THE ABDICATION OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 188, 24 July 1873, Page 3

THE ABDICATION OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

A TELEGRAM from our New York correspondent gives tho substance of a letter winch Bngham Young has addressed to the world through an American journal, stating the reasons for his resignation of the various offices which ho has held in tho Mormon community at Utah. At seventy-two years of age, and after forty years of labour, tho President needs rest. He proposes to found fl new settlement at Arizona, in the country of the Apacbee. In tho meantime, so far as Utah is concerned, he invites his followers to abandon the old system of exclusion, and invites Gentile immigration and co-operation. The resignation seems practically to be a surrender. The new policy requires new hands. Tho Prophet lays down the sceptre w'nuh he has firmly held since 18ti, and commits the guardianship of Ins community to younger, if lew able, hands. His hu been a busy and eventful and truly remwknble life. His work, such as it is, has its serious aspects as well as those that are ludicrous or rewriting. We cinnot speak of him as a rohgious hero. It is only to tho faithful to see that he is a saint. But we must not grudgo to him the merit of courage, persistency, and & certain adroitness hovering curiously between the cunning of ft New England pedlar and the w udom of ft stal esman. In some respects, and outwurdlj, his life until latel\ was no failure, but rnther a signal victory over most untoward eireii.iiatain-iM ff<» '' n •olved for a time a problem which rannv visionaries lnive essajed to settj* with utter calamity ua the nnnudiiite result — tho problem of importing into western civilization and a Christian country the barbarous usages of the I^ast ; and for a brief period it seemed to some minds that his calamitous success threatened to •übrerb or shake the morals of vast fßjiltitudtj.

A New Mitraitleuu — Notwithstanding the pnnciplo of arbitration, tlio art ot constructing more deadly weapons of war advances rapidly The latest novelty is a new mitraillcur, and is tin* lmeutinn ot tit American It is distinguished from tli< Gutlin (ir itnpemil tmtiudleiisc*, says the Globe, m many wa \s. A great diltictilu in tho use of tlie latter has been the r.ipidity hi|!i uiuci Ihej became heated. This is ob\ i»ted m tho Tuylor inodi'l by a water casing. Another pecnli int\ i» tli.tr the twenty -four barrels, ■tarting from the breech in a eirele, become grouped at their muzzles in an ellipse. Uy this nie*iiß either a lateral or horizontal range is obtauie I. The device for loading is verj ingenious. Like tlio Henry rifles, it is self-charging Metallic cartridges are placed m hollow tubes, and the chambers are fed with them by tlio motion of a lever. The adjustment of a piece of mechanism and the motion of a crunk diseliargo tlio engine, tho whole twenty-four shots going oft" at on<«, or one barrel following another in regular sueccssion, at the option of the gunner E.'ich of four chambers can be put into position instantly, fired, and cleared of its cartridges. In fusillado firing it discharges 700 rounds a minute ; but not less than 1,000 when fired in volley. At tho distance of 300 yards, the lateral range spreads the balls about twelve yards to the right and left of a given centre. The Taj lor mitradleur will probably attract a good deal of attention at tbe Vienna Exhibition. The Okigiv or Force — U a meeting of the Victoria (Phdosophical) Institute a letter was read from the Right Hon W. E. Grindstone, expressing the great interest with which he had read the proof copy of Professor Kirk's paper on " Force ; " which paper was then read by the author, who had prepared it with Ihe special object ot supplying a concise and popular essay upon the present aspect of a subject winch had been made tho question of the day. Proiessor Kirk began with a criticism of the more common definitions of force, and proceeded to treat of it as a true phenomenon, arguing tint erery reality which reveals itself as existent must be so regarded. His aim was to reach the conception of movement m its origin, or of that in virtue of which motion, in every instance, has its beginning. Tho doctrine of molecules po»sessing force, was dweussed at length, and the molecular theory generally disputed. The correlations of strictly material affections, and also the correlations of mental affections were stated ; but the correlations of material with mental affections denied. Professor Kirk argued tli.it an impossible limit sep&rated mind from matter, so that while their several affections were related, they were never correlated — that is, they never parsed into another, as material affections pass into material, and mental into mental. The result of this paper went to show that true force is that capacity of mind in virtue of which it produces motion. Force, energy, and all kindred terms, when applied to matter could truthfully mean motion only, and if accounted for, must be so by referenco to force-originating mind.

