ENGLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 208, 28 October 1854, Page 6

ENGLAND.

Ministerial Changes.—The changes, arising from the separation of the Department.of War from that of the colonies, are these:—The duke of Newcastle has retidned the duties of Secretary of State for War and relinquished the Colonies ; Sir George Grey has succeeded his Grace in the latter department; Lord Granvillehas -esigned the office of Lord President of the Council to Lord John Russell, who fills that post without heing raised to the peerage, and still retains the leadership of the House of Commons. Lord Granville has for the present accepted the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster, with a seat in the cabinet, that office having been vacated for the purpose by Mr. Strutt, who has retired.

In accepting the office of President of the Council, Lord John Russell necessarily vacated his seat for the City of London. He was reelected a few days afterwards. Mr. David Urquhart announced his intention of becoming a candidate, and made violent speeches against the ministry in re/erence to their policy on the war; but on the day of election was compelled to abandon the hustings, for want oi' a propose.!

United States.—The President, according to recent accounts, had issued a proclamation, which, reciting1 that information had been received that certain citizens of the United States were organizing an expedition to invade Cuba, declaring that such expedition would be an infraction of the law of the United States and a violation of treaties; warned all persons that those who "were unmindful of the honour of their country's flag would be prosecuted ; and stated that full powers had been given to the officers of the United States for the purpose of preserving peace and maintaining authority. The fugitive slave case at Boston had ended in the condemnation of the slave. He was escorted on board a revenue cutter by a guard of foot, horse artilleiy, and police, through a crowd that took no pains to conceal its detestation of the transaction. The stars and stripes were draped with black on the occasion.

California.—On April 8, an explosion of the steamer Gazelle in the Columbia river, killed 25 persons and wounded as many more. Among the killed was Mr. David Paige, of San Francisco, whose wife and child were killed last year by the explosion of the Jenny Lind. Fragments of bodies were scattered in every direction : some were blown into the river, others to the shore ; but the greater part of the killed were found lying about the deck forward, among all kinds ot fractured machinery and freight. A more horrible sight can hardly be imagined. Mr. Paige, who was chief superintendent of the Williainette Falls Company, to which the steamer belonged, had his head literally dashed to pieces, and could not have been recognised by any other means than his clothes.