_Miscellaneous.

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued a notice for- bidding irregular punishments of a secondary kind, introduced into the Navy in the desire to avoid corporal punishments; and they order that in future a book be kept for the record of every punishment inflicted, to be called "the Defaulter's Book."

The office known in the legal profession as "Attorney-General's Devil," recently held by Mr. Waddington, has been conferred on Mr. Webby, of the North Wales and Chester Circuit, Recorder of Chester.

Ashbourn Hall, the residence of the late Sir W. Boothby, Bart., has been sold to the Roman Catholics, and, as we are informed, to the class called" Brothers of Charity."—Nottingham Review.

The Duke of Buckingham's Bisborough estate has been sold by auction at Aylesbury, for 47,260/.

The late Miles Lester, Esq., of Upton, Gainsborough, who died a fortnight ago, has left sixty of his nephews and nieces 3001. each.—Hull Packet.

The following appears as an advertisement in the Times- Bir—In consequence of reports by the Idle and envious, I have received notice from !leveret of my customers that they decline doing business with me, through not being Sworn in special constable. I beg to state, that the cause of not being sworn in at that time was being laid up with the scarletina, and not from connexion with the Chartlats, as has been Industriously circulated. I tun, Sir. your obedient servant, RICHARD G1714T21.." "LOWndes Street, Beigrave Square, June 8."

The viaduct forming the South-western Railway extension from Nine Elms to Waterloo Road was completed on Saturday. Moat of the rails are laid down; and the opening is expected in July.

From the opening of the County Courts to the 31st December last, 429,215 plaints were entered; of which 267,445 were tried, 800 by jury. The judges' fees amounted to 82,6521.; clerks' fees, 73,7771.; bailiffs' fees, 46,8891.; general fund, 52,1171.; while the suitors' fond was 345,1221.

The cost of the Poor-law Commission in 1840-1 was 42,6221.; and, varying in every succeeding year, it was in 1846-7, 31,5361.

The number of the Rural Police in England and Wales, in the year 1847, was 2,688; and the expense incurred 196,6351.

The Commissioner of the City Police ascertained that on the 8th May no fewer than 315,099 persons entered the City on foot or in omnibuses between eight in the morning and five in the afternoon; the number there before eight is estimated at another 150,000.

A proposition has been made to the coal-owners of the district, by a company, to buy all coal they have to send to London during the next three years, at their regular prices, and to pay for them weekly.—Newcastle Journal.

Mr. Thomas Wellington Hill, a person connected with the building trade at Bristol, in moderate circumstances, insured his wife's life for 3,0001. Three or four months after, the woman died suddenly. This occurred some months since; but the insurance company having thought the matter suspicious, the corpses of the woman and two children were exhumed last Monday, in the presence of a Coro- ner's Jury, and the viscera handed to Mr. Herapath for a chemical examination. The husband made no objection to the inquiry; but the imputation weighed heavy on his mind: he complained of low spirits, and went to bed; sent his young sis- ter for two phials of oil of almonds, which he swallowed; and when medical aid was called in he was at the point of death. In a pencil note found on the bed, the unfortunate man complains of the atrocious suspicion, and solemnly denies it.

A horrible tragedybas been enacted at Edgecornbe, Maine. A workman named Pinkham, and his wife, who laboured under the Millerite delusion, first murdered their four children and then killed themselves.

According to recent accounts, Mr. Thomas Cent* a wealthy settler in New South Wales, had been accused of the wholesale murder of Blacks in that coun- try. The native savages had stolen many sheep, and three of Mr. Coutts's people had been murdered. After this a number of the savages died suddenly; and sus- picions arose. The Police went to Mr. Coutts's estate, and found many bodies— in one place eight; and they appeared to have died from arsenic. The Chief Jaetioe had held Mr. Coutts to bail in large amounts.

An emigrant, who wished to get to America without paying passage-money, was found at Liverpool, the other day, on board the West Point, sewed up in a feather-bedl

A gentleman residing at Boulogne has advertised in the Times that he "has great pleasure in feeling that he is not dead, but is living and enjoying himself": an announcement respecting the decease of a namesake had made it appear that the advertiser was no more.

One of the scenes which now occasionally enliven the discussions of the French National Assembly is reported as follows by an eye-witness. "14. Dupont (de Bussac) having reproached M. Duvergier de Hauranne with his versatility, M. Daujoie told him that he had better hold his tongue. Dupont (loquitur)-= You would not dare to tell me that in another place.' Danjoie—' Yes, 1 would.' Duvergier de Hauranne—' Let him say what he likes. Nothing that he could say would hurt any one.' Dupont then descends from the tribune, and he and Dan- joie exchange cards. Presently there was a great row and hubbub, and Dupont again rushes to the tribune and complains that M. Emile Langlet had pitched into him.' M. Langlet replied, that he had endeavoured to appease the angry discussion between Id. Dupont and Daujoie • when the former turned round and said, brutally, Never you mind'; and certainly, added the honourable member, 'j'ai qualifie cette reponse avec vivacite.' How odd a phrase, if it would bear translating, to add to the slang technicalities of the ring Cartels were exchanged, and two duels were talked of last night; but this morning's sun has shone upon the angry combatants, who are as full of life as the Milesian Members who so faithfully promised to die upon the floor of the House."

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

Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses. 105 .... 122 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration... 107 .... 129 Diseases of the Stomach. Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 52 82 Diseases of the Kidneys, Sc IS .... 10 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, Sc. 7 .... 12 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Sc Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Sc Malformations Premature Birth Atrophy 213 .... 10 Age 33 65 Sudden

Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 15 .... 29

Total (including unspecified causes) 933 943

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 96.6° in the sun to 28.4° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the mean average temperature by 0.6°. The direction of the wind for the week was variable.

Number of Spring deaths. average. Zymotio Diseases 278 .... 178 Dropsy Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable peat 42 .... 00 169 .... 202