ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 930, 1 July 1854, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Ou the 7th of March, Mr. Cardwell's Coasting 1 Trade bill was read a third time and passed in the House 0f Commons. By this bill foreign vessels are allowed to enter into the coast carrying trade of England on equal terms with British bottoms. A free pardon had been granted to Mr. Smith O'Brien. Tn the House of Commons, March 7th, in reply to Mr. T. Duncombe, Lord Palmerston stated that the clemency of the Crown would be extended to Frost, Williams, and Jones, and also to Martin and Dohcrty. The Marquis of Londonderry, Sir John Conrov, Lieutenant General James .Hay, Mr. John Mai tin. the celebrated, " painter, and' Dr. Jenkins, of Balliol College, were dead. j ..- . The most active measures are beir-g adopted at the Tower to complete the 19th regiment for service in the East. A very large number of men who had volunteered from the depot companies of the 22nd, 25th, 27th, 37th, 67th, and 85th arrived yesterday, and having undergone a most minute inspection, were at once incorporated with the regiment, and received with deafening cheers by their new comrades. The men who are to compose the depot companies, principally those whose periods of service are neaily expired, were told off yesterday morning, and will march to Deal in a day or two. To shew the zeal of the officers, and non-commissioned officers in augmenting the 19th to the number required, (1000 rank and file,) it i* only necessary to state that on the arrival of the regiment three weeks since at the Tower it was not quite 550 strong, so that nearly 450 men have been raised during that short time. The Ist battalion of the Rifle Brigade, recently returned from the Cape of Good Hope, and at present quartered at Dover, will garrison the Tower.

Whitkhall, Feb. 25. — The Queen has been pleased to appoint General the Hon. Viscount Hardinge. G.C.8., Lieut. General the Right Hon. Lord Raglan, G.C.8., the Right Hon. Earl Grey, Lieut. General the Right Hon. Earl Cathcarr,' .KC.B., the Right Hon. Lord Panmuie, K.T., Lieut. General the Right Hon. Lord Seaton, G.C.8., the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, the Right Hon. Sir John Somerset Pakington, Bart., the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, Col. George Buller, C.8., and Col. Wra. Thomas Knollys, to be her Majesty's Commissioners for enquiring into the several modes of promotion and retirement in her Majesty's Military Forces. An establishment for the manufacture of oil from the colton-seed has been, started in -Nssv Orleans. Tt is stated that the oil is of a bland pleasant taste, possessing all the qualities of olive oil ; that it burns with great brilliancy, and is peculiarly fitted for using upon machinery, on account of not gumming or diving. If the oil is really valuable, the manufacture will &oon become an important one» for the quantity of raw material is unbounded. The New York Courier dcs Etats Unis of the 18th, slates that there were several Russian officers in different parts of the United States endeavouring to engage vessels and enlist men for privateering purposes ; and on the 21st the New York Herald published the following on the same subject — "The Russian officers who are here now came over for the ostensible purpose of superintending the construction of the screw propellers ordered by the Emperor of Mr. Webb, one of our most eminent shipbuilders, during a recent visit paid by the latter to St. Petersburgh. There is reason to believe, however, that that object foims only one, and that the most unimportant, part of the mission of these gentlemen, for facts have come to our knowledge which leave no doubt upon our minds that they are sent here to effect the organization necessary for fitting out Russian privateers in our ports. There were three of those gentlemen at the Astorhouse — namely, Messrs. Grumwald, Ferstine, and Lockoloff, and three at the Clarendon and other hotels, and they have subagents scattered through this and other cities of the Union, busily engaged in endeavouring to carry out the objects of their instructions." The Boston Commonwealth of the 22nd, says — " Several Russian officers visited the Portsmouth (Virginia) Navy Yard, and the United States ship Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, the 15th in&tant, and were received with the usual honours and a salute. The object of their visit to this country is to examine our ships,, and to purchase vessels for their navy."

The Hard Wood Trades. — During the present year the prices of all kinds of furniture and ship building woods have risen to an unprecedented extent. Mahogany has risen nearly cent, per cent, on the minimum prices, and in consequence the consumption of that wood has entirely ceased in ship building, and the consumption for other purposes is much reduced. In consequence of a combination between the importers to compel the Admiralty to pay these prices, the last contract which was issued by them for about 5000 loads was entirely rejected, and other wood will be used in its place. The production on the other side, in consequence of the great rise in prices, and in order lo provide for this contract, has been immense, and the importation for the year 1854 will probably be greater than' ever was known, whereas the greater part of the consumption is entirely withdrawn, so that in all probability the fall in prices will be equal to the rise. — Shipping Gazette.

