EUROPEAN EXTRACTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 25 December 1852, Page 5

EUROPEAN EXTRACTS.

We glean from the Australian Journals a few miscellaneous incidents respecting European affairs :—

Parliament was prorogued to the 21st of October, not to " meet for despatch of business," which of course involves another prorogation. This confirms all that has been previously said respecting Lord Derby's intention of putting off the evil day as long as possible, and is quite characteristic of the tactics of the Derby Ministry since they came into power. During the last twenty years, the plan has been undeviatingly adhered to of summoning Parliament at the earliest day, when the balance of parties or the position of the Ministry rendered a change of Government probable. It has been carried out by every Premier since the passing of the Reform Bill. The only exception is Lord Derby. The Globe states that Parliament will assemble about the third week in November.

The members of the Government were mostly in the country, pursuing the sports of the field or unbending in rural recreations. The grandest affair of the kind appears to have been a horticultural fete given by Sir John Pakington, in the grounds of Westbrook Park, which entertainment was enjoyed by two thousand of the inhabitants of Droitwich. The proceedings of the day were wound up by a contre-danse, in which young and old, rich and poor, honourable and commoner, master and workman, joined. Sir John Pakington led off the dance with the wife of Mr. Curlier, attorney, of Droitwich.

The Liverpool Standard, August 17th, thus remarks on the state of the wool /market :— " Our market has beenp-ather quiet this week, in consequence of/the assortment offering by private sale being sVnaU,;* there is, however, a good healthy tone manifest, and it is confidently expected that, should the harvest prove an abundant one, we shall have a good autumn trade, with prices of wool higher."

The same journal has the following paragraph :—" The advices, from George-town, Der merara, confirm the report of the discovery of gold in that colony. Two persons had arrived at different periods within the last few weeks, bringing accounts of the metal in the interior, together with specimens, which sold respectively for 240 dollars and 800 dollars. A party of twenty young white men had already set off on a digging expedition, and the planters were in great alarm, as it was feared that the general business of the country would be thrown into confusion." .

Apolitical dinner was to be given to Mr. Frederick Peel, M.P., by the electors of Bury, to come off on the Bth of September. Among the guests invited were Sir James Graham, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Bright, which may, perhaps, be considered as an indication in the present unsettled state of parties.

Sir James Parker, one of the Vice Chancellors of England, died on the night of the 13th of August, at his country seat, Rothley Temple, Leicestershire. We notice also the death of Lieutenant-General Sir T. Downhara, which took place at Woolwich, on the 10th August.

The Duke of Hamilton was dead. He expired of the 17th of August, at his house in Portman-square. The late Duke for more than thirty years held the position of Premier Peer of Scotland. Personally he occupied no very large space in public estimation, but lived and diedas much a private man as was possible for one of his riink. His grace was born on the sth of October, 1767. In 1852 he nursed the prejudices which he had imbibed before 1759, and he lived throughout the intervening period well deserving to be called the proudest man in England. In his case it was mere pride of birth, being descended from the royal line of Scotland. The deceased Duke is succeeded in his title and estates by the Marquis of Douglas, who is married to a daughter of the late Grand Duke of Baden, and first cousin to the President of the French Republic. The present (and 11th) duke has several children.

The trials of the Stockport rioters had terminated. The prisoners convicted of riot were severally sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for various periods from two to eighteen months. : Mathew Mulligan, who was convicted of manslaughter arising out of the riots was sentenced to be transported for 15 years.