ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1338, 14 June 1859, Page 5

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Fearful Voyage to America. —The late passage of the steamer North America, from Liverpool io Portland, United States, with 140 souls, is thus described by one of the passengers :—" We left the Mersey on December the 22ud, during a severe gale of wind from the southeast; and such was the slate of the weather that it was found impossible for the pilot to leave, so he was taken across the Atlantic. At 7 p.m., on the Ist of January, the captain calculated that we must be very near Cape Race. As it was thick weather, with continued snow storms, Captain M'Master shaped his course so as to give the Cape a ' wide berth.' All went well up to 9 o'clock when we-were alarmed in the saloon by the cry of' Starboard; hard x. starboard !' given by the oflioev on duty. Then followed a violent shock that threw us to the floor. A moment of extreme anxiety and terror succeeded. The lashings of the boats were cut away, and the boats nrovisioned and lowered in five minutes, and their crews told off to meet the emergency. Iv the meantime the machinery was reversed, and we moved slowly astern. This was a critical moment, for we expected tho vessel to sink in deep water. As soon as the excitement had some what subsided I proceeded on deck, and could just discern through the haze and snow the precipituous coast on which we had stvuek. All around were frantic passengers, rushing to and fro lifebelts in hand, andappiirentlvuiidecidedwhether to leap overboard or not. No one slept that awful night. At last the mom arrived, and we found the crew hard at work pumping; the bowsprit was gone, and there was an immense hole extending from just above watermark to the very keel, a distance of from 15 to 20 feet. (This we could perceive as the vessel was lifted at the bows by the heavy sea.) The hole was large enough, ns one of the sailors expressed it, 'for an omnibus to drive through.'' The first compartment—the ship being constructed in eight—was full of water, some 33 tons or more, while the second was gradually filling. a s some of the rivets dividing the first from the second were displaced by the force of the shock. The passengers were divided Into gaiifjs for the pumps, and we all took a turn every alternate four hours. At times we would gain on the water, while at others it would gain on us three feet or more in a couple of hours. Seeing our dangerous condition, Captain M'Master determined to .bear up for St. John's Newfoundland; but an adverse wind arose, which baffled all hope of reaching that port so we made for Halifax Nova Scotia, a distance of 400 miles the pumps contiually at play. To add to our misfortunes the cold was intimse The vessel was coated with ice. Ropes an inch in thickness swelled to a diamctei of two or three inches. Ou the fourth day of our troubles, January 4th, our eyes wore gladened by the sight ol laud, and 'shortly alter mid-day we achored in the harbor of Halifax. The Sunday Times, understands that Her Majesty's Theatre will be converted into an Hotel, a lease having been recently granted by Lord Ward foj- that purpose to certain parties. New Method of Cauterization.—Dr. Maissouneuve, in a paper recently addressed to the Academy of Sciences, describes a peculiar method, of his invention, by which the largest tumours imaginable may be destroyed, without danger to the patient in the course of, a few hours. The method consists in puncturing the tumour if necessary, and then introducing the caustic into the wound. All causiics are applicable to tbis operation ; but that which Dr. Maissonneuvo prefers is that known among French Chemists under the name olpata de canquion, consisting of one part of chloride of zinc, four of wheat flour, and quantum stiff of water. This is made into a paste of some consistency, ■ which may be cut into various shapes, namely cones, sliips, or double cones, resembling spin*; dies. These different pieces are allowed to dry

and harden in the air. The first kind is used J in what' the inventor calls circular cauterizationt This is applicable to very salent tumours of a certain size The operator punctures the tumour all round the base at distances of about half dn inch eadb, and introduces caustic cones into all the wounds, whioh will all meet nearly in the centre ofthe tumour.- There is no effusion of blood,'the caustic acting itself-as an hsmostatic; in the course of an hour or two all the tissue intervening between the cones ia eaten away, and the tumour, being 'thus deprived of all vascular or nervous communication, loses its vitality. All the. dangers resulting from purulent infection or traumatic reaction are avoided by this process. In what'the inventor calls parallel cauterization the caustic' is used in the form of strips or pointed laminte, which are thrust into the tumour parallel to each other so as to form, as it were, a bundle of, caustic harrows. Tbe destruction of the tumour is here direct, its tissue is disorganised throughout and as rapidly as before. This process is specially applicable to tumours deeply seated in the flesh aud not very prominent. The fusiform caustic is used in Dr. Maissonueuve's third process— that of central cauterization. In this process a single deep incision is made, and a double cone or spindle thrust in, wliich scoops out, so to say, the matter of the tumour, forming a thick eschar all round. This eschar may be extracted through the aperture already made, and fresh caustic may be introduced until the tumour is reduced to an empty egg-shell, as it were, which will gradually contract and heal in course of time. ( — Galignani.

