Foreign & Colonial News - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Foreign & Colonial News

SINGULAR HABITS OF A HORSE, AND EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE.

All the world knows that the artillery brigade of the Worcestershire Queen's
Own are expert to a degree in the art and mystery of a canonneer, but it may
not be so generally known that the very horses of the brigade are something
far beyond a mere common quadruped, not simply as to shape and other
physical requisites, but in matters which so much approach the vaunted
reason of their biped masters, that no one has as yet very clearly pointed
out the distinction.

For example, the leader of one of the guns is named "The Gentleman", and so
proud is he of the post and title, that, though gentle as a lamb at
exercise, submitting to be harnessed as quietly as a donkey, and standing
fire as resolutely as the Pyramids, he will not allow himself to be employed
in any other species of labour. Then, he can open gates and shut them, and
he has a way of hunting out the places in his walk where workmen leave their
victual bags, on which he will pounce, carry them to a place of security,
and swallow the contents.

He eats anything that comes in his way, like a Christian, and one of his
foraging excursions was attended with so remarkable a coincidence, that it's
history is worth telling. He was roaming one day lately over the domains of
Hewell, when he fell in with the 'provant' of one of the artillerymen who
was at work in an archway on the grounds.

He scampered off to enjoy the spoil, but Mr. Gentleman had been observed,
and notice of the robbery having been given to the owner of the prey, he
left the drain and gave chase to the marauder.

Having overtaken the thievish steed and recovered his prog, the man returned
to his work, when lo ! in his absence, the arch had fallen in, and so but
for the fortunate circumstance of Gentleman stealing his dinner, and his
consequent pursuit, it must have fallen upon him, and then, beyond a doubt,
he would have met an untimely death - 'Worcester Herald'.

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SINGULAR NARRATIVE. - A letter has been received by the relatives of a
soldier in the 99th regiment, now stationed in Australia, which gives the
details of the unfortunate career of a young man named BYRNE, a native of
Carlow, and who acted in the capacity of bailiff here a few years since. He
enlisted in the 99th, and accompanied the regiment to Australia.

Here, with two of the soldiers [natives of Cavan and Athlone], he deserted,
and took to the bush, carrying off a considerable sum of money, the property
of an officer. From their savage haunts they occasionally issued forth,
committing outrage and devastation to an incredible extent upon the
squatters and landowners, until, in fact, becoming a terror to the colony,
large rewards were offered for their capture.

This was at length effected by stratagem. A convict was found, who, having
pretended to have escaped, joined these outlaws in the bush, and supplied
them with copious draughts of brandy, drugged with laudanum. Overcome by
this mixture, they fell into a profound sleep, and while in this state their
hut was surrounded by the border police, and their capture effected.

They were subsequently tried, found guilty, and sentenced to transportation
for life to Norfolk Island.- 'Carlow Sentinel'.

A STARTLING METAMORPHOSIS. - A Paris paper of Sunday last relates a
ludicrous incident which occurred at the 'Jardin des Plantes', the Parisian
Zoological Gardens. In one of the dens or cages of that establishment, the
visitors frequenting the gardens had been accustomed to notice an animal
gifted by Nature, as they thought, with a beautiful glossy skin; on the
front of its den were inscribed the words "Black wolf of Europe".

One fine day, however, the neglectful keeper forgot to take the wolf his
pittance of provisions, when, to their alarm and dismay, the half-famished
animal signified his displeasure by breaking out into a loud barking !

The murder was out; the supposed 'Black wolf of Europe was discovered to be
a "wolf in sheep's clothing"; in other words, he was pronounced a dog of
magnificent species, which, it appears, had been painted over by a
mountebank, and dignified by the sonorous name already mentioned, for the
purpose of obtaining for the animal a better situation in the gardens.

His ex-wolfship is still to be seen in the 'Jardin des Plantes', having been
converted, alas ! into a watch-dog, thanks to the sad mutability of
sublunary affairs.

We are not told whether the perpetrator of this practicial joke has been
dealt with as he deserves, if indeed he has been arrested.

