Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1288, 5 December 1857, Page 4

Miscellaneous.

A Telegraph to India. —The Times says that there are persons now prepared at a very small expense, in a very short time, and by methods which seem palpably practicable, to bring India into such connection with England that whatever is known one day in Calcutta may be known that day week in London. Of course, tho agency is that of the telegraph. There is nothing new in the principle, but there is something very striking in tbe coincidence by which tbe facilities in question have been crested. At the south-eastern corner of the Mediterranean basin lies the port of Alexandria. From Suez, at the opposite side of the isthmus which connects Africa with Asia, to Aden, our own settlement, at the outlet of the Red Sea, the distance is less than 1500 miles; from Aden to Kurrachee the most convenient port of India—the mileage is about the same ; so that tbe space to be traversed between Alexandria, a point almost at our door, and Kurrachee, a town standing on the Indus itself, assumes no very considerable proportions, and is besides divided admirably for the purposes in view. But thousands of miles of cable are not to be had at a moment’s notice ? As it happens, they are. The Atlantic Telegraph Company, in the exercise of their discretion, have decided on not immediately renewing the attempt to connect England with the United States, and their cable is disposable for a similar enterprise in another direction. The cost would be small. The sum of £3oo,ooo—little more than tbe amount of which a single railway company was robbed by a single servant —will link Alexandria with Aden. The connection of Aden with Kurrachee will be mora costly by£100,000; but £/00,000 would complete tbe business; and so plain are tbe prospects, and so confident the projectors, that London, it is distinctly averred, could be brought within a week’s distance of Calcutta almost as soon as the troops now leaving these shores will arrive before Delhi. To speak more precisely to tbe point, ire are assured that this most desirable communication can be actually established before the end of the present year. A Noble Sailor.—At Bude (Cornwall) a few days ago, a lady named Cox, a visitor of that place, was bathing at low water at the entrance of the harbour, but being a good swimmer she ventured too far, and was drawn by tbe tide beyond the breakers, which were running very heavy. Her friends on tbe shore were, as might be imagined, in great agony of mind. George Bate, a sailor, seeing the lady’s situation, with the greatest promptitude undressed himself and swam to her rescue. At this time she was more than a half-mile from the shore. On Bate reaching her she was floating on her back, her bathing dress probably being the means of keeping her so long afloat. Bate approached her cautiously and spoke. She replied, “ Can you save me?” Bate said, “Yes, if you will be steady.” She then said “ Where shall I take hold of you ?” Bate, seeing that she appeared collected, swam directly to her, and she placed her hands on his shoulders, and with his heavy burthen on his back, he commenced an arduous struggle towards tbe shore. When brought on shore, Mrs. Cox was so completely exhausted as to be apparently lifeless, but with proper assistance she was restored.—Bristol Advertiser. Fourteen Millions of Personalty. Jennens’ -Estate.—On Saturday night, the 15th, a meeting was convened at the Public Hall Colchester, for the purpose cf hearing a lecture from Mr. George Pratt, ou the subject of the heirship to the above property. Tbe lecturer has bestowed a vast amount of labour in collecting evidence to prove that the family of Martin, now living in poverty at Colchester, are the “ alone heirs ” to tbe personal and real estate of the late William Jennens, Esq., of Acton Place, Suffolk, The personal estate he estimates at fourteen millions sterling, and the real estate at £150,000 per annum. Mr. Pratt informed his audience that every register and every proof were now in hand to establish the fact of Martin’s heirship, and all the documentary evidence necessary for carrying the case into court had been obtained. It is now 59 years since the death of Jennens, and a large number of claimants feel a deep interest in the settlement of Martin’s claim. —lpswich Express. A Continental Rumour.—Steps have been taken, we learn, by the English Government, to engage French officers on half-pay to enter the British service in India. Engagements will not be contracted for less than two years, and not lor more than five. The pay will be : Captains, £BOO per annum ; lieutenants, £6OO ; second lieutenants, £40(1, all tbe travelling expenses out and home to be defrayed by the East India Company.—Emancipation of Brussels.

The “Gateshead Observer” reports the speech of a gallant gentleman who proposing the health of the ladies, remarked that if he might be allowed to couple with tbe toast a sentiment, which was peculiarly proper in the present day, he would say “ May their virtues be ample as their petticoats, and their faults be smaller than their bonnets.”

