The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-29
Foreign Items.

4 dispatch from Richmond. of April 14th. says
that Senator Gsin. Of California, had arrived there.
The Shah Of Persia has recently issued an edict
declaring Fremasonry henceiorth forbidden in his
dominions-
According to the latest political rumors from Italy
the kiug j. tired Of his prime Minister Ricasoli, and
Will probably substitute Raiazki in his place.
The rr-ult Of silk-worm culture in Algiers is said
TO prove that in a few years the French labOrer can
be clothed in silks as cheaply as in cotton.
The Post Office Appointment bill will appropri-
ate one million dollars for the service Of California,
on The Central route. aud repeals that portion Of. the
act requiring the Postmaster General to give the
preference 10 American ships ia carrying foreign
mails
A letter from Nassau states that the steamer
EoOHOmist arrived there last night, from Charleston.
with 1000 bales Of cotton. The steamer UTight,
late the -NaShriHs, had arrived there on March 18th.
She has been purchased by a private company She
cleared on the 9th with an assorted cargo for St
Johns. New Brunswick, under her new name.
The eI-Secretary Of War Cameron was arrested
on complaint Of Pierce Butler, for alleged Illegal re-
tairer (imprisonment) at Fort Lafayette. IL was
Catneron's intention to start for Russia At an early
day. This arrest materially inteTferes with his ar
rangements he will not leave until the question is
disposed Of
A late Richmond paper contains an editorial exhi-
biting considerable fear for the safety Of that city,
intimating that the Monitor, -Adngafuck and Gale
ma, (tbese are the names of the three new irOn-clad
vessels,) might all easily 60 Up the James River,
Az ~ AhN 1OiN1 AZ fO"ti sNAAN AZ NC
possession OF The city. To prevent such a result, the
writer proposes that the Channel Of James river be
obstructed by stone
An Observing writer states that according to his
observations Oh trees, the limbs never ascend on the
trunks. Thus il a limb shoots out from the trunk at
three feet from the root, ii ever remains at this dis
lance from it.
The recent numerous successes Of our armies has
struck a panic into the heart of rebellion. Their
vain bOasting of their ability TO whip five mudsiHs
and greasy mechan les to one has ceased, and upon
the approach of our forces, they have displayed only
their superior ability at running and hiding in
swamps. The barometer of their confidence and Prov
ess IS kept directly before the people in the constant
depreciation of their currency, which has already
fallen IS degrees!
The ladies are introducing q new and beautiful
ornament for the parlor, mantel. and centre table.
They take large pine burs, sprinkle grass seed of any
kind in them, and place them in pots of water.
When the burs are soaked a few days, they close up
in the form Of solid cones, then the little spears Of
green grass begin to emerge from among the laminse,
forming an ornament of rare and simple beauty.
HEROIC SAILORS on THE CUMBERL.ND-Tbe scenes
on board were heart>breaking. Two of the gunners
ut the bow guns, when the ship was sinking, clasped
their guns in their arms, and would not be r,moved,
and went down embracing them. One gunner had
both his legs shot away, and his bowels opened and
protruding, but he made three steps on his raw and
bloody thighs, seized the lanyard and fired his gun,
yet lived, and when they would assist him, cried out,
Back to your guns, boys Hurrah for the old
flag - He lived till she sunk.
The pay of the United States army is vastly greater
than any other in the world. The Russian soldier
receives only thirty-si dollars n year "a pay, and his
ratloDs consist solely Of black bread. The soldier in
the French army receives ffty-six cents q month.
The pay Of our soldier is twenty times greater. The
estimate in the French budget for 1860 was Ss4 .sS7.-
500 for an army on a war footing Of 952, T65
men, and, in addition, a reserve militia on n peace
footing, Of 4l5, TAG men. 1t costs the United States
nearly three times as much to maintain a soldier as it
does the British government.
An article in the -4mericGu RaiI,Cay Rerielc says
that, in every essential featu e, the screw navy CT
England will prove itself seriously at fault, namely,
in the excessive draught Of water. 1.-THE three
deckers draw from 81 to 80 feet the two deckers
from % to 30 feet the frigates, Orlando class, 30
to 81 feet Euryglus class, % to 26 feet Arrogadt
class, 10 to y feet the sloops. II to 20 feet. Ex-
cept "of soundings.' then the great body Of the
navy is only n French bugbear. The harbors Of the
United States are above their company
GREAT TEMPEST IN ~MEccA-GREAT Loss OF LIE
Advices from Beyrout state that the Mollah of that
place had received a letter from Mecca, announcing
that the holy city was visited by n dreadful tempest
of thunder and lightning on the 10th Of December
A waterspout also burst over the city, and in n few
minutes inundated it TO such a depth, that the in
habitants were obliged to take refuge in the upper
rooms. Great numbers fed for safety to the Grand
waters, and eighteen persons were drowned in it.
The sacred library was almost entirely destroyed,
and many gold and silver vases, with other valuable
objects, were carried away by the food. The damage
done 10 the mosque alone is estimated at above
2 500. 900 piastres (about Sl1O, OOO). More than 300
houses were thrown down, burying many persons
under their ruins. The waters did not entirely dis
appear till the third day. Djeddah, the seaport
nearest Mecca, also suffered considerably from the
same storm.