NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2173, 25 April 1870, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

In a very modest letter to Lord Colville Earl Derby refuses the leadership of the Conservative party iu the House of Lords, assigning his want of experience iu the practice of the Upper House, and that he ; s not exactly fitted for a party leader, as the causes of his declining the honor. The Duke of Richmond has accepted the leadership. The directors of the P. and 0. Company intend to start a line of traffic steamers between England and India via the Suez Caual. A photographic portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh, taken at Sydney by Mr W. Bradley, is being exhibited in London. It is pronounced by those competent to judge to be superior to any portrait taken in England. A monster petition, praying the attention of the Government to the vast importance of the existing relations between England and her Colonies, was presented to Ihe Home Secretary on February 15. It was signed by 104,000 workmg men. A scheme for a regular system of military emigration has been proposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Bray. A sham bishop has been discovered taking bis scat in the (Ecumenical Council. The Due de Montpenssier has arrived in Madrid and visited Prim and Topete. The nature of his reception has created an impression that his chances for the throne are greatly improved. It is rumored that Captain Chas. Fellows will relieve Commodore Lambert. At the annual meeting of the English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank, ou February 9, the chairman said that some negociations had been in progress for a unification of the interests of the Bank of Otago with those of this institution; but nothing would be definitely settled without first taking the opinion of the shareholders as to whether the Bank of Otago should be absorbed by this institution. The Viceroy asked Chas. Matthews to perform one night at Cairo ; but for want of things he was unable t a do so, to his great regret. Dion Boucica dt has been offered L20,0Q0 for a series of 250 farewell performances in the United Sta f es, He has also received L3OOO for assisting Joseph Jefferson to adapt Rip Van Winkle, which is to be produced shortly in London. A rifle contest between {England and America is being arranged. The relations between the Sultan and the Khedive are on the best possible footing.^ A canal through the Isthmus of Corinth is to he cut by a French Company. Bishop Temple has disarmed the hostility of his enemies by promising in Convocation to withdraw his Essay in future editions of “ Essays and Reviews.” This step has aroused the displeasure of his former admirers, who regard it as a weak and unsatisfactory conclusion. Dr Temple has preached before the Court at Windsor, In reference to the Colonial question, Mr Stuart Mill thinks there should be systematic consultation on colonial affairs with representatives chosen by the elected authorities of the various colonies, Mr Fowell Buxton advocates federation on the basis of equality and of independent territories Combining for external defence.