Iftistellarttous.

The Imperial Grand Datchess 'Alexandra Alexandrowna, daughter of the Hereditary Grand Duke of Russia, and granddaughter of the Emperor, died at St. Petersburg on the 28th June.

Paragraphs appeared in the Paris and German papers last week stating that the Prince de Joinville had paid a visit to the Emperor of Austria at Freeburg; hastily appearing for one day, and suddenly disappearing, to go no one knew whither. The papers hinted that the Prince was com- missioned by the Orleans Family to obtain the consent of the Austrian Royal Family to a matrimonial project of an important character. On Thursday, the Morning Post vouched these reports by this declaration- " We are assured that M. Thiers arrived in London yesterday; and it is added that the object of his visit is to open negotiations for a matrimonial treaty be- tween the President of the French le public and Madame la Duchesse d'Orleans. We have not heard in what way it was proposed to settle the question of prece- dence between the Comte de Paris and the possible issue of the proposed mar- riage: but this point, doubtless, has not escaped the penetrating mind of M. Timers."

MM. Ledru-Rollin, Martin Bernard, Etienne Arago, and Sergeant Boi- allot, arrived at the St. Katherine's Wharf on Wednesday, from Ostend.

The American Minister at our Court has formally notified to his fellow citizens in this country the death of James Knox Polk, on the 15th of June last—" before the evening of old age, but not before completing an illus- trious and memorable career." Mr. Bancroft enumerates the succession of first places in the state which Mr. Polk filled, ever approving his fitness for the highest trusts— excelling not more in station than in laboriousness, pru- dence, temperance, and fortitude; and sketches his public services— "He defined, established, and extended the boundaries of his country. He planted the laws of the American Union on the shores of the Pacific. His in- fluence and his counsels tended to organize the National Treasury on the prin- ciples of the Constitution, and to apply the rule of freedom to navigation, trade, and industry. Most beloved where best known, he lived happily, and died in the midst of his country's unexampled prosperity, which his own measures had con- tributed to establish."

Shortly before his death, Mr. Polk was united to the Christian church by baptism. He had some religious discussion with a friend of the "Pres- byterian" persuasion, which terminated in his declaring that he had be- come a Christian; and he requested his friend to baptize him. He subse- quently recollected that some years previously he had held religions con- troversy with a friend of the Wesleyan persuasion, and had promised to be baptized by that friend, if ever he should be converted, He sent an apo- logy to the Presbyterian, and a summons to the Wesleyan; by whom the rite was performed.

A vacancy on the judicial bench le created by the unexpected death of Sir Thomas Coltman, senior Paine Justice of the Common Pleas. Sir Thomas died on Wednesday, at his house in Hyde Park Gardens, after an Illness which resembled cholera. He had presided at the three-days trial of the Sicilian armament case last week; and at the close of the pro- ceedings on Saturday evening, is said to have suffered great exhaustion— arising much from the bad ventilation of the Old Baily Court.. He was

attacked on Monday evening, and died at seven o'clock on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Watson, Sergeant Talfonrd, and Mr. Crompton, are among the most likely candidates for the vacant judgeship.

Mr. John Hay Mackenzie, whose death on the 9th is noted in the aim- ary, was the representative of the old Earls of Cromarty. His daughter, who married the Marquis of Stafford only a month since, succeeds to " princely fortune and landed inheritance."

Rumour about the Houses of Parliament fixes Thursday the 2d of Au. gust as the day on which the session is to terminate.—Globe.

Mr. Feargus O'Connor declares his intention, after a conference which is to be held in Nottingham on the 6th of August, to retire from public lift —Globe.

Mr. John O'Connell intends, it is said, to try his success at the Irish bar; commencing with next term.

We are happy to hear that the confusion which has reigned in the af- fairs of the Eastern Counties Railway Company during the last four months is likely to be speedily brought to an end. Proxies to the amount of upwards of 26,000 votes have been received in favour of the list of gentlemen recommended for the direction by the Committee of Selection. —Globe.

