Irlistellantous.

The Count of Neuilly paid a visit to Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor on Tuesday. Sir Robert accompanied the ex-King from London to Dray- ton on the journey down, and with his family accompanied him to the Tamworth station on his return to London.

The Vienna papers of the 15th instant announce the death of the Arch- duke Ferdinand d'Este, by an attack of typhus fever, at Briton. The fever is supposed to have been caught in the Military Hospital at Obrowitz, which the Archduke had lately visited with objects of sanatory examina- tion.

The Indian mail brings home the news of the death of Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Collier, Commander-in-chief of her Majesty's naval force in the East. He died of apoplexy, on the 28th October, at the residence of Judge Hulme in Hongkong, where he had been staying since his return to China.

We are enabled by private correspondence to announce the opening of negotiations by her Majesty's representative at St. Petersburg with the view of increasing the commercial relations between this country and Russia. A considerable change is contemplated in the import-duties on articles of English manufacture; and in cotton, especially, a great though gradual ad valorem reduction will be made. We are informed that the Emperor has shown the utmost willingness to consider the whole question in the most liberal point of view; and that while great advantages will be conferred upon Russian commerce by the removal of restrictions, the conditions of the treaty are very favourable to English trade. It should be added, that as changes of this description are serious in the effect of their first appli- cation, it is probable that the diminution of duties will be spread over the next two years, being complete by the end of 1851.—Globe.

A postscript to the Prices Current of Messrs. A. Campbell and Co. of Rotterdam, dated the 4th instant, makes an important announcement-

" A message has been sent from the King to the States-General recommending a revision of the commercial code and navigation-laws; which is intended to place trade and ships belonging to nations acting upon a reciprocal principle on nearly the same footing as national ships, by abolishing the present differential duties on articles imported by the latter; by admitting foreign ships into the Netherland Colonies on the same footing as Dutch ships; by reducing the tonnage and light- dues on foreign ships; by allowing ships built for Dutch account elsewhere than in Holland the privilege of the national flag; by reducing the import-duties on all materials required for shipbuilding or navigation; and lastly, by abolishing all transit and navigation duties on the Rhine. So extensive a system in the right way cannot fail to be acceptable in the highest degree to the general interests of trade, although it is probable that the shipping interest will struggle hard for a modification before the measure passes into law.'

We understand that a Royal Commission for inquiring into the best mode of carrying out the Exhibition of Industry of all Nations in 1851 will shortly be issued, and is likely to consist of heads of parties and in- terests, members of the present and late Administrations, representatives of agriculture, art, science, mechanics, and manufactures. It is proposed in addition, to nominate any number of local Commissioners, so as to repre- sent all interests both at home and abroad.—Times.

The Society of Arts has concluded contracts with Messrs. James and George Munday, the public works contractors, for carrying out Prince Al- bert's projected exhibition of arts and industry by all nations. The Messrs. Monday undertake, without any security, to carry out the exhibition on their own responsibility, and to indemnify the Society of Arts for all ex- penses and liabilities; to erect the necessary buildings, at a roost of some 50,0001., and to provide 20,0001. for 'prizes. From the funds received Messrs. Etunday's expenses, with five per cent interest, are first to be paid; and if any surplus remain, Messrs. Munday are to receive two-thirds of it. A copy of the deed may be inspected at the Society's rooms, in John Street, Adelphi.

The College of Surgeons has decided that future candidates for their Fellowship shall pass an examination in mathematics, and in the Greek, Latin, and French languages.

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last—

Number of Antoine Deaths. Average. Zymotic Diseases 160 .... 307 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat.. 42 .... Tubercular Diseases 178 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 114 .... 125 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 40 Diseases of the Lungs, and aPthe ocher Organs- of Respiration 519 .... 214 Diseases of the Stomach. Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 61 .... 65

Diseases of the Kidneys, &c 14 .... 11

Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, dc 7.... 10 Rheumatism. diseases of the Bones, Joints, dc. le • • • • 8 Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, de 3

Malformations 8 1

Premature Birth :::: 4. Atrophy 19 • • .• 24 15 15 Age Sudden 48 .• • , 47 11 • • • • 11 Violence, releation, Cold, and Inlerapemnee 44 --.

