GLEANINGS.

Colonist, Issue 78, 6 July 1858, Page 4

GLEANINGS.

A Sid Result.— Christian Bruner, convicted before the Seventh District Court, at its late term, of the crime of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the State. Prison for eleven years, we learn from the Sonoma Journal, passed through Sonoma last Tuesday, in charge of Deputy Sheriff Ellis, en route for San Quentin. The sight | of the old man's sorrows, and a knowledge J that his present disgrace and crime is to be wholly attributed to an inordinate use of strong drink, naturally produce a strong impression upon most of his old acquaintances and friends* As. they gave the part-" ing hand, we saw marked symptoms of commiseration evinced by several. Drink, strong drink, has been his deadly foe, for a kinder hearted man than Mr. Bruner once was, probably never drew the breath of life. An old and weir known resident of, this country, the history of Mr. Bruner is probably familiar to many of our readers. Accompanied by his wife and his brother Jacob, he came to California in 1846. They were consequently part of the immigration that was overtaken in J;he Sierra Nevadas by the snows, when , so many perished of cold and hunger. Mr. B.s family fortunately being in the advance, got safely through. Soon after their arrival in this country, they came to this county and settled in Sonoma, where by industry they soon acquired considerable property. Being",naturally hospitable, Mr.. 8., unfortunately, soon fell into the habit of habitual drunkenness, which practice ..ere long produced an estrangement, and finally a separation between himself and his wife, and ultimately led to the commission of the crime for which he has just been convicted —the killing of his nephew. In Mr. 8., we are told, the sick and needy ever found j a ready friend. The destitute of his neighborhood have had frequent opportunities to bless'the hand of an unknown donor. , But the fell demon has done his work of destruction, and to-day, within the prison walls— the gates of which, in all human probability, will open only to give egress to his"cold and inanimate remains, as they are borne forth to be laid in the bosom of mother earth— the old man mourns a mis-spent manhood and dishonored age, while the partner of his early love and labors, in her old age, is left to totter alone down the road of life, with a double grief resting upon her heart •—a husband's disgrace and a'" nephew's murder. Happily for both, their wedded life remained unblessed by children, and a violated law now claims justice without entailing a father's disgrace upon an innocent offspring. ; A Venerable Preacher.— On Sunday, the Rev. John Hinckley preached two sermons; the one at the Wesleyan Chapel, Tredworth, and the other at the Old Northgate-street Chapel. This gentleman is a veteran in Methodism. He is in his 94th year, and has been a preacher connected with the Wesleyan denomination for a period of Seventy years.— Standard, April 7An Awkward Mistake at a Wedding.—-A. few days ago a couple residing in the neighbourhood of Bridestowe, Devon, went i to the parish church to be married. The bridegroom, instead of. taking his intended bride at the church door and accompanying her to the altar, walked thither with the bride's listerj who was one of the bridesmaids. The bride appeared to have thought that her intended husband had changed his mind at the last moment, and sheretired into a pew in a very dejected state of mind. The ceremony proceeded, and it was not until the clergyman came to the important question, " Wilt thou have this woman to be thy

wedded wife?" that^he bridegroom was conscious of his mistake. He then looked round the church with astonishment, and exclaimed, " This is the wrong maid, sir!" The right maid _was soon found; the ceremony was again commenced, and the right maid was married to the right. Man—much to the satisfaction of all parlies.-— Standard, April*?. The South-Western Railway station at Salisbury was burnt to the groundonthe night of the 27th of March. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Lassell is finishing a 40 feet telescope, which he intends to take to Malta, and there devote himself to three or four years observations of the nebulae. He has I already explored the sky from that island ! with a 20 feet reflector, and to good purpose; but we shall hear of yet greater achievements with the 40 feet. As for little planets, they will soon become a drug in the'astronomical market: the number is now 52: and no sooner are they noted, than their orbits are calculated, and their movements accurately determined; and yet.a certain rector in Saxony declares the Cbpernican system to be false, and maintains, that the earth does not move round the snn.^—Some News, April 16. The Directors of the East India Company have issued a Report on the two India Bills, objecting in detail to each. The chief objection urged against both touches the uncontrolled authority which, if. either bill were to pass into law, would be exercised by the President of either, oF the proposed councils. The committee of the Rochdale Liberal Electors Association- have decided that in the event of a dissolution of Parliament they will, bring forward Mr. Cobden as a candidate for the borough. : . The. Dutch custom-house officers .at RoBendael, a few days ago, seized a quantity of lace, to the value of 1200 florins, which |a lady coming by the railway from Antwerp had concealed under her crinoline. The anxiety depicted on her coutenance is said to have betrayed her. • '

Mr. Herbert has just completed the cartoon for his great fresco of" Moses bringing down the Tables of the L'avrtothe Israelites," to be executed for the new Houses of Parliament. The artist has been engaged two years on the cartoon.

The colossal equestrian statute in memory of Lord Londonderry, to be erected in the centre of the market-place of Durham, is to be executed by Signor Eaffaelle Monti. The county subscription amounts to above £2000.