Duke of Edinburgh's Wedding. — The following; appear* in a letter to the Times from Naples, dated the sth May :—: — There can be no hesitation, after all that is freely reported here, in now speaking of the engagement of tho Duke of Edinburgh to tho Grand Duchess Marie. Those who •lioultl be well informed tell mo that tlio mety at Hesse Darmstadt a year or two since, and that from that time an understanding has existed between them During Prince Alfred's residence in Sorrento, though nominally staying at the Tasso, lie has been constantly at the Imperial Villa from morning till night. U is Royal Highness is now returning to London, bvt will leave it again shortly, and join the Empiess and the Grand Duchess at Jugenheim, in Hesse D.iimstadt. The Emperor w ill also be there Liter, and official publicity will then, no doubt, be given to the marriage that is to be. A difficulty existed which has been surmounted. It was proposed as a condition that the Duke of Edinburgh should reside a certain period of time every year in Russia, but he refused to bind himself. Something more than rumour says that the Grand Duchess will bring her husband £20,000 a year, beside* £200,000 ; but yet a larger fortune will be the sweet amiable disposition of which every one about tlie Court speaks. Tiik Puocessof EitiiAiMiyG. — The Brunetti process for the preservation of tho dead, remarks the Medical Pre™ and \ Circular, has recently been published ; it consists of se\eral processes :—l.: — 1. The circulatory system is cleared thoroughly out by washing with cold water till it issues quite clear from the body. This may occupy two to five hours. 2. Alcohol is injected so as to abstract ns much wnter as possible. This occupies about a quarter of an hour. 3 Ether is then injected to abstract the fatty matters. This occupies two to ten hour*. 4. A strong solution of tannin is then' injected This occupies for imbibition two to ten hours. 5. The body is then dried in a current of warm air passed over heated chloride of calcium. This may occupy two to five hours. The body is then perfectly preserved and resists decay. The Italians exhibit specimens which are as hard as stone and retain the shape perfectly, and equal to the best wax model*. A moro simple form of injection suited for auatoinical purpo»«» consists of Glycerine, 11 parts. Soft sugar, 2 parts. Nitrate of potash, 1 part. It is lound that after saturation for soino days in this solution the parts become comparatively indestructible and change neither in ' size nDr figure.

A Judge Sentenced to Penal SBitviTrnE —The trial of Mr Joshua Lebailly, judge of the Jorsey Royal Court and managing director of the Mercantile Union Bank, now in liquidation, terminated oil May 13, after having lasted eight days— the longest trial that has ever taken place in Jersej . The indictment against the prisoner contained six counts, charging him with fruul and embezzlement. The first related toll n pledging with the Metropolitan Dank us collateral security £5000 worth of Sardinian stock, for which he was ' trustee with two other persons The other counts charged him with disposing, or soiu-tionrng the dif posal, of securities valued at £8000, which were deposited with the Mercantile Bank for security. He was also charged with borrowing £6000 from the bank without debiting himself therewith in the books ; with giving the guarantee of the bank for a private loan of £4000 ; with presenting a false report of the state of the bank to the shareholders ; and with issuing 15,000 £1 notes, contrary to the orders of the directors. The Attorney-G-eneral for Jersey prosecuted, and the Advocate Durell defended the prisoner. He was found guilty on four of the sir counts, and the Court sentenced him to five years' penal servitude. Pucabding a Pexaitt. — It is impossible not to sympathise with the unfortunate tailor at Brighton who, having been guilty of some offenco against the railway company's by-laws, finds himself, whenever ho travels on the lines confronted by a placard recording his name and the particulars of" his misdeeds. The Grand Jury at Lewei, however, have refused to allow him to submit his grievance to a legal tribunal, and on the principle that a libel may be justified ou the pica of its truth they have perhaps law on their side. If we mistake not, however, there is an instance of damages recovered under similar circumstances, and it is impossible to deny that there is some hardship in the case, winch is not the less because the practice of placarding railway offenders 13 common. The punishment accorded by the law to certain offences is generally deemed to be adequate ; but it is obvious that a perpetual placarding of this kind may cause pain and discredit far beyond anything which a just man would desire to inflict. On the whole, wo think that the prerogative of the railway companies, even if it bo legal, is one that ought to bo sparingly exercised. It would, perhaps, be enough if the placards were limited to a period commensurate with the gravity of the ca^o. — Graphic. THE ATTORNET-QENEnAIi ON WORKING MFN MEMBERS — The Attorney- General presided at the annual public debate in University College. The subject was, "Do the interests of the working classes require greater attention from the community than those of the other members ?" In summing up the debate Sir John Coleridge said that from time to time ho hid often wished, not from any Radical feeling, but from a Conservative feeling, to see two or three working men in the House of Commons. It wonld not be pleasant for the working men, but it would bo of immense value, for then the House could hear from working men themselves what they wanted, and ho was certain that both sides would bo glad to advance legislation, and gne them any aid in their power. As it was now, legislation often, without any intention, did that which was mischievous rather than that which was useful. When a show of hands was taken on the motion, the numbers appeared so nearly equal that a second show of hands was called for, when giving the upholders of the subject the benefit of the doubt, the chairman declared the rote to be in tho affirmative. Mu Gladstone A8 a Precentok. — The Leisure Hour for May tells the following story : — A largo and brilliant assemblage of guests, including Mr Gladstone, were «fnvmg at Inverary Castle, and before they letired for tho night l)r Guthrio was asked by the Duke of Argvlo to conduct " family wonhip." " With great pleasure will I conduct it," said the doctor ; " but in the cnstlc of Argyle wo must observe the good old Presbyterian form, and begin by singing a psalm." It was agreed that a Scotch psalm should be sung to a Scotch tune ; but tho difficulty was to find a "precentor" — that is, a lady or gentleman who would " raise tho tune" and lead the singing. After a number of ladies and gentlemen had been appealed to and had declared themselves unfit for the duty, Mr Gladstone stepped forward, saying, " I'll raise tho tune, Dr Guthrio ;" and well did he perform his task. Wo all know what a fine voico tho Premier ha*, but it is not so well known that he is a good singer.