Alleged Attempt to Break into Windsor Castle. — When the South-We&tern station was erected some three years ago, a private carriage road was made at the foot of the Slopes to the Castle. This road is used only by members of the Royal family, and by gentlemen attached to

the Rnyal household. On leaving the train lately, Colonel Hood, Clerk -Marshal to His Royal Hiphness Prince Albert, proceeded by the Slopes, as the nearest way to the Castle, and was not a little surprised to encounter in his walk seven or eight men, with their faces blackened, and their feet muffled, if he might judge by the noiseless character of their movements. The ruffians fled at the approach of the hon. and gallant gentleman, and have not oince been heard of. On inquiry, it appeared that the suspected burglars were observed by the sentinel on duty at the corner of the Prince of Waleo's Tower (on the basement of which is the gold pantry) and that the man-at-ftrirs, looking down from the terrace, threatened to fire at them. To this they replied that if ha attempted to fire, or give the alarm, they would blow oat his biaius. The hostile parley bad proceeded thus far when Colonel Hood entered by the Lodge-gate in Datchet-lane, and the burglars doubtless supposed that "be wa3 at tbe head of a party sent to capture them. Thia will account for their precipitous flight and subsequent escape. On the arrival of Colonel Hood st the castle, tbe police were ordered to patrol the Slopes for the remainder of tbe night, bat they could detect nothing likely to excite suspicion, or servo es a clue to the apprehension ef the gnilty parties. Tho affair facs creaiod a great sensation at Windsor, and will cause the Palace to be guarded more strictly than ever, especially after nightfall. Major BsßEs?ottP and theßeruy Bribery Case. — i r: the Courr. of Queen's Bench, on Thursday, Major Beresford end ten other persona were formally indicted for conspiring to corrupt and bribe the electors of the borough of Derby at the election in July, 1853. Our readers will easily call to raiiMl the points of this well known case. Morgan, a person sent by William Frail, of Shrewsbary, was arrested in a room in tbe County Tavern in Derby ; and on him was fonnd a large sum of money, and a letter signed "W. B." that is, " William Beresford." Mr. Edwin James stated ths facts on behalf of the prosecution. The preoent indictment had been rendersd necessary to meat the accusation that these proceedings originated in a conspiracy got up by the Liberal party. But now, inasmuch es it was believed that the esposnre which had already taken place would prevent the recurrence of scch proceedings at Derby, and those who bad made the charge that the Liberal party bad entered into tbe conspiracy alleged had withdrawn the charge, Mr. James did not intern!, on behalf of tbe prosecution, to offer any evidence in support of tbe indictment, Accordingly, tbe jury, undei tbe Lord Chief Justice Campbell, returned a verdict of " Not guilty/ Sir Frederic Thesiger then mads a statement, in justice to Mr. Beresford and himself, to the effect that Mr. Beresford had not compromised the matter — nothing on earth would have moved him to compromise it ; and that he had come there from a bed of sickness, claiming inquiry and ready to meet the charge. Mr. James said tbat no compromise, direct or indirect, had been entered into. Lord Campbell said, that but for these assurances there might have been a suspicion in the public mind that some corrupt compromise had been made ; but that suspicion had now been repelled, He was also bound to say that Mr. Beresford had repelled the chaige made again3t him, and had brcught the case on for trial ; and now it must be considered there was no evidence to support the charge. — Spectator. France.— The great topic in Paris fs the letter addressed by the Emperor Nicholas to tbe Emperor of the French, in reply to hi 3 letter. It is considered on all sides a tissue of tbe most barefaced representations — of statements which have been repeatedly refuted. Loui3 Napoleon reviewed, on the sth instant, in the Carrousel, the 6ih Regiment of Infantry, the sth and 3th battalions of Chasseurs de Vincennes, who are to form part of tbe expeditionary army in the East, and were to quit Paris next day for Marseilles ; the two battalions of Gendarmerie d'Elite, the Regiment of Guides, and the 4th Regiment of Chasseurs. The Eastern question has dons a great deal for tbe popularity of Louis Napoleon. The most complete order prevailed everywhere, and all passed off with the greatest decorum. It is believed that by tbe 20th instant 25,000 French troops will have embarked at Toulon for Constantinople ; and it is calculated that by the 20th of May the first collision will have taken place between the auxiliary armies and the Russians. Tbe Duke of Cambridge and Lord Raglan were expected in Pari3 in a few days en route for the East. Hisßoyal Highness will be lodged at the Tuileries during his stay. Voluntary enlistments for the army are taking place in the departments. An Extraordinary Cali^ornian Treb. — A fine specimen of a magnificent tree, recently introduced 'into this country from California, is now growing in the neighbourhood of Exeter, at the nursery of Messrs. Veitch. This tree, from its extraordinary height and large dimensions, may well be termed the monarch of the Californian forest. It grows in a solitary district oo the Sierra Nevada, at an elevation of 3000 feet from the level of the sea. From 80 to 90 trees exist, all within the circuit of a mile, 3nd varying from 250 feet to 320 feet in height, and from 10 to 20 feet in diameter. The cones are about two inches and a quarter long, and two inches across ihe thickest part ; the trunk of one tree, which | Messrs. Veitch's collector, Mr. Lobb, saw felled, was perfectly solid from the sapwood to the centre, and judging from the number of concentric rings, | it age has been estimated at 3000 years. Of this vegetable monster, twenty-one feet of the bark, from the lower part of the trunk, have been put in the natural form in San Francisco for exhibition ; it there forms a spacious carpeted room, and contains a piano, with seats for forty persons. On one occasion 140 children were admitted without inconvenience. A " Beard Union" is in course of formation at Edinburgh, its object being *' to form, by all legitimate means the cause of the beard, and by union to overcome the foolish prejudice against the manly ornament." The third " principle" of the Association is as follows:— -That a; soiree shall take place by public notice, but no sooner than three months after the union is formed, to allow time for the full development of the beards and moustaches of the members. — Patriot, March 2.