Extraordinary Thunderstorm.—On the 16th March, Acbill was visited by one of the most violent thunderstorms which has occured within memory. A house in Carraun, on the mainland, occupied by a man named Campbell, was struck by the electric fluid, and six persons severely injured. None of them are yet out of danger. The house was shattered, - and the thatch set on (ire.

The Ameiican Secretary of the Treasury, in a recent document, suggests an invitation from the United States to the Commercial countries of Europe to meet in a respective body for consultation on a uniform currency, uniform weights and measures, and a uniform system of commercial statistics, being ofthe opinion that this reform would be favourably received, and probably adopted, by each of the countries so represented.

ASt Petersbnrg letter says:—" Curious experiments in a new system of lighting, with portable aud compressed gas, have just been made in one of the barracks, and have perfectly succeeded. The gas was prepared at Paris, and brought ihere in cylinders ; and thought the cylinders] remained several weeks at the Cus-tom-house the gas did not suffer [any injury. The new system is not only cheaper than the existing one, but produces a finer light." Lightning at Sea.—Her Majesty's ship Centurian, 90, has encountered a frightful storm of thunder and lightning, near Corfu. The ship was taken all aback in a squall from the north-west, with thunder, lightning, and rain. A' heavy flash of lightning struck the ship, and passed off by the conductors, which are reported to have had the paint stripped off in several places below. The branch under the bowsprit appeared as if it had been in the fire. No damage ensued. The flash was so close that it seemed as if a broadside had been discharged. A large waterspout appeared as if coming towards tbe ship. It was dispersed by one of the forecastle guns. Such was the force of the electrical action on the state of the air at the time the discharge struck the ship, that a marine standing on the forecastle was for a time stunned by the shock, but was not otherwise hurt. The lightning conductors, now common in the royal navy, are said to have saved the ship's masts. Curious Effects op a Thunderstorm. It is now rather more than two years since that a-foreign family went to reside at Bideford' One ofthe young ladies was then bediidden,' and continued so up to about a month since. At that period the neighbourhood was visited by a terrifiic thunderstorm, and the effect upon the patient was that she was suddenly restored. — Western. Paper. The ' Daily News' says a rumour is current that the British Government propose to adopt the extraordinary step of raising a loan of £5,000,000 or £6,000,000 sterling for the reconstruction of the navy, and that the operation may possibly take the shape of an issue of Exchequer bills.

Dame Nature has played off one of her remarkable freaks iv a humble cottage of the town of Bradford, where may be seen a jet black canary, with every appearance of its proving a first-rate vocalist.

A letter from Rome in the Opinione of Turin accuses Colonel Bruce of a breach of etiquette in not allowing the Prince of Wales to have a private interview with the Pope, but enteriu* the prescencewith his Ruyul Highness, although observes the writer, the Prince was received as sovereigns are, and assnch, should have been introduced to his holiness alone. " The writer of the letter is no doubt ignorant ofthe fact," observes Galignani, •' that Colonel Bruce ha's positive instructions from home not to leave the Prince alone for a single minute, and that he could not, therefore, act otherwise than he did," By. a return just issued it appears that, on the sth ult., the unclaimed dividends in the Buuk of England amounted to £1,069,374 125., of which £920,459 12s. Gd. was advanced to the Government.

A disease (says the Nottingham Review) has manifested itself in a very serious form in North Nottinghamshire.- Hundreds of acres of turnips are found to bo worthless, though the appearance ofthe bulb up to about a month ago was healthy. " It appears, says the Times, " that the number of unpaid letters every year is about 2,500,800. Of these about 800,000 are valentines. Of these 800,000 valentines, about 60,000 are rejected. The number of letters passing through the post offices of the United Kingdom in a year amounted to 523,000,000. By a Parliamentary return, which has just been issued, it appears that the sum of £408,959 12s. 7d. has been applied by the Commissioners for the Induction ofthe National Dcbf during the past year.

