ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY, WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 202, 25 November 1864, Page 2 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY, WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL.

ENGLISH NEWS TO 3hd OCTOBER. GENERAL SUMMARY. London, Sept. 24. The Australian July Mails were delivered in London on the 15th and 20th September. The Queen remains at Balmoral, and continues iu excellent health. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Elsinore September 6th. They were well received, notwithstanding the antipathy of the Danish people to England. The Crown Princess of Prussia gave birth to a son on loth September. The Duke of Newcastle’s health is considerably improved. One of the vacant Garters is conferred on the Marquis of Lansdowne. Lord Palmerston, though in his Slst yeas, appears to be almost übiquitous, performing his duties as actively as ever. The British Government despatched the Earl of Airlie to the United States with their views on the present aspect of affairs, and to offer himself to the Confederacy as a medium of communication with the British Government.

The Times discloses the plan Russia intended adopting in ease England had gone to war for Poland. Russia fully expected the breakiug-out of that war, and issued instructions to the 'Russian Admirals on the American and Californian Coasts to leave their respective posts by different routes for known places or rendezvous. The fleet then to hold itself in readiness in the event of war being declared, to bear down on the Australian Colonics. Melbourne was the first to bo attacked, then Hobart Town, then Adelaide, Sydney, and New Zealand. The shipping from the New Y’ork station would have mustered 156 guns, and from Japan and California 43 guns, with a total of 2,971 seamen, and 127 officers,. The vessels were principnlly armed with 68-pounders, but the Admirals’ orders were to obtain whatever rifled guns they might require at New York ; but the Polish dispute is now forgotten, and we are again upon good terms with Russia. ° The convict question continues to excite much discussion. A scheme is ventilated that by means of convention with Russia for compensation she might take charge of our convicts, or cede a portion of her Siberian possessions where our criminals could be sent.

Captain Speke, descovercr of the source of the White Nile, is dead ; he accidently shot himself while crossing a fence.

The Emperor of Abyssinia still keeps the British Consul in irons because he delayed making a favourable reply to his offer of marriage to Queen Victoria.

Tho owner of the Georgia, received intimation from the Foreign Office, that the seizure of that vessel must go before the American Prize Court, and the owner must defend his own interest in that Court,

Assaults in railway carriagescontinuo toincrease. The London and South-Western Company caused circular panes of glass to bo inserted in the various compartments of their carriages, so that the occupants in various divisions can see each other.

Accounts of the Shakespcrian festival committee at Stratford-on-Avon, show a deficiency of £3OO. A new screw propeller has been invented by James Steele, of Liverpool, which averages four times the speed of an ordinary screw with the same engine and same pressure ofsteam.

The news this month discloses an unparalleled increase of brutual murders ang other criminal offences in England. A frightful colliery explosion occurred nearHorth Shields, eighteen persons were killed. At a great fire in London the estimated loss is £IOO,OOO. Haberdasher’s Hall, Gresham-stacet war almost totally destroyed. Franz Muller, the supposed murderer of Mr. Briggs, in the railway carriage, was arrested at Hew- York on August 21, and arrived at Liverpool on September 16. Ho pleaded not guilty. The examination caused wonderful sensation. His defence is warmly taken up by the German Society, who believe he is innocent.

Colonel McMurdo retires from the inspectorship of Volunteers.

A shock of an earthquake was distinctly felt in Cheshire, on the 21st. During the past week forty-seven wrecks have been reported, making a total for the present year, of 1,255.

The poor-law expenditure for the year endin'* March 25th last, amounts to £6,527,000, bein'* an increase on the previous year of £150,000. Official documents issued, show that there are 1,142,684 insane and paupers in Great Britain. The statistical details in the Gazette show that the total net value of our foreign trade at eleven ports in China, amounts to 104 millions sterling. The Queen has conferred the Victoria Cross on Assistant-Surgeons Manley and Temple, Lieutenant J’iekard, Ensign Down, and Drummer Stagpole, for

bravery in the New Zealand campaign. The Roxburgh Castle, and the Light Brigade, have sailed with reinforcements for New Zealand.

