EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 25, 25 October 1842, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE (From the Nelson Examiner.J

The Queen’s Masque, so long looked forward to as the beau ideal of court amusements, fully realised the most extravagant expectations formed by the most sanguine. It surpassed in brilliancy any thing which even history or tradition has preserved. Her Majesty is again far advanced in pregnancy. Good, the Roehampton murderer, has been tried and executed.

It is reported that Lady Macnaughten has committed suicide, in consequence of the diabolical treatment she had received from one of the Affghan chiefs. Marriage in High Life. —The Marquis of Waterford was on Wednesday morning married at Whitehall Chapel, to the beautiful and accomplished Miss Stuart, daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothesay. The ceremony was performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Armagh, in the presence of a numerous host of friends and relations of both parties. The noble father of the bride gave his daughter away. The noble Marquis and his bride were loudly cheered, on their leaving the chapel, by the crowd which had assembled. — Sydney Herald. Marriage in High Life. —On Monday the lion. Henry William Petre, second son of Lord Petre, led to the hymenial altar, at the Catholic chapel, at Brentwood, Helen, daughter of Richard Walmesly, Esq., of Middleton hall. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. J. Moltino, in the presence of Lord Stafford, Lord and Lady Petre, and the Hon. Messrs. Petre, Hon. Charles and the Misses Petre, Lady and the Misses Bedingfield, Major Colegrave, &c. At the conclusion of the ceremony mass was performed, and in the sermon which followed some appropriate allusions were made by the preacher to the youthful bridegroom, who was one of the founders of the colony of New Zealand, and to which settlement he will shortly return. An elegant dejedner was provided in a spacious marquee, and the happy pair left in a post-chariot and four to pass the honeymoon at Leamington Spa. — Sydney Morning Herald.

Interesting Experiment by the Humane Society.— A committee of this benevolent body met lately at Mr. Berwick’s brewery, Canongate, to assure themselves, by occular proof, of the bouyant power of the life-preserver, called the “safety-cape,” made by Messrs. Macintosh, of Manchester, for the Albion Cloth Company, under the direction of one of the members of the Skating Club. Mr. Berwick kindly filled one of his large cast-iron tanks or tuns, to the depth of six feet two inches, with water, at warm-bath temperature. A stout sailor, of five feet six inches, and about eleven or twelve stone weight, having put on the “ safety-cape,” went into the water with his clothes on, and to the satisfaction of all present, floated vertically at his ease, with his head and neck and part of his shoulders above water. This he did without making the slightest effort to swim. Weights were then handed to him, which he held in his hands below water; seven pounds sunk him to the throat —eleven to the lip. The result is, that the “ safety-cape” has power to float two persons; or to enable a person wearing it to sustain another in the water who is not provided with it. To confer this power upon an otherwise convenient, comfortable, ■ and handsome piece of dress, which is not known to be a life preserver until it is inflated, and may be worn by either sex, we consider a boon to society. We understand the Humane Society are to use their influence to recommend it to general use, both here, and in England, in the approaching boating, sailing, and steaming season ; and in the skating season next winter. How many lives would be saved if the person immersed could be kept above water even for a few minutes ! In a late paper we read of the loss of a whole boat’s crew, who finally disappeared just as a boat arrived to assist them.— Sydney Gazette.

The late Fire at Hamburgh. —By the steamer which arrived at Hull on Monday from Hamburgh we have the following statistical details of the destruction of property by the late calamitous fire : —Streets destroyed, 61 ; lanes

ditto, 120; houses ditto iri streets, 1992; small houses in lanes, 498 ; cellars, 468 ; inhabitants dispossessed, 21,526. Churches destroyed, three, viz., St. Peter, St. Nicolas, and St. Gertrude. The value of the private buildings is estimated at forty-seven million marks banco, in the mutual assurance effected by the municipalities, and the public buildings at ten millions, making together fifty-seven millions, equal to 3,363,000/. The furniture and goods are estimated at 3,963,000/., making the total value of the property 7,356,000/. The amount insured in the foreign insurance companies on furniture and goods is estimated at ten million marks banco, or 741,000/., but we are informed, on very good authority, that this item is so overrated, that it throws a doubt upon the accuracy of the statement of the aggregate loss sustained , We are creditably informed, that the total amount of the liabilities of the English insurance companies will not exceed, at the very utmost, 450,000/.; and according to the most recent accounts, 420,000/. is held as nearer the truth. It is farther rendered perfectly certain, that even the latter account will be materially reduced; for as the researches in the ruins proceeded, considerable amounts of property were rescued daily, which was constantly increasing the salvage to the English companies. It is quite clear that there is rather a disposition to exaggerate the account of the loss sustained on the other side of the water than to diminish it; and the same tone has been assumed here to increase the amount of the liabilities of the insurance offices, and to produce certain desired effects on the money market.— Bristol Mirror.