The Great Easter:?.—The preparations for fitting this noble vessel for sea have at Wt been decided on, and in "the course of another fortnight or so an army of workmen will be busily cugaged in all parts of the ship, inside aud out. To one person will be entrusted the iron work still requisite in the hull and in the construction of the poop and masts, while separate contracts will provide for the rigging and sails and the cabin fittings and joiners' work. No money will be wasted in the mere frippery of decoration, though at the same time all the fittings will be ofthe best and most substantial kind. The design for the poop is complete in all its details. AH of it will be constructed of iron, and some idea of its size may' be gathered from the fact that the chief dining saloon, 120 feet long by 47 feet wide, aad nine feet high under

the beams, will be in that part of the vessel, there is to be a large number of bathrooms allotted to each class of passengers, all of which will be kept supplied with hot and cold fresh and sett water. The contractors are to commence their work on the 15th of February, and are bound to complete all in five months from that date. The long expected trial trip will, therefore, take place about the middle of July, when it is intended to run out from Weymouth to the middle ofthe Atlantic. This short voyage will probably occupy about six days, for the lowest estimate yet made of her speed allows her 17 knots, or about 18J statute miles an hour,, the speed of a Parliamentary train. What may be considered as the commencement of the work' of fitting will be undertaken on Saturday next, the 3lst, when the large iron floaling'Derrick launched last autumn will be used for the purpose of hoisting in the main shaft ofthe paddle engines and the rudder. The former weighs no less than forty tons, the latter 13, and each of these ponderous masses of ironwork have been hnished off with as much care and even neatness as if they were intended for the works of a clock. Both these will be deposited in the fore part of tbe vessel in order to assist in bringing be more down in the head when the blades of the screw are being fixed. The latter have not been attached to the screw bars, as, in case of ice (luring the winter, enough might have formed round them to have held such a mass ofthe loose pack as with the flow of the tide mi<rbt have seriously endangered the ship. Trolrnaii's anchors, by which she is now moored, would never, of course, have given way ; but the chains unquestionably might, and, once adrift, she would instantly, in the nautical phrase, "have •taken charge of the whole river." So much has been truely said and written as to the importance of the Great Eastern in a mercantile point of view that all have tacitly overlooked how, as a vessel of war. she would to this country at least, be almost invaluable, in those ever.recunmg estimates of our national resources with which the continental press so perseveringly favour us, the assistance which two or three such vessels as the Great Easten, could afford in time of war is never alluded to because never suspected. Yet, in the construction of this unequalled vessel, and forming a noble model on which others may be built our national resources, we believe, received such a development as few at the first glance would perceive. The Great Eastern, however, would make the fastest, strongest, and most terrible of all war ships, if war instead of commerce were to be her destination. Her carrying power alone would be a most formidable elemlnt Ten thousand fully equipped soldiers with all the of staff and field officers' horses, could be transported at once to any point of need with greater convenience and in less than half the time now occupied by the fastest ships, as there would be no delay for coaling. If e - e _ the last sanguine expectations as to her speed are fulfilled she r„°?irl- be ■ V™, d a C ° m P ,ete «"?« *™ n India within 40 days from the time of her leaving England, while the vast space on deck would afford a floating parade-ground, on which recruits might be drilled to a tolerable state of efneiency, even while on the voyage. ■ The ordinary delays of winds and currents would so httle affect her gigantic steam power that the time of her arrival with such a force might be calculated upon to a single' day. Continental nations are well aware that the secret of Enelands weakness as a military power is not so ouch due to the smallness of her army as in the necessity for its dispersion. Once show that the means already exist for obviating this necessity, and England's position as a military frTnn*n ablein tea da ? s t0 t«Mport an annv of 30,000 mea to any part of Europe, will be second to none on earth. The political results-, which would be certain to accrue from the Government having at its disposal such a class of ships would be almost equally important. M. Lesseps might sink all the money in France in his Suez Canal, and Mr. Buchanan assert American morality a „d manifest destiny at the expense of poor Nicaragua. England need never strive about a right of wav when her quickest and safest path would then lie over her old traditional element. Provided only that the question ofthe Great Eastern's speed be satisfactorily determined all the rest is a natural sequence, the end of which we can no more see now than from Stephenson's first locomotive °ovid be predicated our present railway system London Times.

