The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-12
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS,

ter in what part of Europe, the language of Ell.
quette is the French. But our minister knew
but few words of that language, and as English
Is little spoken, he found himself in a very awk-
ward position. The arrival of the English min
lister naturally gave him great relief; but, as
this gentleman could not spend the whole even.
ing with him, he was soon obliged to excuse
himself, and leave our minister again to his en-
barrassment. AS he was leaving, however, he
suddenly turned round, on perceiving the Count
b., minister from, and said to the American
minister, "Oh, there is Count b., who speaks
Englsh!"
This was god-send for the gentleman in a
dilemma, who Immediately begged to be present
ed, and who was in a moment in conversation
with the gentleman who spoke his mother and
only tongue. The motive of the introduction
not being understood by Count B., the CONVEX
sation commenced and terminated as follows:
Count Be ais oous parlez Francois, Mon
SieurP"
Minister" On pool 4" I'm peu-a lille
" us-parlez-English."
Count B." A small !"
Paris Correspondence ~. Y Times.
REMARKABLE ESCAPE FROM DROWNING AT
SEA.-Capt. Borden, the schooner w. A. Grit.
I'm, arrived at New York, from Baracoa, makes
the following report:
ION the 9th instant, Walting's Island bearing
f. ). T., distant thirty miles, at midnight color
ed seaman came crawling on board, over the
bow, In very mysterious manner. He could
speak very little English, and when Intercepted,
the following was gathered: That he fell over
board on Sunday, the 4th instant, from the main.
boom of Spanish brig, name unknown, from
Trinidad, bound to Barcelona-the crew of
which, on perceiving him, threw him plank
With it he succeeded in keeping himself above
water during the remainder of the day and night,
until the afternoon of the 9Th instant, when he
saw schooner. He Immediately commenced
swimming for her, and succeeded in getting on
board of her at midnight. He is about % years
old, and had nothing on when reaching the w. A.
Griffin, but his pantaloons. He had been in the
water day and half"
An UNEXPECTED REUNIoN.-A friend informs
as of the following incident which actually oc.
Cured a few days since: A Boston ship, while
on her way to this port from a distant cline,
spoke an Eastern brig from the West Indies, in
a critical condition. The captain of the brig
was determined to stick to his vessel, yet he de-
sired the commander of the ship to take off his
wife, (who was on board, and she, with great
reluctance, parted from her husband, with the
iCei at uck ucdIt IudI Sut lSuJ UcNcT SEE HlLt
again. For the remainder of the voyage, the
wife was in a melancholy state of mind, con-
stantly regrettng that she ever left the side of
her husband. In the mean time, however, New
York vessel had fallen in with the wreck, and
had taken off the husband, who, in consequence
of favorable winds, reached New York in sd-
vance of the vessel due at this port. He came
at once to this city, and from day to day watched
for the approach of the ship, which had been
retarded on her voyage by contrary winds. At
length, the vessel was telegraphed, and the hus-
band FASTENED to the wharf. The wife stood
upon the deck of the approaching ship, when
suddenly her eyes fell upon her husband, and
the unexpected sight so much affected her that
she tainted away, but was soon recovered, and
Joined her husband, both parties exhibiting great
JOY and gratitude at their unexpected reunion.
Boston Transcript.
RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN IN ENGLAND
An ovation was given to Lord Brougham, at
at the Mansion House, London, on Tuesday,
the 29th of April, in honor of the active part re-
Gently taken, by the veteran law reformer, in the
amendment of the common law of England, so
far as it affects the property of married women
This subject, of the rights of married women
over property acquired by them previous or SUBJ
sequent to marriage, is attracting considerable
attention, at this moment in England. In the
House of Commons, Sir Erskine Perry has
framed series of resolutions, embracing the
whole matter, which the protracted debate on
the Kars surrender has hitherto prevented him
from taking up. They ask the House to agree
to the three following propositions:
/. That the rule of the common law, which
gives on marriage all the personal property of
woman, and all her subsequently acquired
property, to her husband, is unjust in principle
and injurious in its operation.
2. That the principles of the courts of equity
which recognise separate property in a married
woman, and give her all the rights of ownership
in such property, are much more just.
g. That in the opinion ofthe House, the prin-
ciples of equity ought to be adopted as the
basis of a general law of property, with regard
to married women.
There is some grumblng and CONSERVATION
among the sticklers for the marital rights of
the husband, at this innovation upon the princi-
Piles of the common law; but public feeling is
strongly in favor of the movement, and it will
doubtless be carried safely through. Practically,
the rights of married women are already recog-
missed, to some extent, by marriage settlements;
and it is to establish the principle more fully,
and to diminish the cost of enjoying it, that these
resolutions have been introduced. The cum
brous machinery of settlements and trusts is
too expensive to be enjoyed by many, while the
benefits which they derive from it are deemed
too important to be denied to the whole COM
munity.-N. Y Post.
must here give the smart sayings of the
week. A celebrated geologist, member of the
Academy of Sciences, was travelling recently
in the south of France. On his return from a
lone off RS ha oop1I cid
ing in the miserable inn where he lodged lit
was the st. Charles of the village) but meager
omelet, overdosed with garlic. "Great heavens,
madam" said he to his hostess, Z" why did you
put so much garlic in this omelet 2" GOOD
me, sir, the eggs were so bad"
Somebody said, the other day, before Alex
andre Dumas, "For you know if there is
enough for six, there's enough for eight"
" Agreed" said Dumas, eff you speak of
candles; but if you refer to champagne or par
tridges, no."
Last week, a young lawyer seduced the jury
into acquitting a young painter and glazier,
who said to him, after the jury had brought in
their verdict: You spoke very well, Squire.
could not have spoken better myself; but 1
tell you you would have wasted your breath, if
Paul Delaroche had not been on the jury; he
could not have condemned brother artist"
Somebody was asked, "What is the diff
ference between great men and their statues 2"
Statues seem greater, the nearer you 90 to
them great men appear less, the nearer you
approach them."-Paris Cor. Of the Picayune
TREATMENT OF AMBASSADORS AND FOREIGN
the speech delivered by Mr..
Buchanan at the Merchants Exchange, Phila-
delphia, we give the following passage. Its
testimony to the tolerant and equitable temper
Of the British people on all public questions is
similar to that given by NJ. de Montalembert
in his new work on England:
/ ought to say, gentlemen, that 1 have
honestly maintained the instructions received