Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 86, 28 August 1852, Page 7

Extensive Sheep Stealing.—Last week, Mr. J. Aitken had stolen from his station at " the Plains," no less thau 3200 sheep in one lot! The last heard of them was that a large flock was seen going in the direction from the Plains to the diggings, and no doubt they were speedily and readily disposed of-without the detection of the robbers ; the sheep having no distinguishing mark on them except a slit in the ears, rendering it impossible to identify the skins even if found, and of course the heads would be made away with without lost time. Considering that sheep do not travel fast in flocks, it is strange no clue was obtained of this enormous robbery, till all traces of the flock had been put an end to by the knife of the butcher. This is the largest and most daring theft of the kind that has yet come under our notice in the colony.— Melbourne Herald.

Dignity of the American Press.—The editor of the American Mechanic has encountered trials unknown to ordinary men. Hearken unto his wailings : " Owing to the facts that our papermakerj disappointed us, the mails failed, and deprived us of our exchanges, a Dutch pedlar stole our scissors, the rats ran off with our paste, and the devils went to the circus, while the editor was at home tending babies, our paper is unavoidably delayed beyond the proper period of publication.'' GuiZOT ON THE Men OF THE ENGLISH Commonwealth. —M. Guizot has evidently, and as evidently never had, any love for French Republicans, and in one of his latest publications he speaks thus of those whom he pronounces English Republicans : " Respect for their sincerity, their genius, and their misfortunes, restrains me from fully expressing my opinion concerning some illustrious men. Sydney, Vane, Ludlow, Harrington, Hutchinson, and Milton, were republicans, but rather in accordance with the political systems and models of antiquity, than from religious fanaticism. They were men of lofty spirits and proud hearts; full of noble ambition for their country and for mankind ; but so injudicious and so insanely proud, that they learned nothing either from power or from defeat. Credulous as childhood, and obstinate as age, blinded by hope to their perils and their faults, they were, while preparing the way by their own anarchical tyranny for a more consistent and more powerful tyranny, persuaded that they were founding the freest and most glorious of governments."