- -total (Ineindlog unspecified causes) 5002 1188 In the week ending last Saturday, 1,002 deaths were registered in the Metro- Dontan districts; the weekly average of the season, corrected for increase of popa- titian, being 1,162, the present decrease on the estimated mortality amounts to 160 deaths. The numbers returned in the last four weeks have been consecu- tively 892, 931, 1,053, and 1,002; the increase of mortality was preceded and accompanied by a decrease of temperature, (the mean having fallen about 16 de- mos in three weeks,) and a rise of temperature is now followed by a slight do- crease in the total number of deaths. The deaths from phthisis in the last four weeks were 104, 134, 133, and 108. But under other diseases of the respiratory organs the increase is generally maintained; the deaths from bronchitis were 60, 60, 86, and 89; those from pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs, chiefly in young persons) were 82, 94, 88, 90; and from asthma, 12, 21, 16, 26. In the zymotic or epidemic class, scarlatina and typhus have declined respectively from 32 and 51 fatal cases in the previous week to 19 and 33 in the last, and are both below the average; whilst measles, which numbered 29 in the former week, was fatal in 46 cases in the last. Last week the deaths from diarrhcea were only 14; only one death from cholera occurred in the same period. The deceased in this case was a child of fear years, who had lived in Horace Street, Marylebone. Amongst other deaths registered last week was that of a child of three years, who died of inflammation of the larynx, from inhaling the steam of boiling water. Vaccina- tion was attended in two cases by fatal results. An old man died from exposure to cold in a field. Three deaths are ascribed to intemperance. In the 1,002 deaths, the cause of death was certified by the written statements of medical at- tendants in 888 cases; in 12 cases, there was no medical attendant; in 15 cases, the patients may have had medical aid, but the diseases of which they died are not certified; of the remaining 87. cases, 84 were the subjects of inquest, and re- turned by Coroners. "A table is appended to the present return which shows the annual mortality of London at various ages, as compared with that of the South-eastern division of England, and also of part of Northumberland. Taking boys under 5 years, it ap- pears that while 29 out of 1,000 die in three Northumbrian districts, 53 die in the South-east division of England, and 93 in London; and that this rate of 93 which prevails in London in ordinary times was raised by a few weeks' preva- lence of influenza in 1847-8, to 106, and by cholera in 1849 to 107. Influenza MS almost as fatal to children as the more terrible epidemic by which it was followed; and to aged men and women who bad turned 75 years, the mortality of cholera was even less. The annual mortality of men between 45 and 55 years, which is in parts of Northumberland 12 out of every 1,000 living, and in the South-eastern division 15, is in London 27 in average years; and here it was raised from 27 to 28 by influenza, and to 35 by cholera. "The daily mean height of the barometer at Greenwich Observatory was above 30 inches on Monday: the mean height of the week was 29852. The daily mean temperature, which was 37° on Sunday, fell to 32° on Thursday, and rose on the next two days to 49° and 54°. The mean temperature of the week was 40°, about the average of the same week of seven years ; on Thursday the daily mean VMS 8° below the average, and on the following days successively 9° and 13° above it." The direction of the wind for the week was variable.

Mr. Francis Bayley, 'he Revising Barrister, son of the late Mr. Justice Bayley, has been appointed by the Lord Chancellor Judge of the Westminster County Court, in the room of the late Mr. Moylan.—Globe.

The Reverend Edward Meyrick Goulburn, M.A., Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford, formerly Fellow and Tutor of Merton College, has been elected by the Trustees to be Head Master of Rugby School.

It having reached the ear of Royalty that an aged woman, named Read, re- siding at Cowes, would complete her hundredth year on the 21st instant, and that she had lost none of her faculties, her Majesty caused her carriage to be sent to convey the old lady to Osborne; whither she went, wondering, but re- joicing. After an interview with the Queen, Prince Albert, the Dutchess of Kent, and the Royal children, she went home loaded with gifts, and with a well-ground- ed persuasion that her few remaining days will be cheered with plenty. The deed may be trifling, but it speaks volumes in favour of her Majesty's kind feel- iogs.—Correspondmt of the Globe.

Princess Marianne of the Netherlands embarked on the 3d, with her suite, on board the English steamer Indus, at Messina, to continue her voyage to the Holy Land.

The agreement for the purchase of Brighton Pavilion was executed in London yesterday, by the Honourable the Commissioners of her Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Revenae,s, on behalf of the Government, and by Mr. Slight, the Clerk to the Commissioners, on behalf of the inhabitants of Brightem—Brighton Gazette.

