LONDON GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5225, 17 November 1877, Page 3

LONDON GOSSIP.

{Frew the Whitehall See i*ur.) The nomination of oandidates for commis-sions-in General Baker’s Turkish Gendarmerie was made, 1 understand, by 4 staff officer at Aldershot, subject, of course, to approval. : I learn from a reliable correspondent at Berlin that the drown Prince of Froseia has expressed bimaell in favour—-under certain oonditions likely to secure a lasting peace between France and Germany—of th* surrender of Alsace and Lorraine,in eoaelderation of aa adequate indemnity. The Germans And the province* will not assimilate with the Fatherland, and . that they aro a eouroe of danger rather than of security. A correspondent adds that it i* improbable that th* transfer would meet with approval in German Court oiroles> or with the Chancellor, so long as France remain* without a settled form of government. TheOrown Frinoess of Germany and her Imperial husband are most anxious that their eldest son, Frinoe William, should have the benefit of a long residence in England, " the only country,” says the amiable Frineeie, " where he oan learn bow to become a gentleman.” The Frinoe and Frineeea wished their boy to have quarters at one of tbe .Boyal Palaces, but here difficulties arose, and the result is, I believe, that the Crown Frinoe ha* taken a hones for the lodging* of the future Emperor of Germany. The young Frinoe is described to me by one who knows him as emphatically a " nice ” hoy, who will become very popular among hit English relatione and friends.

The Emperor of Germany is adjudged, by common consent of the fairer portion of humanity, to be "quite the nicest old gentleman” In the world. Here is an illustration of his excessive amiability, which comes to me first hand. The other day there wae a great review in .Berlin, and some English ladies who were talking to him expressed their intense desire to witness the evolutions. Now, the Kaiser, who has the keen eye of ardent yonth for female beauty, is known to a little coterie to be a great admirer of one of these ladies, and when he heard her request he announced bis intention of complying with the wish to the best of his power, more especially as the day of her departure from Berlin was fast approaching; ao, taking up a card, he wrote upon the back of it with his own imperial hands directions to the military police to place the two English ladies in the best possible position, and si near as might be to himself. "1 shall be on horseback,” the gallant Kaiser added," but do not look at me, or you will eee my eye* full of tears at the thought of your leaving ns.” (From Vanity Fair.)

The Duke of Portland has sent another tub■oriptioß of £IOOO to the Stafford House Fund, thus raising his whole subscription to £4OOO.

Prince Edward of Wale* is living on shore at Osborne Cottage, while the rest of the family have been installed on board the Boysl yacht Osborne. The young Prince has neatly gained in strength since his removal from London, and may now be considered as quite recovered from his dangerous illness. The question was raised in Vanity Fair % week or two ago as to what name would be assumed by Prince Albert Tutor in the event of his succeeding to the throne. It may not be generally known that on the oooasion of hie father's christening the lata Sir Sober! Peel urged upon the Queen the advisability that should the Prince of Wales oome to the throne, he should do so as Edward TIL, not ae Albert 1., as was at one tune suggested. A similar arrangement will, I believe, be made with regard to Prince Albert Victor. There is a great deal of speculation and more idle gossip about Osman Pasha, who will long be remembered as the Turkish general who first it dieted a serious disaster on the Bussian invaders, and as the defender •of Plevna. It was long pretended that be was Marshal Bazaine under another name; and now it is ssid he is sn American distinguished in theOivil War. In feet, hate neither, hut a thorough and complete Turk, of one of the oldest families in Tvirksy. He studied the art of warat Woolwich, and sub* sequent!; on the Continent. The following reaches me from Dublin: — Archbishop Cullen wss making his periodical tour of inspection in the Sunday schools. “Kate Maloney,”said he to an intelligentlooking girl, “explain the meaning of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.” Apanee. At last Kate, replied," Fleece, yer honor, it’e the state of exiltenoe before entering purgatory.” “Go to the bottom of the olasc, you ignorant girl,” said the local clergyman, very much ashamed of hie pupil But his Grace stopped him. “ Not so fast, Father Patrick, not so fast 1 The lass may be right nfter all. What do you or I know about it P” Daring the Volunteer meeting at Wimbledon, the London Scottish, as is the wont of that hospitable oorpi, gave several dinners to their civilian friend* from the North and from town. A witness tell# the following A gentleman in mufti, evidently hailing from the north of the Tweed, was sitting next to one of the officer*. The waiter brougbtround cherry with the sonp, and was about to ponr some into the guest's, when ha etopped him,, and. turning to his neighbour, asked, “ Does sno pay for hi# leequor beref”. “Of course not," replied the officer; "you’re • facet, and have not to pay for anything.” “ Heoh, men!” exclaimed our friend, highly pleased, « but I thall get fu\ (Turning to the waiter.) Aye, gi’e me sherry " _ (JProw the Totter.) _ What Is the average number of the Inhabitants of Hyde Park P During the summer it is the nightly hotel of numerous people, and I have been informed that there are #ome : who never go outside the Park gates for weeks at a time. Two m were bivouacking under my window on Wednesday night, ana their conversation was wafted in. Here is a specimen of it: “Well, you wouldn’t think it to look at mo now, but I’ve danced with duchesses—aye, and they were pleased to do it, too!” _. The following schoolboy's essay on Tima has been forwarded to me from Woolwiwi: —“The value of time ie useful for getting their living. It is most useful. Then « not a minute to lose. It was invented by Alfred the Great, who made a very long candle, Time is used for the purposrof tellingpeopl# the time. Many men make their living by making time. Some people make their Uvtli-, hood by making watches and clocks. Tims passes very quickly for manor boy, Mon for his labour and boy for hi* work. Those is a time for all things, especially for gtown-np people.” ; ' There ira good story told by Mr Steels, the school inspector for the Free ton district, ahbnt one of the pupil teacher* he examined. The teacher had been in training for five years, and this was the description ha gave of &e “State of England under the Heptarchy ”" People had three meek a daybreakfast, dinner, and supper. They retired to rest in a state of nudity, and laid on a bed of straw. , Tha Saxon# were eminently •oriel: when they drank they would pnt their tumblers together, very often accompanying it with a kiss, and toll of great exploit#, of going to the theatres to see to# daaeing bear*. Captain Walt er ha# had toe, pinto to speak openly of the deterioration of. onr soldiers. He •ay* that “the *m>nht of drunkeanose ia frightful," end quote* an instance of a master gunner who came to him with no and el .certificate#, but whom ha had to discharge k 'a fortnight for delirium trmeut. Jpropu of tois, I Was preeenl ones ia aa orderly-room when a prisoner wee undergoing examiaatloiD. II Was the man drunkf” aeked toa oallwA' “Wan,-«r,": answered the sergeant," wse betwixt and between.” “Good 1 betwixt and between I* you as«g*ut»aßd that a soldieriatoher drnnlTW •Obar. Sergeant major, strip off that marts Btripea. n Wa west aUv eatootla of (hat •tompliiiffttianiiso. !S f/; , :% ,y " ' x