ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 846, 10 September 1853, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

A- new play, called " The White Slave of England," has been performed in New York, at the Broadway Theatre. The details of the plot are ludicrously ioaccurate. Grind, taskma&ter of Lord Overland's while slaves, is represented as kicking coal-miners with topboots, and goading them with a cudgel tipped with tenpenny nails. Women are represented carrying baskets of coals, as they did formerly. Then there is a white slave market, and a woman with a baiter round her neck is sold for twenty shillings. The whole ends with a scene to show the comparative happiness of the Blacks ia the southern States of the American Union.

Death 03? Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert, Bart. — The announcement of the death of Lieutenant General Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert, Bart., G.C.8., and member of the Council of India, will be received by the entire body of the Indian array, and by the portion of her Majesty's forces which served recently in the East, with deep sorrow. This sentiment will be largely shared by Sir Walter Gilbert's late comraaoders, Lords Hardinge and Gouglu The Dublin Exhibition. — Dublin, f hurtday Evening. — The Great Exhibition was opened to-day by the Lord Lieutenant, and everything concerned with the interesting ceremony was conducted to the utmost satisfaction. There were present at least 15,000 persons* amongst whom were many of our nobility and leading gentry. New Theological College in the Diocese of Oxford., — On the afternoon of the 7th inst., the Bishop of Oxford, assisted by a large body of the clergy from all parts of his diocese, laid the chief corner stone of a new Theological College at Cudde?den, within eight miles of the city of Oxford, tud in close proximity to the episcopal seat.

" Uncle Tom" at Naples. — A letter from Naples says :-— " There is as much furore her© as elsewhere about the work. There have been nine different translations from the French. It is dramatised at two different theatres. It was acted last night for the first time at tbe Fioreotini Theatre, and every place haJ been taken. The performance began at a quarter to vine, at which time I saw one of the royal carriages driving to the theatre. Mrs. Stowe's portrait is io the windows at 4d. At the Feme it is acted to-night for the sixth time. Ou Tuesday night I was more entertained and less offended than I had expected. Mra. Stove would have been surprised if not amused, with the changes in tbe story. George's wife is made, as in the Paris plays at the Gaite, to be the daughter of Uncle Ts.n, that he may display his love of ttuih in refusing to disown her even to save be* from her oppressors. Instead of the mother and child escaping by aid of the Birds, they are caught in Mr. Bird's house. St.Cldir, instead of being killed, becomes bankrupt, and his slaves, for whom lie had prepared a deed of emancipation, are sold by ordep of justice. George appears at the sale, purcliises his wife, proves his own freedom, and

claims the slave dealer himself as a fugitive slave. He then threatens his life with a pistol, that the good Tom may throw himself before his tyrant ; and with an acknowtedgmenf of the giuslizia di Dio, the curtain falls amidst loud applause. Tom carries always a book, which is never named, but it is alluded to as ' the Book !' and ' what a Book !' and *4he Book of Books !" The Madonna is only once alluded to, and that not in an ungraceful way, by Eliza, vrho, telling of her crossing the Ohio, says, that she ' who was once also a mother helped her.' "

A Novel Salvage Case. — The notorious Pedro Foctrd, whose name bat been associated with baracoons and factories upon the coast for the last twenty years, was the subject of conversation last week. He had taken a slave to crocs from Havana to " Casa Blanco," the " whipping post" of our city, for punishment with the laih. The negro was heavily ironed,but,under the terror of the torments prepared for him, he watched bis opportunity, and when about half way across the bay, threw himself into the water, when, being weighted with chains, he sank immediately. A boatman, -under a generous influence, sprang after him, and brought him to the surface, so that he was rescued from death, but not Bared from the cruelty of his master. Focard offered the boatman who had hazarded his life to cave that of s fellow creature, one dollar, to which the more noble sailor replied "that he had not saved life for a dollar." Tfas anecdote having transpired and reached the ears of an akade, at his suggestion a lawyer of the city was induced to bunt up the sailor and make a case cf salvage, in order to compensate the poor man for bis proper conduct and to punish the master for his selfishness. The suit was instituted, salvage awarded by the alcade at 600 dollars, which, on notice from the law officers of the 11th iostaut, Mr. Focard paid to the magistrate for the sailor and the coot of the pro-ceedings.-—Dai/w News.