After the disembarkation of the Datehess of Kent at Portsmouth, on Wednes- day afternoon, on her return in the Fairy Royal Yacht from Oebome for Frog- men, the Fairy fouled the Contest, 12 guns, commanded by the Honourable J. W. S. Spencer, and "cut down her main channels to within three inches of the copper on the starboard side." Mr. Welsh, the pilot, had just before had some hot substance blown from the funnel of the Fairy into his eye ; and, under the influ- ence of excruciating pain, had momentarily jumped from his post; so that he gave the order to "back her" too late to avert the collision.

At a late meeting of the Ashmolean Society, Oxford, Dr. Daubeny mentioned the progress of arrangements for a steam-vessel to proceed from Edinburgh to Iceland, which will afford an opportunity for persons so disposed to visit that in- teresting island. It is intended to leave Edinburgh about the time of the next meeting of the British Association in that city, and to return in time to give an account of the visit before the meeting terminates.

It appears by the official returns just published by the Corporation of London, that there were imported into the City from 1st January to the 30th November 1849, 2,980,396 tons of coal in 10,855 ships ; whilst in the corresponding period of 1848 the importations were 3,198,202 tons in 11,507 ships; showing a decrease Upon the present year of 217,806 tons and 652 ships. The magnificent Victoria Regis water-lily of Berbice has recently flowered in a tank erected in a hothouse at Chatsworth. This was the first time of its flowering in Europe. Sir Robert Schomburgk discovered this plant in the river Berbice: one leaf that he measured was sir feet five inches in diameter, and the flower fifteen inches across.

A strange circumstance has just taken place at Herisan, the capital of Inner Appenzell, in Switzerland, showing how much in these countries of old liberties civilization is behindhand in some matters. A young girl of nineteen, some months back, assassinated her rival. Her lover was arrested with her, and, ae she accused him of the crime, both were put to the torture. The girl yielded to the pain, and confessed her crime; the rang man held firm in his denial: the former was condemned to death, and on the 7th of this month was decapitated with the sword, in the market-place of Ilerisau. This fact is itself a startling one, but the details are just as strange. For two hours the woman was able to struggle against four individuals charged with the execution. After the first hour the strength of the woman was still so great that the men were obliged to desist; the authorities were then consulted, but they declared that justice ought to follow its course. The struggle then recommenced, with greater intensity, and despair seemed to have redoubled the woman's force. At the end of another hour she was at last bound by the hair to a stake, and the sword of the executioner then carried the sentence into etTect--Aligemeine Zeitung.

A "stupid mule" has shown that it has some lively propensities. It belonged to a postman near Driffield, and was grazing in a field; a lox-hunt swept by; the tattle joined in the chace, and had a "splendid run" of some six miles. It was

several days before the mule's master could discover what hail become of it; and it was then found near the kennel of hounds at South Dalton.

Last week, a hare panned by some greyhounds, after several turns, and being hardly pressed, jumped on the back of a young horse, where she fixed herself astride. The affrighted animal, not being accustomed to such a rider, bounded off at full speed, kicking and plunging, accompanied by the dogs. This continued from four to five minutes; when, choosing a favourable situation, puss hopped ME, and very gallantly made her escape.—Swansea Herald.

There has been a wholesale slaughter at Loath—of 4,000 geese and 1,500 ducks, turkeys, and fowls, intended for the London Christmas market.

A grand " battne " of the rats of Paris is going on in its 150 leagues of sewers. About 250,000 of the vermin have been captured, and it is expected that by the 1st January the total will have reached 600,000. It is proposed to rid Paris of rats by four battues a year. They are captured in leathern sacks, containing mutton tallow; the sacks are fixed at the corners of sewers, and then the rats are driven towards them. Of those already caught some 500 or 600 are black Eng- lish rats— very ferocious —and the rest the grey Norwegian species. The game is taken to the Ile des Ravagenrs, and there killed and skinned—the former a rather dangerous task. Two glovers of Grenoble had contracted to take the skins, 1 for glove-making, at a hundred francs a thousand: they reckoned on about 100,000 ; but the excessive number now alarms the contractors. A leather-dresser of London is said to have made an offer to take as many as are obtained, at higher terms. The Municipality give a bounty to the hunters-100 francs per 1000 head.