Illtistellantous.

Tuesday's Gazette notifies the appointment of Vice-Admiral the Earl of Dundonald to be Knight Grand Cross of the Bath; and also of Lieutenant- Colonel Charles W. Morley Balders, and Lieutenant-Colonel George Con- greve, to be Companions of the Bath.

' A Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette contained the Queen's letters patent for reorganizing the Grand Military Order of the Bath. The title is hence- forward to be the "Most Honourable Order of the Bath." It is to consist of a Sovereign and Grand Master, and 932 Companions. The Companions are divided into three classes,—namely, Knights Grand Cross, whose number is to be 75; Knights Commanders, 152; and Companions, 725. Each of these classes is to contain two subdivisions, Military and Civil. The King or Queen Regnant is to be Sovereign; and a Prince of the Blood Royal, or "other exalted personage," is to be Grand Master and First Knight Grand Cross.

After months of gloomy apprehension, the accounts received front differ ent parts of the United Kingdom, as well as from abroad, are of the most cheerio? character.

The fine weather has begun to tell on prices. On Monday, corn fell at Mark Lane 6:. or 7s. a quarter; and on Tuesday, for the first time during

many weeks, the bakers in the Metropolis announced a reduction in the four-pound lost

Among other matters bearing on the subject, we find the following state- ment in the Times of Wednesday— 'A reduction of a penny in the pound has taken place in the prices of butcher's meat of all descriptions; and in consequence bacon and other cured pro- visions have been reduced. The fine weather has caused a large supply of fish, which is sold remarkably cheap; small soles can be had from 2d to ficl. per pair, and mackerel five for ls. Vegetables, particularly greens and cabbages, are very plentiful: the former, which about a week ago sold at 7d. a bunch, can now be had at 2d., and early York cabbages at lid each; early foreign potatoes sell at 3d. per pound." The accounts from Liverpool show a positive decline in the corn-market, accompanied by an abundant supply; and the reports from the rural dis- tricts are uniformly satisfactory. The Sussex Advertiser gives the follow- ing description of the season. "Every department of the vegetable king- dom has within the last fortnight made rapid and luxuriant advances, and wheat is making such vigorous pulsations as to be almost seen to grow.'" For Ireland too there is hope. The Dublin Evening Mail thus sums up the accounts from the provinces- " In Tyrone, the potato shoots are vigorous and healthy.' In Tipperary, the same shoots 'are in extraordinary strength; the fruit-trees were never seen in finer blossom; the stalks of grain are vigorous and full, and the whole country fresh and beautiful.' In Athlone, 'nature is clothed in luxuriance, and the growth of corn is rich and healthy.' In Carlow, 'accounts from every district are of a most cheering description, and even the potato crop is healthy and luxu- riant.' In Kerry, the condition of the potato crop had been misrepresented from interested or malicious motives; and an investigation was consequently ordered by the Poor.law Guardians; when the result has proved that the general crop never looked better."

The change which has taken place in the French markets is peculiarly striking. Supplies are now abundant, and prices in most parts are on the decline. According to Galignani's Messenger," Prices are at present higher in London than at Havre. Wheat at the former place is from 44 francs to 50 francs the hectolitre; whilst at the latter it is only 40 francs to 42 francs. American flour is also sold at London at 65 francs to 67 franca the barrel; whilst at Havre it is only 55 francs to 57 francs." As to the growing crops of every kind, the accounts from all quarters of the country concur in representing the weather as the most favourable that had occur- red within the memory of man. Not only are the prospects of the most flattering kind, but benefit from the season had already been realized— "If," says a letter quoted by the Times "bread-stuffs have not yet been gathered, we deduce from the providential season that we enjoys most important substitute for them in the astonishing produce of vegetables of all kinds. Moreover, the hay crop, which three weeks since threatened to be short, will, on the contrary, be ex- ceedingly heavy, and admit of the direction of grain and pulse to human food that must otherwise have been given to cattle. Nor is this all: the apples promise this year to be most abundant, and to insure that desideratum in many provinces, for which beer is the present substitute—cider."

Advices from St. Petersburg indicate a supply of grain "which will be limited only by the means of conveyance." The Times has published a comparative statement of the amount of grain brought from the interior of Russia to Rybinsk on the Volga, in order to the opening of the navigation—

In 1846. In 1847.

Rye-meal (bags)

3,033,353 2,557,711 ,Rye (chetwerts) 755,618 569,411 Wheat (ditto) 1,338,398 2,247,133 I Oats (ditto) 1 284,714 1,927,168 Linseed (ditto) 135,679 167,393

Large supplies, available in like manner for St. Petersburg, have also arrived at other places above Rybinsk.

