_Miscellaneous.

Lord and Lady Lyttelton received a short visit from the Queen Dowager, at Hagley Hall, near Birmingham, on Tuesday.

I IThe Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane gave a grand fae at Taymouth Castle on Thursday week, in commemoration of the anni- versary of the visit of the Queen and Prince Albert. A numerous list of noble and distinguished guests is given. By command of the Mar- quis, the park was thrown open to all classes; and there were congre- gated at last 5,000 spectators, from many miles around. The company viewed from a grand stand a number of Highland games of agility, for which prizes were given, as well as for dancing and piping ; the sports being under the direction of Mr. Fox Maule. Afterwards there was a banquet for the great, and a substantial regale for the small.

The King of Hanover reentered his capital on the 5th instant. A. number of citizens, decorated with scarfs of the national colours, escorted him into the city ; and the Corporation welcomed him with a serenade and procession of torches. The King was in excellent health.

General Espartero has accepted the invitation to dine with the Lord Mayor at the Mansionhouse on the 26th instant ; when a distinguished party will meet him, including Viscount Palmerston and the Earl of Clarendon.

General Espartero, with two ladies, and attendants, went to see Greenwich Hospital on Wednesday.

The Times contradicts the statement that Sir Robert Peel is in a bad state of health : he has suffered nothing more than the fatigue and har- rassment of the session had caused, and the ease of the vacation would remedy.

The Dublin Evening Mail alleges, on the authority of private letters, that a meeting of the Lord-Lieutenant and Sir Edward Sugden took

Place at Sir Robert Peel's onse, on Monday ; when the promotion of Mr. Howley, and Sir Edward's absence from Ireland 'as one of the Lords Justices, were the subjects of " angry discussion" and "strong remonstrance" with the Irish Chancellor.

Rossini bas left Paris for Bologna, cured of a painful disease by Dr. Ciliate. It is said that when Duprez urged the great composer to write a part for him, Rossini replied, "I have come too early, and you too late."

The Annual Conference of the Wesleyan Methodists, which was re- cently held at Sheffield, issued an address, as usual, to the Wesleyan Societies in different parts of the kingdom ; and a good space in the document was devoted to the Factory Bill of last session, with a glance at Puseyism and such errors in the Church of England-

" In the commencement of the present session of Parliament, a measure was introduced to promote the better education of the poor in the manufac- turing districts ; and, as it was generally supposed, with the intention of ulti- mately extending its application, substantially, to the entire kingdom. On a careful examination of this measure by the United Committees of Privileges and of Education, it was found to be based on unjust principles, to be de- fective in its provisions, and calculated to produce serious injury to many ex- cellent schools now in existence, to sow the seeds of discord in every place in which it might come into operation, and to inflame, almost beyond the possi- bility of healing, those unhappy dissensions which at present exist in our land. They therefore recommended that our congregations and schools should peti- tion Parliament against it ; a recommendation which was very cheerfully and extensirely complied with. The strong and general feeling of disapprobation which this measure excited in various influential quarters has led its proposers to withdraw it for the present; and we heartily congratulate you on this result. But we must not disguise or overlook the fact, that our recent proceedings in reference to public education have involved us in a most serious responsibility. The case stands thus. A large number of the youth of our country are found to be greatly in need of education. It is proposed to give them a certain amount of education upon certain terms; but we, in common with other bodies, object to the terms proposed, and are understood thus to prevent them from receiving the education offered. Unless, therefore, the education offered was itself an evil as great or greater than absolute ignorance, or unless the terms proposed were such as to neutralize the benefit of education altogether, it is manifest that we must either exert ourselves to the utmost of our power for the instruc- tion of the people on a better system, or we must incur the guilt of depriving them of instruction altogether, neither giving it ourselves nor allowing it to be given by others. We would have you dear brethren, deeply impressed with the conviction and zealous to extend to the children of the poor in your several heighbourbods the blessings of a truly Christian education. We do not sup- pose, indeed, that any private or denominational efforts can effect an amount of good equal to that which would result from a well-devised and equitable mea- sure of national education ; but we are sure that patient zeal and self-denying liberality may find ample scope and secure an ample reward in almost any circuit in our connexion. The establishment and maintenance of efficient day and infant schools in large towns, and the further improvement of our valuable Sunday-schools everywhere, are objects which we once more earnestly com- mend,to your kind and most careful attention.

