MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 14, 11 July 1840, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Earthquake near Lyme. — On Christmas Eve, about six, the residents in the houses and cottages along the coast between Lyme and Seaton were alarmed by a convulsion of the earth, attended with fearful sounds. This astounding- occurrence was succeeded by reiterations of the phenomena, and it was soon ascertained that a course of mischief was in serious operation. On arriving at a part of the coast near Dowlands, a quarter of a mile from the sea, it was found that a large portion* of land, on which there were several cottages, orchards, and a coppice, had been separated from their sites, leaving huge chasms in a lateral direction along the coast between Sidmouth and Seaton to the- extent of upwards of four miles. The convulsions of the earth continued at various intervals from the night of Tuesday, the 24th inst., to Friday evening, the 27th inst., having within that interval occasioned the prostration and subsidence of buildings of various descriptions, and the displacement of large tracts of soil. A loss of property to a considerable extent was the result. Among the sufferers is Mrs. Inman, a respectable resident of Bishop's Hull, near this town, whose loss is estimated at upwards- £2,000. Mr. Hallett, of Axmouth, and- Mrs. Dare, also suffered heavily by the event. A huge rock, fifty feet high, appears in the sea off Culverhole, nearly a quarter of a mile from the spot where the principal scene of mischief presents itself. The soundings were being taken around the newly formed rock on Saturday. No lives were lost by this event, although several of the occupants of cottages, who had left home to spend their Christmas eve, found, to their great astonishment, on their return, no other vestiges of their dwellings but those presented by the roofs and chimneys discernible above the chasms in which their habitations- were engulphed. The new road from Charmouth to Lyme is utterly destroyed. The total loss of property is estimated at £6,000. Mr. Chappel, the renter of the estate called Gowlands, upon which four of the destroyed cottages stood, succeeded by great exertions on Wednesday in saving the lives of twenty-eight of the poor occupiers, and having employed nine carts, secured most of their furniture. On the following morning the cottages had sunk up to their roofs. The cliffs on the coast do not appear to have suffered any disruption, all the mischief being inland. — Taunton Courier.

A correspondent at Brighton informs us, that a wealthy gentleman of the Jewish nation, who possesses the Wyke estate there, has offered to present a portion of it to her Majesty for the site and grounds of a new palace, with a view to remove the objection which her Majesty is understood to entertain to frequent or protracted visits to Brighton, on account of the want of sea-view, and the limited extent of grounds at the Pavilion. It is added, that the same gentleman has offered to lend, the whole sum required for the building ; and that an architect of the same nation has already

prepared a plan for the edifice upon a scale of regal magnificencei—MoßNiNG Post. Prince Albert. — The following description of Prince Albert's personal appearance is given by the " Morning Chronicle "—"" — " The countenance of his Highness is round, and devoid of colour ; the forehead moderate, its greatest breadth being above the outer angle of the eyes, forming projections where phrenologists place the organs of music and order. The hair, worn straight and entirely off the forehead, is not what is termed fair, but is a light hue, much like that of her Majesty. The brows are broad, lowest at the inner angle, and but slightly arched. The eyes, cheerful in expression, are of a greenish hazel, and not large. The t nose rather long, with a slight depression below the bridge, and another rise at the point, somewhat similar in profile to that of the late Lord Byron. The mouth , is moderate, the lip's well coloured, surmounted • . by a narrow short moustache, which, with the brows and eyelashes, are rather lighter in tint • than the hair. In figure his Highness is slight, and not tall ; but his carriage is erect, and his movements active." , A correspondent inquires what Prince Albert's emoluments as Field-Marshall will be ? Somewhere between £ 1 500 and £2000 a-year, if our recollection is right. Of course the Prince will have a Regiment, and probably of Household Troops ; for which, as Colonel, he will receive upwards of £1000 more. By a Parliamentary paper, just delivered, we find that his uncle Leopold's Colonelcy of the - Fifth Regiment of Dragoon Guards was worth between £1400 and£lsoo per annum. — Spectator. The following anecdote is in circulation respecting the moderate expectations as to an allowance entertained by the Prince- Consort previous to his marriage. Lord Melbourne having requested the Prince to name the sum he thought would be sufficient for his privy purse, carefully reminding him that all expenses of the household would be defrayed by Her Majesty, His Royal Highness repeatedly declined mentioning any sum ; but, on being strongly urged, at last observed that he thought £4000 a-year would be ample. — Galignani's Messenger. - Lord Brougham- has made a flying visit to Paris, having staid there only a few hours, on his way to his estate near Hieres, where he and Baron Stultz divide the sovereignty over the peasants of his neighbourhood. — Globe. The sudden demise of Mr. Stephen Pricc,.^ who for more than thirty years has been manager of the Park Theatre, in New York, has caused that house to be closed the two past nights. Mr. Price was also for several I years manager of the Drury Lane Theatre, London ; ami few men had more numerous or warm friends. — New York paper. The Paris papers of Sunday, January 28, are much occupied with the projected marriage of the Duke de Nemours with the , Princess Victoria Augusta Antoinette of Saxe Coburg Gotha, which was communicated to the Chambers of Peers and Deputies, on Saturday, by Marshal Soult. The matter is announced by the " Moniteur "in the following terms. " The Marshal President of the Council presented to-day to both Chambers a communication relative to a project of. marriage between his Royal Highness the Duke de Nemours and her Highness Madame Victoria Augusta Antoinette of Saxe Coburg Gotha, sister of the King of Portugal, and niece of his Majesty the King of the Belgians and of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, mother of the Queen of England." On this important communication most of the Paris journals before us comment at considerable length. The Opposition papers refer principally to the demand of an immediate vote of 500,000 francs to defray the expenses of the proposed marriage, of an annuity of a similar amount to the Royal Duke during his life, and a jointure of 300,000 francs for his Princess should she outlive him. That the Prince should marry, if it please him, is, say those papers, natural ; but they complain that the country should, at a period of so much distress and suffering as now prevails, be so largely, and as they contend unnecessarily, and even so unjustly taxed for his support and that of his Princess.. The Royal Wedding Cake. — This Royal cake weighs nearly 300- lbs. It is three yards in circumference, and fourteen inches in depth or thickness. It is, say the Court journals, all covered with sugar of the purest white (as most bride-cakes are) and all sorts of cupids and doves. It is intended to be placed on the marriage breakfast table. — Statesman, February 9, 18-10.. Linneal Society. — The ordinary meeting of this Society took place on Tuesday evening, Mr. Edward Forster, F.R.S., in the chair. Mr. Anderson exhibited some curious specimens of the vascular . tissue of the Agave, or American aloe, which were of a texture exceedingly firm', and "fully equal to that- of the New Zealand flax. — Ibid.