NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2672, 9 September 1871, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

London, August 1. Mr Gladstone has abolished the purchase system by llopal warrant, to take effect on the Ist November. The Duke of Richmond yesterday carried a vote of in the Lords on the Government for exercising this prerogative, by a majority of SO. The second reading of the Army Bill afterwards passed. Prince Arthur’s annuity of L 15,000 has passed both Houses. Mr Taylor opposed the motion, and was followed by a minority of 11. Mr Hepworth Dixon’s amendment, substituting Llo,ooo‘ was voted for by 51. A great demonstration was held in Trafalgar square ; 20,000 persons were present, and protested against granting the annuity. The meeting passed off quietly, the police being withdrawn. Clause IS of the Ballot Bill, making the local rates chargeable with election expenses, was rejected by a majority of 9fi. American speculators invite the French Government to transport Communist prisoners to Anvconn. The Colonial Conference waswell attended. The discussion on leading colonial questions was 'very interesting, but the press reports are meagre and disparaging. The wool sales closed with great firmness ; 213,000 bales were sold in 30 days. Twothirds were taken for export. Future prospects are good for tbc growers. VEPY LATEST SPECIAL MESSAGE. London, August 7. The loss of the Megtura will be discussed to night in both Houses of Parliament. Provisions are to be sent to tbc crew. The vessel leaked. Rioting took place in Dub’in yesterday, arising out of an attempt to suppress the Fenian amnesty meeting. The lloyiil party have left Ireland;' c “ The Army iffill has passed the House of Lords,. An angry altercation has taken place between M. Thiers and the French Assembly. His resignation is threatened. The trial of the Communists has commenced. London, Aug G. In the debate on the Army Bill House of Lords, the Duke of Cambridge said that selection Was bettif than purchase, proVidaffthe 'ficiw"of"promoli(Jn was unimpeded. Lpr'd Lawrence sai\l that Ihdiaii experience showed that the selection systsui introduced ,a better class of officers- Lari Russell and the Earl of Carnarvon opposed, and the Earj pf Derby supported the measure. The bill was rejected, On tbe 3U.h July Earl Granville arid Mr Gladstone announced that the Queen ‘had consented to abolish the purchase system, The statement caused great sensation, and the Conservatives protested bitterly. r J he bill is to be brought forward again in the' Lords. The Times of the 21st says the action of the Government has given a violent vrench to the Constitution in wantonly setting aside the will of the Lords. The warrant abolishing purchase has been presented to Parliament.

The Government has abandoned tha project of a campaign of troops and volunteers in Berkshire, consequent on the lateness of the harvest and the difficulties of transport. The subjf ct was discussed in both Houses of Parliament, and the Control Department is severely criticised. Sir Rutherford Alcock has resigned, and Mr Wade is appointed his successors as British ambassador at Pekin. The Persian Minister in London denied on the 31st of July that famine and plague prevailed in Persia, Next clay Lord Enfield confirmed the report that cholera and plague were prevailing, asserting also that a man had been arrested there after eating two children, SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. The Army Bill was rejected by a majority of 25 in the Lords, causing great public indignation. A free emigration demonstration was to have taken place in Hyde Park last Sunday, but dropped through. This being the centenary year of Sir Walter Scott, efforts are being made to supply statues to fill the vacant niches in the Edinburgh monument. The Waverley Costume Ball realised LSOO. A great central Metropolitan railway terminus is contemplated. The trade of the United Kingdom is utterly disorganised by the colliers’ strike. Further tierce outrages are reported from Sheffield. Additional news obtained from the Arabs, shows that Dr Livingstone was alive in October last, but that he was in a difficult position. Mr Reed, the late Chief Constructor of the Navy, undertakes the charge of the German fleet, and will construct some ironclads in England. The Fenian conspiracy is still alive. One hundred and fifty men have been arrested at Cork, suspected of breaking into Mallow bar racks. The populace cheered the [prisoners. A bank cashier of the Bank of Tyrone has been murdered while in his office alone, and £1,500 was stolen. A despatch has been received by the Admiralty, describing the massacre of four British seamen, in March, at Patagonia. The captain was partly eaten. Mr Odger and Mr Lucraft disavow the manifesto of the International Society. The Irish section has seceded. The demonstrations in favor of the Commune are postponed. It appears that the statements respecting the transportation of the communists to Caledonia were premature. Mr Verdon, however, moved the Imperial Government to interpose with the French authorities on behalf of the Australian colonics, months. Belgian workmen are being introduced. The master builders of Leeds are compelled to join in a lock-out of carpenters. The weavers of Blackburn have returned to work on the old terms. A bill abolishing church rates in Scotland has been read a second time, but will proceed no further this session. An American project is started to issue through tickets for a circular tour between London and ustralia. The Tichhorne case has continued to excite general attention, and the evidence, which is of a very romantic nature, has been eagerly read. On a recent occasion the cross-examination of the Solicitor-General was mainly directed to the object of proving the claimant land a man named Orton, the son of a butcher at Wapping, to be one ancj tip same person. In ono of hjs replies, how* ever, the claimant said that he and Orton had been ftried at Castlemaine for horsestealing, hut having proved the horse to be their own they were acquitted. On June 26th, the cro'S-cxamination bad reference to the claimant’s residence in South America, and on Juno 27 to what took place in Australia. The claimant has throughout maintained hia equanimity with wonderful nan;/ froid. His cross-examination, which commenced on Junn 2, was brought to a close on July C—the longest crossexamination on record. His i*e-e lamination was then proceeded with by Mr Serjeant Ballantine, .and on July 7 the further hearing of the case was postponed till Noy. 7. In the course of jii ■ remarks' tjic learned serjeant Saul thai, great as had been his Lordship’s experience, the evidence yet to be adduced in this case would surprise him more than anything he had hitherto heard.