Obituary. —Mr. Walter Savage' Landor, Rev. Thomas Cacor, Sir Charles Knightley, Sir John Ratcliife, Sir W. P. Elliot, Duke of Cleveland, Earl of Cadagon. Viscountess Hardinge, Earl ofMorley, Sir Thomas Sebright, Lady Susen "Reeve, Lady Mary Hamilton, Major-General Crawford, Lieutenant-General Byall, Captain Wood, R.N., Sir H. L. Lea, Vice-Admiral Best, Countess Dowager Effingham, Rev. Chancellor Trevior, "William Marsh, D.D., and James Laing, Esq. CANADA. The Canadian Conference decided thatthe union of the British North American provinces would be satisfactory, provided terms of alliance could jbe arranged AMERICA. New York, Sept. 16. There are various unfavorable war rumors since Saturday last, which have caused violent fluctuations in the gold market; prices declined under Monday s panic to 213, recovering afterwards. Last quotation, 224*. The market/entirely ■ unsettled. General M’Clellan has accepted the Chicago nomination, but declares the Union must be preserved at all hazards. He has been repudiated by the peace Democrats, who intend to select another candidate. Fremont will withdraw his candidature, and Lincoln receive the support of the whole Republican party. Lee and Grant are preparing for another battle. Atlanta has been evacuated by the Confederates, and entered by Federals, after heavy battles. General Sherman is concentrating his forces there. Admiral Farrngut, after taking Port Moraan, is reported to be within shelling distance of Mobile. Grant and ibherman have both most earnestly applied to the Federal Government for more men and the draft is to be immediately enforced. 1 he Richmond Inquirer says peace may easily be brought about. Its plan is to make North and South one nation, so far as foreign nations are concerned, by an offensive and defensive treaty, but with separate Governments, for domestic affairs. The platform adopted by the Chicago Convention is fidelity to the Union, and the institution of immediate efforts for the cessation of hostilities, with a view of summoning a convention of the States to restore peace to the country. Direct military interference at the approaching elections is to be regarded ns revolutionary, and to bo resisted. Severe engagements have taken place between Lee and Grant. On the 11th August General Grant embarked troops with orders sealed—the troops declaring they were going northwards. When under weigh-they steamed up the James river, and landed at Deepbottom -, they went down James River by day and up it by night On the morning of the loth they surprised the Confederates, driving them from the front line of riflepits, and again dislodging them from their second line. The ground was valorously contested. The I’ederals lost 1,000 men. The position is 6 miles from Fort Darling, commanding the river and its bluffs. On August 19th the fifth corps of Grant’s army took a position at Ream’s Station, on the Weldon Railroad, but were surprised by the Confederates, and were driven back with the’loss of 3,000 men. The Federals, subsequently reinforced, recovered their lost ground on the following day. Both parties are engaged fortifying. On Sunday, the Ist September, the Confederates attempted another assault, with the loss of General Haygood and 1,600 men. I he Federal losses in these fights are assorted by the Times correspondent to be 12,000 men from the 2ist to the 25th. CONTINENTAL. FRANCE AND ITALY. A convention between the above powers had been effected. French troops are to be withdrawn from the occupation of Rome within two years. Italy engages herself to respect the actual territory of the Pope, and to prevent by force any attack made on it from abroad. The Italian Ministry intend moving the seat of Government from Turin to Florence. This change will inflict a loss on the inhabitants of Turin of seven millions sterling. Popular demonstrations took place, the ministerial residence was attacked, and also the Royal Palace. The military were called out, and fired upon the populace, killing and wounding numbers. The crowd then fled. No barricades were erected. The movement arose solely in iiope of preventing the transfer of the capital to Florence. The Ministry have resigned, in consequence of this disturbance. The new Ministry is formed, with General de la Marmora at the head. Garibaldi’s health is perfectly re-established. THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION The territorial question between Denmark and the Germans Powers is almost settled, but Germany demands, on behalf of the Duchies, a portion of the war material of Denmark and of its fleet. This the Danish Government absolutely refuse. The inhabitants of North Schleswig have petitioned the King of Denmark against annexation with Germany, and wish to remain united to Denmark. On the ratification of peace, Jutland and the Duqjiies will be occupied by 60,000 Prussian and Austrian troops. POLAND. The trials of the insurgents are prosecuted with great severity. Count Ostram is condemned to eight years in irons; the Countess Wodziska and Madame Zebrowska to ten months of the same punishment, and four other ladies to six and four months. TURKEY, The cultivation of cotton is rapidly increasing. It is expected the crop this year will reach 250,000 cwt. After great difficulty a convention has boeu