"It has been publicly stated, that one ground of our strenuous opposition to the lately-projected measure of public education was its obvious tendency to give to the clergy of the Established Church an unfair and undue control over the religious teaching in the schools which it would have established. We think it right to confirm this statement ; not out of any hostile feeling towards the Established Church as such, fur this has never been the feeling of our body, but with a view to bear our distinct and solemn testimony against those grievous errors which are now tolerated within her pale. We have been hitherto accustomed to regard her as one of the main bulwarks of the Protestant faith; but her title to be so regarded has of late been grievously shaken. Opinions concerning the insufficiency of Scripture as the sole authoritative and universal rule of faith and practice, the exclusive validity of episcopal ordination, and the necessarily saving efficacy of the sacraments—which can only be distin- guished from Popery by an acute and practised observer, and which in their necessary consequences lead directly to Popery—have been revived when they were almost extinct, have spread with fearful rapidity, and are now held by a large number of the Established clergy. As a natural result of such a state of opinion, an exclusive and persecuting spirit has appeared in many parts of the land. The influence of rank and station is arrayed, in various forms of annoyance and intolerance, against liberty of conscience ; the common offices of good neighbourhood are often denied to all but strict conformists; and every approach to Christian intercourse and cooperation for religious purposes with those beyond the pale of Episcopal jurisdiction is repu- diated almost with indignation. A preference for Papists over their brethren of the Reformation is, in some cases, openly avowed ; and feelings of tender- ness, and even veneration for the Church of Rome, are carefully cultivated by this party. The simple worship hitherto practised in this country is depre- ciated by them in comparison with the gorgeous ritual of Rome ; and the appliances of art are in constant and increasing requisition for the purpose of bringing Englishmen nearer to that standard of supposed perfection. Amidst all this zeal about externals, the vital and essential doctrine of justification by faith only' is awfully obscured, or denied. We deeply condemn and deplore this alarming departure from the truth of the Gospel in doctrine, and from its godly simplicity in divine worship and ecclesiastical observance. Yet we are aware that there is a numerous and powerful body of holy and faithful men to be found in the ranks of the National Church ; and we cherish the hope that they, and the authorities of that Church, may soon feel it to be a duty which they owe to Christ and to the souls of men, to stand forth, and, by a more vigorous, explicit, and united assertion of the doctrines of the Reformation, purify their branch of the Christiau community from the evils which at pre- sent threaten its destruction."

