MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 785, 9 February 1853, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Electric Clock. — The illuminated electric clock, erected at the crossing of the Strand, opposite Hungerford Market, has become an object of general interest and curiosity. It is moved by a voltaic current from a good regulator in the office of the Electric Telegraph Company close at hand, and moved simultaneously with the fall of a ball which has been erected on the roof of their premises, and which communicates with the Observatory. Clarke, of the Electric Telegraph Company, gives the following interesting account of the ball :— "The ball at the Strand is liberated djrectly by a current sent fron Greenwich through this wire. The ball, six feet in diameter, is made of zinc, and, with its attached piston, weighs about 2| cwt. When fully

raised it is 129 feet above the level of the Thames, and it falls through a space of 16 feet. The rod which supports it passes down the centre of the column, and carries at its base a cast iron air cylinder 10 inches in diameter, the escape of the air being regulated so as to check at pleasure the momentum of the ball, and prevent any concussion from its weight. The raising of the ball half-mast high takes place daily at 10 minutes to 1 ; at five minutes to 1 it is raised to its full height and at 1 precisely, and simultaneously with the fall of the ball at Greenwich, it is liberated by the current sent from the Observatory. The true moment of 1 o'clock is therefore indicated by the first appearance of the line of light between the dark cross over the ball and the body of the ball itself. Should anything interfere with the 'operation, the ball will be lowered half-mast high, where it will remain until five minutes to 2, and will be liberated at 2 precisely, by a second current from Greenwich, or will be slowly lowered to the base of the pole. We understand that it is in contemplation to erect a magnetic telegraph — like that at Charing Cross — on a prominent print of the South Foreland, to be connected with the Greenwich' Observatory. A time-ball on the South Foreland, falling as-many feet as the one in London, could be seen by all vessels, in good /weather, within ten miles, including the Downs, with Deal, Dover, and Folkestone.

Strange Tastes in Animals. — It is singular to find, that while in animals each peculiar species has its distinguishing characteristic, as speed in tbe greyhound, courage in the bulldog, intelligence,in the shepherd's colley, and acuteness in tbe Highland terrier — that there are now and again strange aberrations met with in their tastes, and such as are totally opposed also to natural habits and dispositions. I bad a French poodle who would drink grog until be got drunk, Lut in latter days be became reformed, for a stupid scoundrel gave Philip a glass of undiluted wiskey, scalded his mouth, and from that moment he turned a teetotaller. In 1799, at the Angel lon at Felton, tbe landlord bad domesticated a hedgehog so completely, that he came if he was called "Tom," and made a most excellent turnspit. Forty years ago, when Mr. Allgood bunted the Tindal country, a guinea-ben, who had lost her partner, took to fox bunting to kill grief. She regularly went a-field with the pack, kept a respectable place throughout the day, and was always in at the finish. It was believed that a conjugal bereavement influenced this sporting bird. — Maxwell's HUUside-and Border Sketches.

Madame Laffarge. — The notoriety acquired by Madame Laffarge, whose trial for poisoniog her husband created so extraordinary a sensation some years ago, impart* a sort of morbid newspaper interest to ber death, which bat occurred *at a place called Ussat. She had repaired to the baths of this place for the recovery of ber health, which bad been shattered by confinement, and by her own obstinacy in the mode of life she had adopted. At first it was thought that she was regaining her strength, but this proved to be a mistake. The terrible expiation of twelve years of imprisonment, and the recent death of a French colonel, who had taken her under his protection, had wrought so fearfully on her frame that the vital powers sank at last. She died on the 7th instant, after a short agony. Upon her history and the warning close of it, the Presse contains (be following statement : — " Up to the last hour of her existence, Madame Laffarge protested her innocence. There are letters from ber which are remarkable in the highest degree for depth of sentiment and ability of style. Her death has plunged ber uncle, M. Collard, the director of the lunatic asylum at Mont'pellier, an eminently worthy man, into an affliction difficult to describe. The eyes of Madame Laffarge were closed by ber cousin, Madlle. Collard, who for ten years never quitted her in her captivity. The death of Madame Laffarge was caused by a pulmonary complaint. She was in her thirty seventh year. 'Shortly before ber death sbe expressed a wish to be buried at Tarascon by the aide of Colonel Aodoury, a friend of her father, and who until bis death, about two months since, had shown her all the affection of a parent. Her wish has been complied with. A Bordeaux journal publishes the following further details relative to Madame Laffarge : — " Madame Laffarge had been sent to the baths of Ussat by the physicians of Montpellier. For a long time past her health had been completely lost, and when her prison -doors were opened to her she was a perfect jkeleton. The baths and lie air of the mountains appeared, however, to revive her exhausted strength ; and the favourable change which took place aftei herarrivalatUssatinspired hopes that her life migbl be preserved. Tbis idea was strengthened from the assiduous care and attention which she received from Madlle. Collard, who has shared bei captivity with her, and whose devotedness had amounted to perfect martyrdom. Providence, iowiver, decided otherwise. It was at the moment when the health of Madame Laffarge appeared to be improving, that death struck her in an almost sudden maoner. Two days before hei death she took a walk in tbe park and attended divine service in the church. As soon as bei symptoms became more violent, sbe sent for M, Bonnel, the curt; of Ornolac, ~ who hastened to the bedside of the sufferer to give her religious consolation. After having made full confession, she received the sacraments of tbe church with the most fervent piety ; those who were with hei were deeply affected. Some hours before hei death, the cur£ having requested the persons present to unite their prayers to his for her recovery, the said, ' No, Monsieur le Cure, I do not detire it ; I have suffered enough on earth, Ino longer hope for any thing but to be united to God.' To all the questions usually put by the priests to dying persons she replied with tbe greatest serenity. 'Do you pardon your enemies? 1 asked the ptiest. 'They have killed me,'replied Madame Laffarge, ' but I freely pardon them, and wish them 83 much good as they have done me evil.' She then expired. Up to tbe last moment sbe retained the most perfect lucidicy of mind and admirable firmness. The mortal remains of Madame Laffarge will be deposited io the cemetery of the little village of Ornolac, situated in the midst of tbe mountains of Allege." Madame Laffarge appears to have been a woman pos eased of some talent and accomplishments, which, if rightly directed, might have led to a happier destiny. During the period of her confinement she wrote two or three volumes of " Memoirs of ber Life ;" aid* bat left a work in MS.

