ENGLISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1868, Page 3

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

[From the Home News, August 14.] A proposal is under the consideration of the Government for the appointment of a bishop for the army, instead of a chaplain-general, as at present. Tho bishop would have episcopal powers at all stations to which our soldiers are liable to be sent, where there is now no bishop. France has opened negotiations with the other Powers with the view to limiting the resolutions of the GDcumenicnl Council to religious questions alone, and in order that the State and the civil power may take measures to guarantee the free course of their affairs. They are about to cast afc Liege a gun of 21,000 kilogrammes, which, it is said, no iron-clad iv the world would be able to resist. Ono day recently, at ten minutes to five o'clock, a dark cloud overshadowed the valley of Chamounix, a peal of thunder was heard, and then a continuous roar, causing every eye to strain itself in the direction of the Aiguille de Blatiere. Presently a puff of smoke, as it so appeared on the crest of the mountain that supports the Glacier dcs Pelerins, raised the cry that the glacier had burst, bringing with it part of the moraine that had kept it within bounds. The peasants of the valley were rushing to and fro, driving their cattle into safe quarters, and then all eyes were watching one of the most glorious sights the visitor to Chamounix could desire to see. The avalanche every moment added fuel io its course, 'ossing up clouds of spray, bringing Avilh it pine trees, huge boulders, rude bridges, and deserted chalets, until ifc reached the pretty cascade Dv Dard, when the noise was most deafening. The falling mass here, filling the gully and gaining speed at every exertion, left tho course the stream usually takes, and tearing down pine trees, opened an immense track and overflowed the meadows and garj dens of tho Hotel Royal, destroying whole fields of barley and potatoes, and, after spending its fury for twenty minutes on meadows and peasant land, the muddy mass formed itself into a large Jake. A letter from Montreal says :—": — " A reverend gentleman of this city has been fined 100 dollars and daranges for marrying a youth of sixteen years to a widow of forty-nine, without due inquiry. The marriage has been annulled."' The Turin Gazette gives details of the burning of the Nota Theatre in that city. The disaster occurred during the performance of Crispino c la Comare. Tho house was crowded, and the picco had arrived at about the middle of the second act, when the scream of a woman was heard from behind the scenes, followed by the noise of hurried footsteps, and a cry of " Keep your places, it is nothing." The clothes of a female dancer had caught fire, and in her terror she had run about witli her skirt in a blaze, and had thus set lighfc to some drapery at the wings ; she was, however, firmly enveloped in a linen cloth, and the flames of her dress were extinguished before she had suffered any injury. The alarm had, however, spread among the spectators, and a general rush was made to the doors ; for a moment there was great danger of loss of life from the pressure, but some young men who were in the gallery above, and could sco what was going on near the stage, called out that the fire was over. About half of the spectators then returned to their seats, while those who were nearest the door left tho building. The disaster had indeed for a moment appeared to be at an end, a3 the canvas on fire had been torn down and trampled under foot. But the flames had found in the painted

scenes and light wood-work an aliment too favourable, and the flames again appearing, the panic once more became general ; screams were heard on nil sides — several women fainted — many persons jumped from the windows on the staircase — and every one made for the street, leaving behind hats, shawls, umbrellas, &c. Fortunately the theatre had been partly emptied afc the first alarm, and every one was able to get away in safety. The sceue outside was most curious ; the spectators might be seen, some head-bare, and others with clothes torn from I heir back, hurrying to and fro in search of friends or relatives; tho actors and actresses wore in their costumes, while some of tho ballet-girls, who had been surprised while dressing, were between two toilettes, half civil and half theatrical. The flames in the meantime had gained the pit and galleries, and, as the interior of the house wad constructed of wood and canvas only, attempt to check the progress of the lire was useless ; all that could be done was to prevent the conflagration from extending to the adjoining houses, and in a short time nothing but the blackened walls remained. A letter from Fusignano, in the Gazetta del Emili a; states that a wealthy landowner, named Angelo Sinigaglia, was captured a few days back by brigands, and not released until a ransom of 5,001) francs had been paid. The project of enlarging the fortifications of Hayenco has been abandoned by the Prussian Governinenfc oil the advice of the military engineers. The choice of the fresh site has fallen upon Frankfort-on-the-Maitie. In Nevada, a Mr. Hoag has a cocoonery 50 feet square and IS feet high* Ilia nursery and hatchingroom, containing 1,000 feefc of shelves, are sufficient for making 2,000,000 cocoons. Ilis nursery is heated artificially, lie is now feeding nearly 1,000,000 silkworms, and ho hopes soon to feed 3,000,000. The Austriau Government is showing its intention of carrying out the popular policy by placing at the head of the provincial governments officers whose views are entirely in unison with a liberal constitution, whereas the' former officials were of that school which recognizes no form of government but that which, is of the most absolute and arbitrary character. Conflict with Brigands. — A letter from Cuneo, in Piedmont, gives a long account of the capture of two criminals, so dramatic in its