MISCELLANEOUS ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 26 June 1862, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

THE 2nd LIFE GUARDS. (From the Army and Navy Gazette.)

In drawing attention last AA-eek to the condition of the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards, Aye expressed a -confident hope that, as soon as the occurrence to which Aye more particularly, referred came to the knowledge of the authorities, they would act upon the information, make themselves acquainted Avith the facts, and proceed in whatever manner-a knowledge of the state of the corps: might render, "most expedient for its restoration to efficiency and public estimation. -We are glad to say that, so fur, our anticipations have not boon disappointed. In the early part of the week Major-General Lawrenson, the Inspector-General of Cavalry, went to -Wiudsor to make preliminary inquiries into.the circumstances of the insubordinate demonstration lately made, and not punished by Col. Martyn The'principal'witnesses,' namely, the two officers who Averothe objects, of this display, were not. present, Captain Palmer being on leave, and Lieutenant Cuizon at Hyfche, undergoing a course of instruction in musketry. As a matter of course, the evidence of these officers Avill be the first called for by the court of .inquiry, which we may presume wiil be appointed. We cordially echo the opinion expressed by more than one of our contemporaries, that, to be satisfactory, the inquiry must go beyond the lato incidentat Windsor.. -In-order to do justice to the. regiment and the colonel, it must take cognisance of the system under which such an, occurrence could have taken place, of the general Avay in Avhich the corps has been" commanded, and of the example of attention to duty set by the senior to the junior officers. It Avi 11 be CA-en essential to ascertain whether an example consistent with the discipline of the service has been given Avhen the 2nd Life Guards were associated Avith other regiments on service. If, on investigation, it should appear that Colonel Martyn, as field officer of the day at Aldershott, requested one of his captains to personate him in that capacity, and on his refusing, ordered one of his subalterns to do so, and that this subaltern turned out the Guards, aud received the honors due only to a field officer, the' fact Avill demand grave attention from those responsible for carrying out the Queen's regulations. When a full investigation has taken place, we kaA-e no doubt that the General Comraanding-in-Chief wi'l act, having regard only to the public interests and the good of the regiment, ■ Italian Josbeht. —We have received a curious sketch of the Avay in Avhich Anlonelli accumulatesAvealth :—"ln a way peculiar to absolute despotism, Antonelli also manages to turn vast sums into his own' pocket aud the pockets of his family. The Bank of Rome itself is kept by his brother Fihppo Antonelli, and Avhat presentations may there take place are of course unkuown. This year, however, an illustration of strange dealings came out; £2000 collected in England as Peter's pence, were, sent over to Morisi»nor T., the Pope'slrish Chamberlain. Messrs. p and C •, English Catholic bankers in Rome, agreed to cash the bills for this money at an unusually- low rate of interest, and Monsignor T— —.s confidential servant was in the act of carrying it to thenbank, when he was met by Antonelli's servants, Avho vehemently required him to lodge it, not with Messrs p— fa and C r, but -with Antonelli; and the man, overwhelmed by menaces, consented. In 18(50 it was suddenly proclaimed that Sicilian wines might be imported free of duty direct to Rome. _ Immediately afterwards, sixteen vessels laden with them, an I belonging to Autouclli, arrived at the Risser Grande. Hardly was their cargo landed, .when a newdecree came out, forbidding tho future importation of Sicilian wines 1 A large contract being opened tor snpplying wood for the fences of the railways, a man named Corterre, a creature of Antonelli. made an offer, to Avhich one of the four brothers, Count Irittone, ventured faire concurrence by an-under-bid. Instantly the Trittones were accused of raising bodies of Trasteverini to cry. '-Morte al Tape.' .Three-were exiled.; The fourth lay concealed for four months at thehouseofiny informant* .At the. end. of that time,; De Grammont interfered; for .the pardon of Count Trittone for his imaginary offence (which.was entirely, disproved) on the grounds of his usefulness as pur-

veyoroftlife;P;ri!iicli'ariiiy:';'"('Before"it was granted, however, the contract was given to Gortesi I"—Spectator. • "'■ '■ -.' '. ' --. „ _ FbbXch.'WoAk'mex at tke Exhibition Buili^ i Sa —-The French workmeu are a pleasant body ot men, clearly they take things con amore, and work is no 'toil to"them. Six to plane a piece of deal—one to plane, another to hold, and a group of four corners, for the sake of effect, and to keep up the current of critical remarks upon tlie operation of plimmj.', which apparently draws forth many jokes—many similes — many frowns; and a-.iou the rustle, of a petticoat is henril in the gallery, from whence we loom dowu speculative philosophers of the scene below; all heads are raised— Vamour is "kindled-and many remarks are made on the style of this anyiol d'amore, who looks, unfortunately, better .at the distance- thanks to the style, crinoline, &c—than she does o;i nearer approach. The disappointment is visible and audible; it stops the planing, and a group is formed instantcr in deep'discussion. We-see-they are sombre now. One is advancing a doctrine of some kind evidently. Can it be about planingl Scarcely. About the Exhibition? As little likely ; and as Aye cannot, at the distance, hear them, or they Avould doubtless not beso serious in discourse, in our mind Aye calculate that it must be politics, aud believe that they are making hay while the sun shines—gabbling what will soon be difenda when they make their exit on t'other side of the 'water.— Court Journal. (vIGANTIC B.VI'TKHY-PI.ATK VOH TII 13 GREAT LXUlbmiox.—On Friday, a gigantic haimnered-ivon battery plate was forwarded bythe Mersey Steel and Iron Company to London, to be placed in the Great Exhibition. It was 21. feet 3 iuches m length. 0 feet S inches wide, o>, inches thick, aud woighe I between thirteen ,<viid. fourteen tons. This gi»-aotio plat", which Avas more than doable the'size ofthose supplied for the construction of the steum-rams now in course of being madeis remarkable in several respects. It was a remarkably fine specimen of iron-forging, and - speaks'in a highly favorable manner of the capabi b.ti«s of the immense new steam-hammers possessed by the company, it having been forged under one of them. Before it was'completed, the company applied for an extension of space and time for its production. Had that been eranted, the length of the plate would have been increased to between 30 an I 10 feet, and its weight to upwards of 20 tons. While it was in -cavirso of being prepared, several Government officers ;"id members of the Defence Committee, including General Sir' John Burgoyne, visited the works.. AU of these gentlemen expressed great interest in.the pro"re?s~ of this monster piece of iron-work, and were much pleased with the ellic'wney "f tho apparatus and the judicious methods'of working employed m its production.— Liverpool Albion.