Zistrilaurnito.

The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Right Honourable Sir John Romilly, Ent., Master of the Rolls of her Majesty's High Court of Chancery, the Right Honourable Sir John Jervis, Ent., Chief Justice of her Majesty's Court of Common Pleas, the Right Honourable Sir EtU ward Ryan, Ent., Charles Hay Cameron, Ls' q., John M`Pherson M‘Leod, Esq., John Abraham Francis Hawkins, Esq., Thomas Flower Ellis, Esq., and Robert Lowe, Esq., to be her Majesty's Commissioners in England to examine and consider the reform of the judicial establishments, judi- cial procedure, and laws of India.—London Gazette, 29th November.

An inquiry into the system of appointments, promotions, scales of sala- ries, number of officers in the General Post-office, and the distribution of its business, is now proceeding by a Committee, consisting of Lord Elcho, Sir Charles Trevelyan, Sir Stafford Northcote, and Mr. E. A. Hoffay.

The Lords of the Admiralty have decided upon effecting great sanitary improvements in the Royal Dockyards. They have already issued a cir- cular calling for information as to the exact sanitary condition of Wool- wich, and have directed plans to be prepared for the removal of nuisances; and the immediate remedy of imperfect arrangements. Lord Palmerston, through Mr. Fitzroy, has intimated to the licensed victuallers of the Metropolis, that the Christmas distributions, commonly called "sweeps," will "be allowed to take place in the present year, on condition that they shall not take place in future years." In conformity with the orders of the Emperor of the French, Captain Baudirt, the Commander-in-chief of the French naval forces on the West coast of Africa, has declared that part of the coast which extends from the left bank of the Grand Lahou to the right bank of the river Assinee to be in a state of blockade ; commencing on the 26th September.

Lord Carlisle is mentioned as the Peer selected to receive the vacant Garter.

Sir Edward Parry is to be the Deputy-Governor of Greenwich Hospital. At a_nteeting of the Court of East India Directors, on Wednesday, Kr. James Grant Lumsden was appointed provisionally a Member of Council at Bombay. Sir John Pakington has been the guest of the Bishop of Manchester this week. The local papers connect his visit with some scheme for na- tional education, to emanate from the Manchester and Salford Education Committee, and make its appearance as a bill in Parliament under the care of the Member for Droitwich.

Two British Generals, Sir Thomas Bradford, aged seventy-six, and Sir Augustus de Butts, aged eighty-three, died on Monday last. The death of the former leaves vacant the Colonelcy of the Fourth Regiment of Foot. He commanded a Portuguese brigade at Corunna, Salamanca, Vittoria, St. Sebastian, and Nive, and received a cross and clasp for his services.

The Reverend John Septimus Grover, late Vice-Provost of Eton Col- lege, died on Monday, at the ripe age of eighty-seven. He was one of the Fellows of Eton; having filled the post for forty years. His death also leaves the living of Farnham Royal at the disposal of the College.

Lord Howden has left Paris for Madrid, to resume his duties 88 Ambas- sador at that court.

The Russian corvette Navarin, 22 guns, has been at Portsmouth some time for repairs. She was to have been docked on Thursday, and, according to a Portsmouth paragraph which we find in the Standard, everything was in readiness for so doing, "caisson up, and vessel's draught duly chalked on stem and stern, when lo! a telegraphic message came down—' Russian corvette not to be docked.'" The vessel was making five feet of water per day.

The Times publishes a remonstrance, signed " Sydney Smith Sonder,' British Consul for Epirus and Albania, dated Prevesa, September 10, and addressed to the Pacha of Asia, complaining of the barbarous actions done by "the savage bands of Derbenaga, of Albanian race," on the inhabitants of Prevesa, in whose homes they were quartered. The Consul does not specify cases; but informs the Pacha that he must be held responsible, not only for all injuries on Christians or their property perpetrated with his permission, but for such as may arise from his culpable neglect to afford protection.

Sir Richard Mayne has addressed a circular to the Chairmen of the Metropolitan Railway Companies, requesting them to make arrangements in order to cause the drivers of hackney-carriages at their stations to give all passengers the tickets ordered by law, whether applied for or not. These tickets specify the number of the cab, and provide the hirer with the means of reference in case of complaints, or of property left in the car- riage. The drivers are impressed with the necessity of strict compliance with the law, in a new circular issued by Sir Richard Mayne. A new ticket has been issued.

