ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 852, 1 October 1853, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

An iceberg, estimated at three miles in rircumfereuce, and 300 feet high, was seen by the ship

Angletea, in her recent voyage from Australia, as ; •be rounded Cape Horn. In seven years (1846 to 1852 inclusive) 13,785 male and 5076 female convicts were removed to the Australian colonies. On the 9th April, the shock of an earthquake . was felt in Naples, about 2.40 a.m., and lasted not lest than t«n seconds. The undulating movement was not sufficient to produce any! damage, but much alarm was felt. The Zulu chiefs performed before the royal ; circle on Tnesday. Before the retirement of her ! Majesty, the chief addressed her in his native \ language as follows^ — "Ob, great Queen of the' English ! This day a great honour has been conferred upon the people of Zulu ; the nation great \ in battle, and high above the other nations of our country, have cause to rejoice, inasmuch as a chief of Zulu with his followers have been no - ticed by the great mother of the whiles — a people of whom we have heard much, our kings have jheard, and much has been said of the great English nations which cross the waters. But now the hearts of the Zulus will be gladdened. When Manyoa returns to his country, it will be in joy that we have seen and observed, and surprise has been with us ; all that we have seen and heard verifies all that has been said of the M'Angeis (the English). May the Inkosi kasi (Queen) of auch a nation live long and in happiness. Goope, leaka (we have said, sad are satisfied). Great bas Been our satisfaction in having this day been received by the great mother of the whites. Bi et(your greatness)." The second volume of a very interesting book has just been published at Leipsig— viz., "An Account of the Different Languages of the German People, by Herr yon Firmenech. It contains 491 German dialects. Her yon Firmenich bas collected altogether 563 ; the remaining 72 will appear in the third and fourth ■volumes:; in addition to which, he intends to give dialects from the Friesland islands, besides •words connected with, or directly derived from, ■the German, in the Dutch, Flemish, Swedish, Norwegian, -Danish, and Scotch languages. The Pleasures op Literature. — In the, preface to the cheap edition of the "Life of Bacon," fcord Campbell says : — Several Englishmen owe their distinction as authors to tfceir crosses as politicians. If my ' Lives of the Chancellors' — written 4n 1845, when I was exChancellor of Ireland, without prospect of ever again being in office — gain any celebrity, my bumble name may be added to the class adorned by Clarendon and Bolingbroke. I shall then be highly contented with my lot. I do not undervalue great judicial reputations; but I would; rather have written Hyde's character of Falkland 1 than have pronounced the most celebrated judg-; ments of Hardwicke or Eldon. My success as a biographer makes me cordially rejoice that, for near seven years, I remained without office, profession, pension, or salary." Terms of the Nb\t Australian Mail Contract. — According to the conditions of the new Australian mail contract, the contractor must state at which of the three ports, Melbourne, Sydney, or Adelaide, they propose to sail, and they will be bound accordingly ; but they will be at liberty to touch at either or both of the • other two ports, as may suit their conveuience. Jf the contractors cannot touch at all the three forts, they must provide for the delivery of mails at which they do not touch. . If they land all the mails at Adelaide, a deduction of fourteen days will'bejnade for the time allowed them for the iperformaacevof the whole service, and if they 'land them at Melbourne a deduction of seven ♦ days will be- made. — Daily News. Imperial Honors. — The Emperor Nicholas 'breakfasts on a cup of tea and a rusk ; dines on •little fish, a cutlet or a chop, with a biscuit and a glass of sherry and water. In the evening he takes a cup of tea. He suffers from an internal disease and is obliged to be abstemious. Then, what is the use of being an emperor, after all X With a table loaded with every laxury, with Cellars clocked with the choicest vines, he is •obliged to live as moderately as a <man with an income of a-year. He can make law« for •his subjects as he pleases^ but nature has made a law that is as binding. upon him as upon the serf in bis dominions. He «raay pot to •death those wha disobeyihis laws, but he disobeys -wiib equal peril those under which he lives. A good appetite, and health to make viis gratifica4ion safe, would be. poorly exchanged for imperial •honor*. The best gifts of Go A. are free-to all rhis creatures. The free air of heaven, the pure ■water thatspringsfrom the earth, taste as freshly and as sweetly to the poor man as to the rich. iExercise invigorates him, sleep refreshes him, the beauties of nature delight him v well ; and, in this happy conntry at least, the power 6f intellectual and moral improvement is as great. As .humanity progresses, the difference between an emperor and a common .man shows less and less. The squadron at S pithead is augmenting daily. Since we lost noticed it, .three more sail have been added, making the following powerful force, all •teamers : — Horse

