ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 522, 3 August 1850, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Australia. —The New Constitution, And Steam Communication. —Still speaking of the counteraction of coining measures, it may be mentioned that circulars were issued convening a general meeting of the members of the Society for the Reform of Colonial Government, at Charing Cross, for two o'clock to-day, but now postponed till Monday. Meanwhile, there was a meeting at the Carlton, yesterday, of the Tory section of the colonial reformers, the Adderley party, at which was approved Molesworth's suggestion for bringing on his Australian Bill in the shape of a resolution, not as an amendment, on the government bill, in committe on Friday next. Sir William gave notice to this effect last night; but it is to be conditional on the success of Walpole's motion for giving the colony a legislative council and representative assembly— a proposition about whose consequence to the government there are a variety of ominous opinions afloat; but the public have no taste for any further cry of " wolf " till they have actually seen the animal, which after all ma.y prove to be a very harmless quadruped. In reference to Australia it will not be out of place to add, that it is tolerably well understood in city circles that the Peninsular and Oriental Company will have the contract for the steam service, as they can perfotm it much cheaper and better than any other parties ; that the route will be from Singapore as originally advocated by Waghorn ; and that the only condition necessary to induce the company to set to work at once - is, that they shall have the mail service between Suez and Bombay, instead of the East India Company, whose final answer to the government pioposition on that may be expected in a few days. —London Correspondent of the Liverpool Albion, March 11.

Reduction of the Army. —The following circular memorandum issued at the Horse Guards, respecting the reduction in the array, comes into operation on the 31st instant: — The sth, 20th, 86th, 42nd, 44th, 45th, 56th, 67th, 69th, 76th, and 2nd battalion Rifle Brigade, are to be converted into regiments one battalion of 1000 rank and file each, with a recruiting depot similar to regiments serving in India. The 11th, 58th, and 65th, regiments (now serving in New Zealand and Australia), are to be reduced to 750 each, and to be thus divided : —Service companies, 540; depot, 210 ; total rank and file, 750. It may be added, with regard to the regiments in New Zealand and Australia to be reduced, the men are to be discharged on the spot, so as to allow such as desire it to colonise, but such as desire to returu home will be obliged to pay their own passage. The 6th Foot (hitherto 1,200 rank and file) is to be reduced to 750. The following depots of regiments serving in the colonies are to be reduced 20 rank and file each —viz., Ist battalion Ist Foot, 7th, 16th, 19th, 34th, 38th, 44th, 66th, 72nd, 73rd, 79th, 88th, 95th, and Ist battalion Rifle Brigade. The above will give a reductian of 3,680 rank and file. With respect to officers, the lieutenant-colonels, captains, and subalterns are to remain on full pay on the strength of their regiments (en second) until their services are actually requifed ; but the quartermasters and medical officers are to be placed upon half-pay from the Ist of April next. The saving to the country by this reduction will be about £120,000 for the present year. —Atlas, March 16.

The Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin. — In the House of Commons, on the 12th March, Sir R. H. Inglis begged to ask a few questions respecting this expedition. He had taken the liberty to suggest the sub-division of the expedition into smaller vessels, and that they should mainly consist of steam power, and that each officer should to a certain extent be independent of others, in order to stimulate individual exertion. He gratefully acknowledged that his suggestions had been favourably received. He wished now to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty in what state the intended expedition is ? Of what force it consists ? And wben it might be expected to proceed, as the delay of a week, or even of a day, might be fatal. — Sir T. Baring said the expedition consisted of two steamers under Captain Austin, accompanied by two brigs, and a separate expedition under the superintendence of Captain Fenny, of the mercantile navy, entirely independent of Captain Austin's command. Everything would be done to forward the expedition. The Admiralty and all under it were anxious that they should speedily sail, and the whole would sail, at the latest, in the last week in April. — Observer.

Sir John Franklin. — Twenty Thousand Pounds Reward. — Admiralty, March 7. — Twenty thousand pounds reward will be given by her Majesty's government to any party or parties of any country who shall render efficient assistance to the crews of the discovery ships under the command of Sir John Franklin: — 1. To any party or parties, who in

the judgment of the Board of Admiralty, shall discover and effectually relieve the craws of her Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror, the sum of £20,000; or 2. To any party or parties who, in the judgment of the Board of Admiralty, shall discover or effectually relieve any of the crews of htr Majesty's ships Erebus and Terror, or shall convey such intelligence as shall lead to the relief of such crews, or any of them, the sum of £10,000 ; or, 3. To any party or parties who, in the judgment of the Board of Admiralty, shall by virtue of his or their efforts, first succeed in ascertaining their fate, £10,000. W. A. B. Hamilton, Secretary to the Admiralty.— Gazette. Mr. Charles Dickens is about to assume editorial functions. He is to conduct a twopenny weekly miscellany devoted to general literature and the social questions of the time. The first number is to appear in March. Education of the Military. — With the view of elevating the tastes and cultivating the moral sentiments of the soldiers under his command, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, 0.C.8., Lieutenant- Governor of Portsmouth, &c, has engaged a spacious building for the purpose of having lectures delivered to the troops on subjects connected with military tactics and science.