When the ash tree opens its leaf before the oak, a wet summer usually follows; and when the oak tree opens its leaf before the ash, a dry summer usually follows. The oak is first this year.—Mark Lane Express.

Mr. Brown, a farmer of Finedon, near Higham Ferrers, has made good bread from a mixture of half flour and half mangel wurzel. The Liverpool Courier says- " The mangel wurzel is pared, cut into slices, and boiled so as to mash well. The usual quantity of yeast must be used, and little or no water is required. It must stand some time after mixing, and then be baked as other bread. If the loaf sent to us be a fair sample, we should call it good household bread. The saving to families would be very great, the piece of mangel wurzel being only a farthing a pound."

A correspondent of the Salisbury Journal states that bread is made at Mere of undressed wheat-meal, which enables the bakers to sell four-pound loaves at 84d., while other descriptions of bread are 10d. to 11d, the loaf.

"An Essex Man" points out to the Times a large tract of land within ten miles of London which if cultivated might afford employment to hun- dreds and food for thousands,—namely, Hainault Forest: it is several thousands of acres in extent; almost totally unproductive, the wood being of little value; has no game or deer; and merely feeds a few cattle and ragged ponies turned out by the neighbouring farmers.

On the authority of' private advices from Singapore, the Morning Chro- nicle of Wednesday mentions, that "Three war steamers, built by the English, touched recently at Singapore, on their way to Manilla, where they are to be employed in protecting the towns and coasts of the group from the Illanun or Soolu buccaneers. This has given a new impulse to the coal trade in that part of insular Asia. At present, prices are enor- mous' varying from 21. to 21. 6s. per ton; but when the mines of Labnan shall be in full operation, it may fairly enough be calculated that excellent coals will be attainable at less than one fourth of this expense."

The Lords of the Council have notified to the Commissioners of Customs, that, in consideration of the healthy state of the Levant, the Government has abolished, for the present, all quarantine upon vessels arriving from the Levant; which includes Turkey, Egypt, and Syria. This new rule is to apply to all vessels, whatever may be the nature of their cargo, provided such vessels are furnished with clean bills of health, have been first visited by the Quarantine or other proper officer of Customs, and all persons on board have been free from any suspicion of infectious disease during the voyage.

An "A. B." (able seaman) points out in a letter to the Times wh sailors prefer the commercial marine to the Royal Navy. He has served in the latter, and would willingly continue in it if he could earn as much for his family; but he has entered the Peninsular and Oriental Company's service, as they give 21. 15s. a month—other employers giving 21. 1041.— while the Queen only pays 11. 148. It is true there is a pension for Navy men after twenty-One-Yeitis'—iervicei "is a long time to look for-

..... . • - .. ward to."

At a general meeting of the Central Short Time Committee of Yorkshire, in Bradford, last week, it was resolved to -request Lord Ashley to sit for his portrait; which is to be presented to Lady Ashley, after being en- graved for the benefit of his Lordship's admirers.. .

The tea-market has partaken of the general decline. Although the im- ports up to the 16th May this year are 20,766,000 pounds against 19,585,000 pounds for the same period last year, the deliveries have fallen off. The deliveries for home consumption in 1846, up to the 16th May, were 10,311,000; whereas this year they are only 10,148,000 pounds.

A letter has been published, signed by all the principal Italian trades- -men in London, in behalf of the Italian organ-boys. It suggests that the Austrian and Sardinian Ambassadors should be induced to move for a law requiring all employers of Italian boys to take out a licence.

There has been an arrival from New York, bringing papers to the 1st in- stant, a day later than the advices by the last steamer. They are, how- -ever, unimportant.

letter from St. Petersburg states that M. Rimsinor, a great Russian propriator, has presented their freedom to 8,000 serfs of both sexes belong- eing to MM.

The Journal des Dacus publishes a letter dated Naples 7th May, announcing that a mine of coal, of which the quality is equal to the best Newcastle, has been discovered near Teramo the capital of the Abruzzi. The mine is situated at a depth of 240 feet beneath the surface of the earth. It promises to be abundant, and it is to be worked on account of the Government

Joseph Ady has extended the sphere of his benevolence, and now frequently in- forms natives in foreign countries of "something to their advantage." Sir Peter Laurie has mentioned one ease at the Mansionhouse this week. A Dutchman of Alkmaar has written a letter to the Alderman respecting a sum of money- " value 1,0001. and upwards "—which "Sir Joseph Ady" has offered to obtain for him, "on receipt of twenty shillings "; referring the foreigner to the Alder- -man, the "Deputy Lord Mayor of London," as one who would vouch for Joseph's good character. The poor Dutchman writes to Sir Peter to assist him in getting the money; exhibiting in his letter the utmost confidence in the good faith of "Sir Joseph Ady," though he can't understand how he has himself become en- titled to the property.

