MAIL ITEMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5045, 25 May 1877, Page 3

MAIL ITEMS.

The history of the Second Zouaves, one of the best regiments in the ITrenoy army, has just been published. Tile regiment was created by decree in 1852, its first commander being Colonel Vinoy, now General and Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor. It had been hardly organised when two of its battalions were sent to Laghouat. Then came tire Crimean war ; the regiment fought in the battle of the Alma, and its Colonel, the heroic Cler, planted the Trench (lag on the telegraph tower. It next took part in the battle of Maoeuta, and its colors were decorated with the "Cross of the Legion of Honor. In Mexico it was engaged in the talcing of Puebla. At Proschviller, in the last war, 47 officers and 108 S privates of the regiment fell on the field of battle ; the debris were at Sedan, Coinmiers, and other engagements. During tire 10 years of its existence no less than 5000 privates and 400 officers of this gallant regiment have fallen in battle.

The citizens of Portsmouth, having wished to erect a statue to the late Charles Dickens, found themselves met by the passage in his will to the effect that it was his wish that no statue should he set up to him after ids death. Those, therefore, who wish to see a counterfeit presentment of the great author must resort to the galleries of Mine. Tussaud, where Ids elllgy will be found hobnobbing with kings, pirates, ministers, and murderers. The Presae, in a letter from Jassy, gi res the detailed unlrc dc hutwUle of the mobilised portion of the Hessian army, both in Europe and in the Caucasus. According to its correspondent, the concentration and organisation is so far ready that the forces may take the field any moment. The South Army comprises the active operating army of four corps d’nrrnee, having an effective strength of 144,000 men, 32,800 horses, and 432 field guns, and the coast army, with 72,000 men, 10,400 horses, and 210 guns, or, together, 210,000 men, 49,200 horses, and 048 guns. The three corps d’armee in tho Caucasus are reckoned at an effective strength of 120,000 men, 25,000 horses, and 352 guns, or in all, 330,000 men, 74,200 horses, and 1000 gnus. This fully corresponds to the war effective as systematised by the organisation of 1874. Tho following appears in the Philadelphia Public, Ledger ; —“ A statement comes from abroad that the supremacy of American

cotton is threatened. The Austrian Consul;..* Agent at Alexandria, Egypt, has discovered in that country a new cotton plant, which is said to be very prolific. The Consular Agent, in his report upon the subject, writes that he accidentally came across the new plant about two years ago. He describes it as a plant with a long stem, and without branches, so that much space is saved in its cultivation. It bears thirty to fifty pods on each bush, and yields about twice as much cotton to the same surface as the American plant. It requires a great deal of water in its cultivation—a circumstance which is a drawback in Egypt—and necessitates cultivating the crop with grain or vegetables. He thinks that on the sea islands of the American coast, or along the Mississippi or other rivers, this plant would prove wonderfully prolific. The belief is expressed at Alexandria that this discovery will in time create a revolution in the cotton-growing interest of Egypt.” Moyaux, the Frenchman who confessed that he threw his little daughter into a well at Bagneaux, and baffled the detectives for more , than a month, was arrested in Paris on March 7th under strange circumstances. A woman 1 who had bought his photograph from cuiiosity thought that she recognised him reading a newspaper in a shop window of the Hue St. Paul. She mentioned her suspicions to the keeper of a wine shop who happened to know Moyaux, having once been his fellow clerk. Two policemen were summoned and the man was arrested.

A correspondent sends Truth the following historical parallel:—ln 1761, Mr. Pitt resigned the Premiership, having just created his wife a peeress, Xu 1868, Mr. Disraeli resigned the Premiership, having just created his wife a peeress. In 1776, Mr. Pitt created himself Karl of Chatham and Viscount Pitt, and held both the Premiership and the Privy Seal. In 1876, Mr. Disraeli created himself Karl of Beacousfield and Viscount Hughenden, and held both the Premiership and the Privy Seal. In April 1778, Lord Chatham delivered his last speech in the House of Lords. In April 1878, Lord Beacousfield. Ahslt omen.