NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 355, 2 August 1875, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

OUR LONDON LETTER. (From a correspondent of the Press.) London, June 11,1875. We have been taking a good deal of credit to ourselves lately. The peace of Europe has been preserved; Germany and France are no longer ready to fly at each other’s throats; and England congratulates herself that it is her voice which has stilled the troubled waters. That our representations and efforts had a great deal of weight there is no doubt; but the plain unvarnished fact of the case is, we were merely filling the very easy role of peacemaker between two parties who did not want to fight, and were only too willing to allow a third party to “ square the matter” for them. Had either side meant fighting, as in 1870, I imagine our representations would have been now, as they were then, of small avail. The interest in the Arctic Expedition has been steadily on the increase for the last few months, and arrived at its climax on Saturday, the 29th ult, when, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, the Alert and Discovery sailed from Portsmouth amidst enthusiastic cheers from the men of-war in harbor, and from the troops and thousands of spectators lining the shores. Farewell banquets were given to the officers and crews at Portsmouth, From all parts of the country, books, games, clothes, and divers miscellaneous articles were received as presents, and I fancy a great many were left behind for want of room. Amongst other things a piano was presented to the Alert, and a barrel-organ to the Discovery. But the most eccentric donor was the individual who sent a large box of Passover cakes. Just before sailing, Captain Nares, the commander of the expedition, received a message from the Queen, earnestly wishing him and his companions every success in their gallant undertaking, a wish heartily endorsed by every one of her subjects. No expedition has ever started from any shores so perfect in organisation and equipment as this one ; and if Captain Nares and his companions fail to reach the Pole, they will at all events, in all human probability, penetrate to a higher latitude than any of their predecessors in Arctic exploration. On WhitMonday as many as 50,000 excursionists visited the dockyard, where the gear for the expedition was on view. To the general public the undertaking commends itself principally on sentimental grounds concerning Britannia ruling the waves and being mistress of the seas, &c.; but science, if less enthusiastic, looks with equal interest to the results. Very loyal people read a happy omen in the coincidence that the ships sailed on the day set apart for the celebration of the fifty-sixth anniversary of her Majesty’s birth. On the following day, Sunday, prayers were offered up in many of the churches throughout the country for the safety and success of the expedition. Besides our own Royal family, the ex-Bmpress Eugenie and her son were amongst the visitors to the ships before their departure. The Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyed Burgash bin Saed, arrived in London the day before yesterday. He is accompanied by his Prime Minister and also by Dr Kirk, our ConsulGeneral at Zanzibar, and some Councillors of State. He came up from Gravesend by river, and was received at Westminster stairs with Royal honors by the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, several Peers and Members of Parliament, and a detachment of the Guards. His visit, which will probably last a mouth, is mainly important in connection with the suppression of the East African slave trade. In the interests of commerce as well as of humanity, however, it is highly desirable to cultivate our friendly relations with his Majesty. Sir Bartle Frere. about the best authority on the subject, expresses his deliberate opinion that the African coastline of Zanzibar “ offers a field quite as ample as that on the opposite shore of India for every form of application of European enterprise and capital.” It is to be hoped then that Seyyed Burgash will enjoy himself ; and as he plunged at ouce into the vortex by going to Ascot the very day after his arrival, he apparently means to lose no opportunity of doing so. As he steamed up the Thames, the commercial activity on the river and along its banks awakened his profound

