ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 63, 20 March 1852, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

The English news brought by the "Agra" extends to the 25th Nov.

The Electric Telegraph was open to the use of the public from London to Paris. Kossuth's arrival was the subject most occupying the public attention. The Spectator of November Bth says, "The Kossuth demonstrations in England continue with unabated success, though the official programmes have, in some cases,been modified according to circumstances. The Mayors of Birmingham and Manchester have had the good sense to see that in their official capacity they are not warranted to take upon them to express the national feeling towards the Governor of Hungary. M. Kossuth has in consequence been obliged to abandon his resolution to receive hononrs and banquets only from the constituted authorities, and to accept of the non-official invitations of the Democrats of Birmingham and the Anti-Corn-law Leaguers of Manchester. The manifestation of the current week was that of the address presented to the Magyar by the working classes of the Metropolis. It is obvious from these demonstrations that a very warm sympathy with Kossuth pervades the middle and lower classes of England. The upper classes have stood aloof from the movement*; and of this an uneasy sense may be perhaps traced in Kossuth's answer to the address of the French proscrits, denying that any attempts have been made to detach him from the cause of Democracy, or could succeed with him if made. The popular sympathy of which we speak is natural. The struggle in Hungary was better suited to awaken it than any recent effort of any of the nations of Europe except perhaps Italy. It was more spontaneous and purely national, at last, appeared so from this distance. Then, Louis Kossuth is an interesting personage. By liis own unaided efforts, he raised himself, from a humble station, to be the dictator of Hungary. He mustered armies, and weilded the destines of his country. That personal ambition was one of his motives, it is unnecessary to deny; for that is perhaps an. essential ingredient in very active politicians. The personal disparagements which preceded his appearance among us rather helped to recommend him to John Bull, always ready to take the part of a man assailed at disadvantage- In addition to all these favourable 'circumstances, the time of his arrival has contributed not a little to his success. The closing of the Great Exhibition had left the English public at a loss for some means of excitement. Lord John Eussell kept silence, and would not supply the want: the Financial and Parliamentary Eeformers were willing enough, but could not; the Exeter Hall and the Royal Academy seasons had passed. The arrival of a genuine foreign lion at such a moment was a godsend ; and when it was found that, instead of inarticulate roaring,' this lion was capable of expressing itself eloquently in good idiomatic English, public delight knew no | bounds. There has been, as a matter of course, the usual interference of plotters and planners to turn the Exhibition of the new lion to their own account, and of busybodies aiming at notoriety by attaching themselves to his train : but not to a greater extent than is usual and tolerable on such occasions. Kossuth has had the dark hour of exile lightened by an honest expression of popular sympathy. In about a week he will leave us, and same" new object will engage the public attention. For if he flatters himself that any real progress has been made in enlisting- this country in a crusade to establish the independence of Hungary, or replace himself at the head of that nation, he is .mistaken. The new version of the doctrine of peace and nonintervention has not yet made sufficient progress amongst us."

Kossuth had sailed from Southampton for the United States.

'The final report of the Commissioners of the Industrial Exhibition has been published. It intimates that the receipts have exceeded half a million, and that the surplus left in the hands of the Commissioners cannot be less than 150,000/. Aware that their delegated authority confers on them no title to distribute this sum, they respectfully place it at the Queen's disposal, as the ultimate heir of all ownerless property. The hint, however, that, if they were permitted, they could dispose of the money for the general benefit; and surest the expediency of "Taming them, by royal charter, powers to submit to her Majesty a scheme for the appli-

cation of the surplus. It is implied in the report, that the project contemplated is the establishment of an institution for industrial education, on a scale that would require liberal auxiliary assistance of the public. It is not likely that even this vague intimation of the intentions and wishes of the Commissioners would have been made without an understanding that they are likely to be complied with. The charter will be granted."

[From the Wellington Independent."]

The new ship Agra, 900 tons, Maclean, commander, arrived early on Monday morning from London. She left Gravesend on November 17th ; Plymouth, the 26th, and Land's End on the 28th : and sighted New Zealand on Saturday last. The time this fine ship therefore occupied on her voyage from land to land was 91 days—exactly three months! We believe this is the quickest passage ever made between England and this port. She bad a fair wind the whole of the voyage; two infants died, and two births occurred during the passage. The Key. Mr. D'ohn, Free Church Minister for the flutt, is a passenger by her.

The Gwalior, 550 tons, Edwards, was laid on by Marshall and Edridge, for Auckland, New Plymouth, and Wellington ; the " Barbara Gordon," 500 tons, Smith, by Willis and Co., for Auckland, New Plymouth, and Nelson, both to sail in November ; and the " Stag," 678 tons, by the Canterbury Association, for Lyttelton, Otago, Wellington, Nelson, and New"Plymouth to sail about the 20th December.

' The appointment of Mr. F. Peel as Undersecretary for the Colonies, vice Mr. B. Hawes who goes to the War Office portends in our opinion a change for the better in the administration of Her Majesty's Colonial Dependencies. Mr. F. Peel is the second son of the late Sir Eobert Peel, and M.P. for Leominster. Since he has become a member of the House he has spoken several times with effect, and spoke and voted against the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill of the Whigs in the last session : which leads some to suppose that this indicates the intention of the ministry to make this bill a dead letter on the Statute-book. The appointment of Mr. Peel to the Colonial Office indicates something more than this, something more promising to us settlers than any politico-religious question, about Bishops' titles can possibly be. Mr. Peel, belongs to the party of which the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Gladstone and Sir James Graham are chiefs; the party who had resolved to make the colonial question the question for ensuing and last session of the present Parliament, the party who have pledged themselves to support by their united voices, votes, and influence Self Government for the Colonies. The party, moreover, who had pledged themselves that the affairs of New Zealand should be searchingly and fully discussed in the ensuing session, and who have a motion on the orderbook of the House to that effect, if the Government itself does not take the matter in hand. Young Peel is a member of a party weak in point of members, but strong in talent, experience, and influence, and almost irresistible in all colonial questions, It was this party that struck out the most obnoxious clauses in the late act relative to this Colony, and it was this party which the Colonial Office more than any other stood in dread. The appointment therefore of Mr. Peel appears to us to indicate that a change in the measures and administration of the Colonies will take place, and that the Peelites will give their support to these measures in the forthcoming session, when the promised constitution for New Zealand will be brought under the consideration of Parliament. It cannot be denied that our new under secretai'y has entered on the duties of his office at a very critical period, and that it will require more than ordinary sagacity, prudence and energy to redeem the colonists from the effects of'the mischievous meddling and measures which his predecessors have inflicted upon them.

[We do not agree with the Wellington Independent in their hopes. Mr. Peel is a very young man, and is not in the least likely to have much effect upon Lord Grey's policy. On the contrary he only compromises his own political position hy taking office, besides, if we remember rightly, the part lie took in the debate on the Australian Constituting Bill was very unsatisfactory. We fear there is nothing in this change hut the loss of an able young man to the independent party, bought like many a good man before him by the temptations of office. Ed. L. T.]