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EARTHQUAKE IN THE WEST INDIES. - On the 29th of August, an earthquake was
felt in several of the West Indian Islands, including St. Vincent's Grenada,
Trinidad, and British Guiana. The Trinidad paper says: -

" We would record the occurrence of one of the severest earthquakes which we
have ever experienced, and we believe, that has been felt in Trinidad since
that of 1825. About ten minutes past three o'clock in the morning, we were
roused from our sleep by the violent motion of the house in which we reside,
and the loud noise of the creaking beams.

The violence of the shock continued to increase, and terminated by a long
oscillation of so alarming a nature as to lead us to expect the immediate
destruction of the house, as well as of the whole town.

Had it ended, as had been the case in former earthquakes, by a sudden jerk,
nothing, we are sure, could have prevented that catastrophe. The motion,
though very violent, was of that kind to which the buildings subject to it
would, according to the well-known laws of motion, have accommodated
themselves without being thrown down or disruptured.

This renewed instance of a mericful Providence in arresting the awful
convulsion will, we trust, be devoutly and gratefully acknowledged by every
one in our community.

Our deepest anxiety is now felt on behalf of our neighbours in the adjacent
islands - may Heaven have been as merciful to them !

There were local causes sufficient, we apprehend, to have produced the
effect, and, perhaps, to have made our island the focus of the powerful
agency. The highly electrical state of the atmosphere, the gale, the
floods, of rain, the sultry weather on the preceding afternoon, and the
spring tides, may have had their separate and combined influence in its
production. At the time the shock occurred, the sky was cloudless, the full
moon, above in all its effulgence, and the air was cool and pleasant, at 72
degrees. It was one of the most brilliant of those nights with which the
tropics are so freely favoured.

When we looked out, Venus had just risen like a blazing meteor, and added
greatly to the calm grandeur of the scene. There was nothing at the moment
to indicate the awful visitation that had just been realised.

As might be expected, the inhabitants of Port of Spain were generally
roused, and many persons were out making inquiries after the safety of their
friends and relatives. We have not yet heard whether any damage has been
sustained by any buildings in Port of Spain. "

And a British Guiana journal thus speaks of the occurence:-

"A strong westerly or land wind, transmitting the most unpleasant sensations
through the bones of the invalid, prevailed till sunset. After dark a
vehement tempest of thunder and lightning came on. Every other minute the
horizon was one blaze of blue light, of intense brilliancy, which cast an
unearthly aspect over the belated wayfarers in the streets, anxious to gain
the shelter of the humblest home. Calms succeeded, separated from each
other by light, variable, and warm gusts of wind. After the moon had risen,
the squalid face of nature indicated a distempered condition.

The luxuriant boughs of our intertropical trees drooped heavily. Had the
brute creation been awake, it was just such a season as would have
overwhelmed them with instinctive dread of some unknown calamity near at
hand.

In different parts of the town some watch-dogs howled mournfully. This is
no overwrought description. We detail what multitudes witnessed, who were
unable to enjoy their repose during those hours of anticipated horror.
About half-past three o'clock in the morning the earthquake occurred.

A curious effect observable was that produced on water set aside for
domestic uses. Vats and tubs, insufficiently covered over, lost so much
from what was spilled from the top during the vibrations, as to be nearly
emptied of its contents.

This earthquake, as was to have been anticipated, was felt with the most
severity at the penal settlement, the site of which is rocky. The
concussion of the buildings themselves and the heavy iron fastenings of
their doors and gates created a tremendous uproar, high above which,
however, rose the screams and bellowings of the prisoners, praying to be
released. One of them, an obdurate ruffian, told the guard who opened his
cell as the day dawned, that he had never before known there was a God
Almighty. While the fit of terror lasted, an infant might have led him.
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UNPLEASANT AFFAIR AT GIBRALTAR, OCT. 2.- A circumstance occurred yesterday,
shortly after the departure of the 'Great Liverpool', which has caused no
little sensation in this place, and will doubtless induce severe comment, if
not disagreeable consequences, on the part of the Spanish authorities. A
Spanish war schooner, in close chase of a coasting vessel [whether or not
engaged in the contraband trade is unknown], passed Europa Point yesterday
afternoon, about three o'clock; when, having failed to show her colours, as
is always customary, as well as imperative, in such cases, a shot was fired
over her from the signal battery, to remind those on board of the neglected
observance.

