MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 905, 3 April 1869, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

London alone, it has been calculated, requires an annual supply of six hundred millions of oysters.

In Spain, out of a population of 17,000,000, at least 16.900,000 are, in outward conformity, Roman Catholics.

The Spanish Government Has invited bida for a contract to lay a telegraph cable between Cadiz, Canaries, and Cuba.

The quantity of cheeae annually made in Great Britain has been estimated at about 80,000 tons, representing a money value of 3.V or 4 millions.

From 1492 to 1848 the world's yield was 2.261,000,000d015. gold, and 5, 678,000, 000d015. silver; from 1854 to 1868, 3,379,0G0,000d015. gold, and 2,194,000,000d015. silver. The consumption of hops in the United States is variously estimated at 80,000 to 100,000 bales. Admitting it to be fully 90,000 bales, the surplus this season will be 40,000 bales. Of the 1,518 benefices in Ireland having incumbents, 148 are in Royal patronage, 53 in Royal, ecclesiastical, and lay patronage in turns ; 988 are in. ecclesiastical patronage, and 20 in lay and ecclesiastical patronage in turns ; and 309 are in entirely lay patronage, including Trinity College.

The statistical returns of the Royal Humane Society for the last 10 years, being from 1857 to 1867 inclusive, show the efficient service of the Society. During the period mentioned there had been 2,473,666 bathers, out of which number 258 had been rescued and landed ; 14 had made escapes from drowning, but had recovered with medical assistance; and fir© had been taken put of th? water dead.,

The gross revenue of Ireland in the financial year ending with March 1868 amounted to L 6,843,000,,8 43,000, an increase of L 22,568 over the revenue of the previous year.

The Conrmercio di Sicilia announces that a new line of steamers is about to be established between Italy and the United States. The vessels will run from Naples to New York and vice versa, touching at Messina and Palermo. Signor Tagliavia, a Sicilian merchant, is the originator of the enterprise. Twenty-two days is the time which -will be occupied in the voyage ; aDd this, it is said, will enable an immense development to be given io the trade in Sicilian oranges and lemons, which are now conveyed to America "by an indirect service of English and French steamers.

In 1848 there were 12,000 miles of telegraph wire in the United States. In 1858 the number of miles was 49,000, and before the close of this year there will be 120,000 miles. From New York ,in 3848 two wires went eastward and three southward. In 1858 eight wires went eastward and ten southward, and at the present time there are from 30 to 35 wirea on both routes. A. good operator can send 2,000 words per hour. The message, " Cannot come home till next train," requires the operator under the present system to transmit 65 signals. By a new system invented, such, a message would only require 20 signals.

The usual monthly return of the emigration from Liverpool was completed by the Government officials on Monday. There sailed from that port during October, 25 ships under the Act, with 9,289 passengers, of whom 3,649 were English, 298 Scotch, 1,985 Irish, and 3,353 foreigners. Of the 25 ships, nineteen sailed to the United States, with 7,433 passengers ; of whom 2,792 were English, 265 Scotch, 1,743 Irish, and 2,634 foreigners. To Canada there were five ships, with 1,459 passengers ; of whom 682 were English, 58 Irish, and Tip foreigners. To Victoria there was one ship, with 397 passengers ; of whom 176 were English, 33 Scotch, and 189 Irish. The number of ships sailing not under the Act was 21 ; of which seven left for the United States, with 732 passengers ; two to Victoria, with 118 passengers ; one to Canada, with 38 passengers ; six to South America, with 95 passengers ; two to the West Indies, with six passengers ; and three to Africa, with 84 passengers. Making a total of 46 ships and 10,362 passengers ; which, when compared with the corresponding month of last year, shows a falling off of 838.

The late Count Walewski, Napoleon Bonaparte's illegitimate son, has been called " the gentleman, par excellence, of the Bonapartists." His handsome presence, his portly demeanour, a blended grace and dignity in his movements, made him always a remarkable figure in a court. His conversational talent was remarkable, and he had that consciousness of his gift that usually doubles the power. His strong resemblance to the first Eraperor — his face recalled all the sweetness and some of the sternness of the Bonaparte type — imparted a peculiar charm to his manner. His great fascination was his voice ; it was perfect, and he managed it ■with a modulation and skill of rare excellence. No two men of the day recall the great Emperor as did Prince Napoleon and Count Walewski, and no two men are less like each other. The Prince personated the impetuous will of Napoleon. To Walewski belonged that winning grace, that irresistible softness, which the great conqueror could wield with such wonderful success.

The " Waterloo clause" in Prince Louis Napoleon's celebrated speech in his trial for the Boulogne invasion is credited by Mr C. L. Gruneisen to M. Berryer, Napoleon's advocate, instead of to the Prince himself. In addressing the Court he used the following language: — "I represent a principle, a cause, a defeat. The principle is the sovereignty of the people ; the cause is that of the Empire ; the defeat is that of "Waterloo. The principle — you have recogmsbd it ; the cause — you have served it ; the defeat — you -would revenge it." This has often been cited as an illustration of the Prince's Corsican spirit and vindictive feeling toward England. According to Mr Gruneisen, however, the allusion to Waterloo was put into his mouth by M. Berryer. When the latter read the passags about " the principle and the catiße' which the Prince represented, an Englishman present hinted that he represented something else, and that was a defeat— Waterloo. " Cest U mot, e'esi le mot," exclaimed Berryer, and so the sentence was completed. The Englishman, it is supposed, was no other than Mr Gruneisen himself, who, being then Paris correspondent of the Post, obtained a copy of the speech from the Prince's counsel before it was delivered, and despatched it across the Channel by pigeon express, so that it was published the next day in London — a feat that made much talk io those days*