MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 749, 7 April 1866, Page 18

MISCELLANEOUS.

Thb diplomatic correspondence between France and the United States relative to the Mexican question has been presented to Congress. On November 3, Mr Seward wrote to Mr Bigelow to call the serious attention of the French Government to the military proceedings in Mexico, by which captured native Mexicans, while adhering in war to their own Government, are denied the rights which the law of nations invariably accords to prisoners of war. On the 28th November Mr Seward wrote to Mr Bigelow that he had information from Romero that General Urtega Salazar and numerous other Mexican officers who had been captured by Imperialists had been executed. Mr Seward instructed Mr Bigelow to call the serious attention of the French Government to this subject, and to inform M. Drouyn de l'Huys that the Federal Government received these reports with the utmost concern. Mr Seward added, " If, upon investigation, these reports prove true, the United States cannot doubt that as far as the French Government is concerned it can never countenance proceedings 60 repugnant to the sentiments of modtrn civilization and the instincts of humanity." Mr Bigdow wrote on the 30,-h of November to Mr Seward that M. Drouyn de l'Huys, referring to his (Mr Bigelow's) representation in regard to the shooting of captured Mexican Republicans, and to the case of Madime Iturbide, had said, " We are not the Government of Mexico. Yo do us too much honor to treat us as such. We had to go to Mexico with an army to secure certain important interests, but we are not; responsible for the Emperor Maximilian or his Government. He is accountable to you, as to any other Government, if he violated its rights ; and you have the same remedies there that we had."

Chihesb Thieves. — Dexterous as are our pickpockets in filching pocket-handker-chiefs, stealing purses, and practising other larcenies, those of Canton rre far more bold and ingenious, and, strange to say, there is seldom any interference from passers-by for the assistance of the robbed, or the capture of the robber. A shopkeeper will not leave his shop to denounce a thief who is committing depredations at his very door, but will probably laugh at the cleverness of the impudent and successful vagabond, who, unmolested, carries off his prey. A single thief has been known to arrest a sedan chair, and to rob the party conveyed within, it, the bearers (they not being accomplices, but considering the matter as no concern of theirs) stopping and looking on while the nefarious deed was done. In one case, when a short-sighted man was being carried in his sedan, his spectacles were removed before his pockets were emptied, and the robbery took place in a long street, where multitudes of people were constantly passing. Among amusing modes of pluderiug China is the fishing for fowls, the catch, in them with rod, line, and hook. A man will be sometimes seen sitting on the wall of a poultry yard bobbing his bait among the cocks and hens, and every now and then, after twisting its neck, convening one away to his bag ; and that being replenished he will move off with a simplicity and serenity of countenance like the gravest of mandarins. At Macao, on the groundfloor, a large table was spread for a late dinner. It was covered with many delicacies, and, as usual, there was an abundance of silver plate. The sun had gone down, the wax candles were lighted, the windows left open for the benefit of the evening breeze. Suddenly a prcat number of bamboos were seen to enter on all sides from the verandahs, at the same moment every bougie was extinguished by a puff from the bamboo hollow tubes. The apartment was involved in darkness, a band of thieves jumped in, and before the astounded guests knew where they were, or what was doing, the whole of the plate was conveyed away, and a boat having, no doubt, been provided for the transport of the spoil either to a neighboring island or to the main land of China, no trace was ever found of the robbery or the robbers.

A French Seating Glue. — The Sport publishes some details of the newlyestablished Cercle dcs Patineurs, or Skaters' Club, for Paris. Its founders have obtained the concession, for 19 years; of a basin about 280 yards long and 30 yards wide, situated between the Garden of Acclimatisation and the Port de Madrid, to be surrounded by an iron railing. A chalet will be erected for the accommodation of the members, and will contain a refreshment room and a pavillion for the Emperor. The bed of the basin will be laid with concrete. The small lake of the Plaine dcs Sports is also reserved ior the club, and in case of insufficiency other pieces of water will be designed by the municipal authorities. During the frosty season the enclosed ba<dn will be lit by the electric light, and grand nuht fetes be given. The club also intends to organise other outdoor sports, such as pigeon shooting, cricket; croquet, bowls, &c, during the fine weather.

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