details as to warrant an ab-idged translation. It appears for more ( than a year past two brothers, by name Giuseppe and Michael Eririci, had been the terror of the whole province. Besides misdeeds in Italy, they had committed an atrocious crime in France, and fear of being given up to the justice of that country made them very wary, desperate and formidable. The attempts to capture them had been numerous, but always unsuccessful ; they knew the country thoroughly, and the gendarmes were weaiy of pursuing them. On the 13th of last month a corporal ol'gendurmes, named Giovanni Mainoro, who commanded the station of Chiusa, was returning from a long exploration, when ho accidentally learnt that the two Enrici had gone towards Villannova di Mondovi. lie immediately ordered out two patrols to follow them ; one of these was composed of himself and two r/endarmes, Petronelli and Sgro. It; was about, half-past ten when tho three men arrived at the village of Branzolo. They were disguised, and went straight, to the Cock Inn, at the door of which Petronelli stood sentry, while Mainero and Sgro entered the courtyard. There they came upon the I hostess, and at once asked her if the Enrici were in the house. Taken by surprise, she stammeringly admitted the fact. Alarmed by tho barking of the dogs, Michele Enrici showed himself at the window ; Mainero sprang upon him and dealt him two blows upon the head with the butt of his revolver. " What are you about, corporal ?" cried the cunniug brigand, "I am the landlord." Mainoro, believing him, left him alone, but had scarcely turned his back when the malefactor fired a pistol at him, forfcuuately without effect. Then Sgro fired afc Enrici, who fell to the ground, crying out that he was killed. Meanwhile a desperate struggle was going on inside the inn. Mainero and Sgro perceived it and hurried to the room where Giuseppe Enrici and the gendarme Petronelli were lighting fiercely. The latter, while on guard at the street door, had been assailed by Enrici, who fired two shots at him, missing both time 3, and then began a conflict in which the gendarme might hare had the worst of it, had not Mainero and Sgro gone to his assistance. The room was in total darkness, several shots had been fired, the terrified landlord, who had crept info a corner, had been unintentionally wounded, the gendarmes were in danger of wounding each other. At last Enrici was disabled and made prisoner, and the gendarmes went to secure his brother Michele, whom they believed to be badly wounded, but that astute ruffian had disappeared. Eeinforcements were procured and he was soon afterwards truccd to a mill. Warned of the gendarmes' appronch, he jumped out of a window about ten feet from the ground, and succeeded in reaching some rugged and precipitous crags, whence the gendarmes, if they ventured to follow him up, could easily be repelled merely by throwing stones down upon them. As ho stood there, firm and menacing, one of tho gendarmes levelled his carbine and shot him through the leg, so that ho toppled down headlong from his perch, aud died in a few minutes from loss of blood. His brother was taken to jJrison at Mondovi. Canada. — Advices from Nova Scotia state that the Local Government had refused to allow the Queen's printer of the province, who is a member of the Parliament of the Canadian Confederation, to publish a proclamation of the Governor-General enjoining the observance of July 1 as the anniversary of the establishment, of the Confederation. The Administrator of the Government of the province thereupon published it on his own authority, aud placarded it all over Hulifax. It is stated that, in the town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, no celebration of the day took place, and only two lings were displayed. On the 4th of July, however, tho anniversary of American Independence, a salute of thirty-sis guns was fired at sunrise, noon, and sunset, and United States' flags were hung all over the town. The War in Paraguay. — A telegram received in the city, by way of Lisbon, from Buenos Ayres, states that the Brazilian forces, G,OOO strong, sent to make a reconnaisance of the Tohicuari, had been surprised by the Paraguayans near the Kiver Tabaro and fearfully beaten. A great many prisoners, horses, and arms fell into the hands of the Paraguayans. General Cacercs, of Corricntes, has prohibited the sale of horses and cattle (o tho Brazilians. Jluuiaita. is as strong as ever, Tehicuari is well fortified. The river is closed with chains. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury has left, Addingtonpark for the continent. His grace will be absent about six weeks. The Lancet quotes from " Memorials of London " a variety of quaint punishments inflicted during the middle ages upon London tradesmen for selling food deficient in weight and of evil quality. In 1311 a baker was imprisoned for offering putrid bread for sale ; and in 131G two bakers were drawn on hurdles through, the streets of the metropolis and pilloried for using false weights. In 1319, William Spelyng was fixed in the pillory, whilst the putrid carcases of two bullocks found in his shop were burnt under his nose ; and in 1348, two similar punishments for similar crimes arc recorded against delinquent butchers. The Lancet suggests that penalties of like severity might be advantageously inflicted in tho present day on those who use false weights and who sell unwholesome food. The Wiltshire papers say that considerable excitement has been caused at New Swindon by some soculled miraculous cures performed by the Rev. ¥. R. Young, the Unitarian minister. The cure, it appears, is effected by "faith," — i.c, the person operated upon must have faith. One case has attracted much attention. A Mrs. Joseph Jones, living at New Swindon, was struck with paralysis about three months since, and lost the use of her lower limbs. She was unable to get up or down stairs, and her bed was made in the parlour. She could not even dress without assistance. On Tuesday in last week, Mr. Young called upon her, and obtained permission to operate. We must let tho reporter of the Wilts and Grlocester Standard describe the modus opercaidi : — " In the presence of another woman, he first stroked her legs from tko knees downwards, prayed earnestly,