The Hull Advertiser tells a story of a farmer of Beverley, who has overreached himself in waiting nine years to get a famine price for his corn. He thought the .present quotation of wheat high enough; so the other morning he thrashed out a quantity of grain; and obtained 4 quarters 7 bushels of corn, and 3,250 mice!

The sentence of death pronounced upon Captain Mann, for having surrendered without striking a blow to the Arabs who surrounded his detachment, was on Friday reversed by the Court of Cessation, without ordering any new trial; so -that he cannot be again brought before a court-martial or any other tribunal.- -Paris Paper.

A party of six persons left Beatimaris on Monday, in a pleasure-yacht, to fish. 'On returning in the evening, the wind having freshened and the sea running -high, the boat was struck by a wave when close to the shore, and went down stern-foremost. A boy was rescued alive; but the other five people perished.

A foreman of labourers on the Greenwich Railway has been killed on the line, -by a train passing over him: while pointing out some repairs which were needed, he very incautiously stepped on to the rails along which is train was approaching, .and in an instant he was knocked down.

Several instances of premature interment are recorded in the French papers. At Lyons, a copper-founder's wife fell into a lethargy, and being supposed dead, was -nailed up in a coffin: on opening the coffin just before the interment, it was found that the wretched woman had revived, and had struggled desperately to get free: in her agony she had gnawed her own hands. A stone-cutter at Clu- ney was buried alive: the falling of the earth on the coffin revived him; with a superhuman effort he burst the coffin, and fled from the cemetery. At Laura; the wife of a rich farmer fell ill, was supposed to be dead, and was buried: groans were heard to issue from the grave; which was opened, and the woman -was found alive: she died, however, before medical relief could be procured.

Mr. Potter, of the University College Hospital, recently lost his life from the effects of a scratch received in dissecting the well-known " Hervio Nano," who -bequeathed his body to Mr. Liston for the benefit of science. A puncture from the lancet was succeeded by swelling of the finger, sores on the arm and chest, and death.

A suicide was committed in a -strange manner on Thursday evening, at Go- ding's brewery, near Waterloo Bridge. Smith, a watchman, who had lately ex- hibited odd symptoms, ascended to the top of the river-front, got upon the pedes- tal of the great figure of a lion which surmounts the building, and then sprang off: befell upon a barge, and died in a few minutes.

Mr. Cruse, the landlord of a public-house in Great Titchfleld Street, poisoned himself with prussic acid on Monday. He had recently attended more to sporting than to business; had lost large sums, and been very unfortunate with the last Derby; his losses on which he ought to have paid on 'Tuesday, but it would seem that he was unable to meet them.

A family at Idle, in Yorkshire, have had a narrow escape. The house was struck by lightning, which tore down the plaster from walls, dashed a window to pieces, broke the furniture, and scattered kitchen-utensils; yet not one of the in- mates suffered in the slightest degree.

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

Total (including unspecified causes) 911 914

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 99.0° in the sun to 35.7° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the average mean temperature by 3.95. The mean direction of the wind for the week was South- west.

The comparison of the deaths registered last week in London with the deaths which would have been registered if the rate of mortality had been the same as in Dorsetshire, shows these totals—London, 911; Dorsetshire, 684; excess, 227.

Mr. J. W. Shearman, of the Priory at West Molesey, who has "long kept a strict account of the thermometer, and noted both its diurnal and nocturnal variations," compares the results of his observation with our weekly register, copied from the Registrar-General's tables—

Number of Spring deaths. average. Emetic (or Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious) Diseases 199 .. . 166 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat 9u .... 99 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 148 ... 158 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 237 .... 275 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels., 36 .... 29 Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 87 .... 70 Diseases of the Kidneys dm 8 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, &c 9 .... 10

Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, &C. 8

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Sc 2 Old Age 61 . .. 67 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance

"About six weeks or more since, you allowed it to be faulty, the thermometer being out of order'; which I have no doubt is yet the case; as in your Spectator published on Saturday last you note as the lowest in the shade 32°, and 97.3° in sun; mine during that week, that is up to Saturday 15th instant, was not lower than 45° in night in a Northern aspect, and 75° in the sun. Several precious weeks of your register were even still more remarkable in their differing degrees both of heat and cold.'

[It should be observed that the thermometer from which the lowest de- gree is noted in the Registrar-General's statement is kept "on the grass."]