behind called " Ten Years' Captivity." Alex- , ander Dumas, in one of the recent volumes of bis autobiography, alludes to her as having knowD her in her youth as Marie Capelle.

The " Staff" that helps the " Times" along. — The present management of tbe Times — and in all that follows we speak wholly from hearsay, so let "it be laid," be constantly interpolated — is vested in " yoong Delane," son of tbat " old Delane," who left tbe Times years ago, under tbe auspices of Gladstone and Company, to set the Chronicle on its legs again, it having fallen upon its (ace, in spite of its support of the New Poor Law. What is the precise fuDdion of Mr. Mowbray Morris, a gentlemanly man of dignified demeanour, who passes in politico-social circles as the editor of tbe Times, who silenced the badgering Cobden, when examined l>e!ore die Newspaper Stamp Committee, who came erst from the West Indian Isles afar, who has eaten his terms in the Temple, and wiitten letters to the great journal that now he '13 said to rdit — by what name shall he be rightly called ? Who can tell?,Tyas, chief of tbe reporters, a cheery old gentleman of seventy, great in Greek, woodenspoon at Cambridge, slayer of Lord Brougham's 11 Demosthenes," editor of the Evening Mail — Tyas (they say) has seen election scenes in his day, bas known what it is to fall suddenly sick, and walk, like Waggett or Achilles, silant by tbe shore of the roany-sounding sea. Let not Mac* donald, the North Briton principal ' outsider,' who reports all dinners and executions, ia whose numbers tbe Crystal Palace lives one day more, who has received a precious autograph of thanks from tbe Prince Consort himself — let not Macdonald go without bis fame ; or Dr. Richtrdson, the roan-of-all-work ; or Mr. Thornton, writer of the Summary — -forlisque Gyas fortisquc Chanthus / Shades of Paul and Virginia ! watch tenderly over young Bailey, in yonder sunny isle. Why did he leave us ? — he whose sonorous sentence was like tbe trumpet's blast, the clear music of Virgil ever deftly interposed the while ; Ferozeshah and Guzerat were fought again in his leader, — but laudari a laudato viro was too much lot Earl Grey, and young Bailey is now secretary at the Mauritius. Meagher, Paris correspondent, was once paymaster of tbe Spanish Legion, and now is paid instead of paying. Better is 'own correspondent' at Berlin, O'Fillmore, than many translations of ' Faust.' Not to the pleasant Mauritius, had Grey bis will, but to some dreary spot of torture wouldst thou be sent, O Bob Lowe, whose hair is white as tbe Australian fleece thou loudly dost demand shall be preserved ; once thou didst plead causes in Australia, now thou pleadest tbe Australian cause in England ; than tbee no sincerer writer has tbe leading journal. Why did not Oxford let thee profess to it political econo:ny ! Great is the voice of Ward on sanitary matters. When he speaks in anger, the sewers urge their liquid filth more swiftly to the Thames, tbe Board of Health tarns unwell, when he writes in the Quarterly Review. When Oxen ford enters his private box — he tbat wrote " A Day Well Spent,' who expounded Daate and Rousseau, Rabelais and Plato, io the Foreign Re* view, the translator of many things from tbe German — then the, manager trembles. Were there but two people in the pit, Thalia and Melpomene would exert themselves ; for be writes the notices in tbe Times. The critic of critics, of pure Caucasian blood, Samuel Phillips, found favour in the eyes of the Duke of Sussex, bad not semiCatholicism infected him in Germany. Dickens, Tennyson, Carlyle have beard, unresponsive, their doom pronounced by him ; but he had better have left Thackeray alone. Palmerston has fallen ; worse tbau tbe possible broadsides of tbe British fleet at Athens was the bombardment of Palmerston by tbe Times. Who was the en-giueer-in-chief i Henry Reeve, the translator of De Toqufcville, clerk to the Privy Council. Did Lord Lansdowne once reprove him for anonymous batter of a Majesty's Minister? A greater is still to come. Barnes is gone, and the captain ; young Bailey plies his quill at the Mauritius. Who alone is worthy to be named their successor— that had once a cure of' fifty village souls, and numbers now his audience by tbe hundred thousand, who rules in tbe Christian Remembrancer, who does not, like tbe old Jove, spare his bojt» lest he should have hone left — whose blended •mile^aiid frown dark- gladden tbe world of clubs — whose thunder is mixed with laughter f It is the Rev. Thomas Mozley, of Guilford-street, I near the Foundling Hospital.