English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 368, 14 May 1856, Page 4

English and Foreign.

We have news from England to the 17th of February, brought to Melbourne by the steamer " Royal Ciiarter," which vessel made the run out in si) days, the shortest passage ever recorded. The steamer " Tele«rranh "en route from Melbourne, r\a Sydney, spoke the "Royal Charter 1' and took on the Sydney mail. From thence vb« New Zenlnuu portion of the mail was brought to Auckland by the "William Denny," and by the " Zin<*ari" to the Southern Provinces. By these means, we pain intelligence from Europe within three month?. After the uncertainty which has been occasioned by the non-arrival of the sailinw vessels, chartered to convey the mails, the arrival of the ''Royal Charter,'" in Melbourne, must have been a gratifying1 event, clearly demonstrating the advantage of steam cominnnication. The news now received is highly important. From the extracts which will he found below, there appear* some prospect of peace with Russia, but the intention of this power m consenting to the ultimatum is still doubtful. A too general fear <>f English interest being sacrifice'!, to save Russia from what is termed humiliation, exists at the same time among the people of England, should peace he concluded. The American quarrel is progressing. A rupture between England and America would too seriously affect the southern colonies not to demand the attention of New Zealand. It will, we tru<fc, prove fortunate for the colony that our colonial Parliament is in full sitting. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Her Majesty the Qaeen opened the Imperial Parliament on Thursday, the 31st of January, with the following; speech : — Mr Locos A:rn Gextlrmex', —Since the close of the last session of Parliament, the arms of the Allies have achieved a sisnal and important success. Sebastopol, the great jtronffhold of Russia in the Black Sea, has yielded to the persevering constancy and to the dariug bravery of the allied forces. The naval and military preparations fir the ensuing year have necessarily oc-npied my serious attention : hut while determined to omit no effort which could ove vieour to the operations of ;he vjr, I have de»med it my duty not to decline «.ny overturei which might reasonably afibrd a prospect of a safe and honourable peace. Accordingly, ■when the Emperor of Austria lately offered to myself and to my august ally, the Emperor of the French, to employ his jrnod offices frith the Emperor of Bussia, with a view to endeavour to brin£ about an amicable adjustment of the matters at issue between the con ten dine Powers. T conseated, :r. coacert with my allies, to accept the offer tlins made, and I have the satisfaction to i-iform you that certain conditions have been agreed upoa, which I hope may prove the foundation of a general treaty of peace. Negotiations for such a treaty will shortly be opened at Paris. la conducting those negotiations, I shall be careful r,ot to lose sight of the objects for which the war was undertaken ; and I snail deem it ri^ht ia no desrres to relax my nav.il and military preparations nmil a satisfactory treaty of peace .shall have been concluded. Although the war ia which I am engaged was bTougrvt oa by events in the sonth of Europe, my attention has not been withdrawn from the state of thins.- in the north, and, in conjunction with the Emperor of the French, I have concluded with the Kia^ of Sweden and Norway a treaty coataininpr defensive engagement* applicable to hLs doiiiDions, and tending to the preservation of the balance of power in that p-irt of Europe. I hare aWo conclcded a trr-aty of friendship, commerce, and navicntiori with the RapabM- of Chili. I have given directions that these treaties .shall be laid before you. GKSriEKEx of the Hocss or Com.v)X=.—The Estimates for the ensuinz year will be l-.ii-.l br-fore you. Yo-j wiil find tbi'tn framed iv iU'-h a manner a- lo provide for the t-cifrericsis of war, if p^ai/c- .sliouid unfortunately not be concluded. Mr Lopds and G-EM-ifcttEN.—lt is gr;itifyine to me to oV.st-rve that, notwithstandintr the prc^^ure of the war, :in:l th'; i.'iirt'i'iiH and K".ierifu-'»5 w'nii-h it lin^ nniivoidably i:nposnd -j; on 1.0/ pr»i)p!i>, tn:; resources of my empire remain u:iim;i;i!r;-'.l. I ru!y \vi;h ctAMawi-- on tliv rnaniy spirit ami e:iHsr'it«-:n-r', p itriotis-n of my -oval su'.j. i.-'s for a continuance v' V\.-i -.'in-jor'. which they xiuvp ,-o r.>,'i\y jifi'or'lod m<\ and I'un- may be :i^;ir<-'! t'lat I s'mil siot culi upon thftiu r,.r PX:r-io'i» b:-y<yA :v\-.--^ may hi- rvquire^. by a >\\i> ; T-z-if.i for ibe er-.-iit ia'c.-'i-v. \\,a honour,and ll;e uijcnityof t?ii' v'a\,\ru, Tiics ; re rmr.y f-ii'j .-"*s r'>-s:iect»;! wifb intornril irn-prov.--int'Ut v,-:i;..-h 1 ree.i.'ti:rie:i 1 to your a:u-ntiv.- cou-ii',t/r;i.-tion. Tin- diß'ert-D'*« whvh «xi--U in ii.".pnrtant pariicnl»r, :ii-^(-;-i l- c <-n:«tfi.-r<-!".l !■:"■» of i-:fot'.:.u'l a-i:! tb-.-'j of the other »>itrts of :h- Uu!l ■ i Xi'.-^io-n. h :iS <>rc^]-Kiu,{ j.|----co:iVh-.-jiiTi,-(i vi :>. }:irg-; i.<>tU'i\i o: u.y aul-jociK un&uikd i:i truau. Muiiiiurt-.-i will )j<i ji.'ojji^r-ri to vcjij lor ruir.ydyiuc: tl:i»<-vil. 3r.-isurp.« wiil sNo be propose-, to you for improving tin' law* njfK.tiaj.Mi> jjiirtnerstiii), by K:n;i:i;yi:,'r t],o-v \w*, uu<l thus ry.-.iitriag ciom u^sy thy ttm;iliiy:.'ii::it of c-upititl iv comw-WQ. TJie isyiitflm under w}ii<-'i ;n-r<-h-:;u hiiirpi-ir; is )i,th](: to pay !o<-;il dv«. and piiys-i:-? i'AU, ?i:<« L.-ejj t-ii; tubjuct of iDin-li <-o»n'i!ii')t. Mc,;ii-ar<-K v.iii ho p-i-ij^csud to you for affording reii^f io n-pird to xhumt tn:ut.",. OtSier important lacaßuns for irnproviypr i.ho lav.-in Grcut P,r;ta.in aaJ Irt-l;i»<3 will ha prof.o>t) '.'» yon, v,hi<;L v.iil, I doubt n<A, receive your attentive cciaiii<kra,ti-uu.

Upon these -.uul all other muttons upon -which you may deliberate, I forvenlly pray that the blessing of Diviuo Providence m:iy fnvour your councils, and gnide them to the promotion of the great object of my unvarying soliiiitu> lu —the welfare and the happiness of my puoplo. The correspondent of the Sydney " Morning Herald" remarks—"The speech was plain, sensible, and with purpose, and therefore very unlike the generality of such addresses. The opening scene hi the Lords was on this occasion one of unprecedented interest and magnificence. It was splendidly gorgeous." A debate on American affairs, brought on by -Mr. Cobdeti, had taken place in the House of Commons. Lord P.ilmerston's reply was considered satisfactory by the House, and by the leading London papers. The Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, M P.. died at Beechwortii House, on Saturday, the 12th January.