ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 913, 3 May 1854, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

'General Oaghterlony, a Scottish gentleman in the Russian service is stated to have commanded a brigade in the action at Oltenitza. The floor of the picture-ga'leiy in Holyrood Palace is become s^ rotten and unsafe that when Peers assemble to elect a representative, the greatest caution is requisite, to preveut disaster. The Commissioners of Woods and Forests are about to provide the proper remedy of a new floor. The new judge in the room of Lord Fullerton is Mr Hercules Robertson, Sheriff-Depute of Renfrewshire. He takes his seat on the bench as Lord Benhclme Dr Kiiduff, the newly-appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Armagh, spoke out manfully lately against Ribandism. " Much," he said ** as the term ' informer/ was despised and repudiated by the body of the people, he himself •would act that part; and drag foward the members of the Riband Society, and stop those vile crimes which bring such odium on the country." A very rich mine of sulphur ore has been discovered in Wicklow ; the yield is so- great that it is difficult to obtain labour enough. After an interval of three hundred years a Roman Catholic priest has been established in Haddington. He officiates in a granary loft ; the use of the Assembly room was flatly refused.

The Royal Agricultural Society of England. — Guano. — Mr. Pusey presided at the half-yearly meeting which was held ia London. The Society at present consists of 4,676 members residing in England, 256 in Wales, 69 in Scotland, 44 in Ireland, 5 in the Channel Islands, and 29 abroad, making a total of 5,089 members. The council consists of 75 members, several of whom represent by their residences more than a single county. The Duke of Richmond, one of the speakers, alluding to the guano question, and to the difficulties which the high price imposed upon agriculturrists, stated his belief that if the price were reduced even to £6 per ton more than double the quantity would be consumed in this country ; that this price would amply remunerate the im« portei ; and that dearness only led to extensive adulteration. • The text of Lord P»lraerston's letter to Princa Albert, as Chancellor of tbe University of Canbridge, is published. After narrating the steps already taken, Lord Palmerston directs the attention of the University, by its Chancellor, to five points, with respect to which Government conceive that Parliament would desire to sse

plans of improvement entertaived. Briefly stated, theae points are, — an alteration of the conaritatian of the universities, with n view to tbe more general and effective rtpresentatioa of tbe main elf mtnts of which they consist ; extension of tbe benefits of training, whether in connection or not with colleges or balls ; the abolition or modification of restrictions attaching to Fellowships ; regulations to prevent open Fellowships from degenerating into sinecures, and to provide for their rehnquishraent at a given tine ; aod tbe establishment of provisions by which colleges wiii ample means might render somt portion of their property available for the genera) purposes of tbe university, beyond as well aa within tbe college waUs. Lord Falmerston states the reaaons for delay bitberto, but adds, that her Majesty's Government feel that tha time has now arrived when these questions should be decided ; and he requests the Chancellor to inform him what measures of improvement the University of Cambridge may be about to take. Believing that repeated and minute interference by Parliament in tbe affairs of the universities is au evil, her Majesty's Government earnestly hope "to rind, on the part of these bodies, such mature views and enlarged designs of improvement as may satisfy the reasonable desires of the country," and may obviate tbe occasion for further interference.

Plymouth.— -An accident happened last week oa board her Majesty's screw line of battle ship Agamemnon, 91, which would have been attended with vety serious consequences but for the presence of mind of the chief engineer, Mr. -John' Langley. The ship went outside the Sound to , test the efficiency of Griffith's newly fitted fan. ' When two miles from the breakwater, steaming eight and a half knots, and making 45 revolutions per minute, something gave way below, and the revolutions seemed to be suddenly increased to 10Q0 or more per minute. The shock is described to have been similar to that of an earthquake. The funnel appeared to jump from its place, and so excessive was the vibration that every one expected the masts would go over the side, and the boilers were momentarily expected to burst. At this critical juncture Mr. Langley, with great nerve and coolness, threw open the valves, gradually stopped the engines, and thus saved the valuable machinery from tearing itself to pieces, and injuring, if not destroying, the noble vessel herself. She was immediately put under canvas, and returned to the Sound. On subsequent examination it appeared that the main shaft was broken just within the fans — in all probability from a defect in the metal. It has been suggested as a subject for consideration whether experiments of ibis kind should not be confined at first to ships cf less size than the Agamemnon, which is in all other respects -complete for sea service.

The Religion ot? the Russians. — Public { attention being very particularly directed towards the Russian nation at the present time, a few remarks regarding some peculiarities in their manner of worship, &c, which are not generally known, may be interesting. I have been for some time past endeavouring to determine the exact nature of the homage the Russians pay to the " gods," -whether they should be called images or pictures? and whether 'the Russians should be considered idolators or not ? Whenever a Russian passes a church, his custom is to cross himself, some do so three times, accompanying it with bowing. In every room in theii bouses an image, or picture, is placed in the east corner before which they uncover their head and cross themselves on entering. Their churches are filled witb-these, their representatives of the deity, and it is very curious to observe a devout Russian kissing the toe of one, crossing himself before another, while to another he will in addition prostrate himself, even with bis head to the ground; ! this latter is also done at intervals, during the celebration of their services; but their churches are always open, so that if any one wants to pay devotion to a particular image (or picture) while no service is going on, he can do so. I understand that they consider they worship the deity through these representations. In the present day the gods are called obraaz, of which the literal translation is image. The old Sclavonic word for them is eekona, which was formerly in general use. As far as I can make out, neither of these words can be translated picture ; but I do not remember to have found this point touched upon in any books I have read on Russia or its religion ; and hope, if any correspondent is able to give us further information on the subject, he will do so* The Russians also believe in relics, in their efficiency in healing diseases, working other miracles, &c. Notwithstanding this, a very short time ago, a new relic was found in the south of Russia, and a courier immediately despatched with it to the Emperor at St. Petersburg. On his arrival his Imperial Majesty, expecting some important news regarding bis operations in the neighbourhood of Turkey, when told his errand, exclaimed, "Away with the relic! it is high time to put an end to such nonsense !" Would that this were to be carried out ! But their superstitions seem too deeply rooted to be done away with in a short time. — Notes and Queries.

Artificial Propagation of Salmon. — The operations in the river Tay are going on very successfully for the above purpose. The boxes for hatching are in number 300, which will contain upwards of 400,000 ova, and fully onehalf of them are already filled. On Saturday last, from five female and one male salmon, got below a ford near the mouth of the Almond, about 50,000 eggs, and on Tuesday upwards of : 130,000 eggs were impregnated and deposited in i the boxes; and from this small portion of the river it is expected that as many fish will be got as will fully stock the boxes. This will be done without in the least iojuring the natural supply of the river, as a fresh set of fish are found to occupy the ford as soon as the former set retire from it. — Edinburgh Advertiser. In the first ten months of the past year tbe value of British plate-glass exported, was ! £39,403, whereas for the like period of last year, it was only £18,825.