The Journal des Debats has some interesting particulars respecting the adieus of the Royal visiters at En and their host. After saying that Queen Victoria spent nearly half an hour in shooing her yacht to the King and the Royal Family of France, and then the party reassembled on deck, it proceeds— "The Queen of England approached a group formed at the stern of the ves- sel, and graciously thanked them for the part they had taken, by their personal zeal, in the sumptuous hospitality of the King. General Atthalin, first Aide-de- camp of the King, the Marquis du Roure, who had performed the functions of Chevalier d'Honneur to the Queen, and the Count de Chabannes, who had accompanied Prince Albert, bad each received, on the preceding day, from her Majesty and his Royal Meiners, a noble and magnificent proof of their kind remembrance. The Queen had also thanked, in the most gracious manner, M. Vatout, first Librarian of the King, who had got bound splendidly, and laid upon her work-table, several copies of Lis Histoire du Chateau d'Eu. 'It is a chateau truly rich in reminiscences, and a very interesting history,' said the Queen to him. ' Yetter Majesty,' replied Mr. Vatout, 'has just added ite finest page.' A few moments attersards, the Queen condescended to send to M. Vatout a magnificent ring in diamonds. Time, however, was advancing. It was im- portant for the Queen to leave the roadstead of Tr6port early enough to arrive at Brighton before night. The King, Seeing the necessity of Interrupting this exchange of kindly words and affectionate sentiments winch so sweetly delayed the departure of her Britannic Majesty, gave the signal for his return; at the same time addressing his adieus to the Queen. The King embraced her cordially, [embrearsee, kissing her, most probably, on each cheek, as the term of salute implies,] and afterwards pressed the bands of Prince Albert. In turn, the Queen Marie Anidlie, the Queen Louise of the Belgians, the Dutchess of Orleans and the Princesses, embraced Queen Victoria. The Princes saluted her; and the Royal Family then retired, conducted as far as the ladder by her Majesty and Prince Albert, whose emotions were visible. At this moment, a steamer of the squadron, the Conrrier de Dieppe, came up to the Queen's yacht, and the King and Royal Family immediately went on board her, whilst the Victoria and Albert was getting ready to start. A few minutes afterwards, the Royal yacht was under full steam, flaming afar the foam of the sea dashed up by its rapid wheels, the royal standard shining at the mainmast, its head turned to England. The King followed in her wake for an instant, as if to perform towards her Britannic Majesty a last act of royal courtesy; and the Queen responded to this by ordering her yacht to be stopped. She then raved her hand in a last adieu to her august ally of France, and resumed her route." The Journal discards the idea that the visit was merely a pleasure- excursion, and regards it as " grand " in its monarchic éclat and the- guarantee of peace which it affords- " A Queen does not move about, and carry with her, as it were, the govern- ment of her country, for au frivolous a motive. To the affectionate step which her Britannic Majesty has taken, we must therefore leave all its importance and value. France would bare a right to receive with indifference the Sovereign of a great empire who should cross her frontier for the sake only of a pleasure- excursion ; but she sets a high value on the sympathy of a serious Queen. Not that she triumphs about it as if it were a favour—France can dispense with that —but she rejoices at it as being a favourable symptom for the peace of the world : and such is the meaning of the reception the Queen of England has met with among us; the echo of which, we hope, will not stop at the hills of St. Catherine and the cliffs of Treport. Queen Victoria has seen King Louis Philippe ; she has conversed with him, and listened to him ; she has seen the Royal Family—those two Queens, the patterns of the most serious and amiable virtues—that heroic widow who rears a King for France—those young Prin- cesses, the delight and solace of an august old age—those young Princes who breathe but for the greatness and glory of their country. Yes, we affirm it, such is the spectacle the Queen of England has had before her eyes ; and we need not say what impressions she carries away with her, and what recollections will survive their rapid interview. At the same time, Queen Victoria has surprised, as it were, amidst the leisure and the abandon of his repose at forty leagues from his capital and palaces, that royalty of popular origin of which, fanatic gazetters and the despised candidates of divine right speak but with the smile of scorn on their lips; and Queen Victoria may have asked herself whether there be in the world a royalty that knows better how to blend, sim- plicity with grandeur, and us dignity more royal with a goodness more affable, more humane, and more accessible ? The Queen of England will return from her visit to the Chateau d'Eu with greater esteem for the King. Let us add, that she leaves in France, with all who have seen her, the conviction that the crown of Great Britain is worthily placed on her young head : and now may the English Government, as we hope, not obstruct her in affectionate and sympathetic tendency which draws her nearer to our France, and may Lord Aberdeen's words never be gainsaid by the Cabinet or any body else. Lord Aberdeen said, in speaking of the Queen's visit to King Louis Philippe, which had been so spontaneously resolved upon and so promptly executed. Noua laisserons as Majeste faire autant de pas qu'elle he voudra dans cette voie la! ' And we also shall let her come to us; and every time she may wish it, our French courtesy will save her half the way 2"

Galignanis Messenger states that King Louis Philippe intends to form a "Victoria gallery "—

" In it will be placed a series of pictures connected with the proceedings of the Queen of England's visit. It is at present intended that the number shall be about thirty ; ot which six will be of a large size, nine feet by six, and four; teen of smaller dimensions, the remaining ten being portraits. A special build- ing is to be erected at the Chateau d'Eu for this collection, in the course of the ensuing spring.

