Ilitistellaneous.

Speaking of the Queen's journey to Scotland, the Morning Post says— "it is expected that the Royal visit to the North will be made about the 12th of the ensuing month. Her Majesty will be accompanied by Earl Grey and other noblemen. Lord John Russell, it is feared, will be de- tained in town by his electioneering engagements."

The Brussels Emancipation mentions an alarming relapse in the King of Holland's health; but the report is not confirmed by the Dutch papers.

Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, accompanied by Professor Nillson, left London on Wednesday morning, by the Wilberforce steamer, for Ham- burg, on his way to Copenhagen.

The Grand Duke Constantine is making a tour of visits in the country. On Friday he went to Alton Towers, the seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury; proceeding to Chatsworth on Sunday. On Monday he joined Lord Elles- mere at Worsley Hall; and came into Manchester on Tuesday morning, to survey the principal mills. His Imperial Highness afterwards was present at an entertainment prepared by the Mayor in the Town-hall.

It is announced that Mr. Labonchere will enter upon the office of Presi- dent of the Board of Trade immediately before the dissolution of Parlia- ment; and that he will be succeeded by Sir William Somerville as Secre- tary for Ireland.

The Queen has conferred upon Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Adam the post of Governor of Greenwich Hospital, vacant by the death of Sir Robert Stopford. The appointment was offered in the first instance to Sir Edward Codrington; but he has preferred to retain his Court appointment and good-service pension.

The newspapers represent Sir Roderick Murchison as having taken an ad eundem degree of M.A. at Cambridge. This is an error. The Prince Chancellor wished that the honorary degree of Doctor should be conferred, among others, on Sir Harry Smith and Sir Roderick Murchison; but it appeared that such a step could not legally be taken. In consequence of a squabble with King James the First, the University of Cambridge was deprived of a privilege which still belongs to Oxford, and cannot confer the degree of Doctor upon any under the rank of Privy Councillor! Hence, the honorary Doctors created the other day were all of rank superior to that of the hero of Aliwal and the eminent geologist; who could only be made Masters of Arts.

The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt have notified that the sum of 691,2971. 158.11d., being one fourth of the surplus revenue for the year ended 5th April 1847, will be applied to the purchase of Stock and Exchequer Bills.

Accounts from Manchester are satisfactory. Many of the mills that have been working short time have within the last few days returned to full time. The iron trade is also flourishing; for, independently of the railway consumption, the home consumption of miscellaneous articles in steel and iron is reviving.

A short time since, Indian corn sold at Cork for 19/. 198. a ton: the best can now be had at from 101. to 11/. the ton.

Workmen are extending the wires of the Electric Telegraph Company from the South-western Railway wires in the Waterloo Road to the Lon- don Bridge Railway terminus.

A correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, writing from Cambridge, describes the outward man of an eminent foreigner. "Presently arrived another gentleman whose advent occasioned some interest. On the arm of the powerful-looking old Bishop of Norwich appeared a fresh-coloured young man dressed somewhat a Is Francaise—to wit, narrow coat-collar, full skirts, and trousers slightly plaited at

the waist. You would not take this jolly-looking young gentleman for a pro- found mathematician and astronomer: on the contrary, he appears just one of the lions you would expect to find playing a match at billiards in a gilded café on the Boulevards, or, with deference be it spoken, clasping the waist of la Reine Po- mare' at the Chateau Rouge. Irreverent suppositions! Honour to science: there goes M. le Varier, the discoverer of the new planet-the owner, if priority of claim gives ownership, to all the lands, titles, and domains of Neptune.'" Professor Wilson has published a letter disclaiming all present connexion with Blackwood's Magazine.

The Countess of Mornington has advertisekin the papers for assistance to pre- vent her from going to the workhouse.

The letter of the Norwood Cemetery Company to its proprietors commences thus—" Sir, your grave (No. —) is now ready."

A toad, which had been buried under a reversed flower-pot three feet beneath the surface of the ground, by Mr. Samuel Clarke, of Crook's Place, butcher, on the 14th of June 1846, was, by the same gentleman, disinterred on the 14th in- stant. No sooner was the little animal taken u than he gave evident proofs that to be "buried alive" did not to him, necessarily involve cessation of existence; for he instantly commenced skipping about, many of his bounds extending to the height of six inches into the air. His month was closed up with a white skin, but his eyes were as sparkling as when on that day twelvemonth he was put be- low the ground.—Norfolk News.

Between one and two o'clock on Wednesday morning, a violent thunder-storm broke over the Metropolis and its vicinity; it also prevailed in other parts of the country.

About London the tempest was the cause of several disasters. The worst oc- eurred at Greenwich. A. little before two, the lightning struck the roof of a house in Brewer's Lane near the Hospital, and set it on fire; the flames rapidly spread; and in a short Lane, many of the houses around took fire. From the crowded neighbourhood, and the materials of most of the buildings being of wood, the destruction was very. extensive. The premises of a mast and sail maker's, a public-house, and melt other houses, were consumed; while three more were partially destroyed. The houses were mostly inhabited by poor people, who have lost all they possessed. There can be no doubt that the conflagration was caused by the lightning; for several persons saw it strike the building, and saw the flames arise immediately after. The firemen had considerable difficulty in getting the engines to the spot, the horses being exceedingly terrified.

A leather-dresser's at Bermondsey was seized by the electric fire, and consider- able damage was done before the flames could be got under. A beer-shop near East Street, Walworth, was struck; the lightning passed overa sign-board, burn- ing it, knocked down a wall, and did other damage. The concussion of the thunder shattered the windows of the houses around, and put out a good many of the street-lamps. A Policeman was knocked down in the New Cut, Lambeth: he was scorched, but not fatally. A woman was struck near Golden Square; and her recovery was considered to be hopeless.

The storm seems to have travelled from the South-west; for it began at Sher- borne at nine o'clock, appearing at Salisbury about half-past eleven, and passing away at midnight.

Mr. GThison the aironaut, Mr. Albert Smith, and two other gentlemen, who made a night ascent in a balloon from Vauxhall Gardens on Tuesday, were placed in much peril. When the machine had attained an elevation of some six thou- sand feet, it was necessary to allow some of the gas to escape; and the lower valve was opened; but, through the peculiar state of the atmosphere, the pressure of the gas to escape was greater than the means of emission; the silk of the bal- loon was burst at the lower part, it collapsed, and formed a sort of parachute, which descended with fearful rapidity. The balloon reached the ground in an open space near the Belgrave Road; and the gentlemen in the car escaped with a few braises and a fright.

Hiekton, one of the Policemen charged with perjury at the Dagenham inquest, has been arrested at Liverpool. He caused himself to be captured; writing to his father, at Derby, to tell a Policeman of that town where he was; as he was de- sirous that the officer, an old schoolfellow, should get the reward offered for his apprehension. He has been committed to Ilford Gaol.