The sqoadiou is victualled and stored, and the coal bulk Orestes was towed to each yesterday, and filled up their stock. This morning ViceAdmiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, X.C.8.. the Commander-iii-Chief, went out and inspected the ••veral ships, and exercised their crews in gunnery, filing at targets afloat. Such a cannonade has not been heard here for some time, and as the artillery department began similar exercise at the new heavy battery of 68- pounders at Blockhouse Fort, at the entrance to the harbour, the detraction sf window-glass was considerable. The Arrogant will be detached from the above squadron for a short time to enable her to ship new boilers. — Times, June 18. The Laving op the Submarine Telegraph between Great Britain and Ireland. — The English and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Comj>sny have successfully completed their submarine line of communication between Great Britain and .Ireland. The cable laid across consists of six gutta-percha covered copper wires for conducting *he magneiic current, insulated in gutta-percha, and protected from outward damage by a spiral

1 iron-wire casing. The scf«w steamer William Hutt, which was used in the submersion of the Belgian cable, was the vessel selected for the Irish one also. The expedition, consisting -of the William Hutt, and two powerful steamtugs, the Conqueror and Wizard, left Donagbadee under the guidance of Captain Hawes, R.N., who bad been specially deputed by the Admiralty for the purpoie of rendering the assistance so needed to obviate the difficulties arising from tbe various currents and strong tides which have militated so much against previous attempts of this kind. The cable was safely landed on tbe morning of the 23rd, at Port Mora, a little to the north of Port Patrick, on the property of Wm. Blair, of Dunskey. Tnie gentleman has kindly accorded permission to the company to lay the six land wires, to toe attached to tbe cable, through his estate, to the Port Patrick-road, where they will be connected with tbe subterranean Hne of she wires, now in rapid progress between the company's station at Carlisle and Port Patrick-. A subterranean line will be immediately laid between the cable end at Donagbadee to tbe terminal station, at Newtownards, of the County Down Railway where the wires will be connected with the English and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company's line of telegraph between that point and Belfast, and theuce along tbe Ulster line of telegraph (already completed), and the Belfast Junction and Dublin and Drogheda Railways, to the Magnetic Company's station on College-green, Dublin. Here the line of telegraph — already in a forward state — from Cork and the southern towns, and that from Galway, which has been completed and in working order for some lime, will concentrate. The lines of the company now completed in Great Britain, between Liverpool, Manchester, Bolton, Blackburn, Bury, and Preston, and between Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Greenock, and those now in a forward state between London and Manchester (consisting of ten wires, insulated in gutta-percha, and protected in troughs of creosoted timber), and that between Preston and Carlisle, will thus complete the communication between the three capitals and chief towns of the United Kingdom. As soon as the cable had been landed, on Monday morning, at Port Patrick, the following message was telegraphed across the channel : — Mora Bay, Port Patrick, Monday, May 23. — The directors of the English and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company beg to acquaint His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, that they have this morning successfully effected communication between the shores of Great Britain and Ireland, by means of a submarine cable from Port Patrick to Donaghadee." — Liverpool Times. A Prussian Princess's Wedding Outfiti — The Landgrave Wilhelm, of Hesse Cassel, is expected in Berlin, to be present at tbe approaching nuptials of his son, Prince Frederic, of Hesse, with Princess Anna, daughter of Prince Charles of Prussia. The trousseau of tbe bride bas been on view at the King's Palace last Saturday and to-day, .(Monday), and ou each day about 2500, mostly female observers, visited it. Of the two large rooms which the trousseau occupied, the first contained the house and body linen, laid out for the most part in 20 dozens and 24 dozens, all marked with Her Royal Higbness's name in (to me) an untelligible letter (12 dozen picket handkerchiefs had the royal arms woven on them:) The linen takes up three sides of the room ; the fourth is occupied by tbe chaussure, consisting of 24 pairs of silk and leather shoes, and 24 dozen pairs of silk stockings. In the second room were gloves, embroidered handkerchiefs, collars, scarfs, bats, bonnets, artificial flowers, &c, in bewildering profusion ; to make all complete, there was a riding habit, twelve cloaks, in silk and velvet.; and besides all these, the ball end court dresses, as well as the wedding-robe, a diadem of brilliants, and too many more things for me to enumerate. According to old practice here, the body of the wedding dress here of white satin was not with the skirt and train, but is kept in the jewel chamber, where it is decorated with the crown jewels, and not brought out to Charlottenburg till the last moment. — Berlin Correspondent of the Times.

