ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 391, 2 May 1849, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

The augmentation of the constabulary from 22,000 to 30,000 rank and file will enable the Government to withdraw ten regiments from Ireland for colonial and other services, and to concentrate at head- quarters those many detachments now frequently employed upon duty which is the legitimate province of a police force. It is also intended to attach, to the head- quarters of the constabulary in. each province a flying park of artillery for field service. — Globe. "It is difficult to say," remarks the Daily News, a remarkable authoiity en such a subject, " what name is most disliked now in Paris — that of Louis Phillippe, or that of th« Republic." The " Cheap" System. — " I regard the increasing rage for having everything for nothiug with perfect horror ; universal depreciation and bankruptcies are its obvious tendencies. The penny postage was given to us by the Legislature, and the newspaper stamp was reduced to. one penny, with the view of increasing the social happiness and mental improvement of the people ; but no one ever contemplated or desired the reduction of everything else in the same proportion. By all means let us have everything as cheap as practicable ; but fair and reasonable competition, with the destruction of all monopolies, would ensure us this result, without encouraging the reckless spirit of adventure which, marks the present age. Besides, do we profit by it in the long run ? Old establishments are broken up, and if the new ones succeed (which they rarely do) it is only by the employment of inferior materials and labour. Have you ever tried a 30s. dress suit, a ss. hat, or a pair of six and fourpenny Wellingtons ? A cheap newspaper editor, finding no demand for his ware at the market price, cats down his establishment, dismisses half his staff, and reduces the poor penny-a-liner's copy to a shilling paragraph, and then talks of his liberality to the public in putting himself up' ; for twopence halfpenny per diem, forgetting that if he succeeds, his contemporaries ; will, soon place him* on' the' same footing as

before; with no other result to the public than an inferior trtkle at an inferior price ! Loot at the, miseries attending a penny omnibus. Stoppages at every ten yards, and fish-fags, costermongers, and sweeps for fellow-passen-gers. You get into a halfpenny steam boat, and find yourself despatched to Charing Cross instead of London Bridge, with a leg or two minus — all the result of that inferiority of skill, labour, and material, which must ever be the -consequence of rash and ill-balanced reductions of price. The other day a lady showed me her photographic portrait, executed at the top of one of those numberless attics in Ldndo'n devoted to the perpetration of cheap and miserable imitations of the matchless'art of Beard, and she wondered why they had made her look so much like an * Ethiopian Seranader !' For my part I should have taken it for a chimney pot instead of a human being." — Conversations with a Practical Man.

The New Horror. — A contemporary calls attention to the poisonings which have become a practice among certain classes of the population, for the sake of gain, by frauds on insurance-offices and burial clubs ; and shows reasons for supposing that the known cases are but few a instances of a crime which is to a wide extent undetected, especially in the factory districts. At Preston, where 23;000 members are enrolled in three burial societies, statistics suggest a very dark suspicion. Only healthy children are accepted for enrolment, and sixteen weekly payments are exacted before the benefit can accrue to the person who enrolls a child : accordingly, between the ages of two months and six months, the mortality among the unentered children of the general population is less ; but after six months it is greater — that is, the healthier children, who are insured, die off faster than the uninsured and sickly : — • ".'The average amount granted at death,' says a daily paper, ' is between eight and nine pounds ; and it is not unfrequent to find that an infant is enrolled in three or four different burial clubs, so that the premium for its death becomes as, much as twenty pounds. In the manufacturing districts, where the mother of a family 4s working in a factory, the infants are entrusted to hired nurses, who often take charge -of the children of several families at the same time. Now, it is by no means rare to find these hired nurses speculating on the decease of their charges, by enrolling them in burial clubs, in the expectation that a speedy death may insure a larger return for the investment. It is unnecessary Jo allude to the easy methods by which this gambling speculation may be realized ; for negligent treatment, with the aid of Godfrey's Cordial, will soon terminate the life of a child under circumstances in which criminal intention could not 'be construed. These pecuniary inducements to negligent treatment act upon parents themselves. The chaplain of Preston Gaol mentions the case of the sickness of the child of a nurse, who, being offered by her sympathizing mistress the services of her medical man, declined them on the ground of the enrolment of the child in two burial clubs, and the consequent gain by its death. The check upon this crim3 suggested by our contemporary is ' the verification of the alleged cause of death in every case which occurs, Whether or not there be just grounds for suspicion ; a very proper rule which ought to be enforced by the existing law of registration, but that the law is imperfect, and its enforcement still more so. In considering the moral pestilence and its appropriate checks, we ought to look deeper than the mere proximate cause — the hope of lucre. The crime is not altogether new. The case of Standring and his wife, at Stockport, which first called any decided attention to the subject, happened at least ten years ago ; and there was then reason to suppose that the practice was by no means new. Standring and his wife traded in the .death of their own children. The habits of providence which are inculcated on the industrious classes thus become instruments depravity, so atrocious that there must be something wrong in the system to which that pro-ident institution belongs. The factory system gives us cheap cottons, makes us ' the workshop of the world,' augments the national wealth, enables the factory districts to dictate free trade and decree cheap bread ; bnt along with it goes this hideous depravity, that perverts the strongest and most sacred of instincts. We are dismayed when we see parental instinct perverted in the lower animals ; but such abberratioos are rare : it is in our own race, and in the crowning work of the newest civilization, that we detect the wholesale depravity. Now, what are the circumitances of the classes in which it is most common ? We find them among the communities where we find also the most general traces x)i intelligence and education ; but, nevertheless, if we look a little closer we shall see that the particular sections of the community among which the practice prevails endures the more primitive influences of organisation, without Enjoying its fortifying influence. The division "of employments and the competition of !