The Investigation Committee appointed by shareholders in the York and North Midland Railway Company has issued a "first report." It states that Mr. Hudson had taken from the company 38,8421., on account of shares for which he paid on behalf of the company but 36,646/.; and it confirms the decision of the directors, that Mr. Hudson should take the shares himself and refund the SUM of 38,842/. with 5 per cent interest. The weekly traffic returns have never been correctly stated: indeed the books of the Company have been so irregularly kept, and the accounts remain so irregularly settled, that from 70,0001. to 80,0001. will be required to bring them to a balance.

Nearly a score of inquests have been held in the Metropolis on persons who have died by cholera. In every instance the evidence has disclosed the existence of special causes of a sanatory character, which sufficiently ex- plained the prevalence of the epidemic in the particular locality. Several of the cases have occurred in the Penitentiary at Milbank.

The cholera prevails also at Portsmouth and Southampton with fatal virulence,- At Portsmouth, it is said, the "premonitory symptoms" are prevalemt to an extraordinary extent. At Southampton, one surgeon has had tvienty-seven cases under his care.

The Breslau Gazette reports a shocking affair, blending the horrors of wax and disease. "In consequence of the ravages of the cholera, the authori- ties resolved to expel the inhabitants not favourable to their cause. The Austrian troops blockading the place, thinking that this was a hostile sortie, fired upon them, and some hundreds were killed."

The batteries on the Thames and Medway districts will all be completed in about two months from the pre-ent period, and will be of a very efficient descrip- tion for the defence of these Important navigable rivers. The number of guns to be mounted for the defence of these rivers is-13 at Shorn Mead, 13 at Coalhouee Point, 15 at Gravesend, and 50 at Tilbury Fort. The whole of the guns are 33- pounders, mounted on wooden carriages; and they are all to have iron platforms, on a plan submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel Ilardinge, K.H., Royal Artillery.— Times.

A supplementary mail to the United States will in future be made up and for- warded to and from Southampton by the United States contract packets Herman and Washington.—Globe.

The Postmaster-General has directed the immediate extension of the electric telegraph to the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand; the communication to be from the central station of the Electric Telegraph Company in Lothbury. By this extension the Post-office authorities will have instant information of the arrival or delay of any important mail.

The Emperor of Morocco having solicited from the English Government the means of conveying two of his sons and suite to Mecca on a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Mussulman's Prophet, the Admiralty have acceded to his request, and have commissioned the Growler steam-sloop, at Devonport, for the purpose. Captain Storldart, it is expected, will be ready to leave England by the 26th in- stant; for Tangier, to embark the Princes of Morocco; and after he has conveyed them to Mecca and back again to Morocco, will join Sir W. Parker's squadron for permanent service in the Mediterranean.—United Service Gazette.

The London and North-western Railway Company have determined on reducing the rates for the carriage of goods between Liverpool and Manchester, to the same with those charged by river and canal.

The French Government authorities propose to work the goods traffic on the Paris and Lyons Railway on a novel plan, called "en maringotte." "The plan is, to take the trucks ready loaded, without regard to the nature or value of the several contents, and to charge for the gross weight; or even to lend the trucks for hire to any one undertaking the business as carrier, who may load them at hiS pleasure, the company charging a fixed price for the conveyance of the trucks so loaded, and delivering them on arrival, free from all responsibility." A capital scheme for the carriers; but, says the Mining Journal, ruinous to the owners of the railway—in this case, the State. The visitors to Hampton Court Palace in 1848 numbered 150,321, against 162,031 in the preceding year; while the rising popularity of the Botanic Gar- dens at Kew is shown by a large increase,—in 1847, 64,282; in 1848, 91,708. The state apartments of Windsor were visited by 25,970 persons in 1847, and 26,897 last year.

From returns made by men stationed for that purpose, it appears that on Sun- day last 324,000 persons landed and embarked from steamers at the piers be- tween Chelsea and London Bridge.