Mr. Richard Dadd, the young man who is supposed to have killed his father at Cobham Park, is the designer of one of the recently- exhibited cartoons, representing St. George after he had killed the dragon.

The Paris Sieele of Friday gives some particulars of the maniac's encounter with his fellow-passenger in France; who went to the office of that paper and told the story himself-

" Mr. M— was on the night of the 30th ultimo passing through the forest of Valence, near Montereau, and was seated on the impenale by the side of a young Englishman, whose looks seemed to be wandering, and who had been for above a quarter of an hour amusing himself by lowering Mr. M—'s- cravat and collar. This singular practice provoked the traveller, who desired his neighbour to have done with it. The latter then drew from his pocket an excellent English razor, and set about cutting the throat of the unfortunate Frenchman ; who, despite a vigorous resistance, received four rather deep cuts. Notwithstanding his wounds, he succeeded in mastering the young man, whose madness seems to be a mania of cutting throats; for, on being taken before the Justice of the Peace at Monterean, he very quietly declared that his name was Richard Dadd, and that he had just recently arrived from England, where he had murdered his father by cutting his throat. He was lodged in the Melon-house. But the most surprising circumstance of this strange story ie, that the moment Richard Dadd was arrested, he hastened to give all he had about him in order that his victim might be taken care of! "

Intelligence has been received of the total destruction of the United States steamer Missouri, at Gibraltar, on the 26th August. The Missouri was pierced for 44 guns, and carried 28. The fire being observed by people on board the British war-steamer Locust, that vessel was hastened to the spot, and the whole of the American crew were saved ; floating fire-engines were also sent off by the Governor ; but, to prevent an otherwise inevitable explosion of the gunpowder on board the steamer, it was scuttled-

" The Missouri," says the Cadiz correspondent of the Times, "was bound for Canton, with the new Ambassador sent from the United States to the Emperor of China, together with the gentlemen of his embassy and suite. The Ambassador will thus be compelled either to return to the United States, or to proceed as he best can by an indirect course to his destination. The fire as occasioned by combustion of the large cargo of coal Which the Missouri was obliged to carry. This combustion had been going on for a considerable time, and upon its discovery a quantity of water was thrown upon the coal, which had the effect of apparently extinguishing the flame. But it was, in fact, merely smothered; and upon its breaking out a second time, it was found to have gained such head that no efforts could arrest its progress. HOW the fire was first communicated to the mass of coal has not been ascertained. The

ire-engines were worked with great vigour, and other means resorted to to throw a quantity of water on the flames, but in vain. It communicated itself rapidly to the remaining parts of the magnificent vessel. By dint of con- siderable exertions, many valuable effects were saved, and put on board the Locust, including 50,000 dollars of specie. The vessel was of immense capa- city, her register being of nearly 2,000 tons; and her crew was very numerous."

The Gibraltar correspondent of the Standard says, that the Missouri "cost 500,000 dollars building, and 500,000 more for fitting out and stores ; not to mention the total loss of all the property of the officers and crew "; and he adds, an apparently inconsistent conjecture, im- puting the loss of the vessel to the wilful misconduct of the crew-

" I was alongside of the Missouri from half-past eight to eleven o'clock on the night of the 26th instant, [August,] and early saw that all our united efforts would not save her—no, not even if the river Missouri had discharged itself into the waist of the frigate ; for the flames burst out from bow to stern on the middle-deck simultaneously, as if a train had been laid ; which almost bears me out in my suspicion that she was purposely fired ; at all events, the crew were lukewarm in their efforts to save her, for I am told there were three hundred men and officers composing the crew ; one of whom said that he saw the fire when it was only as large as his hat! Well,' said the person to whom bespoke, 'why did you not put it Out?' ' Why, I had nothing convenient to apply to it."