Curiosities of Election Briber*. — The earliest recorded instance of bribery at elections is that noticed by Biackstone in his " Commentaries," when, referring to 1571, 13th ot Elizabeth, one Thomas Longe (being a simple man and of small capacity to serve in Parliament) acknowledged he had given the returning officer and others of the borough of Wes;bury £& to be returned member, and was for that premium elected; bat for this offence the borough was amerced, the member was removed, and the officer fined and imprisoned. In one of Queen Anne**s Parliaments, a gentleman of large property, on becoming a candidate for a borough, ordered a small alebouse in the town to be opened in his interest. Boniface, thinking this a very proper time to make bis fortune, when 'forwarding bit bill charged the ale that was drunk at £300. The candidate remonstrated and refused to pay, alleging as a reason it was impossible his bouse could hold 'that quantity, but at the same time, to render him ample justice, proffered to pay for as much beer as the house would told. This was agreed to, and a surveyor employ-ed, but after measuring every corner of the house the surveyor reported its capabilities at not more than £44 10s. In the Sborehara bribery case before the Heuse of Commons, in January, i 771, it appeared the elections were there conducted by persons who called themselves the *• Christian Club," and who -met under the pretence of debating atout; religion, but in reality to settle the business of electing a member for tbeir borough. Every peison belonging to this «lub was sworn to secrecy under a penalty of £500, and whenever '■ a member of Parliament was to be chosen two of the club were deputed to treat with the candidate, and be who bid must was always sure to be brought in ; but immediately on this being intimated on the inquiry, the papers of the club were burnt to prevent further mischief. Walking with the Head Downwards. — Mr. Smith, the lessee of the Drury Lane Theatre, took his benefit on Monduy, and signalized the event by the introduction to the British public of a new sort of acrobat — a Mr. Sands, from America, who executes the surprising feat of walking with his bead downwards. A scaffold is erected on the stage, terminating in the platform on which the inverted pedestrian is to display bis talent, a basket or swinging chair being placed at each end as bis starting point and his goal. When ht has entered those chairs by means of ladders, he puts on his feet a pair of

sandals, or rather platters, and then deliberately lifts them to the platform above him, which is brightly polished. The walk then commences, not on all fours, be it -understood, but fairly with the head downwards, and the whole body at right angles to the upper -surface. The secret of the art -consists in the power of producing an adhesion between the sole of the shoe and the platform, sufficiently strong to keep the artist from being precipitated with his head dowuwards by the force of gravity, yet not strong enough to prevent him from performing the operation of walking. That the feat it dangerous, may be inferred from the fact that a net is suspended to catch him in the event of a fall ; and the long pause which he required in one instance, in order to produce an adhesion, showed that the achievement is difficult, even with a man who, like Mr. Sands, has probably devoted a whole life to the accomplishment of this exploit.

