MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 16

MISCELLANEOUS.

Wounded Sokdieks Neutbal in Batixe. — The terms of a convention agreed to at Geneva in August last, by the representatives of most of the European Powers, has been accepted by her Majesty's Government. It consists of nine articles, which provide that ambulances and military hospitals shall be neutral and protected and respected by belligerents while occupied by wounded. That persons employed in such shall participate in that benefit. Private persons engaged in military hospitals may only carry away private property, the hospitals to retain their equipments. Inhabitants of the country who may bring help to the wounded shall be respected and shall remain free. Any wounded man entertained and taken care of in a house shall be considered as a protection thereto. Wounded or sick soldiers shall be entertained and takrn care of, to whatever nation they may belong. Com-manders-in chief shall have the power to deliver immediately to the outposts of the enemy soldiers who have been wounded in an engagement, when circumstances permit this to be done, and with the consent of both parties. A distinctive and uniform flag shall be adopted for hospitals, ambulances, and evacuations. It must, on every occasion, be accompanied by the national flag.

I Escape from Brigands. — The Pungolo of Napls s gives some particulars of the escape from a band of brigands of Lieutenant de Marco, of the National Guard, and a man named Antonio Santangeli. M. de Marco succeeded in saving himself by jumping from a prodigious height into a I valley, an exploit which none of the band dared to imitate. He resolved upon that course, first, from finding that the chief who held him as a hostage had determined to take his life, and next, from perceiving that the snow in the valley lay deep, and would prevent him from breaking his limbs. Tne brigands fired on him several times without effect, and pursued him down a winding path of the mountain ; but he made good his escape. Santangeli was stabbed with a bayonet, and left for i dead ; but, although grievously wounded, he succeeded in dragging himself along till he reached a house. The Dunlugas Case. — Official Report on the Opening of the Grave. — j The report by Sheriff Gordon, made in terms of the remit from the Court of Session to open the grave of the late Mr Leslie, of Dunlugas, in search for documents, has been printed in order to its | being laid before the Court. After narrating the preliminary steps, the report goes on to say: — "Upon the lid of the] coffin being removed, the Sheriff-Substi-tute, assisted by Dr. Manson and Dr. Barclay, carefully examined the remains in the coffin, but he found no parcel, no deeds 'or deed, no portions or portion of any paper, or any writings or writing of any kind whatever. The Sheriff Substitute did Pnd something in the coffin ; but as he does not understand that what he did find falls within your Lordship's remit, he has reported it to your Lordships in a separate report." This very decided statement puts an end to all idea of there having been any deed interred with the I deceased. The " separate report," drawn up by the Sheriff, will, of course not be made public ; but we may mention that the " something" which the Sheriff found was wrapped up in a piece of parchment, and \va<=, therefore, at first taken to be possibly a died — a supposition which inspection proved to be erroneous. What wa9 found was, we believe, quite of a private nature, important to no one save the deceased himself, and it was only from a kind of sentimental feeling that he directed it to be interred with his remains — Banffshire Journal.

Russian Encroachments. — The Times correspondent at Calcutta has some observations on the designs of Russia in Central Asia. He says :—" Whatever her designs are, my correspondents on the spot, who know the people and speak their language, tell me that this is believed by the inhabitants to be the plan of Russia. She conquered Kokand last July, and is now making roads towards Bokhara and Cabul. Her base of operations is the Sea of Aral, and the subjugation of the Caucasus has set free, for conquest further south, a large and trained army and General Endokimoff, who finally conquered the Circassians. These are facts. The people believe that Russia is in firm alliance with the Shah of Persia, the Khan of Bokhara, and Abdoolraham, the son of the captive Afzul Khan, who claims the Cabul throne. Their object is to seat him there ; then Bokhara will take Balkh and the Turkestan dependencies of the late Dost Mahomed ; Ameen Khan will keep Candahar, which he at present holds; Persia will have as its feudatories that place, Herat, and Kelat or Beloochistan, which the Shah has so long coveted, and is always annoying ; and Russia, having thus bestowed her favors, will be enabled to march into Hindostan. I leave you to estimate the value of this — its probability is not to be denied.''