Intelligence has this week been received of several shipwrecks ; and some of the vessels lost are important. The East India ship Regular, Captain Carter, on the outward passage from London to Bombay, with a very valuable cargo of iron, copper, and other things, sprung a leak on the 8th July, in lat. 37 30 S., long. 36 30 E. The captain, crew, and passengers, after vainly endeavouring for four successive days and nights to stop the leak, at last took to the boats ; the commander not leaving the vessel till her gunwales were under water. They were on the following day taken on board the Cleopatra, French frigate; where they received the kindest assistance.

The Queen Victoria, also an Indiaman, left Bombay for Liverpool on the 11th March last, with a very valuable cargo of India produce; and on the 7th April, during a sharp gale, it struck on the South-west reef of rocks off Rodrigues, and soon became a total wreck. The captain and some of the crew were saved ; but Mr. James Serle, the first officer, Mr. Robert Plunkett, a passenger, and nine seamen, were drowned.

Accounts received from the Brazils describe a dreadful storm which happened during the 24th and 25th June last, at Monte Video. The Queen's Ship Fantome, 16, commanded by Captain Haymes, was totally lost during the violence of the hurricane. All the crew were preserved, and are on their way to England to await a court-martial.

The city of Bahia was said, in letters of the 31st July, to be threat- ened with destruction, from a continued deluge of rain, which was un- dermining the overhanging mountain.

The reports of the harvest, now almost all secured, are most satisfac- tory. The yield in the North of England and the Midland counties is said to be considerably above an average ; in the South, at least an average in quantity, though the quality is sometimes inferior; in Scot- land, at least an average, both in quantity and quality ; and in Ireland, "superior to any thing that could have been anticipated a short time back." Potatoes are so plentiful in Ireland that they can be had in many places at one penny per stone.

In a letter to the Times, dated Spring Grove, September 9th, Mr. Henry Pownall describes an extraordinarily economical method of planting wheat, the result of an experiment made by a friend at Cheam- " In July 1842, Mr. A. Palmer put one grain of wheat in a common garden pot. In August the same was divided into 4 plants, which in three weeks were again divided into 12 plants. In September these 12 plants were di- vided into 32, which in November were divided into 50 plants, and then placed in open ground. In July 1843, 12 of the plants failed; but the re- mainder, 38, were healthy. On the 19th August they were cut down, and counted 1,972 stems, with an average of 50 grains to a stem, giving an increase of 98,600.

"Now, Sir, if this be a practicable measure of planting wheat, it follows that most of the grain now used for seed may he saved, and will infinitely more than cover the extra expense of sowing, as the wheat-plants can be raised by the labourer in his garden, his wife and children being employed in dividing and transplanting them. I have enclosed one of the stems as a sample. You will find it rather above six feet long, and stout in proportion."

"An Irishman now in Yorkshire" lately suggested that the Wales correspondent of the Times should be sent to Ireland ; on which the Dublin Pilot, a leading Repeal journal, remarks-

" Although the able and honest correspondent of the Chronicle [" One who has Whistled at the Plough "] is nobly performing the duty he has undertaken in regard to letting our neighbours know the state of Ireland, yet the arrival of the discerning, faithful, and manly Welsh correspondent of the Times, would be hailed as a blessing here, convinced as we are that his communications would be guided by the same fearless impartiality which characterizes his observations on the state of the Principality."

[The way in which the Times reporter in Wales gained his repute was by industrious and intrepid perseverance in the collection of facts, and by the clear and familiar exposition of them. He has made readers in London know what actually happened in Wales, to produce Such a crisis. Could the same thing be done for Ireland, the service would be great.]

Lord William Paget has instituted legal proceedings against the Earl Cardigan, for criminal conversation with the prosecutor's wife. The Scandal connected with the subject was by general concurrence excluded from the respectable journals, until introduced to them by a letter from Lord William Paget, contradicting some reports opposed to his view of the affair. It is stated by an Irish paper, that Lord Cardigan avers the charge to be the result of a conspiracy against himself and Lord William ; and in a letter to the Freeman's Journal, the Earl says that the whole story is false.