Miss Madeleine Smith.—Miss Smith has sought retirement elsewhere. She has gone, we believe, to the south of England, for a permanent residence. Her departure was managed so quietly that it was scarcely known till some time after she had gone. She went on board the steamer at Roseneath on Friday last, and sailed up the river unnoticed, and had completed her journey before even those who were partially in the secret and on tbe look«out were aware of her movements. The morbid curiosity which seems to influence a large section of society has latterly developed itself in an amazing quantity of letters, which were poured in upon this unhappy girl—letters, we believe, of the most frivolous nature, and chiefly with the view of securing her autograph. Among these epistles, she told a friend, there were ten offers of marriage ! If this be true —and there seems little doubt of it —we may well blush at the moral degradation of the men who wrote them.— Dumber ton Herald,— The following letter has been handed to us for publication, but we do not vouch for its authenticity: “ You will be glad to hear that I am well—in fact, quite well—and my spirits not in the kast cast down. I left Edinburgh and went to Slatelord, and got borne to Rowaleyn during the night; but, alas, I found mamma in a bad stale of health; but I trust in a short time all will be well with her. The feeling in the west is not so good towards me as you kind Edinburgh folks showed me. I rather think it will be necessary for me to leave Scotland for a few months, but Mamma is so unwell we do not like to fix anything at present, If ever you see Mr. C. Combe, tell him the ‘ panel ’ was not pleased with tbe verdict. I was delighted with the loud cheer the court gave me. I did not feel in tbe least put about when tbe jury were out, considering whether they would keep me or send me home. I think I must have bad several hundred letters, all from gentlemen—some offering me consolation, and some their hearts and homes. My friend I have not seen him. I bear he has been ill; but I don’t much care. I hope he will give are a note. Thank Miss B. and Agnes in my name for all their kindness and attention to me. I should like you to send me my bible and watch to 124, Si. Vin-cenl-street, Glasgow, to J. Smith, Tbe country is looking most lovely. As soon as I know my arrangements I shall let you know where I am to be sent to. With kind love to yourself ond Mr. Smith, ever believe me, yours sincerely, Madeleine H. Smith.”— Edinburgh North Briton. Madeleine Smith.—A telegraphic despatch to tbe New York Commercial from Newfoundland, intimated that Miss Smith, lately acquitted of poisoning her lover in Glasgow, had taken passage for New York in the Asia. We now learn from the Albany Statesman, that when tbe Asia arrived a large number of New Yorkers, bent upon giving Miss Madeleine a public recep tion, serenade, &c., after the most approved Gorham fashion, proceeded to the Cunard dock to receive her. But, alas, it was found that the heroine was not on board, but the error had arisen from tbe fact that a Dutch lady named Mathilde Smidt was amongst the passengers. The committee of reception, rushing on board, inquired for “ Miss Smith.” They were shown to the cabin of the “fat, fair, and forty” Mathilde Smidt. Their chairman and spokesman had hardly commenced his prepared speech, when he was interrupted by something which appeared very much like “Nix furstang—nix spreichAnglishl” The committee was thunderstruck. They knew very well that the dialect was not Scottish, and concluding there must be some mistake, gathered up their hats and left in disgust. It strikes U 3 that the said telegraphic notice, being' supplementary to the first one announcing the general news received on Thursday from the same point, must have been intended by some wag to impose upon the credulity of the excitable fast ones in the model city. The joke was a good one, and must have amused the Dutch Mias Schmidt amazingly. The Queen’s Residence at Balmoral.— Since the Court left Balmoral in October last year tbe Royal residence and grounds have undergone many improvements. The Castle is now finished ; the last vestige of the old buildings has disappeared, and the spacious lawn in front of the naw house is already covered by the purple heather and a thriving plantation. On the east side a very extensive range of stabling has been erected, and all abont the Castle and by the Banks of the Dee there are finely gravelled walks and green bank terraces. But the principal improvement is the cast-iron bridge over the Dea. An Act of Parliament having been obtained to authorise a diversion of the south road to the north side, so as to preserve the deer forest and secure the privacy of the Castle, a new bridge became necessary, and this his Royal Highness has had built at his own expense. The bridge is 165 feet span, and is constructed on the principle of the tubular bridge across the Menai Strait. Great changes have taken place in the interior of tbe Castle. Tbe furniture that had been used in the old house, and was with some additions adapted to tbe new one, has ell been sold, and furniture made of American ash has taken its place. Everywhere throughout the Castle the appointments are remarkable for simplicity of character and purity of taste. With the exception of the corridors, which ate ail painted in dark marble, there is no paint to be seen, the whole of the framework being varnished. The apartments of the Princess Royal are just finished, to be occupied by her Royal Highness only fora season; but an artist is busily engaged making drawings of them to be sent to Berlin. While the new house has thus been completed, the people on the property have not been neglected. There are now two schools for the children of the crofters and servants about the Castle ; new cottages have been built for the poor tenants, and the old ones improved. In the neighbourhood of the Castle neat cottages are being built, while the country about Deeside generally is undergoing a great change in its social aspect and domestic appearance. Five years ago one coach was sufficient for all the passengers travelling between Aberdeen and Braemar; last year 12,000 persons passed over the side railway, ond most i f them for the upper districts of the country. The game on the estates of the Prince Consort has been well preserved, and it is fully expected iy the gamekeepers that there will be no lack ol 'rouse on tbe moors. The deer are also plentiful and strong.