English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 8 July 1857, Page 5

English and Foreign.

LATEST EUROPEAN NEWS,

(Prom, the Nelson Examiner, July 1.)

English news to the 22nd of March, being sis days later than our previous advices, has been received in Melbourne by the clipper ship Norfolk, which has made the voyage from London in fifty-seven days. The approaching dissolution of Parliament was exciting the liveliest interest, not alone in England but throughout the Continent, since upon ensuing elections depended the fate of Lord Palmerston as premier, and the policy of the British government, both foreign and domestic. Our extracts below will furnish some interesting information on this subject. A great deal of exists in England, from a scarcity of employment in some branches of trade; and a large scheme of emigration is talked of, by which the unemployed may be transferred to those • colonies where it is supposed their labour would be in demand. Several benevolent and influential individuals have

formed themselves into a committee for promoting such an emigration, and large subscriptions for the purpose will probably be raised. The condition of France is exciting a great deal of interest amongst statesmen and political economists. Prom the moment of Louis Napoleon's . accession to power the domestic policy of his government has uniformly been most lavishly expensive; and he has sought, by providing employment for the masses, to prevent anything like disaffection to his government arising from national distress. There are laws in political science, however, as fixed and immovable as the laws of natural science; and neither the one nor the other can be violated with impunity. To provide for the wants of his government, loans have had to be resorted to continually, but national credit has limits which it is impossible to exceed. That point has been reached in France; hut military pageants require still to be maintained to amuse the people. Bread must not be suffered to rise in Paris above a certain standard, even though corn should grow scarce and dear; and .if the artisans of the capital cannot procure employment from private individuals, the government must undertake further public works and find employment for them. But where is the money to be found for this ? Two alternatives present themselves to the Government of France, and neither can be followed without danger. If the policy hitherto pursued by the Emperor is to be continued, heavy taxation must be imposed upon the nation; and the dread of his experiment is so great, that it will probably not be tried. Nothing will remain then for the government but retrenchment; but, in passing from a highly artificial to a natural state of affairs, there will probably be .suffering, and how that may act upon the government of Louis Napoleon is difficult to say. The day of reckoning and change may be put off a little longer, but a return to a more natural order of things is inevitable, arid the longer this is delayed the greater will probably be the shock when it take place. .

A rupture between Sardinia and Austria has taken place, the results of which may possibly be of portentous moment as affecting the future of Italy.

The London ' Telegraph' of the 21st March, makes the following announcement:—

The House of Commons had an exceptional sitting on Saturday, at one o'clock, when a bill, founded on a recent resolution of the House, granting a retiring pension of £4,000 per annum to the Speaker was brought in and'read a first time. The Mutiny Bill, and the Marine Mutiny Bill were read a second time. In answer to appeals, the Chancellor of the Exchequer promised, if the opportunity were afforded, to re-introduce, next session, the Savings Bank Bill, which had been withdrawn in consequence of the approaching dissolution.

There appears to be no absolute certainty at present as to the date of the approaching dissolution. The 25th and 27th instant have been mentioned as probable ; but the present state of public business has within the last few days raised an inference that the necessary work of Parliament cannot be completed till some days later.