ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 909, 19 April 1854, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Gentlemen Executed for Murder of a Slave. — Some titne between 1800 and 1805, Lord Seaforth being Governor of Barbadoes, a slaveowner having killed one of his own slaves, was tried for the murder, and acquitted, the law considering that such an act was not murder. Thereupon Lord Seaforth came to England, obtained an Act of Parliament declaring the killing of a slave to be murder, and returned to Barbadoes to resume his official duties. Soon afterwards another slave was killed by his owner, who was tiied, convicted, and sentenced to he hanged for murder umler the new act of Parliament. At the time appointed the prisoner was brought out for execution, but so strong was public feeling, that the ordinary executioner was n it forthcoming ; and on the governor requiring the sheriff to perform his office, either in person or by deputy, after some excuses, he absolutely refused. The governor then addressed the guard of soldiers, desiring a volunteer for executioner, adding " whoever would volunteer should be subsequently protected, as well as rewarded then." One presented himself, and it ihenceforth became as dangerous to kill a slave as a freeman in Barbadoes. — Notes and queries.

Substitute for Gutta Percha. — Dr. Riildell, officiating superintending surgeon of the Nizam's army, in making experiments on the Muddar plant of India (Asclepia gigantea), had o casion to collect the milky juice, and found that as it gradually dried it became tough and hard, like gutta percba. He was induced to treat the juice in the same manner as that of the gutta percha tree, and the result has been the obtaining a substance precisely analogous to gutta percha. Sulphuric acid chars it, nitric acid converts it into a yellow resinous substance. Muriatic acid has but little effect upon it ; acetic acid has no effect, nor has alcohol. Spirit of turpentine dissolves it into a viscid glue, which when taken between the finger and thumb, pressed together, and then separated, shows numberless minute and separated threads. The foregoing chemical tests correspond exactly with the established resul's of truita parcha. It becomes plistic in hot water, and has been moulded into cups and vessels.

It will unite with the true gutta percha. The tuuddar also produces an excellent fibre, useful in the place ol hemp and fld\. An acre of cultivaiion of it would produce a large quaotiiy of boih fibre and juice. The poorest land suffices for its growth, and no doubt if well cultivated there would be a lar^e yield of juice, and a finer fibre. A neatly similar substance is procurable from the juice of the Euphorbia Tirucalli, only when it hardens after boiling it becomes brittle. The subject is most important ; and if common hedge plauts like the foregoing can yield a product so valuable, the demand for which is so certain quickly to outrun supply, a material addition will have beeu made to ihe productive resources of the country.— Journal of the Society of Arts.

A Norwegian Marriage. — " The interior of the church is painted white, with some gilding here and there. Immediately under the pulpit, which is entered from behind by a staircase out of the church in a sort of vestry room, is the altar, round which a double railing runs ; one close to it as in our churches, the other reaching out a long way into the church, enclosing a considerable space. Within this space the public were not admitted, but the whole bridal party sat there round by the outer railing. During ihe ceremony two immenst candlts were kept burning on the altar, which was covered with a white linen cloth, which was brought over that part of the inner rais opposite to the alar, down ibe s eps, and about half way out into the open > spa> c included by the outer rails; on this cloth, where it hung over the rails, garlands of fresh flowers were fastened, and ou thai part of ii which was on the floor of the church, little bouquets tastefully arranged in patterns were plentifully strewn. It was on this spot that the bride and bridegroom had to stand during the greater part of the ceremony. When the time was com-, the minister preceded tha party from the vestry into the space before the altar, he was dressed in the old white starched ruff which one sees in portraits of difines of Queen Elizabeth's time, and wore along black gown, without sleeves, meeting in front, and enveloping the whole figure. After all the bridal party had taken their seats, the ceremony began by the singing of a hymn by the choir. Tne organ was playing, an i the choir singing as at an ordinary service ; the priest then knelt down for a short time before the altar, wuh his hand resting upon it, and and his back turned to the congregation as in Roman Catholic churches. When he rose, the I bride and bridegroom also rose, and coming forward stood upon the flower. strewn white linen cloth, while the minister developed a long extempore exhortation to them. He was remarkably fluent, and most impressive in manner ; but it must be a most awful part of the ceremony for the poor young couple, who have to stand there — all the rest of the party sitting round in a circle — for a mortal half hour, the observed of aJI observers. Towards the close of his exhortation, the old pries', ceasing to address the young people, turned solemnly round to where the elders of the party were sitting, and addressed them in such affecting terms as drew tears not only from the bride and young and old ladies present, but also from a tender-hearted little German tradesman of the place, who stood next to us and wept copiously. I heard afterwards that the marriage exhortation is always considered to demand a careful display of oratory on the part of the pastors, who, unless they can draw tears consider it a failure. After the exhortation the minister, taKing a book, asked questious of the bride and groom, to which they bowed the head in answer : the bride then pulling off her right-hand glove, and taking tbe baird of the bridegroom in hers, they knelt down, and the old pastor, laying his hand on theirs thus clasped, pronounced them man aud wile, and then placing his hands alter* nately on each of their heads, prayed for them and pronounced blessings on both of them. The , couple then returned to their seats, aud, after the intoning of some prayers by the priest, and the singing of another hymn by the choir, tbe whole thing concluded by the old man giving three sweeping bows to the congregation on the three sides of the church anJ marching out.— — Hallway's Norway.