labour have given to the mill-owner the pick of the labour market : and he selects the very best hands — such as will turn out the greatest amount of work, in the best state, in the shortest time; his choice falls mostly on • young persons,' who combine the skill of mature age with the delicate finger and sensitive touch of youth. In the bulk, the best wages and the most certain employment fall to these young persons and women ; the natural head of the family is deposed ; the young persons are prematurely independent. Boys and girls marry in haste, and take no leisure for repentance ; separation after a few weeks is common ; bigamy is frequent. The whole day, except each * roaring, ranting, tearing,' holiday, is spent in the factory ; there is no home. Children are an infliction ; they are put out to nurse, at a set charge nicely jeduced to a minimum by ' the higgling of the market' — to have a child, means to pay balf-a-crown a week to a woman who trades in nursing, until the child is old enough to enter a factory ; unless a burial society should offer a more ready source of profit. ,In shorf, throughout large 'sections of our population, the family is broken up," and the family instincts are destroyed. Such are among the incidents in our boasted factory system. This view opens a dreary prospect of continued and increasing depravity, with no adequate remedy in sight. — London Paper.

The Whaling Company. — Speaking of a proposal to make Otago the head quarters of Mr. Enderby's whaling company, the Times says : — These views seem not unreasonable, | but it is believed they were all taken into consideration before the Auckland Islands were finally determined upon as the site of the projected company. If we are rightly informed, facilities for carrying out his scheme were equally presented to Mr. Enderby in Australia, Van Diemen's Land, and New Zealand, and it was therefore for no reason beyond that of a sense of peculiar fitness that the Aucklands were selected. "We have it on the authority of Captain ILoss that, "in the whole range of the vast Southern Ocean, no spot could be found combining so completely the essential requisites for a fixed whaling station;" and amongst the especial points urged in support of this opinion are — 1. The necessity that whaling stations should always, if possible, be isolated, so as to preclude the chance of the population being attracted fitfully to other pursuits, while at the same time the stores would be more safe from plunder. 2. That in the high southern latitudes there is a most extensive fishery as yet undisturbed. 3. That the blubber in its raw state would not admit of being taken for the purpose of being boiled into a climate so warm even as that of Van Diemen's Land or New Zealand ; and 4. The freedom from the immediate presence of any competitors. As regards the gales and general dreariness of the islauds, these features, even if they prevailed to a considerable extent, would be of little importance to the class for whom the colony is proposed to be established ; but the concurrent testimony of most voyagers by whom the region has been visited, seems to show that it' deserves a better description than such characteristics would convey. D'Urville, speaking of the principal harbour, says, "It is one of the finest that I know," while the east coast is stated to have exhibited " here and there, 1 a fine sandy beach, upon which the sea scarcely broke, and intersected by numerous streams and inlets." Dubouset, also one of the French officers, alludes to the probability of colonists being attracted by " the fine harbour of the islands and their temperate climate ;" and Lieutenant Wilkes speaks of it as a very desirable place at which to refit. The statement of scientific persons, moreover, as to the soil, is that it is " generally good and highly productive ; and that the climate although somewhat humid, and subject to heavy squalls, is nevertheless very healthy." It is not contended but that whaling may be carried on profitably both from New Zealand and Australia, and these fields will still be open to individual enterprise ; but the point maintained is, that for all the permanent requisites of a public company the Aucklands are much more favourably situated, and the correctness of this opinion has long been admitted, not only by the most experienced persons in England, but also in Australia, where great benefits (which would equally j reach New Zealand) are expected to arise, both directly and indirectly, from the success of the contemplated scheme.