There was a swimming-match in the Thames on Tuesday morning, between Walker and Kettle, for 30/. The distance was from London Bridge to Greenwich. Walker performed the task in an hour and six minutes; beating his opponent by six minutes in time and a quarter of a mile in distance. An enormous wire rope has just been made at Gateshead, for India, apparently to be used in constructing a bridge. It is 3if inches diameter and 500 feet long and it weighs 90 pounds per fathom. We understand that Messrs. Macallum and Graham of Glasgow have received a box of Californian gold; the first, we believe, that has come to this quarter. The box is nearly five inches in length and breath, but little more than two inches deep, and contains 147 ounces of gold. The gold is chiefly in flakes; but amongst them are some large and heavy pieces, evidently in the state in which they have been taken off the rock. The gold in pieces has the appearance of having been at one period exposed to the action of fire, and the rocks in the region from which they come have been the subject of volcanic action. The contents of the box, estimated at the value of 65s. per ounce, a low price for gold in this state, are mirth 480/-01asg0w Daily Mails At last, paulovnia has flowered in England, and its bloom is on our table— sweet as violets, large as foxglove, tinted like a lilac. Mr. Matteson, the Royal gardener at Claremont, has had the honour of first compelling this plant to pro- duce its charming flowers, which many have longed and not been able to see, except a few who have chanced to be present at its blossoming in some Con- tinental gardens. Possibly our readers do not known what paulovnia is. It may be described as a tree with huge roundish green leaves like those of a catalpa. It is hardy, grows with great rapidity, and derives considerable beauty from its foliage; but it is apt to make watery wood, which ripens ill; and its blossoms, formed in the autumn, are liable to be killed by winter, unless protected by fern-leaves, as was the case at Claremont. —Gardener's Chronicle. A bed of oysters, forty miles long by eight or ten wide, was recently dis- covered in the British Channel, about fifty miles South-south-west of Shoreham. A large fleet of smacks from Colchester and other places are dredging the bed. A considerable number of the vessels bring their cargoes into Shoreham harbour, whence they are sent to London by rail. The trade of the town is benefited con- siderably by the influx of fishing-boats. Early on Saturday morning the 30th June, a shower of rain as red as blood fell near the village of Bonvilston, and extended from thence in a Westerly direction over Llantriths d, Flemingston, &c., towards Llantwit-Major. It was so mani- fest, that it impregnated the clods of earth, many of which were like ruddle. Several country-people who witnessed it were dreadfully alarmed, imagining it to be some omen of coming misfortune; and very many who did not see it fall came in the course of the day to see the discoloured soiL A severe blight took place the same morning, which has left its marks on the potatoes, beans, and fruit- trees, and hung over the country till past middle day.—Hereford Journal. Another solution of the great sea serpent puzzle is offered by Mr. Merriman, the master of the ship Brazilian. "He left the Cape on the 19th February; and on the morning of the 24th the ship was becalmed in lat. 26 South, long. 8.12 East, being about tbrty miles from the place were Captain MQuhie is said to have seen the great sea serpent. About eight o'clock on that morning, he perceived some- thing right a-beam, about half a mile to the Westward, stretched along the waters to the extent of from twenty-five to thirty feet, and moving with a sinuous motion. The head, which seemed to be several feet above the water, had something like a mane running down to the floating portion; and within about six feet of the tail the supposed animal forked out into a double fin. As the Brazilian was making no headway, Captain Horritnan had a boat lowered, and took with him Mr. Boyd; and, on nearing the object, it was found to be nothing more than an immense piece of sea- weed, evidently detached from a coral reef, drifting with the current which sets constantly to the Westward in this latitude, and which, together with the swell left by the gal; gave it a sinuous snakelike motion. The Captain had it hauled on board; but, as it soon began to decay, was compelled to throw it over." Mr. Hind the astronomer has forwarded to the Times a few places of the course which the planet Neptune will take during this summer.

Right Ascension. North Polar Distance.

.

d. b. b. m. s. deg min.

July 1 0 22 27 10 100 28 August 1 0 22 24 58 100 42 September 1 0 22 21 5/ 101 0 October 1 0 22 19 41 101 16 "The star Sigma, in the constellation Aquarius, of the fifth magnitude, and there- fore distinctly visible to the naked eye, will form a very useful guide to the identifica- tion Of the planet about the 2011, of August. At this time Neptune will be due North Of the star, and half a degree distant from it.

