MISCELLANEA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 133, 23 July 1853, Page 9

MISCELLANEA.

Antiquarian Discovert. —Some time ago, in clearing out the ruins of an old chapel at Nuneham Regis, in Warwickshire, which had been pulled down, all but the belfry tower, about forty years since, we thought it necessary to trench the whole space, that we might more certainly mark out the boundaries of the'building, as we wished to restore it, in some measure, to its former state. We began to trench at the west end, and came on a great many bones and skeletons from which the coffins had crumbled away, till, finding the earth had been moved, we went deeper and discovered a leaden coffin, quite perfect, without date or inscription of any kind. We cut the lead, and folded back the top, so as not to destroy it. Beneath was a wooden coffin, in good preservation, and also without any inscription. As soon as the leaden top was rolled back, a most overpowering aromatic smell diffused itself all over the place. We then unfastened the inner coffin, and found the body of a man embalmed with great care, and heaps of rosemary and aromatic leaves piled over him. On examining the body more closely, we found it had been beheaded, the head was separately wrapped up in linen and the linen shirt that covered the body was drawn quite over the neck where the head had been cut off. The head was laid straight with the body, and where the joining of the neck and head should have been, it was tied round with a broad black riband, and the thumbs i were tied together with black riband. He bad ! a peaked beard, and a quantity of long brown hair, curled and clotted with blood, round his neck; the only mark on anything about him was on the linen on his chest, just above where his hands were crossed; on it were the letters 'T. 8.," worked in black silk. On trenching towards the chancel, we came on four leaden coffins laid side by side, with inscriptions on each; one contained tbe body of Frances, Earl of Chichester, and Lord Dunsmure, 1623 ; the next the body of Audrey, Countess of Chichester, 1692; another the body of Lady Audrey Leigh, their daughter, 1640 ; and the fourth the body of Sir John Anderson, son of Lady Chichester, by her first husband. We open;ed the coffin of Lady Audrey Leigh, and found her perfectly embalmed- and in good preservation, her flesh quite plump, her eyes were closed, her face very beautiful, her hands exceedingly small and not wasted ; she was dressed in fine linen trimmed all over with point lace, and two rows of lace were placed across her forehead. She looked exactly as if she were lying asleep, and seemed not more than 16 or 17 years old; her beauty was very great; even her eyelashes and eyebrows were quite perfect, and her eyes were closed ; no part of her face or figure was at all fallen in. We also opened Lady Chichester's coffin, but with her the embalming had apparently failed ; she was a skeleton, though the coffin was half full of aromatic leaves. Her hair, however, was as fresh and glossy as that of a child, and of a soft aubunfcolour. Young Lady Audrey had ear-rings in her ears—black enamelled serpents. The perfume of the herbs and gums used in embalming them was so sickening that we were all ill after inhaling it, and most of theimen employed in digging up the coffins were ill also. My object in sending this account is, if possible, to discover^ who the beheaded man is.— Notes and Queries.

The futube Race of Australians.—A correspondent of the Sydney Empire Indulges in the following amusing cogitation on the genus homo in these colonies, and it may be developed at a future day:—"lt is affirmed that the admixture of so many different races as constitute British society have been the prime means of producing powerful influences on their constitutions and habits, and of stamping the population of the isles of Albion with a spirit of energy, enterprise, industry, and bravery, which distinguishes that wonderful people over all others on the terraqueous globe. If this asseveration is true, what a fine race will live in and occupy Australia a hundred and fifty years hence. An amalgamation of English, Irish, Scots, Welch, Americans, French, Germans, Dutch, Danes, Africans, Chinese, Malays, Coolies, castes of every caste, people from every land except Patagonia and Beotia—havn't heard of any migrations from thence as yet— must certainly constitute a very extraordinary race, and the language will surpass any variety ever babbled at Babylon, or rather Babel, where the first professorships of Oriental languages were founded." Abd-el-Kader and the Turkish Sultan. —A.bd-el-Kader has not yet terminated his eventful career, but promises to give further trouble to the French. The Marseilles steamer, which ought to have sailed from Constantinople on the sth March, has been detained on his account. It appears that some time ago M. de Lavellette gave notice to Fuad Effendi, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, that he intended to present Abd-el-Kader to the Sultan on the arrival of the former at Constantinople. The minister replied that he saw no objection whatever to his intention. Accordingly, as Abd-el-Kader is expected daily by a French war steamer, his Excellency again applied to Fuad Effendi, to name a day when he might present the Emir to his Majesty. The foreign minister now replies that such a presentation cannot take place, since Abd-el-Kader is a subject of the Sultan. "It is true," he added, " that the French are de facto in possession of Algeria, but it belongs de jure to the Sultan, therefore the Emir will be introduced to his Sovereign by one of his Majesty's ministers, and not by a French ambassador." This unexpected answer startled not a little M. de Lavalette, and when he urged that he had already written to the Emperor, the reply he had first received from the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, the latter shrugged his shoulders, and said that " his second thoughts were best, since the first answer had been given without due consideration." Another fact has come to light in connexion with this subject. It seems that the Sheikh il Islam h is been asked if the oath of allegiance sworn by Abd-el-Kader to the Emperor is binding. The spiritual head of Islam pronounced the oath invalid, since it was taken by a captive in the hands of hostile infidels; such an oath, to be binding, should be taken in the presence of free Mussulmans. There is an" idea afloat, which is by no means improbable, that the French Ambassador intends to make the Emir reiterate his oath in the presence of the Sultan and the Sheikh il Islam. The probable termination of the affair will be, that the French will bully, and the Turks yield, since it is a question which does not appear to interest any other power. A memorial was in course of signature from the planters, merchants, and other inhabitants in Ceylon, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, praying for the removal of the present heavy import duty on coffee, as a measure likely to prevent frequent adulterations of that article with spurious and noxious ingredients. Some Hindoos in Calcutta had lately convened a meeting to consider the best means of opposing the modern innovations on their time honoured institutions of matrimony, as in the last degree impious, offensive to the gods, and contrary to all their ancient laws and institutions. The settlement of the question was referred to one Noodeya, a district Pundit, who required some time before he should be ready with his judgment. The absurd and barharous usages enforcing early and unapproved marriages among the Hindoos had long been complained of by the more enlightened of the sect, and ladies of the more influential families had latterly been induced to burst asunder tbe trammels which bound them to widowhood and consequent slavery. The interference of the Government washy many urged on behalf of the abolition of the monstrous system of child marriage. -'- .