Marshal Radetzky has extended the period for the free importation of corn into Lombardy to the end of March 1854.

Austria and Sardinia have concluded a convention for the junction of the telegraphic lines of Lombardy and Piedmont.

The number of railway bills for which plans and sections have been deposited now amounts to 135; for docks, bridges, harbours, water and gas, and improvement bills, 98; total, 233,-16 fewer than that of last session.

An account has been received of the total loss of the Meridian passage- ship, on the voyage to Sydney. The story is told by one of the passengers, who went out as a correspondent of the Morning Ohronicle, and who signs his most interesting narrative "L."

The Meridian was a first-class ship, built of live oak and teak, of 579 tons burden ; and took out 84 passengers, of whom 41 were children under the age of sixteen years, 17 women, and 26 men. She was commanded by Mr. Richard Heniaman, an able and experienced seaman, who had been a master fifteen years, and had been to Sydney four times. The ship, however, was under-manned, having nominally a crew of twenty-three, but really only ten able seamen; so that the mates had to help the men, and a regular " look-out " was impossible. The Meridian sailed from London on the 4th June, and made a fine passage until it reached the 20th degree of South latitude. A ship which had fourteen days start was passed ; Captain Herne- man was anxious to beat everything. But as the chronometer was out of order, he steered for St. Paul's, an island in the Indian Ocean, which he wished to sight to correct the instrument. The wind was blowing hard on the night of the 24th August, and the sea running high. The Captain left Mr. Lam- burd, first mate, on the "look-out," and went below. Mr. Lamburd left his post to light his pipe. Suddenly, just when the children were put to bed, and the tea-things were put away, a smart shock shook the fine ship ; the captain rushed on deck, exclaiming "Where is Mr. Lamburd ?" and almost in the same breath, "My God, it is the island!" He seized the wheel and put the helm hard a-starboard, but it was useless. The next moment a heavy sea washed him overboard. The ship had struck On the rocky and desolate island of Amsterdam. Several of the sailors took to the rigging; but some helped the passengers ; the sea breaking over the ship in terrific waves. Presently the mainmast fell, and fortunately it made a bridge to the shore. The sailors went over this, and left the women and children ! But the mates and one gallant seaman named Snow took the passengers over the mast one by one : three only were drowned. The women and children, all indeed, were wet through. A good deal of flannel had been saved, but little provisions, and the desolate coast was barren. The sailors lighted a fire, and the flannel was served out to the women and children. The writer of the narrative was appointed by Mr. Lamburd keeper of the stores, and distributor of rations. On the first day they consisted only of a biscuit for every adult, half a biscuit for the children, and half a glass of port wine for the women and children. Some of the crew and passengers found wine and got drunk. The next thing was to get on the high land above ; and with much difficulty a barely practicable ascent was found and made. The summit of the island was covered with a thick jungle of reeds, and beside those the 105 people pitched their tents. They had a week's provisions; "a canister half full of preserved potatoes, a few cases of preserved meats, a large canister of very good tea, five or six pieces of salt beef, two hams, about twenty-five cases of herrings, the brandy and wine already mentioned, and a few bottles of port, claret, and champagne, with a box of raisins, two dozen or so of candles, five boxes of lucifer-matches, two double-barrelled guns, a six-shot revolver, two ship's pistols, five flasks of gunpowder, and a 8131111 quantity of shot and some bullets."

Here they remained four days. Mr. Lamburd and the writer of the narra- tive watched the provisions on the %hose, and passed there one night sitting on a ledge of rock, with the sea coming on in rollers, each tall and solid like a continuous wall ; and expecting every moment to see their provisions washed away. After this, all hands were persuaded to remove the provisions

on to the cliff. Before this was done, however, a sail appeared ; and answered the signal of distress, but was compelled to stand off. Here was a new source of grief. But two days after, on the 31st August, "A boat ! a boat !" was shouted, and a whale-boat was seen rowing near the shore. The crew pointed to apart of the coast, and rowed away towards it; and the whole encampment pre- pared to follow. After a journey of great toil and suffering—a journey of two days, through thick jungle and along the edge of the cliff—the whole party reached a place of embarkation. In this they were much aided by the mate of the whaler, who had been landed to help them. But now the wind sprang up again ; the whaler was carried out to sea ; the wretched people on the island had nothing but "raw cabbages " to eat. Two days passed.: on the third, the 5th of September, "A ship !" was again shouted. The captain, Ludlow by name, came in his own boat, brought provisions, and then took the people all on board. The ship proved to be the Monmouth, an American whaler. Captain Ludlow left the whaling-grounds with his cargo of misfortune, and took them safely to the Mauritius; where they were most hospitably received, The Chamber of Commerce there voted 1201. to Captain Ludlow as a testi- monial ; and a sum of 1200/. was raised for the passengers.