Buckingham Palace. — The works at this royal residence are now proceeding with great vigour, but they are not expected to be finished until the close of the next summer, in consequence of the extent of the alterations and additions in progress, intended to be made. The new wing, however, forming a frontage to the whole building is now completely raised, and the internal operations are progressing at the same time that the ornamental portions of the exterior are being proceeded with as fast as practicable, and already afford evidence of the much improved

appearance which the building will present when the whole it completed. It is now, we believe, definitely arranged that the splendid marble arch in the centre, which cost originally so large a sum of money, and formed so important a portion of the approaches to the Palace, is to be altogether removed, and it is understood not to be improbable that the arch may come into the possession of an eminent builder and contractor for works of this extensive and important character. The wreck of the pavilion at Brighton has been made of service in the furnishing and embellishing of the new wing, as most of the large and splendid marble chimney pieces which adorned the deserted marine royal residence alluded to have been removed to Buckingham Palace, and are in course of erection in the newly made apartments. One chimney piece in particular, which is destined to surmount the fireplace in the new breakfast room, situated in the new compartment of the building, and at the extreme angle of the front wing looking towards Piccadilly, is of the most splendid and valuable character, and is valued at the amount of several thousand pounds. Although the additions now being made to this royal residence will greatly add to the convenience of the illustrious occupants by the increased number of apartments which will be placed at their disposal, yet none of them will be of very great extent, nor, we believe, of larger dimensions than the majority of the rooms in the previous portions of the edifice.

The Kaffir and the Ladies. — A few days ago, four ladies in the height (or rather in the extreme breadth) of fiahion, paid a visit to the rebel chief Sandilli, at his residence in the Drostdy ; a well known gallant and witty Colonel acting as Cicerone to the party. With considerable address and the aid of the Colonel, each fair votary of fashion managed to convey herself and portable waTdrobe through the narrow doorway (only intended for a horse to enter at) of the chiefs apartment without much damage, and the party stood fronting the group of wondering savages. Sandilli reclined on an iron hospital stretcher, in graceful attitude, with his regal tiger skin kaross carelessly thrown over him. His brother, a splendid specimen of a rude Kaffir, stood on his left, in all the pride of native dignity, whose fine limbs and well developed muscles no throng or wrappage had helped to strangle in their growth — a contrast to the figures of his milliner-made visitors. Around these two were lying, sitting, and standing, the other councillors, about a dozen, in various attitudes and stages, some blanketed and karossed. After a scrutinizing examination of the Mite of Kaffirland, and critical disquisition on the part of the ladies, Sandilli was requested to stand up and shew himself. The chief wished to know who the ladies were that he should stand in their presence. " Tell him," said the jocose Colonel to the interpreter, " tell him they affe my wives, and that I have another at home ; and ask him what he thinks of them." " Fie, Colonel," twittered one young lady, "how can you tell the chief such nonsense?" The interpreter explained, the chief laughed and whispered to his brother, who laughed also, and the laugh went round the circle, all staring at the four fashionable ladies, who began to laugh too at the hilarity they had occasioned among the natives. " Oh ! do tell us what they are all so merry about," said Miss ; "they've found out something very funny, I'm sure, Sandilli is laughing so wickedly f " " Oh, yes, Colonel," entreated M rs , f pray let the interpreter ask him." The interpreter did ask, but was seized with such a fit of laughing that he could not stop. The ladies joined again and the scene became really exciting. The interpreter seemed bashful when pressed to give the merry chiefs reply, and the curiosity of the ladies of course made them still more importunate for an explanation. " What does he say V quoth the Colonel. ♦'• He says, Sir/ you ari likely to have a large family, for they all appear- — ~!" Suddenly the room is darkened, bustles are squeezing themselves angrily through the narrow doorway, helping to wedge each other through, &c, and the party is seen in rapid flight, scampering home along the green, followed by the arch Colonel.— African Journal.

