Miscellaneous.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 613, 22 September 1858, Page 4

Miscellaneous.

Vote of Confidence in Lord Canning ~ We are informed that a Court of Director nT+'C East India Company was held oS£ \l which a vote strongly expressing the conSnce of the Court in Lord Canning was passed, we believe unanimously.— Globe. - The Resolution, expressing confidence in Lord Canning, adopted by the Court of Directors is in these terms :—

That m reference to the despatch from the becrefc Committee to the Governor-General of India, dated the 19th ultimo, with the documents therein alluded to, and this day laid before the Court of Directors, this Court desires to express its continued confidence in the Go-vernor-General, Lord Canning, and its conviction that his measures for the pacification of M?\ and the other disturbed. districts in India, will be characterized by a generous policy, and by the utmost clemency that is found to be consistent with the satisfactory accomplishment oi that important object." Something like discipline. On the 7th of May an individual in plain clothes was entering the Governor's Palace, Malta, with a lighted cigar, when he was stopped by the sentry °with an intimation that his orders were not to allow smoking. The individual referred to signified that he was the Governor, Sir John Gaspard Le Mar chant. This, however, had no other effect th an to make the sentry more firm in the execution of his duty, and his Excellency was under the necessity of casting away his much cherished "Savannah." Daring the day, the order-board was withdrawn, and a new one issued from the Town-Major's office,, with the omission of the objectionable prohibition. Railway Directors should either engage this sentry to carry out their orders against smoking, or else follow the Town-Major's example. Vesuviusis again in a state of grand eruptionIt began on the 21st May, and has since continued. The lava streams have been very destructive, but the spectators are in ecstacies. No fewer than seven new craters have been opened in the side of the mountain. The lava, flows in broad streams and falls in splendid cascades over the tranverse ridges. A vast amount of property—forests, vineyards, homesteads— has been destroyed. To the Neapolitans it is a. f6te.

More" outrages " upon American vessels are. spoken of, but- some of them have been indignantly refuted by the masters of the said outraged ships. The Senate has, adopted a resolution directing inquiry whether additional legislation was neccesssary for the protection of American shipping. In the meantime, Mr. Senator Douglas has brought in a "bill to restrain and redress outrages upon the flag and citizens of the United States." It stands thus—

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in^ Congress assembled, that in case of flagrant violation of the laws of nations by outrage upon the flag, soil, or citizens of the United. States, or upon their'property," under circumstances requiring prompt redress, and when, in. the opinion of the President, delay would be incompatible with the honor and dignity of the republic, the President is hereby authorized taemploy such force as he may deem necessary to prevent the perpetration of such outrages, and to obtain just redress and satisfaction for the same, when perpetrated j and it shall be his duty to lay the facts of each case, together with the reasons for his action in the premises, befoie Congress at the earliest practicable moment, for v such further action thereon as Congress may \ direct."

Mr. Crittenden is reported to have said in the Senate that "if the reports of British insults were true, and were not amply disclaimed by England, -we ought to be ready for war, and carry it out to the utmost honorable limits. He believed that England would give an ample apology for these offensive aggressions of their cruiser." And Mr. Tombs is stated to have remarked, that "he had been ready at any time these ten years for a war with England, and if we got up a war now he wanted to be ' counted in.''" The House Committee on Naval Affairs has agreed to a bill authorizing the construction of the gun-boats; and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, it is supposed, will endeavour to increase the number to thirty. The Treasury suffers under a deficit, and there is to be a loan of, fifteen millions of dollars.

The bill providing for the admission of Oregon as a State has passed the Senate. The mail from the West Coast of Africa brings this item of news illustrating the new systeni of slave trade,—" In consequence of information received at Monrovia, Commander Croft left in the Etbiope on the 14th: April,, and cm the 15th fell in with the French ship Coeli Regina, 420 tons, in possession of a large number of negroes, who were not able to manage her. After a parley, the second officer of the Ethiope, with a part of the crew, went on board, when about 250 of the negroes swam to the shore, where nearly the-whole were murdered by the captain of the French ship and natives. It appears that the Cccli Regina,. which is completely fitted for the slave trade, had been cruising for a month near Cape Palmas, and, under pretence of taking them to a better^ place, had secured 500 negroes, who were immediately placed between decks, many of them in irons. When the Captain (Simon) was ashore, and part of the crew in a boat alongside, the negroes procured firearms, and shot all but the doctor and two seamen, whom they retained to steer the ship. Capt. Simon came within gunshot several times afterwards, but was not allowed to come on board. Tho CoqH Regina was towed into Monrovia, whoro she was loffc in possession of thq purser of the Ethiope,"