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Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 602, 17 September 1853, Page 7

Buukb's Fondness for Children.-— Burke was so very partial to children, that ha would play at tee-totum and push-pin with them; and apparently, take as much delight in. the stories of "Jack the Giant-killer," and "Tom Thumb," as themselves. " Half an hour might pass," says Murphy," during which he would keep speaking in such a way that you could see no more in him than an ordinary man, good naturedly amusing his young auditors, when some observation or suggestion calling his attention, a remark of the most profound wisdom would slip out, and he would return to his tee-totum." It is related of him, that one day, after dining with Fox, Sheridan, Lord John Townsend, and several other eminent men, at Sheridan's cottage, he amused himself by rapidly wheeling his host's little son round the front garden, in a child's hand chaise. While thus employed, the great orator, it is added, evinced by his looks and activity that he enjoyed the sport nearly as much as his delighted play- fellow. The New Saxon Invasion of Ireland. — The Galway Packet contains a remarkable article in reference to what it calls "tha conquest complete" of Ireland by the Saxon :—": — " The Saxon in Ireland may no longer be regarded as a sentimental tourist sitting on the box- seat of a mail-coach, with sketchbook in hand, delineating the physical appearance of the country, and carricaturing the ' wild Hirish.' He is now a veritable settler, snugly located ia every romantic spot along our western coast. The fertile farms that have lain waste for the last few years, from which extermination drove the oppressed native, and the houses wherein famine seized its victims, are being fast occupied by English and Scotch settlers. Whether they will, like the brave old Anglo-Normans, become more Irish shan the Irish themselves, and resist the oppressions that drove forth their predecessors into death'or exile, remains to be ween ; but that some of the fairest portions of Ireland will shortly be in the actual occupation or under the control of the Saxon is a fact that can no longer be questioned. Every day English speculators in Irish farming may be seen on their way westward in search of suitable homesteads. The facilities afforded by the operation of the Encumbered Estates Court for obtaining purchases in fee have induced English capitalists to look out among us for profitable investments, since Ireland has been tranquilised by the expatriation and destruction of the Celt." Irish Denial.— An Irish boy who was trying hard to get a place, denied that he was Irish. " I don't know what you mean by not being an ■Irishman," said the gentleman who was about hiring him ; " but this I know, you were born in Ireland." " Och, your honour, if that's all," said the boy, " small blame to that. Suppose I bad been bom in a stable would I have been a hone i"