EFFECT OF THE SECESSION ON BRITISH AMERICA. (From the Canadian News.)

Otago Witness, Issue 489, 13 April 1861, Page 6

EFFECT OF THE SECESSION ON BRITISH AMERICA. (From the Canadian News.)

The effect of the disruption of the American" Union, however severely it may be felt in tile United States, will cause no injury to Canada. If, as some persons seem to think, the secession of the Northern States may lead to the establishment of a number of smaller confederacies in the North, the united British colonies would then be much more powerful than any of these separate Governments, and would obtain an influence on the North American continent proportionate to their extent, wealth, and commanding frontier. The British Government has no wish to aggrandize itself in the New World ; but, if circumstances should arise to make us relatively the greatest power on the continent, we hope it will not be considered a great political crime if we endeavour to realise the predictions of a "writer in one of the Boston journals, that England must " become the first of American nations, as she is now the first of European nations." " The next best thing for us," says another writer, "of the North-Eastern States, would be the ascendancy of England on this continent, and that is what must happen if the United States are false to their trust,, and the Union be changed into half-a-dozen weak and ricketty confederations." The change anticipated in this passage is the formation of four confederacies — one formed of the New England States ; a second, of New York and the Central States ; a third, of Illinois and the West ; and the fourth made up of South Carolina and the Gulf regions. In the event of such a political change being accomplished, the position of Canada would be most favourable. There would exist a rivalry between the new confederacies for the trade and products of Canada, which would not fail to have a most beneficial effect upon the mercantile, shipping, and railway interests of the colony. If the secession movement is, however, confined to the SouthStates, British colonial interests will not suffer. An extensive trade will be carried on between Canada and the South, either by way of Chicago and the Mississippi, or by Quebec and the South ports. The antagonism which would exist between the South and New York and the Northern States would facilitate negotiations and extend the trade between the Southern States and Canada, both being opposed to the New York interests. ■ If the North and South oppose each other by hostile tariffs, as they no doubt --will do, the rapprochement will be all the more easy between Canada and the British provinces and the Southern confederacy.

Makriaoe on the High Seas. — The Court of Queen's Bench recently decided the important marriage question raised in the case of Dumoulin v. Druitt, viz : — Whether a form of marriage celebrated on the high seas by the captain of a ship was valid so far as to invalidate a later marriage contracted with all proper religious observances aud with the intervention of a clergyman in holy orders. The court was unanimous in holding that a marriage on board ship, under the circumstances, can only be looked upon as a contract per verbai de presenti, or a consentual marriage, and that its ratification by a religious ceremony was indispensable. — Dublin Morning News.'

A lady came into Birmingham with a handsome equipage, and " desired the landlord of the inn to get her a husband, being determined: to marry somebody or other before she left the town." The man bowed, and supposed her ladyship to be in a.facetious humour, but being made sensible how much 6he was in earnest, he went out'in search of a man that would marry a fine lady without asking questions ! After many repulses from poor fellovrs who were sot desperate enough for such a venture, he met with an exciseman, who said lie " could not be in a worse condition than he was," and accordingly went with the innkeeper, and made a tender of himself, which was all he had to bestow on the lady, who immediately went with him to one who gave them a license, and made them man and wife, on which th» bride gave her spouse two hundred pounds, and without more delay left the town and the bridegroom to find out who she was or unriddle this strange adventure. Soon after she was gone two gentlemen came into the town in full pursuit of her ; they had traced her so far upon the road , and finding the inn where she hud put up they examined into all particulars of her conduct, and on hearing she was married gave over their pursuit, and returned back. 'Tis supposed the young lady in a desperate fit, for fear of being married where she did not like, chose this unaccountable way of preventing it. — Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary GranviUe.

On the word " high-minded," Dr Clarke says, the original is derived from smoke — the frivolously aspiring — those who are full of themselves, and empty of all good.

Two sparks from London, while enjoying themselves among the heather in Argyllshire, last autumn, came upon a decent-looking shepherd reading on the top of a hill. They accosted him by remarking — " You have a fine view here ; you will see a great way." "On aye ou aye a ferry great way." "Ah I you will see America from here ?" ■' Farrer than that," said Donald."Ah 1 how that ?» " Ou, just wait; till the niiflt gangs awa, an' you'll see the mune !"

" Dorah, what did you do with that tallow that Mr Jones greased his boots with this morning ?" —"Please mann, I baked the griddle cakes with it."— "You did eh ? Confound you., I thought you had wasted it."

Let no man be too proud to work. Let no nra.tr be ashamed of a hard flsfc or sunburnt countenance! Let him be ashamed only of ignorance imd sjothi Let no man be ashamed of poverty. • Let him only be ashamed of dishonesty and idleness. * * : - Influence of Newsfapers. — Small is the sum that is required to patronize a newspaper, " and amply rewarded is its patron. I care not how humble and unpretending the gazette which he takes. It is next to impossible to find a sheet with printed matter -without putting into It something that is wortb the subscription price. Every parent whose son is away from home at school should supply Mm with a newspaper. - I well remember what a marked difference, there was between those of my schoolmates who $&s>, and those who had not, access to newspapers, Other tilings being equal, the first were alway* decidedly superior to the last in debate; composition, and general intelligence. — Daniel Webster: JFigurics PnoDtrcKD by Sound. — If a drinMngglass or a funnel of about three inches nj diameter at the edge be filled with water, alcohol, or ether r ■ and a strong note be made by drawing a •*">!"»: bow on the glass, a sound figure will b.e, i&rmea on the surface of the liquid, consisting of* mining but drops of liquid. If the vessel giver the; &s^ damentalnote, the figure forms a fou*4ayed*stas:, the ends of which extend to the four nodal^oiAte ; but if the note which the vessel gives be 'the second higher, the star will be six-rayed ; and if the vessel! gives still higher tone<"other more" humerou^lytrayed' stars-are produced- >'i A yoCrng^man advertises his, desire for & wife — " pretty, ' and entirely iguorant&o&the: fact !" Evidently he wants a fdblfc^^jr smart pretty woman knows. Bhe*B\^ret|^4 v wouldn't sbe Bmalt.if she, didn't* L - "