Wbecksasd Casualities in 1858.—Last year there were 1170 wrecks and casualities ou and near the coasts of the United Kingdom against 1143, 1153, and 1141, in 1857, 1856, and 1855 ; whence it would follow that wrecks, as Mr. Buckle says of suicides and other offences against the laws, are a constant and unvarying quantity, aud that, so to speak, a cer tain number of wrecks, as of suicides, &c.,. must, perforce, take place every year, in accordance with some mysterious law hitherto not patent. The tons burden of the ships wrecked in ISSS was 205,213. The number of" hands" employed in these unlucky vessels was 8979, or. strictly speaking 17,tfoS, if the nautical phrase be taken literally. Iv the months of January, February, March, April, October, November, and December, the number of wrecks was always above 100, and May, June, July, August, and September, below that number. The number of casualities to ships registerer iv this kingdom and in the colonies was 957, and to foreign ships 209. Old ships appear to be comparatively exempt from risks, as the number of casualtiss to those between the age of 61 and 100 was only 15, wheras 151 perished in infancy—;', c, under three years of age, -106 under seven years, 193 under 20, and 104 under 30 years of age, The 1170 accidents included 48. steam-ships, 102 to barques, 280 to brigs, 85 to brigantincs, 15 to galliots, 26 to luggers, 55 to ships, 374 to schooners, 89 to sloops, 55 to smacks, aud 4 only to yachts. Trows," hermaphrodites," andchasse-marees,were exempted altogether from casualty. The total loss on these ships (as reported) was £435,656; and others were insured to the amount of £414,317. the total loss by collision was 50. Out of 1895 lives in actual peril from shipwrecks only 340 were lost, and 1555 saved, includiug 206 by lifeboat and 210 by the rocket and mortar apparatus. The lives lost in the last three years show a gradual and satisfactory decrease. £4523 was disbursed for the purpose of saving and encouraging the saving of life at sen.— Home News, March 18.

Caftaik Nob-ton's Liquid Fide Shell.— Captain Norton, the inventor of several improvements in missiles, completed, on the 26th, a series of experiments which he has undertaken, at Brompton barracks, for the purpose of, testing the practical utility of several of his inventions. : Captain' Norton states that hois quite prepared to-set firb to any line-of-battle ship iv the navy by means of one of his shells, and that a succession of them potucd into the hull of any vessel would in a-short time burn her down to the water's edge. ...As soon as thei authorities have taken up the invention some .experiments on a very large scale will be made iwith "the liquid lire shell. 'A..A.A..A ..,:■:-

| THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL. The following is the more important portion of tho " Bill to Amend the Laws relating to tbe Representation of the People in England and Wales, and to facilitate the Registration and Voting uf Electors," introduced into the House of Commons, on the 28th, (Feb) by the Chancellor of the Exchequer:— Whereas it is expedient to amend the laws affecting tha representation of the people in England and Wales, and to afford increased facilities for the registration and voting of her .Majesty's subjects entitled to vote in the election of members, to serve in Parliament: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:— 'qualifications. I. Future Rights of Voting in Counties and Boroughs defined. Every male person of full age, "and not subject to any legal incapacity, who shall have any one of the several qualifications hereinafter specified, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter, and to vote in the election of a member or members for the county, or if within the limits of a borough, then in the election of a member or members for the borough where, in the case of qualifications arising out of lands or tenements suck lands or tenements shall be situate, and where in all other cases such person shall reside. The qualifications above referred to are as follow :- 1. Freeholds of Inheritance.—Who shall be beneficially entitled, as owner or as mortgagee in possession, at law or in equity, to ah estate of inheritance in lands or tenements of freehold tenure, ofthe clear yearly value over and above all chaiges and incumbrances affecting the same of not less than forty shillings. 2. Copyholds of Inheritance.—Or shall be so beneficially entitled to an estate of inheritance in lands or tenements of copyhold, or any other tenure whatever, except freehold, of such clear yearly value as aforesaid, of not less thanyJu; pounds. 3. Estates for Lives —Or shall be so beneficially entitled to an estate for any life or lives in lands or tenements, of any tenure of such clear yearly value as aforesaid, of not less than five pounds. 4. For Years.—Or shall he so henefically entitled to a term originally granted for not less j than thirty years iv lands or tenements, ol any tenure, of such clear yearly value as aforesaid, ofj not less than five pounds. 5. Tenant Occupiers.—Or shall occupy as! tenant any such lands or teuements ofthe clear j yearly value of not less than ten pounds. I 6. Lodgers.—Or shall occupy any apartments iv, or portion of a house, whether furnished or unfurnished, for which he shall have paid a rent of not less than eight shillings per week, or per annum to-an amount of txventy pounds. 7.-Annual Income from Persona! Property. —Or shall be in the beneficial enjoyment of a yearlyjncome arising from the personal property 'following, that.is to say, from any annuity granted by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, or any dividends or interest from the Parliamentary stocks or funds of the United Kingdom, or from the stocks, shares, or bonds of the East India Company, or of the -Bank of England, standing iv his own name, of not less amount per annum than ten pounds. 8. Income from Pensions, Superanuations, &c. —Or shall be in the beneficial enjoyment of an income arising from any pension, pay, or superanuation allowance, in respect of any past employmentby]snch person iuany department of hei Majesty's naval, military, East IndiaD, or civil service, and who shall no longer be permanently employed therein, amounting' to not less per annum than twenty pounds. 9. Saving's Bank Deposit—Orshall hold, and shall be beneficially entitled to a deposit iv some savings bank, established in England or Wales, under tbe provisions of the Act of the ninth year of his late Majesty King George IV., cap, 92, to tbe amount at sixty pounds. 10. Educational 'Qualifications.—Or shall possess one or other of the qualifications following, that is to say: Graduates—Wbu shall be a graduate of any university in the United Kingdom. . Clergy of the Church of England—Or an ordained priest or deacon of the Church of England. Other Ministers.—Or a minister of any otber religious denomination appointed either alone or with not more than one colleague, to the charge of any chapel or place of worship, and officiating as the minister thereof Barristers.—Or a barrister-at-law, or ser-jeant-at-law, in any of the inns of court iv j England, or a certificated pleader or conveyancer. Attorneys and Solicitors.—iOr a certificated attorney or solicitor, or proctor in England or Wales._ Medical Profession.—Or a member of the medical profession, registered under the provisions of" The Medical Act," 1858. * Certificated Schoolmasters.—Or a schoolmaster, holding a certificate from the Committee of her Majesty's Council on Education. 11. Reserving rights of freemen, &c,— Or who shall be entitled to be registered for any county, city, or borough, in respect of any estate for life in freehold lauds, or tenements of which lie shall be seized at the time of the passing of this Act, or in respect ol any qualification, as freeholder, baggage tenant, burgess, freeman, liveryman, or otherwise, reserved or defined in the 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 31th, and 35th sectians of the act of the second year of the reign af his late Majesty King William IV., cap. 45. RESTRICTION'S AND OBJECTIONS. IV. Tenant occupiers may claim to be rated. —Every person occupying any lauds or tenements in any county or borough shall have the same right to claim to be rated to the relief of poor as is given by the 30th section of the said Act passed in tlie reign of his late Majesty King William IV. aud the provisions of the act passed in the 15th year of her Majesty, chapter 14, shall be applicable to all persons so claim, ing, except that the 25th day of December and the 24th clay of June shall be the periods fixed iv lieu of the fifth day of January and the 20th day of July respectively. VI. Provision as to Joint Ownership or Occupation, and to prevent the splitting of Votes. —Where any such premises shall be jointly owned or occupied by more persons than one, each of such joint owners or occupiers shall be entitled to be so registered, in case the clear yeaily value thereof, as aforesaid, shall be sufficient when divided by the number of such owners or occupiers, to give each uf such joint owners or occupiers, as the case may be, a sum of not less than the amount before Apecified, as constituting a qualification to vote, in the case of such owner and occupier, respectively, but not otherwise: Provided always, that no greater number of persons shall be entitled to be registered in respect of any 'freehold, copyhold, or leasehold interest in. the,,same premises than shall .be equal to two.,ypters for every single | tenement or undivided-plotof ,-,land, unless theshall have derived the same by descent, succesy