Free Trade in Masses. — The Spectator vouches for the troth of the following story :— A Roman Catholic received from a relative the bequest of a considerable fortune, with the direction that a certain large number of masses should be said for bis soul. Tbe importance of the order induced the legatee to see whether he could not make a bargain with the priests, on the ground that he wa» taking a Quantity ; but they would not abate their price. He then consulted some Roman Catholic authority to know whether a mass said in one country would equally avail in any other. They replied, that the geographical incidence of the ceremony would not interfere with its efficacy. On thi3 authority, he employed a friend abroad to negotiate for him with the priests in- Portugal, and he found he could get the masses done in that country at hdf the Irish price. -Thus, equal benefit was secured for the consumer-and for a staple industry to Portugal ; and the value of the commodity was put to the tangible test of frea-trade.

Ikon Buildings. — In the Colonial Church Chronicle for May is an article containing some particulars about iron churches and parsonages which are interesting. The Bishop of Melbourne applied to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge to send him two iron churches, to be hereafter paid for. " The application of the Bishop to the Society, (says the Chronicle) has met with a faTourable consideration, and they have shown an inclination to send out one or two churches and parsonage houses by way of experiment. At their suggestion, some of the Bishop's friend 3 in this country have been actively employed in making investigations and obtaining information on the subject. Application has been made to Mr. Hemming of Bristol, who has for some time been extensively engaged in constructing iron buildings for exportation, and who is now about to send out to the gold fields an iron lodginghouse, capable of accommodating 57 single men. Mr. Hemming hai prepared plans and estimates, from which it appears that an iron church, with all the fittings complete, will cost £1000 to contaki 600 persons, £1250 for 800, and £1500 for 1000 persons, which last size he does not advise should be exceeded, and that a parsonage house of six rooms, with flooring and stove, will cost 200 guineas. These prices include the expense of packing and conveying on board ship. The buildings are a framework of wood, having the exterior surface of the sides covered with plates of galvanized iron, and the interior with tbin boards, with an interval between the two surfaces of about four inches, to be filled up with some non-conducting substance, such as wool, straw, sawdust, or sunburnt bricks, which the sun's hea, cannot penetrate. The boards are covered with canvas, and that again with paper of a neat pattern. The roof is constructed on the same principle. The church is of a pleasing appearance outside, with a small belfry tower in front ; it has a nave and two aisles ; the roof of the former being higher by sone feet than that of the latter The pulpit, divisions of the pews, and other fittiigs are of light open iron work. The honst consists of six rooms on the ground floor. It has a pretty villa-like appearance, with a deep verandah and Venetian blinds to exclude the heat. In the Illustrated News there is a cut of a church to cost £1100, which has a nave, aisles, and bell tower ; and although tbe small cottage looking windows detract from its ecclesiastical appearance, it is evident that if churches of this deicription answer, their style will soon be improved.

• The Income-Tax. — The new bill on the In-come-tax was yesterday published, containing 46 clauses, several of which have reference to Ireland. The new law is to date from the sth of Aprir last ; and, according to its phraseology, is to continue to the 6ib of April, 1800, " and no longer." The new duties to be imposed are as follows : — During the term of two years, from the«sth of April, 1853, yearly duty of 7d. in the pound; and during the further term of two yean, from the sth of April, 1855, the yearly sum of 6d. ; and during the farther term of three years, from the sth of April, 1857, the yearly sum of sd. On land and tenements, &c. for the, first two years, in England, the dutyjis to be 3^d. in the pound, and in Scotland and Ireland 2§d. ; for the second two years, 3d. in the pound for England, and 3£d. in Scotland and Ireland ; and for the last three years, 2gd. on property in England, and if d. on property in Scotland and Ireland. There are several schedules in the bill, and provisions to carry it into force, with respect to the duties in Ireland. Farther, it is stated that houses let in several tenements are to charged on the landlord. To exempt persons from the operation of the mea-

sure, tbeir incomes must be under £100 ; and, if under £150, they are entitled to an abatement. Persons who have made insurance, or contracted for a deferred annuity on the lives of themselves or wives, are to be allowed an abatement of duty in respect to the annual premiums made. — Times,

May 17. Emigration from Liverpool. — Accounts < from Liverpool to the 7th May state there are no less than 51 vessels of all classes, amounting to over 31,030 tons, now laid on for Australia. These ships are filling fast with passengers, and thje-Tnajority will sail before the end of the month. 'The passengers chiefly are from Ireland, and are o| tbjs respectable class called " gentlemen farmers " and shopkeepers, who have fold their properties, and now go out to seek abome in a distant part of the world. It is calculated that each ship, on an avenge, trill have over 200 passengers.

