NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 849, 25 January 1866, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

The seat upon the bench, vacant by the death of Mr Justice Crompton, has been offered by the Lord Chancellor to Mr Lush, Q. C., the leader of the Home Circuit, and accepted by that gentleman. Earl Russell has nominated a son of the late Mr John Leech to the foundation of the Charterhouse, and the youth will enter as “a new boy” in the course of the present month. The Paris illustrated newspapers have given portraits of Lord Palmerston, which are more or less good likenesses, for photography has long since made his face familiar on the Continent. The biographical notices attached to the engravings are frequently highly amusing. One writer observes : ‘ ‘ The man who so often guided the destinies of nations was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was a sportsman, and a heoM, cavalier , always making love, and getting into scrapes. At all periods of life he was a most inveterate dancer, and would leave off des-patch-writing at any time for a waltz. He introduced into England la value a deux temps. He could talk and joke about everything, from the rise and fall of empires to a cotillon. He was gay even in a London fog. He had little of the sadness and gloom of the Englismen who make life one Jong story of care and work, producing meanwhile numerous families | which they know not what to do with. | He was fond of boxing and hunting ; in | fact, an Englishman, but not a gloomy i Englishman. i Mrs Yelverton’s case against the Satnri day Ileviev! is to be tried on the 4th of December, before Lord Jciwiswoode. and ■ a jury. The issue sent to the jury is j v, bother the article complained of ropre-

sents the pursuer to be an immodest and disreputable person, to her loss, injury, and damage. The defence is, not that the article is true, but that it was within the limits of fair criticism.

Mr William Chambers, publisher, has been unanimously elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh', in the room of Mr Charles Lawson, who retires on fulfilment of his tei’in of three years. Mr Chambers, in returning thanks, expressed his desire to be a working Lord Provost, and to devote his attention primarily to sanitary improvements, while not forgetting the ceremonial and festive duties of ■ his office. A destructive fire has occurred in a series of warehouses known as Beal’s wharf, near to London Bridge, and close to the scene of the great fire of 1861. .Early in the morning it was discovered that one of the range of warehouses was on fire, and the fire brigade soon got to work. It became clear, however, that the flames had too strong a hold to be easily suppressed, and it was with difficulty they were prevented from spreading to the adjoining buildings. In the warehouse which was burned were stored tea, Spanish liquorice, cane, seed, and pepper. There has been destroyed 1,500,000 lbs. of tea, worth £IOO,OOO, and the damage altogether is estimated at £IBO,OOO. The water, as it rushed out of the warehouses, was as black as ink, caused by the tea and Spanish juice becoming dissolved. Another great fire broke out recently in one of the large warehouses in the St. Katharine Docks, which caused great alarm, not only in the docks, but in the neighbourhood. The building, in which the fire broke out, was at least 100 feet long, with proportionate breadth, and five stories high. Every available assistance was procured, but notwithstanding this, and the exertions of a large body of fii’emen, it was several hours before the fire could be subdued ; it was, however, coxxfined to the building in question. The loss, which is estimated at £20,000, will fall on most of the metropolitan fire-offices. Several other disastrous fires have occurred, one at Gravesend, which was of con-, siderable magnitude. The Richmond Theatre was in some danger, on a recent night, but the fire was fortunately confined to the stage, and as the audience retained their self-possession nobody was hurt. FRANCE. It is genex-ally reported in Pdris that the French army now in Mexico will be withdrawn by instalments, and that by August or September next year the whole will have returned to France. This x'esolution is said to be adopted, not only from a desire to afford no reasonable ground of complaint to the United States, but also on economical grounds. An imperial decree was published oxx November 16 for the reduction of the army, of which the following are the main points : Seven battalions of the Imperial Guard are to be abolished. The 6th squadron of the cavalry of the guard and of the line, 200 companies of the infantry of the line, and 40 batteries of artillery are also to be abolished. The Carbineers, reduced to one regiment, will form a part of the guard. Some other reductions of less im - portance will also take place. Three new battalions of Algerian riflemen will be formed. The reduction will take place at the expirations of the varioxis terms of service, until the strengths of the various regiments have reached the limit fixed by the decree. A portion of the vacancies will be given to officers whose posts have been abolished. AMERICA. A Correspondent of the Home News in America, writes as follows : ‘ ‘ The steady decrease of the Feclei’al army and navy does not look much like a contemplated war with England if she refuses to pay the Alabama claims. Another large detachment of troops has been -mustered-out this week, and when they have left the army it will not number over 60,000 men. This includes all branches, of the service, black and white, regulars and volunteers, —43,246 being regulars and the remainder volunteers. The navy, too, is steadily decreasixxg, one vessel after another going out of commissioix, and hundreds of sailors and marines daily leaving the service. This looks very little like a war with England.” Oozzens’ Oil Factory, at New York, has been destroyed by fire. The Fenian Congress had remodelled the Fenian organisation aftex' the plan of the Federal government. Thei'e is a Px-e----sident, a Cabinet, a Senate, and a H oxtse of Representatives. Colonel John Mahony has been elected Presidexxt. A committee has been appoixxted to draw up axx address embodying the recognition of the Irish Republic, which will have’ buildings in New York for government purposes. The Fenian Senate is now in session at New York. It is calculated that the income now gathering by the Fenians in America amounts to £65,000 a year; but the gx-eater portion must be absorbed by the mere organisation. Mr. Davis still reftiaius at Fortress Munroe. He is said to be in good health, and to be very comfortable in his new quarters, at Carroll-Hall. A large, wellfumished room, abundant out-door exercise, good fare, plenty of books, and the privilege of corresponding with his friends and relatives, contribute to render his imprisonment comparatively agreeable. He is very anxious tc have an immediate trial, and President Johnson has announced that all th; arrangements are made for it. President Johnson, at a private inter - j view with Mr George \. Stephens, de- • dared that if uni vers, I negro suffrage i were allowed, it world breed a war of

races. He favoured a gradual introduction of qualifications for the suffrage for negroes.—Wendell Phillips had made a speech recommending the House of Representatives to impeach President Johnson. The New York Herald says that the Secretary of the Navy has ordered the ironclads to be got ready for sea, and that the Secretary of War had stopped the sale of army materials and means of transport. Both these orders are attributed to the desire of the administration to be prepared against any sudden Fenian movement. The Canadian and the Federal governments were said to be taking joint measures to prevent a Fenian invasion of Canada.

Mr. John Mitchell has been released, it is said, unconditionally, from Fortress Munroe, the President receiving a deputation of Fenians, who went to solicit his pardon. Small Pox has broken out amongst the negroes in the Southern States. The steamer, “ Niagara,” was sunk by a collision on the Mississipi, Oxxe hundred persoxxs were drowned. Haavy gales have prevailed along the Atlantic coast ; the loss in shipping has been great.