Strange Sight : Seventy Swarms of Bees at War. — Ezra D.bble, a well-known citizen of this town, and ior many years engaged extensively in t e management of bees, communica.es to us the following interesting particula.s of a battle among his bees : — He has seventy swarms of bees, about equally divided on the east and west sides of his house. On Sunday, August 14, about three o'clock, the weaiher ; being warm, and the windows open, his house was suddenly filled with bees, which forced the family to flee at once to the neighbours. Mr. D., after getting well protected against his assailants, proceeded to take a survey, and, if possible, learn the cause which had disturbed them. The seventy swarms appeared to I c out, and ihose on one side of the house were arrayed in battle against those on the other siJe : and such a battle was, perhaps, never before witnessed. They filled the a*r, covering a space of more than one acre of ground, and fought desperately for some three hours, not for "spoil," hut for conquest ; and while at war no living thing could exist in the vicinity. They stung a large fljck of Shanghai chickens, nearly all of which died, and persons passing along the road-side were obliged to make haste to avoid their sting. A little after six o'clock quiet was restored, and the living bees returned to their hives, leaving the slain almost literally covering the ground, since which but few have appeared around the hives, and those apparently stationed as sentinels to watch the enemy. But two young swarms were entirely destroyed, and, aside from the terrible slaughter of bees, no other injury was done. Neither party was victorious, and they only ceased on the approach of night and from utter prostration. The occasion of this strange warring among the bees is not easily accounted for; and those most conversant with their management never befo/e witnessed or heard of such a spectacle as here narrated. — Connecticut (U. S.) Reporter.

Russian Corruption. — It is well known that Russian government officials are easily corrupted. The following instance of their corruption is related in a recently published work : — "A young man inherited a large estate in the government of Moscow. A neighbour unjustly claimed part of it. The young man asked his uncle, the chief judge of the district, if he ought to go to law 01 consent to an arrangement. The uncle recommended him to go to law, assuring him he would gain bis suit. Some months after be learned that he bad lost the action, because his uncle had al-

lowed himself to be corrupted for the sura of 10,000 rubles. He hastened to his uncle and reproached him hiiteily. 'It is inie,' s>aid ibe uncle ' lhat you have lust your qcnon — true also that I accepted 10,000 iul>les from your adversary, hut thu was all he had. If you had gained your suit here, as was your right, he would have appealed, and by sending his 10,000 rubles to St Petersburg would havt gained bis cause. But now do you take the money, appeal, and you will succeed.' The nephew, delighted, gratefully embraced bis uncle."

A Minister in a Fix. — Notes from America report, that an unexpected literary activity has been suddenly displayed at the Russian embassj : a display which serves the press of Washington with feod for some laughter, and affords a pretext for reviving an amusing anecdote. It appears, that M. Bodisco, Muscovite Minister at the White House, has thought it due to himself to be offended with the free language of the republican press, — and in a temper of mind moreOriental than discreet he has reso ved to bridle the offending prints. American writers, however, are not disposed to tremble at a diplomatic frown, and with more good humour perhaps than high official courtesy they remind his Excellency of an incident well remembered in ihe neighbourhood of the American Syracuse, and not altogether without its application to the matter now in dispute. M. Bodisco and his suite were on a trip to Niagara ; when at Syracuse a Secretary, or attache, quarrelled with a station porter, and in his anger struck him, in true Muscovite fashion. The porter turned on the official, — who thereupon, claimed the protection of his master. M. Bodisco stated his name and rank ; and the conducter of the train replied that, as such breaches of the peace could not be allowed in the United Slates, he proposed that the porter should be appeased by an apology. Heie was a pass for the representative of Russian majesty :—apologise to a porter' Dil the man understand that he had the honor to address M. Bodisco ? "If you were the Emperor of all the Rusbus himsell," said the conductor coolly, '" you 6hould apologize." He added, that the train would aot move an inch until the porter was satisfied. Fancy the cons ernation of the courtly circle ! M. Bodisco leaped out of the car :—": — " I order this train to go on," he cried, with his grandest look. The passengers stared — the engine-men looked aside — the smoke of the engine curled up lazily in the air. " I order this train to go on !" cried M. Bod:s.co, with mci eased vehemence. The driver whistled, and the little boys gathered round to see the fun. Happily a Washington acquaintance of the great man came to the spot ; M. Bodisco appealed to him, — and a long and picturesque discussion followed in a foreign tongue between the mediator and the minister. The issue was, that, like a prudent diplomatist, when he could gain no point, M. Bodisco gave it up with such grace as he could. Apology was made — the porter appeased — the bell rang — the train started — and two or three persons quitted Syracuse with what the Americans would call a "new wrinkle."