ENGLISH ITEMS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 852, 19 August 1871, Page 3

ENGLISH ITEMS.

An accident took place in the Moray Firth by which 14 persons were drowned. The first of the London street tramways, from Islington to Moorgate, has been opened. The funeral of Sir John Herschel, in Westminster Abbey, was a splendid one. He was buried close to Sir Isaac Newton. The " Morning Post " asserts that there is an understanding between Germany, Austria, and Russia to preserve the peace of Europe. The reports that Mr Disraeli was to he deposed from the leadership of the Conservative party are stated to be untrue. The population of London is ascertained by the late census to be 3,251,804, being an increase during the decade of 447,815. It is said that the pecuniary offering of the British deputation to the Pope was considered meschino at the Vatican, not amounting to £3OOO, instead of the expected £50,000. The liabilities of Lord Courtenay are as follows:—To unsecured creditors, £256,638; to those holding security, £567,668; and among the former is his own father to the amount of £IOO,OOO. Much, ammunition and provisions were found in Fort Issy on its capture, as well as some brandy containing an infusion of tobacco. This preparation, which is said to have, been used fw the purpose of exciting the National Guards, had the effect of makmg all the wounds fatal.

The " Nord " announces that, according to advices from the Hague, tne initiative taken by the Cabinet of the Netherlands to ratify by treaty the neutralisation of private property J* sea has been successful. Austria aas »ade a similar proposal to Prince Bismarck. The American Congress has taken tv, CP k to prcvent the extermination of jne buffalo, now so rapidly disappearing fram the prairies of the great west, «i consequence of their indiscriminate daughter by the trappers without reference to the use of the carcase for food or fur. Money is cheap. Our professional vocalists know that it goes for a song.

INDIAN INTELLIGENCE. (From "The Englishman's Overland Mail.") The present Gaekwar of Baroda has imprisoned his late brother's prime minister, and makes him sweep the public streets in irons. Chaplains on furlough in England are in future to draw their allowances quarterly, and no advance of pay is to be given when returning to duty. A. whirlwind at Peltapur is said to have carried up into the air a cow boy and several cat tie. A native boat with pilgrims on board has been lost off Khetty, and about sixty pilgrims drowned. The cattle disease is still very bad near Darjiliug, but the prespects of the tea planters are better than in any previous year. Eight more regiments of the Madras Native Infantry are to be armed with Enfield "Rifles. The plague is reported to have broken out at Deyer, on the Persian Gulf. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to set fire to the Liverpool ship Juven*a in Bombay harbour. The prospects of the coffee crop at Wynaad, this season are unusually favourable. Some of the plants have blossomed three times. The sanction of the Secretary of State to the formation of an agricultural department has arrived in India. Though the reports are still contradictory, there seems but little doubt that the Panthays have obtained signal successes over the Chinese at Momein. It was reported that a caravan of 1000 mules belonging to the Panthays was on its way from Momein to Bhamo. The latest report is that Madras is to be reduced to a Lieutenant-Govern-orship on the expiration of Lord Napier's term of office. Mr Win Chester'B daughter, who was carried off by the Lushais from Cuchar, is said to be with the chief of the Syius, who demands 400 rupees for her restoration, which the Government is reported to have ordered to be paid.

The Lieutenant-Governor has appointed a committee to report upon the best means of introducing the study ot Physical Science into the curriculum of study in the Calcutta University.

Some seeds of Chinese cucumber have been received at Mysore, which produce fruit from five to six feet in length and twelve to seventeen inches in circumference.

The University of Calcutta has this year examined nearly two thousand candidates for matriculation or " Entrance ;" and this is in addition to the five or six hundred who have come up for the " First-Arts," or Little-Go, and the two hundred odd who have appeared in the B.A. and M.A. examinations.

Great consternation was caused in British Burmah by the fact of the salt duty having been increased by the last Customs Act from three to eight annas a pound. The GovernorGeneral has telegraphed that the duty is not to be increased.

The ex-Rajah of Sattara, who has been a State prisoner for twelve years at Karrachi, has been permitted to return to the Deccan.

The people of Candahar are said to be anxious to emigrate into British territory. The well-known tamarind tree in the Khusru Gardens at Allahabad fell down on the Queen's Birthday. It was one of the largest in India, and the stem was quite hollow.