"The following are the positions of such stars of the seventh and eighth magnitudes as might possibly be mistaken for the planet when the observer Is not provided with an equatoriany mounted telescope.

Mug. 7Ut 8th 7th 8th

Mr. Hind subjoins the information that "the remarkable star in Ophiuchus, discovered here in April 1848, has now lost its original fiery colour, and shines like the generality of stars of the eighth class. Its nature must still remain a mystery."

The planet Venus continues to be visible even in the morning to the naked eye. Lalande first remarked this curious phsenomenon in 1750. It has been calculated that Venus may be perceived by day-light sixty-nine days before and after her conjunction—that is, her passage from the Meridian to the South—provided her elongation be 39 degrees at least. As it is now nearly 45 degrees, the star will continue visible up to July 19, when her conjunction terminates (the sixty-ninth day after) —Galignanfs Messenger.

An American paper describes another astronomical phsenomenon—" A meteor, brighter than the planet Venus, was seen by Mr. Bond from the Observatory at Cambridge, [Maryland,] on Sunday evening, Jane 17, at 9b. 12m. Its middle course, which was without apparent curvature, bore about East. At first the meteor was seen in the right shoulder of Antinous, near the star Eta Aquila; It was then not brighter than a star of the fifth magnitude—increased gradually during the first half of its visible course, and during the latter part very rapidly ; passing over about fifteen degrees, and fading from the sight near the star Epsilon in the .Dolphin. When near the apparent termination of its course, a large frag- ment was detached or thrown off, which seemed at first just to lag behind for a moment, and then to keep pace with the principal mass. Other smaller fragments Were also separated, which also followed in the train. The colour was white, slightly tinged with orange ; and it resembled a mass of intensely heated iron. All the appearances were satisfactorily determined."

The Emma Sherratt, just arrived from Sydney, brings accounts of the wreck of the Sarah Crisp. In latitude 170° 20' North, longitude 116° 5' East, the Emma Sherratt fell in with the teak-laden ship Sarah Crisp, water-logged. A plank having started daring the night, the ship filled, and turned over on her side; in the morning the crew cut away the rigging, and she righted. But all the provisions were under water, and none could be got.. For twenty-seven days the crew had nothing to eat but a monkey and two fishes. The master, chief mate, and seventeen men, were taken from the wreck, in a frightful state of suf- fering: the second mate and twelve seamen had died from starvation. The foremast of the Little Western, Ramsgate steamer, snapped in two under a squall off Margate, yesterday week. A woman was killed and several passen- gers were seriously wounded by the falling mast: they were put ashore at Mar- gate. One gentleman who was much hurt prosecuted the voyage to town by the steamer, but had his own surgeon telegraphed to meet him from the West-end at the London Bridge wharf.

A return in last night's Gazette shows the progress of cholera for the month from the 11th June to the 12th July, both inclusive, to have been as follows— From June II to Tune 30— Attacks. Deaths.

London and its vmituty 91

61 In the Country 2,026

811 Scotland 82 • • • • ...... 55

From July 1 to July 12—

London and its vleinity 453

278 In the Country 1,432

624

Scotland

87

50

—

General total

4,171

1,779 Right Ascension.

h us. s. North Polar Distance. deg. min.

22 21 6 100 31 22 23 20 100 23 22 26 9 100 23 22 26 24 100 5

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

Zymotic Diseases Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat .. 38 Tubercular Diseases 173 Diseases 01 the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses . 115 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels .......... ... . .... 35 Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration... Sr Diseases of the Stomach. Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 63 Diseases of the Kidneys, die 8 Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, &e. 11

Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Sic 6

Diseases of the skin, Cellular Tissue, Sc 1 Malformations 1 Premature Birth 16 Atrophy 26 Age 32 Sudden 17 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 38 30 _ — Total (including unspecified causes) 1070 1008

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 103 5° in the sun to 32.8° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the average mean temperature by 1.2°. The mean direction of the wind for the week was South- south-west.

Number of Summer Deaths. Average, 393 302 44 190 119 29 51 75 11 7 2 22 26 49