THE TORRES STRAITS MAIL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 519, 16 February 1876, Page 3

THE TORRES STRAITS MAIL.

The Argus publishes the following additional items by the Torres Straits mail : The Duke of Cambridge delivered an important speech at the gity dinner at the Mansion House on the ififfly of Great Britain, in which he hinted at a possibility of war, and dwelt upon the necessity of increased military estimates, antf'advised an increase of the regular army, the introduction of the conscription system, or a return to the ballot, as in the militia system. An article in the Moscow Gazette , which probably does not reflect public opinion generally in Russia, accuses England of a sinister design, stigmatising her as entertaining a design to obtain a world-wide aggrandisement, and of wishing to pocket the key of the south-eastern portion of - Europe. Against this, however, there is a set-off in an article published in the St Petersburg Gaulois, which is very complimentary to

England, and in which it is proposed that the example set by Great Britain in Egypt should be imitated by all Europe in regard to Turkey, and urges that the Porte should be put under the tutelage and direct influence of the great powers. A message of peace comes to Europe from the three Emperors. Speaking at a dinner at St. Petersburg, the Czar used words which are regarded on all sides as significantly reassuring. It is rumoured that the Prince of Wales has been recalled from India.

The Turkish troops continue quite unable to make any headway against the insurgents of Herzegovina, and according to the reports the latter seemed to have gained some advantage upon three separate occasions. Count Andrassy’s proposals for Turkish reforms still hang fire. His suggestions, as they are drawn up, have, it is said, the approval of Austria and Russia ; it is German dissent that causes the delay. [lntelligence has been received by cable that France and Italy have agreed to the proposals, and that the English Cabinet has resolved to give a general support to them.] Prussia, it is said, is wearied of negotiations with Denmark, and has declared that the execution of article 3 of the treaty of Prague is impracticable, and it is her (Prussia’s) intention to keep all Schleswig. She is about to notify that decision to the other powers interested in the treaty. Considerable alarm was caused on Tuesday last by the exaggerated versions announced in the bills of the evening papers of a slight accident which occurred to the Prince of Wales on his return from elephant shooting, at Colombo.

A meeting of Turkish bond-holders has been held at the house of the Council of Foreign Bondholders. Part of the proceedings were of a private character. The life of the man Stokes has been threatened, on account of the evidence which he gave which led to Wainwright’s apprehension for the Whitechapel tragedy, and during the recent trial. Subscriptions were organised on his behalf, and for the legitimate and illegitimate children of Wainwright.

The allusions in President Grant’s message to Congress to the Cuban insurrection and the conduct of Spain have produced a profound impression at Madrid, and are generally regarded as ominous to the continuance of peace between Spain and the United States.

In Turkey the purchase of the Suez Canal shares by Great Britain is accepted as a proof that England has thrown the Ottoman cause overboard, and is only intent upon preserving the integrity of her Asiatic dominions, keeping the approach to them. Consols for money, 91 ; do. for ac#ount, 91*.