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

Yen

weeks

of 1843-65. Week of 1953, Lymotic Diseases 2,426 .... 311 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat 503 .... 50 Tubercular Diseases 1,747 ..• . 215 Diseases of the Ilrain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 1,215 .... 155 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 389 •• .• 59 Diseases of the Lung., and of the other Organs of Respiration 2,340 .. • • 297

Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion.., Dioeaaesof the ..

y , 684 117 ....

.... 5/ 12 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, ac 113 .... 8 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, ac 88 .... 6 Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Ac. 11 .... 3 Malformations 47 .... 3 Premature Birth 213 .... 41 Atrophy 199 .... 35 Age 617 .... 53 Sudden 101 .... 7 Violence,Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 288 .... 27

—

— Total (including unspecified causes) 10,931

1,333

The new yacht for the Queen is to be built at Pembroke, and preparations have commenced. It will be called the Windsor Castle, and will be 340 feet long over all ; to be built almost entirely of mahogany, and on the diagonal planking system.

The Board of Customs has issued a notice announcing the establishment of an open court, to sit on Tuesdays and Fridays, for the hearing of com- plaints, and for investigating matters connected with the Customs' revenue.

The Board of Trade has received a communication from the Foreign Se- cretary, stating that Captain Correo, of the Brazilian merchant ship Sophia, has been awarded a gold medal and a gratuity of twenty-five guineas, for his services in rescuing six of the crew of the British barque Chusan, whom he picked up at sea ; and for his subsequent kind and humane treatment of them for several days, for which he refused to accept any remuneration.

The Reverend G. Fletcher, who has just completed his hundred-and-sixth year, peached at Hope Chapel, Bunhill Row, on Sunday last.

M. Pommies, owner of a menagerie at Toulouse, has been lacerated by a tiger, into whose cage he had entered to show his power in beast-taming.

During the recent encampment of ,the troops at Chobham, Lieutenant Sayer, of the Scots Fusiliers, challenged any officer of the British Army to run 150 yards for 150/. Captain Astley, of the Welsh Fusiliers, accepted the challenge, on condition that there should be two races, one a flat, the other a hurdle race. The first race came off at Salt Hill on Tuesday, and Lieute- nant Sayer beat his opponent by three feet. But on Thursday, when the hurdle race came off, in Windsor Home Park, Lieutenant Sayer slipped up at the fourth hurdle, and the Captain gained the race.

In the hot discontent of 1848, a singular assemblage might have been seen- collected in the room of a coffee-house at Holborn. There you would have encountered men glib of tongue, passionate in temperament, of solid or scanty information, well-meaning and ill-meaning, sheer dernagog,lies or ear- nest fellows, painfully struggling to right a world which seemed too heavy at the top. Presiding over them was a scholar, fresh from the quiet, refined family, or the choice seats of biblical and classic lore. Professor Maurice, you will guess, and you are right. Determined to satisfy himself as to what those clamorous thousands really were—what their thouights, their wishes, and their mental and moral standard—the Professor took a bold step, and with marvellous judgment contrived to bring together all the leaders who had the confidence of the workshops and the repute of respectable men. For week after week he listened attentively to their exposition of their pana- cea, their wild complaints, and their restless, undecided• scepticism. The plan he adopted was to take notes of each man's address, and, before the evening closed, to read them over, taking every opportunity to put in a word of sound counsel, to set aside a fallacy, and to bring into beautiful relief an unsullied Christianity. Of course the mere trading agitators could not stand this, and his audience grew a little thinner; but, to the last, it was of a re- markable description. Then followed lectures of a directly religious ten- dency, classes of various kinds, and the attempts I have alluded to, to bring the associative principle into practice, so far as our law of partnership will allow. As to the wisdom of the latter experiments I say nothing, but to this I can testify—Professor Maurice's labours have rescued hundreds of acute, well-read, moral working men from the evils of infidelity and the dan- gers of tempestuous political agitation. He is beloved, almost adored, by numbers, who in their turn influence numbers more.—Carnbridge Inde- pendent; London Correspondence.