Heroic Conduct of a (jiul. — In the mgnt of the 11th of August last, during a violent thunderstorm, ories of distress were heard under the walls of the ruined chateau of Gaillac (Lot,) then inhibited by three rustic families. The cries were 4( Help, help'! my wife is murdered ; I am • lost man.; it is Albarel that is killing us." Al-, barel was one of the inhabitant of the chateau, and was the terror of the district. The voice of distress was that of another of the inmates, named F&u, who, with hiswife, bad been prevented from coming home till late by the violence of the storm. The third family living in the chateau consisted ' of a man and bis wife named Barthe, and their daughter Victorine, a girl scarcely turned thirteen years oi age. At the sound of the dreaded name of Albarel, who that morning only bad threatened to strike Victotine's mother, Barthe and his wife were struck dumb with terror, but little Yictorine jumped out of bed, rushed to her parent's chamber, and exclaimed, "Oh, father ! lake a gun and go out." Seeing that he hesitated, -she added, "If you will not, 1 will go myself ; it shall never be said that a man was killed at our door for want of help." Stimulated by this appeal, the father went out, but it was too late. Fau was mortally wounded, and his wife dead. Meanwhile Victorine hid herself in the corner of a doorway through which Albarel, supposing him to be the murderer, must pass to gain his lodgings. She presently heard the assassin approach with stealthy step. The slightest movement and her life would have been sacrificed to the fury of a desperate ruffian, armed, and reeking with blood. She remained firm, assured herself of the identity of Albarel, saw him creep into bis chamber, and instantly went in search of the officers of justice. Upon her evidence Albarel was sentenced to bard labor for life. Tbe Emperor on hearing of Victorine's courageous action, sent a watch to the Minister of justice, and wrote with his own band upon the envelope inclosing it, " For Victorine Barthe, to be presented to her in a solemn sitting of the Court of Assizes ;" pursuant to the Emperor's desire, a solemn sitting of the Imperial Court of Cahors was held on February 27th last. Vicioiine was conducted by the usher to the witness seat in the centre of the court, and there, in the presenceof the prefect of the department, a. full bench of judges, the assize jury, and a large assemblage of the gentry of the department, the watch was presented to her by M. Joly, the presiding judge. M. Joly, in course oi a long speech, said that heroism bad in all time been the natural production of the department of the Lot, and enumerated a long list of worthies 'born in the province from the time of the Romans downwards. After the delivery of this speech the prefect presented Victorine with a medal of honor of the first class, and a purse of 150f., on tbe part of the Minister of justice ; and at the conclusion of the ceremony the jury requested that tbe speeches of the President Joly and the prefect might be printed, an>i that each of them might be allowed to have a copy. — French paper.

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. — The twenty-fifth halfyearly meeting of the proprietors was held at the Company's offices, Leadenhall-street ; Sir James Matheson, Bart., M.P., in the chair. After the usual preliminaries, the Secretary read the following report, which was unanimously passed, and a dividend of 8 per cent, for the six months declared. '• T|je Directors are enabled to state that the operation of the company for the six months, ending 31st March last, are satisfactory, and the result would have warranted them in recommending the usual dividend of 4 per cent., but owing to the late unprecedented and extraordinary scarcity of shipping destined for India and China, which the company have hitherto depended upon for the conveyance of coals to their distant stations in the east, and the consequent high prices which have to be paid for freight to those stations, a very large increase in the expenditure of the company has been created. From the commencement of tho year to the present time, the freight of coals to India and China has exceeded oy upwards of 50 pcr -cent., the prices paid during the corresponding period of list yetr ; and although shipping is not quite so scarce as it was, the rates of freight are still unusually high, and there is every prospect of a continuance of those prices for some 'time to come. Taking these circumstances into consideration, and looking to the permanent interest of the company, the directors feel they would not be justified in recommending a higher dividend than 3. per cent, for the half-year. The directors think it Tight to inform the proprietors, that after the great scarcity of shipping for the East bad become but too apparent, they felt it imperative upon them to draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the very critical position of the company as regarded the regular performance of the mail contract, arising out of the causes alluded to ; and suggested that a portion of the mail service under the new and extended contract, which commenced on the Ist of January last, should be suspended for nine or twelve months, with a corresponding reduction of the mail money, in order to afford time for supplying the distant depots of the company with coals from Australia, India, the Eastern Archipelago, and elsewhere. This step was considered necessary, not on account of the high prices paid for coals, but by reason of the actual deficiency of shipping obtainable from this country. The Government, however, declined to comply with the suggestion of the directors, except upon conditions weich were considered by them almost fatal to the interests of the company ; they therefore determined on endeavouring to carry out in all integrity the whole of the contract ; and the directors bo] c, that by a continuance of their exertions in procuring the means of conveyance for coals,

and with well-timed arrangements, the mail service, under the new contract, will be conducted with that regularity which has characterised the first five months of its operation. As a means of meeting the difficulties referred to, as far at lay in their power, particularly at the important stations at Hong-Kong and Singapore, the directors decided at once in purchasing an iron screw-steamer since named the Rajah, of 600 tons and 60 horse power, for the express purpose of carrying coals from Labuan or other places, to the depots alluded to. This vessel is being fitted for tea with all despatch, and will take her departure in the course of a few days. The company's local agents have also been instructed to spare no exertion in endeavouring to engage vessels at their respective stations to proceed to the coal-producing districts ; and the directors have the satisfaction of adding, that by the last overland mail the agent of the company at HongKong intimated that he had every expectation of receiving a considerable'quantity of good steam coals from the island of' Formosa, about 350 miles distant from Hong-Kong. The directors pursuant to the power granted to them to take up money on debenture to the extent of £500,000, as referred to the last annual report, have now to announce that £258,000 have been taken up for three years, and £1-25,000, for five years, making together £383,000, at 3f per cent. A large portion of this amount has been invested, at a moderate rate of interest, until required to pay the instalments on the new vessels in course of construction. It is not contemplated to take up any further sums on debenture at present ; but should it become necessary to raise the remainder to meet these payments, due notice thereof will be given to the proprietors.