Ths Rocket Seijsure. — Further questions have been put to Lord Palmercton, ia the House of Commons, respecting the prosecution of Mr. Hale ; the extent, if any, of KosGttth's complicity ; and the use of the police as spies. The questioners were Mr, Thomas Dcncombe, Mr. Bright, and Mr. Cobden.— Lord Palmeroton stated, that it was both the interest and the duty of Government to continue the prosecution against Mr. Hale; but that the evidence ie possession of Government did not justify any proceedings against say other person, British, or Foreign. Government did not wish to press with harshness oa Mr. Hale. With respect to the employment of the police, Lord Palmerston repeated what he said la6t week, that it is one of the duties of the police to watch all persons they thought engaged in illegal proceedings. In the opening of his speech, referring to some qaotations iroca foreign journals which stated that the police of foreign countries were efficiently assistsd by the British police from time to time, he said that if Mr. Duncombc had read as many extracts from foreign papers as he had, he would find the weight of the accusation very different in kind. " I was told the other day, that in the searcheo recently made in Italy, there was a set of daggers found of English manufacture, end that the authorities were indignant and incensed at the detestable and diabolical conduct of the man who had been Minister for Foreign Affairs in Eugland, for on these very daggers his name was inscribed. They said, ' There it is plain enough — Palmer and Sou. Oh, the execrable revolutionist! to send destructive weapons inscribed with his own name into Italy/" (Great laughter,) — Lord John Russell finished the protracted conversation by repeating Lord Palmerston's statement of the law of England ; and poiuting out that there are two opinions respecting M. Kossuth — one that he is a patriot, the other that he acts from selfish motives. Lord John thought that when M. Kossuth allowed his name to be used to excite revolt at Milan, and put forward statements of h;3 determination to make war on Austria, it was not to be wondered at that he was suspected. — Sir Joshua Walmsley, not satisfied with the replies respecting the employment of the police to watch Kossutb, said he should move for & committee of enquiry. — Spectator. May 7.

A Pehn7 *or Ukclb Tor.:. — The Glasgow Christian News says: — "A niece of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Guthrie, of Edinburgh was collecting in Brechin last week for the " Uncle Tom Penny Offering," and, in going to an old woman, she said, " Well, Clemie, I am collecting for Uncle Tom, and its just a penny." The ancient dame had never heard of Mrs. Beccher Stowe's famous hero: so she held up her bands in amazement, exclaiming, "Preserve's, fat in a' the earth's come owre yer Uncle Tarn, that ye're needin' a penny till 'im." An Equivocal Compliment. — An eminent advocate io Columbia, U.S. named Williams, bad lately been listening to an antagonist who was a remarkably dull speaker. On rising to reply, Mr. Williams said, " Gentlemen of the jury, if I did not feel strong in the justice of my cause, I should fear the effect upon you of the eloquent harangue to which you have just listen© J. 1 admire that speech, gentlemen of the jury. I always admired it. I admired that speech when I was a boy." The equivocal compliment was not lost upon the jury.

The Ancient Supplies op the Precious Metals. — The Massageta were a rode nation of the same kind as the Tartars. The description which Herodotus gives is like all his descriptions of nations, unrivalled, and enables us s ill to recognise the people very accurately. His statement that copper and gold were common among them, and that iron and silver were unknown to them, has formerly been censured ; but is quite correct, and is confirmed by the nature of their country. Iron ia so rare in those countries that, as Menander relates, the nations on the Oxus with some affectation showed iron to the Roman ambassadors In order to convince them that they were not altogether without it. The statements of Herodotus are laughed at by men who have indeed some knowledge, bat are devoid of judgment. Such a man is Schloezer, who, notwithstanding his want of taste, might have acquired great merit as an historian had he not at a later period of his life, been careless, and by an unfortunate polypragmaty in which be bad become involved, given up all exertion. He ridicules Herodotus for bis distinct assertion that the north was so rich in gold ; but at present the attention of all Europe is directed to the goldmines in the Ural mountains ; and we see that Herodotus was perfectly right, and that the Norwegian authors who speak of the abundance of gold among the Persians, and who are likewise despised by Schloezer, were no less right than Herodotus, Those mines have ceased to be worked, or have been forgotten, only in conse- : quence of the barbarous character of the Mon- i gols. The gold of the aucient world came partly < from these countries, chiefly from the Ural, and I partly from Lydia, Thrace, and Macedonia ; • some also came from the mines of Gaul, some ! was found on the frontiers of Egypt and Nubia, < some in Arabia, and a little was brought by way ' of Carthage from the interior of Africa. The < gold which was obtained from these sources in ancient times was so abundant, that it was much i less preciois ; and its value, as compared with i that of silver, was much smaller than at present. 1 The gold stater of Athens, which was worth 20 < drachms in antiquity, is at present valued at 32 ] silver drachms. The silver mines o' the ancients I were in Spain, Africa, Transylvania, and Dacia; < some gold was already derived from Upper Hun- i gary, which Herodo'us calls the country of the j