signed between England and the Porte, as to the working of a telegraphic line through Asiatic Turkey and the Persian Gulf to India. SHIPPING. DEPARTURES. Fob New Zealand. — Balarat, Eastern Empire , Selina, 1 ictoria, jLnn JEood, Helenslee, Eiscount Canning, Matara, Eamsay, Light Brigade, Bobert Henderson. LONDON WOOL REPORT.—Sept. 24, 1864. Since the close of the sales there has been little doing ; the dearness of money creates much caution, and, except for qualities to complete orders, few contracts have been made. The failure of the Leeds Banking Company has created much distrust inthe North, and there is an evident indisposition to extend operations except for actual requirements, hence there is scarcely any inquiry for the north. For the continent there has been more doing, and certain descriptions, particularly wools-of a faulty character, found to be cheap at the July sales, are slightly in demand, but are wanted at last sales rates. Dealers, although anxious to sell, if only cost and charges can be covered, do not press their purchases on the market, and in consequence our market may be quoted firm, but with scarcely any business. Without there is a great change for the better in the rate of discount, we do not look for last sale rates being more than maintained ; but if with the present high range of money, there are to be failures in the north, we shall have a decline in the prices of wool with a flat market. There is a good consumption going on, and manufacturers are fairly employed, but there is not so large a number of new orders out that might fairly bo looked for at this season of the year. LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAM. [Via Suez ] London, October 3,12T5'p.m. Suez, October 4, 2 - 8 - p.m. The Vienna negotiations are progressing, and England favours the claims of the Duke of Angusten burg. The Franco-Ttalian treaty is generally popular. The Turin riots have been suppressed, and the city is now tranquil. In America, General Early was defeated by Sheridan. The losses on both sides were heavy. A monster meeting has been held in New York in favour of M’Clellan’s nomination to the Presidency. The failure of the Leeds Bank is announced, with liabilities amounting to one million sterling ; more failures are expeefed. Twenty thousand colliers are on strike in Staffordshire. The cotton tradeis again depressed, and the Manare working short time. The powder mills atErith, near Gravesend, and 25 miles from London, containing 30,000 barrels of gunpowder, were blown up, laying everything in ruin within a radius of six miles ; and the Thames embankment at Westminster was destroyed by the shock, which was felt distinctly at Windsor. The loss of life by this catastaspho is not yet fully ascertained, but numbers have been killed and wounded. Alderman Halo lias been elected Lord Mayor of London. Franz Muller has been committed to Newgate. The money market is active, And the demand for discount remains unchanged. Consols, SSL The Transatlantic has arrived. MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. Colonial Government Securities. — New Zealand 6 per cent., 1)9 to 102. Queensland 6 per cent., January to July, 100 to 102. Mr. Ward,; Postmaster-General of New Zealand maintained his Government are bound by acts done by him in his official capacity regarding the Panama Mail Contract, and asserts that when the Assembly meets the contract will be adopted. LATEST FROM CALCUTTA. A terrific cyclone passed over Calcutta on the 7th October, and in five hours the destruction of life and property was so great as to be unparalled within recollection. Scarcely a house or a public building lias escaped injury, and whole villages have been swept away. The botanical gardens were totally destroyed, and the amount "of property destroyed is estimated at £2,000,000 sterling. Uut of 200 ships in the river not more than 30 have escaped, twelve of them sank, and a great number were dismasted and driven on shore. The P. and O. steamers Tubal and Nemesis were both dismasted. The Bengal was driven on shore opposite Garden Reach. The steamers Ben thick and Hindostan, and six other tug steamers were wrecked. The estimated loss on the river amounts to 300 souls; and on shore it is thought to be not less than 3,000. Grain and all other provisions have advanced in prices. Ships for immediate requirements will command high rates of freight.