astonishment, and his frequently repeated remark to his followers was, “Verily what we have heard of J 1 ■ ; s great city of London is far below the realiiy.” lie was particularly struck with St Thomas’s Hospital, opposite the Houses of Parliament, and said, “ Such an institution is one of merit in the sight of Allah, and befits so great a people as the English.” At all events his taste seems to soar a little higher than that of our old friend the Shah, who saw nothing in England to come come up to Madame Tussaud’s collection of wax-works. We have received through Melbourne and New Zealand sad news from Fiji. A telegram from the first place dated 7th instant, tells us that 50,000 natives have fallen victims to the epidemic raging in those islands, and that a wild notion had spread among the population that the disease had been purposely communicated by the Europeans. Much sympathy is felt here with our new fellow-subjects, and it is to be hoped that our rule commenced under such unhappy auspices, may be of a wise and beneficent nature, which will speedily restore confidence in the native mind. The Home Government is powerless to afford direct aid; but Lord Carnarvon stated in the House of Lords last night that he had telegraphed to the local authorities to spare neither expense nor exertions in the matter, and also to take proper measures to prevent any disturbance. I possess that liking for a horse which is inherent in most Englishmen, but I confess myelf a little tired of him at present. At this season of the year we have really a little too much of that noble quadruped, and many even of his ardent admirers and supporters must experience some relief now that the close of the Ascot week brings a temporary cessation of racing. Since April we have had an almost continuous succession of meetings at Newmarket, Epsom, Ascot, and other places; and besides these incentives to “ horsemen,” we have just had the Islington Horse Show, which is now an established institution, and attracts all London, from the prince to the stable boy. The Derby of 1875 is noteworthy for being the quickest run and most numerously attended of any since 1780, the inaugural year of the great race. Eighteen ran; the first three being Galopin, Claremont, and the Repentance Colt, The duration of the race was 2min 42secs, being one second less than Kettledrum and Blair Athol took to perform the same distance in ftheir respective years. The Derby weights are, for colts, Bst 101 b, and for fillies, Bst 51b. Only two fillies have ever won—Eleanor, in 1801, and Blink Bonny in 1857. Galopin belongs to Prince Batthyany, a Hungarian nobleman who for years has been a leading figure in racing and yachting circles in this country. His victory was a popular one. There was rather an amusing debate in the House on the subject of the usual adjournment over the Derby day. The motion was opposed by Sir Wilfred Lawson, a rather witty and outspoken baronet whose utterances are much relished by members. He contended that public business should not be interrupted except for some national object, and said that he should vote for the motion only on the condition that the Derby should be made a state occasion and that the Speaker should travel down to Epsom in his state coach drawn by six brewer’s horses, as the same way, in fact, as he had appeared at the thanksgiving for the Prince of Wales’ recovery. The Speaker, not feeling inclined to pledge himself to this course, Sir Wilfred voted against the adjournment, and was supported by eighty-one members, whose names were published in some of the newspapers, and held up to the scorn of their countrymen as “ the eighty-one members who don’t go to-the Derby.” I can fancy the withering contempt with which the names were read by many a young man in very tight trowsers and with a straw in t his mouth. The Ascot Gold Cup was won yesterday by Mr Merry’s Doncaster, which also won the Derby in 1873. Only five horses ran, three of which were French. The winner was ridden by the celebrated jockey Fordham, and passed the post first easily by six lengths. Captain Boyton’s second attempt to cross the Channel in his life-saving dress has been successful. He started from Cape Grisnez, was twenty-three hours in the water, and stepped ashore on the Kentish coast between Dover and Folkestone. He was feted, at both these places in the inevitable forms of dinners and speeches. That the journey was not a pleasant one may be gathered from his own statement that, having now succeeded, all the wealth in England would not tempt him to try it again. He is likely to realise a handsome sum out of the sale of his dresses, and he deserves it. Humanity, however, the philanthropic American assures us in his after-dinner speeches, is his sole object; but at the same time this does not prevent him from charging ten or twelve pounds a suit. Humanity and charity have many points in common, and commencement at home may be one of them. One of our large Indian transports is being fitted up for the conveyance of the Prince of Wales and his mite to India early in the autumn. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh proceed next week to Russia. His Royal Highness always had an overweening taste for jewellery, and I notice that he has now taken to wearing a bracelet. _ There is at last some chance of a Royal residence in Ireland. It is stated that Rockingham Castle, Boyle, county Roscommon, the seat of the late Earl of Kingston, is to be purchased for the Duke of Connaught. The Queen is up in the Highlands, at Balmoral, and, according to recent accounts, gave a ball to her household, and danced a reel thereat with considerable activity and spirit. Not bad for her Majesty, when we consider the number of guns that were fired on the 29th of last month. A despatch respecting the exercise of the prerogative of pardon in the colonies has been addressed by Lord Carnarvon to Sir H, Robinson, the Governor of New South Wales. The following is the intention and true interpretation of the royal instructions on the subject. No capital sentence may be either carded out, commuted, or remitted without a consideration of the case by the Governor and bis Ministers assembled in Executive Council. A minor sentence may be commuted or remitted by the Governor after he has duly considered the advice of his Ministers or of the Minister more immediately responsible for the administration of justice, ['he Governor has then to decide for himself how he will act. He may, if he think it right, decide in opposition to the advice given him But the Ministers will have absolved themselves of their responsibility, and should his action lead to their resignation, ho will have to account to the Home Government,

The week before last was a week of enormous failures in the city, mainly due to the depression In the iron trade ; and in trade and financial circles a crisis resembling that consequent on the Overend failure in 1866 seemed inevitable. The tide, however, appears to have turned ; no fresh failure of importance has occurred during the last week ; and there is now no indication of the disaster spreading. There has been a fall of in New Zealand 4£ per cent. Bonds at 92. -to 93J. Tenders are invited by the Bank of New Zealand for £IOO,OOO in 6 per cent £IOO debentures, on or before the 15th instant, being part of a loan of £150,000 of the province of Auckland, to be expended on a dock or hydraulic lift and other harbour works. The bonds are to be redeemed at par by an accumulative sinking fund of 1 per cent per annum, and will be allotted to the highest bidders, provided the rates offered are not below 98 for every £IOO tendered for. In the allotments the pro rata principle will be adhered to as far as practicable. The honour of knighthood has been conferred on your Premier, to whose name the mystic letters K.C.M G. are now tacked. In addition to the well-known zeal of Sir James Fergusson, it is said that the personal influence of the Rothschilds was brought to bear on Mr Disraeli. The houses of Rothschild, Disraeli, and Vogel, thus in conjunction, prove that it is not only canny (Scotchmen who stick fast by each other. There is yet another race which, though scattered over the face of the earth, is similarly distinguished for inter-adhesiveness Sir Julius hasnotytt proceeded to the German baths. He is said to be waiting until after the State ball to be given at Buckingham Palace on the 16th inst. At the. last State ball precedence was given for the first time to AgentsGeneral for Colonies immediately after Foreign Ministers, and before distinguished foreigners and her Majesty’s household. Judge Richmond, Dr Hector, and Mr Sewell have arrived by the Howrah. Amongst other New Zealand notabilities lately arrived in this country is Colonel Moule. In fact there is a friendly invasion of the shady side of Pall-mall by your fellow-colonists of note. Emigration is setting in again briskly. About 300 agricultural labourers left Boston a few days ago for New Zealand, under the auspices of the Labour League. A second party follows on the 9th of next month.