A Patbvt Oybtkr — Where will the genius of the American inventor enil 9 A don n-cast journal informs us that a Maine man ia about to apply lor a patent for an artificial o?ster, made out of flour-paste, tapioca, salt and water. The inventor places these in second-hand oyster-shells, which are carefully glued around the edges; and when a half-in-toxicated customer enlW for a dozen raw on the half-shell, he gets them fresh from tlio shop — Scientific American. A gentloman named Pitcher, who states that ho has had experience in the United Sin tea in the raising and moving of houses, ha* offered his sprvice* to the Metropolitan Boaid of Works for the removal of Northumberland House to another sjl' .

IndiaiUßHEß —The belt ot land 500 milo? north and 500 miles south of the Equator abounds m trees producing indiarubber. These trees, we are told, staud so closely together that a man may tap eighty in a day, fcho daily average yield of each being three tablespoon fills. Forty-three thousand of these trees have been counted in a tract of country a mile long bv eighr wide. There are in Europe and Amerin more t'mn lfO iranufactones of indiarubber arlielei, employing 500 operatives each, and consuming more thun 10,000,000 pounds of gum a year, and yet the business il considrred to be in its infancy. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not, we are told, many friends in the Civil Hen ice, and it therefore hardly surprises us to find that the authorship of the following epitaph is attributed to a member of that body. A short time ago the lines found their way d'n &j the .Treasury bench, and in the courie of a loner nnd tttdtous debate they are paid to have been handed by Mr GladHonc' to Mr Lowe. The verse is as follows :—: — Hero lie the bones of Robert Lowe ; Where he's gone to 1 don't know, If to the realms of peace and love, Farewell to happiness above ; If haply to some lower level, I can tjcongratulate the devil. The Chancellor of the Exchequer seemed lew concerned with the humour of the piece, tho Manchester Guardian says, than with the suggestion that his end should be recorded in anything but a classical tongue, and he dashed off the following rendering, which is certainly remarkable for its spirit, but somewhat mediaeval in its Lat mity : — I*ta continenta fossa, Humihs Roberti ossa. Si ad ceelum evolabit, De eoncordia nil rcstabit ; Sou in infens jacebit, Dinbolo ejus poßnitebit, An amu*ing scene was witnessed recently on a skatingrink in Canada. The piincipal attraction was a beautiful yon tig lady, charmingly dressed with short skirts. She was a very graceful skater, and in ber evolutions displayed a pair of beautifully-formed ankles, \phich seemed to charm the eyes of the young men, although, they aroused the envy of her own «ex. But beauty's reign in this case was short ; she fell upon the ice, and liad the misfortune to rip her stocking with her skate. Not being aware of the mishap, she quickly rose, and continued to glide over the ice as before ; but now the admiration for her was turned to laughter, for a trail of s»wdu<3t followed her, oozing from that ill. fated stockiug. It is needless to add she shortly left t the ice. Mr Aaron Coxhead, a carrier, who died recently at Sunninghill, Surrey, at the patriarchal age of ninety-eight, ba* left 12 children, 50 grandchildren, 120 great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren. At the age of ninetyfour he voted at the last election for the county ab Windsor, and only last season he was to be seen diligently cultivating his garden. An unfortunate Kentucky editor thus addressed his delinquent subscribers :—": — " Friends, we are penniless. Job's turkey was a millionaire compared with our present depressed treasury. To-day, if salt was two cents r a barrel, wo could not buy enough to pickle a jay-bird." Tho wife of M. |[>acinthe Loyson (Pere Hyacinthc) , the ex-Carmelite, lias, it is said, been confined at Geneva of a son, which will be baptized by the Abbe Guichcteau, one of the evPere's converts. \ A dog with two tails was seen tho other day. One belonging to an ox, and was carried in the dog's mouth. England has 673 furnaces, producing 6,000,000 tons of pig iron per annum, secured from 17,000,000 tons of ore. On a very pretty girl saving to Leigh Hunt, " 1 am very sad, you see" he replied, " Oh, no, ypu belong to tho other Jewish sect ; you are very fair, I see." Tummus — " A' wonder what makes told cows' tails wag so to-day, Seusan?" Seusan — " S.mio that makes thy tongue wag so, lad ; it's faihed wi a koiiid o' weakness." An ingenious gaoler down East gives his prisoners three pounds of Epsom salts per week to prevent them breaking out.