The Leaders of the Modern English Bar. — We feel a great difficulty in speaking of the actual practitioners now at the bar of England. Never at any period within a century and a half was the profession at so low an intellectual ebb as at this moment. It is not that there is any deficiency of the day labourers, the plodding formalities of the profession. These exist in greater numbers, and are probably as competent and well read in the lore of the blue books and practice cases as any of their predecessors. But superior intellects and brilliant talents are, in our day, altogether wanting. There is no Erskine, no Murray, no Law, no Romilly, no Brougham, no Copley, no Denman, no Follett : we have not even in our time a Best, a Garrow, or a Scarlett. It will scarcely be credited by a lay reader, but the fact is not the less deplorably true, that, with the exception of half a dozen men, we can scarcely name a barrister who can now addfess a jury, in an important cause, with average ability. Sir Frederick Thesiger, Sir John Jervis, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Matthew Hill, and Mr. Cockburn may be mentioned as among the best specimens, and among these there is only one who can be called "eloquent, and Mr. Cockburns is the eloquence more of the rhetorician than of the man of fervid and impassioned feeling.— North British Quarterly.

A Masked Ball. — The masked balls, which have begun with a zeal and vigour which reminds one of the season which succeeded the revolution of July, have already contributed their usual quota of anecdote and adventure. One of these has furnished much amusement amongst our gay circles during the week. Monsieur de B , the most charming and successful of our fashionable lions, whose conjugal misfortunes have excited the pity and ridicule of his friends and acquaintance, was seduced to the opera-ball by a sweetly-perfumed little billet, accompanying a knot of rosecoloured ribbon, to be worn on his sleeve as a sign whereby to recognise him in the crowd, the writer declaring that she knew him not even by sight, but had been inspired by his reputation for gallantry and chivalrous character to take the opportunity which the mask affords of convening with him unobserved, and of gaining an insight into his thoughts and feelinga. M. de B was in raptures. Like all conquerors in the decline of victory, his first and only dream became that of battle, siege, surrender at discretion, and leading into captivity. He repaired to the ball according' to the summons so gracefully issued, and- was soon accosted by a charming little pink satin domino, who, first touching the knot on bis sleeve, then pointed to the fellow one which adorned her own, and, placing her arm within his, led him through the crowd to one of the private apartments of the loges grilles on the ground floor. Here they con versed for a time, the unhappy M. de B growing more and more intoxicated with the brilliant wit and repartee of his new friend, who seemed to know everything concerning him, even in his most secret proceedings, some of which be thought hidden from the whole world. She even talked of his wife, who had been languishing in obscurity at her mother's chateau, awaiting the issue of the lawsuit which M. de B had instituted against her in order to retain possession of the dowry which had been paid on her marriage. The lady agreed to all bis condemnation of his wife, and perfectly approved his resolution to retaia the correspondence which had formed the basis of his proceedings against her, being the only proof of her infidelity. In short, the fair stranger so won upon bis confidence by her flattery and admiration, that he vowed " if she would listen to his prayer he would discard all other flames and live for her alone," such being the style in use during the youth

of our somewhat ripe suitor. What more be urged we have not heard ; but so quickly did he prosper in bis suit that the lady consented to' accept a supper and champagne at the neighbouring restaurateur's. A cabinet particulier was accordingly secured, and thither the happy couple repaired, the lady still preserving her mask, in spite of the urgent entreaties of her new adorer, who, however, knev; too well the conciliatory efftcts of champagne, not to reckon blindly on the success of his prayer when it should have been tried. So impatient indeed did he become, that, unable to bear the delay consequent on the excitement and hurry caused in the establishment by the rush of customers on an opera ball night, he left the room to urge the cooks and waiters to make haste. When he returned the bird bad flown, leaving a written line in pencil requesting him to wait a while. This he did with the greatest bonhomie until long after daylight, when, in repentance and disgust, he hurried home, to find that his wife had been to his apartment, and, having ransacked his desk and drawers, had carried off every document appertaining to her correspondence with the Count de F , which was to authorise poor B to retain every fartbing of her fortune. — Pens Correspond dent of the Atlas.