sion, marriage, marriage settlement, devise, or. promotion as aforesaid, ot unless they shall bebona fide engaged as partners caraying on trade or business thereon. VIII. Lodgers to make claim annnally.---In order to entitle any pdfson to be placed dn any register of voters in respect of.his occupation .of apartments in, or the portion of anj house, suet person shall, on or before the twentyifourth day of July in each year, send to the overseers ofthe parish or township in which such house shall be situate, a claim, according to the form numbered 5, in the schedule' B to this act annexed, yvith', the declaration therein contained, and signed and witnessed therein as required. '"... ." ~ By one of the clauses the payment of travelling expenses of voters is declared illegal. It is word.cd as follows:— '','■'' .',"■'.'' "It shall not be lawful for any candidate at any election to pay any money on account of the conveyance of any voter to tbe poll, either to the voter himself or to any other person; and if such candidate, or any person on his behalf, and with* his authority, shall pay any money on account of the conveyance of any voter to the poll, such payment shall he deemed to be an illegal payment within the meaning of the "Corrupt Prac tices Prevention Act, 1854." PARTIAL DISPBANcniSMEKT. The following towns at present having two representatives, are in future to return only one member*. —Honiton, Harwich, Richmond, Lymington, Knaresborough, Thetford, Evesham, Marlborough, Ludlow, Tewkesbury, Totness, Wells, Leominster, Andover, Maldon. NEW COSSTITOENqiES. Lancashire is to be formed into three divi. sions, the West Riding of Yorkshire into three divisions, Middlesex into two divisions—each division returning two members. The following seven towns are to be constituted parliamentary boroughs, each returning one member. —West Bromwich, Birkenhead, Burnley, Stalybridge, Croydon, Gravesend, Hartle*pool. Boroughs which have overgrown their limits are to extended. Members holding offices of profit under the Crown are not to be required to vacate their seats on acceptance of another oflice.