Agathyrsi. There were some silver-mines also in Armenia. It is properly the province of ancient geography to furnish such surveys as I have here given, and to point out the sources of the products of which we hear in history. Such particulars would form the elements of a perspicuous history of Commerce. — Niebuhr's Letters on Ancient History.

A Trick of thb French Police.— The trials of the "foreign correspondence of the Press " have been held with closed doors. The public prosecution has pressed the case of M. Planhol, Paris correspondent of the Observatevr Beige, with more severity than against any of (be rest. The means adopted by the French police to secure the conviction of M. Plonbol is disgraceful in the extreme. It appears that his letters were regularly opened at the Post Office. One being found couched in itrong language, admirably adapted to furnish materials for c prosecution, M. da Maupas detained it. Such • measure, although repugnant to modern civilization, and justifiable, if at all, only upon the plea of urgent necessity, is perhaps not unparalleled, but what follows will excite astonishment even ao the work of the police minister of the coup d'etat. The police made a copy of the letter seized, and forwarded the copy to its destination, but as it occurred to them that the Observatstsr Beige might, perhaps, not insert a letter in an unknown handwriting, they added a postscript to the eifeci, that M. Planhol, having sprcinsd his right wrist, had asked a friend to write the letter 'for him. This stratagem succeeded admirably. The letter was published, and the public prosecutor, apparently unconscious of his shame, triumphantly held up in court, the original letter, obtained by violating the sanctity of the poot-office, pinned to the Observatrir Bslgc, ia which its insertion was insured by a forgery. M. Dufaure, M. Planhol's counsel, denounced those proceedings in vehement language, and did not hesitate to say that the police-officer, however high his standing who had outraged the law of France, as well es the laws of civilised society, ought to stand as a prisoner at the bar to answer the offence. M. Gonidec, however, with all the authority belonging to a Judge of Correctional Police, told M. Dufaure that they, being adopted for State reasons-, were perfectly justifiable. All the prisoners conducted themselves with firmness and independence. The Duke of Rovigo deaied the authorship of some ribald verses imputed to him concerning the Empress, saying that it was not his habit to insult a woman, but, be did not deny having in private conversation, which it seems was caught up by a spy, called the Emperor " Grosbec" and "Boastrapa." This latter appelntion, by the way, is simply a compound of the first syllables of the great battles iv which Napoleon 111. has gained his military renown, namely, Boulogne, Strasbourg, and PazU.

The Ne\t Saxoh Invasion op Ireland. — The Galwcy Packet contains a remarkable article in reference to what :t calls " the conquest complete" of Ireland by the Sason :—": — " Tbe Saxoa ia Ireland may no longer be regarded as a sentimental tourist sitting; on the boz-seat of a mail-coach, with a sketchbook ia hand, delineating the physical appearance of tbe country, and caricatuking the * wild Hirish.' He is now a veritable settler, snugly located in every romantic spot along our western coast. The fertile farms hat have lain waste for the last few years, from which extermination drove the oppressed native, aid the houses wherein famine seized its victims, are being fast occupied by English and Scotch settlers. Whether they will, like the brave old Anglo-Normans, become more Irish than the Irish themselves, and resist tbe oppressions that drove forth their predecessors into death or exile, remains to be seen : but that some of tbe fairest portions ef Ireland will shortly be in the actual occupation or under the control of the Sasoa is a fact that can no longer be questioned. Every da? English Speculators in Irish farming may be seen on their way westward in search of suitable homesteads. The facilities afforded by the operation of the Encumbered Estates Court for obtaining purchases in fee have induced English capitalists to look out among us for profitable investments, since Ireland has been trauquillised by the expatriation and destruction of the Celt,"