This failing to produce the desired effect, a second gun was fired with more
direct aim; but as the Spanish vessel found herself considerably out of the
range of the shot, she continued her course, disregarding both intimations
and [it is currently reported] still refusing to show her colours.

A gun of much greater calibre was then brought to bear on her from the
battery, when so correct was its direction that the shot told with fatal
effect, and she sunk shortly afterwards, whilst vainly endeavouring to make
for Algesiras.

Very fortunately, a Portuguese vessel was not far distant, and with its
timely aid, as well as some of the boats of the war vessels in the bay, the
crew were saved. ' Morning Herald'.

MOROCCO. - The 'Moniteur Algerien' states that the EMPEROR OF MOROCCO has
ordered the treaty made with France to be proclaimed by beat of drum through
all the great cities of the empire. The same paper states that ABE-EL-KADER
has retreated to the mountains furthest removed from the French position,
and the strong places of Morocco, accompanied only by a few hundred
followers. He is in the lowest condition, both as to the equipment of his
soldiers, and the condition of his horses.

A correspondence has taken place between the EMPEROR and the EMIR, the
former calling ABD-EL-KADER to lay down his arms, no longer to disturb the
peace of the kingdom, and to be content with a residence assigned him, and
the title of MARABOUT. To which the latter replies that he is alone
prevented by personal indisposition, and the illness of several of his
followers, from obeying at once the order of his Sultan and master.

The letters are written, on both sides, in the true eastern style of
diplomatic duplicity, but the facts rest as they were before -- the
EMPEROR submits to the French against his will, and the EMIR is determined
to preserve his personal liberty and independence as long as possible.

TURKEY. - The 'Augsburgh Gazette' of the 14th inst. stats that a fresh
attempt at insurrection in Servia had been suppressed. Its ostensible
object was to restore the OBRENOWITCH family to power. This 'emeute'
appears to have been anticipated, and was therefore defeated with little
difficulty.

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UNITED STATES. - The packet-ship 'Cambridge', CAPT. BARSTOW, arrived at
Liverpool, bringing New York papers from the 1st to the 4th instant
inclusive.

The threatened crusade against the Mormonites had assumed an aspect of
immediate danger; and we find that the people of Hancock county, Illinois,
had called an armed assembly to meet at that place on the 27th ult.
Prompted by this demonstration, and in pursuance of his announced
determination, GOVERNOR FORD had ordered out 2,500 of the state militia, in
order to preserve the public peace and to prevent the violation of the
constitution and laws of the state. The result has not reached us; but it
is highly probable that, seeing the determination to quell disturbance, the
meeting would not proceed to extremities. Great complaints had been made of
the delay in bringing the murderers of JOE SMITH to justice.

The unusual quiet and freedom from disturbance which, up to the date of our
advices by the steamer, had characterised the preparations for the
approaching Presidential election, had at length been broken. A Whig
procession had been attacked by a Loco-foco mob, and such was the ill blood
engendered by this collision, that both parties had immediately threatened
to go out on all future occasions fully armed with deadly weapons.

The court-martial inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the
United States steam-ship by fire was proceeding at Washington.

The statement that a MR. ADAMS had received the consulship at Liverpool is
now found to be erroneaous. M. JOEL W. WHITE, of Norwich, U.S., a man of
considerable property, is the individual.

Foreign exchange on London was firm at 109-3/4 to 110; on Paris, 5,22-1/2.
The cotton market had within the previous fortnight, exhibited a firmer tone
than for some time previous. The receipts at New York had been very
limited, and the rates gradually improving. Business was quite active in
the southern markets, and some considerable activity was expected to be
shortly experienced in that of New York.

We have little intelligence from either Canada or Mexico, and that little
possesses no interest to the English reader.

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