then passed his hands over her face in tho manner of the mesmeric pass, and seizing her thumbs as she lay on the bed, commanded her to get up and walk. The poor woman — we had these facts from her own mouth — says her sensations at that moment were indescribable. She got up and walked across the room to a sofa, Mr. Young strictly commanding her not to touch anything with her hands as an aid, nor did she. 1 1 o then told her to walk down the passage, winch she did, and tho climax of the wonder waa reached when she walked upstairs. We ourselves on Tuesday morning saw her walk across a room. It afterwards appeared that she had been iv the habit of taking Turkish baths at the Volunteer Inn, New Swindon, being wheeled there iv a chair, but tho bath did her little or no good. The other evening she astonished the landlady of that inn by walking to sco her." Another horrible case of wife murder is reported from Liverpool. Some angry words passed between a coalheavcr named Howard and his wife, when, seizing a table knife, he thrust it into her mouth, severing the carotid artery, and occasioning instantaneous death. He has been sent for trial for wilful murder. An affair ha 3 just taken place in a Welsh village which, if the details had not been proved in the police court, there might be some difficulty in crediting as a piece of contemporaneous history. A man named Williams, living at Waenfawr, Carnarvonshire, got tired of his wife, and after living apart from her for some time, married again. It appears that it is the custom to regard the and not tho man, as the principal offender in theso cases, and according to the unwritten law of the country her penalty is that she shall be seized by her neighbours and placed in an upright position upon a ladder (freshly tarred, if practicable), with her legs through the holes, and be curried about the village for such a space of time as seems good to her bearers. Williauis's second wife was accordingly seized at ten o'clock at night by a mob, which surrounded the house where she had taken refuge, and being fixed in the ladder in the position described, she was carried not only all over the village, but for a distance of two miles along the turnpike road, being re-delivered at home shortly after midnight. A policeman watched the proceedings from a safe distance, and valiantly taking down the names of ten men and two women whom he recognized in the crowd, they were subsequently summoned before the magistrates and fined a sovereign each. At the close of the ceremony of "capping" the medical graduates of the University of Edinburgh, on Saturday, August 1, Sir James Simpson delivered an address. In the course of his remarks he said :—: — " A most extensive field for new investigations lies temptingly open for the young and ambitious physician in the almost innumerable series of new chemical compounds which modern organic chemistry has evolved. Among this world of new compounds will probably be yet detected therapeutic agents more direct, more swift, aud yet more sure iv their action than any which our present pharmacopoeias can boast of. It may be, also, that the day will yet come when our patients will be asked to breathe or inspire most of their drugs instead of swallowing them ; or at least when they will be changed into pleasant beverages instead of disgusting draughts and powders, boluses, and pills. But that day of revolution will not probably be fully realized till those distant days when physicians— a cenlury or two hence — shall be familiar with the chemistry of most diseases ; when , they shall know the exact organic poisons that produce them, with all their exact antidotes und eliminatories ; when they shall look upon the cure of some maladies as simply a scries of chymical problems and formula?; when they shall melt down all calculi, necrosed bones, &c, chymically, and wot remove them by surgical operations ; when the bleeding in amputations and other wounds shall be stemmed, not by septic ligatures or stupid needles, but by the simple application of hacrnos'tatic gases or washes; when tho few wounds then required in surgery shall be swiftly and immediately healed by the first intention ; when medical men shall be able to stay the ravages of tubercle, blot out fevers and inflammations, avert and melt down morbid growths, cure cancer, destroy all morbific organic germs and ferments, annul the deadly influences of malaria and contagions, and by these and various other means markedly lengthen oufc the average duration of human life; when our hygienic condition and laws shall have been changed by State legislation, so as to forbid all communicable diseases from being communicated, and remove all causes of sickness that are removable ; when the rapidly increasing length of human life shall begin to fulfil that ancient prophecy, ' the child shall die an hundred years old ; ' — when there shall have been achieved, too, advances in other walks of life far beyond our present state of progress ; when houses shall be built and many other kinds of work performed by machinery, and not by human hands alone ; when the crops in these islands shall be increased five or ten fold, and abundance of human food be provided for our increased population by our fields being irrigated by that waste organic refuse of our towns which we now recklessly run off into our rivers and seas ; when man shall havo invented means of calling down rain at will; when he shall travel from continent to continent by submarine railways, or by flying and ballooning through the air; and when — to venture on only one illustration more — tiresome graduation addresses shall no longer require to be written by old professors nor listened to by young physicians."