Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-08
FOREIGN .KISCELLANK.

In the British House of Commons on
the 23d ultimo, Lord Palmerston stated the
intentions of the Government relative to the
defences OF the country: He proposed that
the recommendations Of the recent Commits
sioners-whose report has been published
should be substantially carried out. The
defence of the various dock yards is the prin-
cipal proposition, and the estimated outlay
is C9,OOO,O0O sterling, which is intended to
be raised by means of termlnable annuities,
expiring in thirty years. The requirement
for the present year is t2,OOO,OOO, which 1T
is proposed to raise at once with u view to
the immediate prosecution Of the works, and
to raise from year to year such additional
sums as may be required. Lord Palmerston
expatiated on the danger to which the coun-
try was exposed from invasion, and, after
pointing to the large army maintained in
France, which is always ready for aggressive
purposes, he declared that England ought
not to be dependent upon the torbearance
of another Power for its freedom from attack.
There is romantic phase in the career of
the late Lord Elphinstone, of whose death
we are advised by the Asia, not very gen.
orally known. and which, it is rumored, ac-
counts for his living and dying bachelor.
Some twenty-five years ago, says the gossip
OF court, lie was smitten with the charms OF
young girl Of the highest rank, who also
evinced, a predilection for him. 1t was this,
and to get him out Of the way, that Lord
Elphnstone was honored with Il high official
position in India, for it was thought best
that Victoria, the young Queen of England,
should have IA Prince Consort from Germa-
ny, rather than that old traditions should
he infringed upon, and q British monarch
marry one of her own subjects.
Mr. W. H. Leatham, ex-member of Par
lament for Wakefield, for which borough
he was elected last year, but subsequently
unseated by committee of the House, was
convicted Of bribery at the last York Assizes.
The charge OF hrbing the electors to the
amount Of about 81, 800 was proved to the
satisfaction of the jury. and the prisoner was
found guilty. The penalty of this offence
is imprisonment and fine.
4 French lady was recently compelled by
Il tribunal to vacato her apartments In the
Rue Blanche, Paris, on complaint OF her land
l,rd, who testified that she received only gen
tlcmen, and that not only were they noisy,
but that it occasionally happened that some
OF them Jumped from the window, IN order
not to be seen by others who were knocking
ut the door.
The British Parliamentary session is hur-
rying to Il close, and two-thirds of the work
proposed at its commencement will have to
be abandoned. The night of 10Th July
witnessed the surrender of the Bankruptcy
bill, which, next to the Budget, had been
| regarded as the most important measure TO
be carried.
The eclipse ofJuly 18th was only partially
observed in London, on account OF clouds
that obscured the sun at the beginning,
and made it Invisible at the ending. At
Paris, also, the sky was not entirely clear
In Spain. on the line of total observation, the
view was perfect.
Celtic scholars will be glad to hear that an
association of Irish gentlemen and scholars
including Drs. Todd and O'Donovan, Lord
Talbot of Malahide, and others, have in pro-
gress a complete "Dictionary of the Ancient
Irish Language.
4 letter from Paris, of the Goth July, says
Mr.. Faulkner the American Minister, and
family have removed their residence tor
short time from Paris to Versailles. His
alfabiity of manner and business-like habits
are subjects of universal commentator.
4 lucky Irish miner, named O'Neill, has
discovered diamonds in the black sands of
the Evens district in Australia