An Anciekt Dahlia.— ln the travels of Lord Lindsay, the noble lord states that in the course of his wanderings amid the pyramids of that patriarchal and interesting -land , (Egypt), he stumbled on a mtfmmy proved by its hieroglyphics to be at least 2000 years j of age. In examining the mummy after it was unwrapped, he found in one of its closed hands a tuberous or bulbous root. He was interested in the question how long vegetable life could last, and he therefore took that tuberous root from the mummy's hand, planted it in a sunny soil, allowed the rains and dews of heaven to descend upon it, and in the course of a few weeks, to his astonishment and joy, the root bunt forth and bloomed into a beauteous dahlia.

, Dir* intKtfcE *etw*bn a. Maxim* a»d> Truth. — The English public is not yet ripe to comprehend the essential difference between tbe reason and the^understanding — between • principle and a maxim — an eternal truths 4*d a mere conclusion generalized from *: greafc number of facts. A man having seen a million moss roses all red, concludes- from hi* own experience and that of others, that mil moss roses are red. That is a maxim with him — the greatest amount of lit knowledge upon the subject. But it is only true until some gardener has produced a white moss rose ; after which the maxim is good for nothing. Again, suppose Adam watching the sun sinking under the western horizon for the first time ; he is seized with gloom and terror, relieved by scarce a ray of hope that to shall ever see the glorious light again. Tbe next evening, when it declines, his hopes are stronger, but still mixed with fear ; and even at the end of a thousand years, ill that a maa can feel is, a hope and an expectation so strong as to precluJe anxiety. Now compare this in its highest degree,: with tbe assurance which you iave that the two -sides of a triangle are together greater than the third. This, demonstrated of one triangle, is seen to »c eternally true of all imaginable triangles. This is a tTuth perceived at once by intuitive reason, independently of experience.. It it, and must ever be so, multiply and vary the shapes and sizes of triangles as you may.— Coleridge.

The Evils op Garrulity. — Only conaider, how frequently important interests may be fatally compromised by the chattering of the lowest- underling in an office ! How ea» sily might the weakness, the difficulties of a client's case, ooze out to the other side, were not great caution used by those in whom such, confidence is necessarily imposed ! Bui they, must repose confidence in their torn ; and in whom implicitly, if not by your masters, in their own articled clerks — gentlemen, though a little younger, equally with themselves, or ought to be so. Some years ago a mercantile case of considerable magnitude was depending in the Court of Queen's Bench, in which, though the pleadings were unavoidably complicated and voluminous, the merits lay within a nutshell ; and seemed to be so cleafcly with the plaintiff, that he could not comprehend what the defendant meant by persevering in his determination to incur the heavy cost of a trial before a special jury,, in London. Again and again were the pleading* and proofs anxiously reviewed, but disclosed nothing warranting the defendant's pertinacity. The present Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer led for the plaintiff, and the late Sir William Follett for the defendant; and at the plaintiff 'a I consultation, all his three connsel expressed their curiosity to know what the defendant could be about ; and the day of trial was awaited with no little anxiety. Now, mark ! On the afternoon of the day but one before that fixed for the cause to come on, a young clerk of the defendant's attorney was dining at Dolly's chop house, with a friend, whom he was telling of a " great commercial case" in their office, in which Sir William Follett was going to nonsuit the plaintiff, became of a flaw in the declaration — a defective breach — in support of which a considerable number of witnesses were coming up on behalf of the plaintiff, from Cheshire. He mentioned what the defect was, and that was distinctly overheard by one of the plaintiff's principal witnesses, whose person was unknown to the speaker ; and who, hastening his dinner, started off to the plaintiff's attorney, and told him what he had heard. The attorney instantly drove off to his' junior counsel i a second consultation was fixed \ and the blot was acknowledged to exist, to the consterna* . tion of the plaintiff's attorney, a very able and vigilant practitioner, who had bestowed great pains on the case. An effort was made, unsuccessfully, to amend ; the record was there* fore withdrawn, and the witnesses were sent back into the country. The declaration Wai ultimately amended at a fearful cost, all ex* penses previously incurred being of courie thrown away. Before the cause hid become ripe, however, for trial, the plaintiff died ; the defendant, a foreign merchant, fell into embarrassed circumstances ; and the executors of the plaintiff recovered nothing. The slip in the declaration had been made by the junior counsel, a clever pleader, recently deadi whose large practice occasioned him to dratf the declaration, which wit long and intricate, in too much haste. — Warren** DutiesWAti Urnits.