The Company's Fi/eet. — The Bengal, 2300 trns and 466 horse power, was despatched to Alexandria, on her first trip under the new mail contract, on the 20tb Feb. last ; and being the first of a large class of screw-ships building by the company, her performance was looked upon with more than ordinary interest by the directors, they are gratified in being able to report the result has "far exceeded the expectations they had entertained. Since the last annual report thefol* lowing vessels have been launched, viz : —The Cadiz, screw, 850 tons, and 220 horse power, now ready for sea. The Valetta, paddle-wheel, 900 tone, and 400 hoifce power, will be ready for sea in June. The Vectis, paddle-wheel, 900 tons and 400 horse power, will be ready for sea in July. The Douro, screw, 850 tons, and 220 horse power, will be ready for sea in July. The Himalaya t screw, 3600 tons md 700 horse power will be ready for sea in September. Store Ships. — The commanders of the Singapore and Australian line having reported the absolute necessity of a coal hulk at King George's Sound, and another at Adelaide, the directors lost no time in purchasing two suitable vessels, viz., the Larkins and the > Oresies. The former was despatched on the 24th March, and the latter, also on her way out, has been contracted for to be d livered at Adelaide, by her late owners. Bi-monthly Mail Service to Australia. — The first mail for Australia, under the new contract, left Southampton on the 4th Mircb last and would stari from Singapore about the 16ih April. The steamer with the first return mail would probably leave Sydney about the 50th May, and letters by her may be consequently expected here about the 4th August next. Th« experimental trips on this line previous to the commencement ot the mail contract, of which the proprietors were informed at the last meeting, have been attended wiih much expense, but have resulted in the delivery in London of letters from Melbourne in siziy-two days, which the directors consider satisfactorily establishes the superiority of the overland route as a means of postal communication with the Australian colonies. i-v rriL_ j: . ___ „._.._._._ J

Dividend. — The directors now recommend that a dividend of 3 per -cent, clear of income lax, for the 'half year ending 31st March, be declared and be payable on and after the 23rd June.

Transit through Egypt. — The directors have erery reason to believe that the railway from Alexandria to Cairo will be completed for the conveyance of passengers in the course of the next six months ; and they confidently hope that by that time the inconvenieoceof the most imperfect part of the transit — namely, the Mahmoudieb Canel and Nile will be entirely avoided. The road across the desert has been latterly much improved, and the transit administration are adopting measures for supplying a superior description of carriage than that at present in use, so that, in the course of a short lime, this portion of the ] overland journey will be rendered much more comfortable. The hotel arrangements at Cairo and Suez having been repeatedly foand to be deficient, the directors are vow preparing to make such representations to the Egyptian Goyernment as, it is hoped, will lead to an effectual removal of the evils complained of, and to a prorision of such extended accommodation as the more frequent and increasing transit of passengers requires. The directors trust the period is uot far distant when they may be enabled to report the intention of the Egyptian G vernment to extend the railway from Cairo to Suez ; and as they have engaged to submit to a reduction of £20,300 per annum of the mail money, payable under the new ] contract, on the completion of a railway throughout from Alexandria to Suez, they have reason , to hope that the British Government will look upon the execution of such a work as a matter ot public interest.

N«me. Commander. Gun*, power. Duke of Wellington Capt. Martin, C.B. 131 780 Max. '.... Capt. Qnin 60 450 ' Blenheim Capt.Hender*on r C.B. 60 450 Edinburgh CapL Hewlett 58 450 <lj Hague Capt. Ramsay 58 450 Arrogant ... CaptPreemantle 46 560 £Mon , Capt. Goldimith 22 560 Odin Capt. F.Scott 16 560 Encounter Ctpt. O'Callagao 14 360