my former letter — indeed I cannot take your answer as a definite one — indeed you will listen to my devoted love. At your age you cannot long Temain a widow — you have nothing, to fear from so easy a temper and devoted a love as mine. The house of Chartier & Co. have asked for six months' credit ; are you disposed to grant it ? Answer by return of post this question, and the one which concerns the happiness of my life. You are the realization of all my dreams. The affection, respect, and esteem I feel for you are sincere and profound. The union of our two houses would give an extension of business on both sides which would be incalculable. I have accepted your bill upon the house of Bernard & Co. Colza oil is at 21 francs. Hoping for a reply by return of post, I close this letter with a beating heart. Your's respectfully, M — . The bouse of Fritz has stopped. How my heart beats as I write to you ; oils are decidedly increasing in price."

Gigantic Sea- Weeds. — On the north-west coast of North America there is a tangle, named Nereocystis, having a stem which measures, when full grown, 300 feet in length, and bears at its extremity a huge float six or seven feet long, shaped like an enormous cask, and crowned by a tuft of more than 50 forked leaves, each of them from 30 to 40 feet long ! Among this submarine foliage the sea-otter lies in wait for its prey, and when tired delights to rest and sleep on the enormous bladders. Yet all this mass of vegetation is moored by a stem as thin as a whipcord. The Aleutians use these thread-like stalks for fishing lines. Prodigious as are the dimensions of this " sea-otter's cabbage " (the name by which it is popularly known,) they are surpassed by those of the Macrocystis, a sea-weed exceedingly remarkable, on account of its extensive range, being distributed along the American shores of the Pacific from the Arctic to the Antarctic Oceans. This astonishing alga grows to a length of nearly 1,000 feet. Such giants strike the beholder with wonder. Not less calculated than they are to excite our admiration, are the dwarfs and atoms of vegetable life that cluster around them. Few forms of organized beings are more delicately beautiful than many of the smaller sea-weeds, and the study of them with the aid of the microscope is a source of never-failing delight to all who engage in it.

Her Majesty's State Ball. — The Queen gave a State Ball on Wednesday evening, May 12, at Buckingham Palace, which was most numerously attended by the nobility and gentry,nearly two thousand invitations having been issued. The Great Hall was decorated with beautiful flowers. This hall, composed of white marble and supported by marble columns, has two recesses or alcoves at the foot of the grand staircase 4 thesa were filled with the choicest plants springing from a border of mosses and mignionetle, the one group surmounted with a beautiful specimen of the "acacia armata," and the corresponding group with the " azalea indica alba." The Sculpture Gallery, adjoining the Grand Hall, was filled with sofa tables and settees, for the accommodation of the visitors. The grand staircase was brilliantly illuminated ; at the foot were two tripods bearing a mass of globes of light, interspersed with cut crystal, the upper portion of the, staircase being hung with whole length portraits of the Royal family. The ante-room at the top of the staircase, is a most beautiful specimen of internal decoration. The arched ceiling is supported by columns of white marble, with gilded capitals. This room contains Gibson's statues in marble of her Majesty and Prince Albert, in which colour is sparingly introduced in the ornaments and drapery.

The throne-room was appropriated as a second ball room, the orchestra was formed in the deep alcove in which the throne is situate ; it was but slightly raised above the floor, and the front was bung with draperies of crimson velvet, embroidered with gold. The ball room, which has a massive arched roof of great magnificence, being deeply panelled in architectural compartments, profusely enriched with gilding, is supported by columns of crimson seagliola of the Corinthian order, with gilt capitals. The permanent orchestra is a gallery at the north end. The haut pas on which the seats of state were placed for her Majesty and Prince Albert was covered with crimson. The draperies enclosing it were of amber coloured satin and white lace, and at the back, forming a back ground to the seats, was j a brilliant assortment of beautiful flowers, rising to a considerable height above the seats. The draperies were surmounted by a broad and mas- ] sive gold cornice- Adjoining the ball room is the supper-room, having a deep recess at the end, within which a buffet was arranged, on which the most exquisite specimens of jewelled and ornamented gold plate, were displayed with the aid of a back ground of crimson, and numerous lights from golden candelabra. The tables for the supper were arranged round three sides of the apartment. The company began to arrive about nine o'clock, those having the entree alightiug at a temporary entrauce in ( the garden, and the general company 'entering from the principal portico. Soon after ten o'clock the Queen and Prince Albert were conducted by the Lord Chamberlain from the yellow, drawing-room, through the saloon into the ball-room. Her Majesty and his Royal. Highness w«re accompanied by the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary. The Queen wore a diess of white tarletan over white watered silk, trimmed with black and white flowers with diamonds. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a dress of black net over black glace silk, embroidered with black bngles ; the stomacher ornamented with pearls and diamonds, with black lace lappets. The Princess Mary wore a dress of white net over a white glace silk, elegantly trimmed with bugles and white roses, with ornaments of pearls and diamonds on the stomacher. Her Royal Higbness's head dress was composed of white roses', pearls, and diamonds. A quadrille was immediately formed, and the Queen opened the ball with the Duke of Buccleucb, \hevis-d-vis being Prince Albert and her Royal Highness Princess Mary. Refreshments were served during the evening to the numerous assembly in the Green Drawing Room and in the Garter Room, and between twelve and one o'clock supper was served to her Majesty and illustrious guests in the State Drawing Room. This service was entirely of gold plate, and some of the most beautiful specimens of artistic skill in the precious metals were displayed on the long range of tables on which the repast was laid. Single flowers of great beauty and groups of plants in full blossom relieved occasionally the gorgeous magnificence of the golden service, — the whole being brilliantly lit" with gold candelabra. — News of the World, May 16.

Highly Important. — Steam to Australia. — The half yearly msetiag of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company took place to-day, when the reporj was unanimously adopted. .The dividend declared was at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, free of income-tax, but no accounts were presented, these being furnished 1 only at the annual meetings. The points principally alluded to were the contracts made with the Government under the new arrangement, including the commumcatiou once every two months between Singapore and Australia, taking the western route via King George's Sound, Adelaide, and Melbourne, and a proposal for providing a fund for the benefit of seamen, their widows, and orphans. The new vessels which are being constructed to increase the fleet of the Company are, it is stated, progressing favourably, and ttye Bengal is expected to be ready before the close of the present year. The purchase of the new screw vessel Formosa, intended for the Australian line, and the contracts made for two paddle-wheel vessels to be put on the Marseilles and Malta service, are also mentioned. Although the period fixed for the conveyance of Australian mails, will not arrive until January next, the Directors think it advisable to make early arrangements. It ii therefore proposed that the Chusan and Formosa shall perform a few experimental trips between Singapore and Sydney, to allow opportunity for the necessary organization on a route as yet wholly new to steam navigation. The differences .of Abbas Pasha with the Porte having been concluded, the railway will, it is believed, be actively proceeded with, as well as further improvements in the transit through Egypt. — Times, May 29.