GENERAL SUMMARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 56, 5 March 1872, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, February 3. — The terms of the United States laid before the Geneva

Arbitration Commission have caused great excitement throughout Brifcaiu. England ia charged with a knowledge of the Alabama, and that it should, therefore, be regarded as a hostile expedition from a British port against the United States, as Britain did not use diligence to prevent departure from Liverpool, Jamaica, and other English ports, and that the Alabama received special hospitality at the Cape. Similar charges are made respecting; the Retribution, Georgia, Fallahasse, Olustee, Chickanominny, and Shenandoah. They demand that in making the award not only the losses of individuals, of destruction of vessels and cargoes by the Florida and its tenders, should be considered, but the expenses of the United States in pursuing the vessels should be also taken into account. The Times declares that England must give immediate notice to the Geneva arbitrations and to the American Government that if the American course is as reported, efforts at arbitration may as well cease. The Daily Telegraph reports that negotiations to that end have been opened between England and America, and that the British representations were not received in a friendly manner. Other journals criticise the American case with great severity, urging the Government to declare its opinion with regard to the demand for indirect damage. Chief Justice Cockburn has officially counselled the Cabinet that England must recede immediaiely from the treaty of Washington, leaving America to decide between a new treaty or war, and the Council is now discussing the terms in which this resolution shall appear in the Queen's speech at the opening of Parlia ment. The Advertiser asserts that Chief Justice Cockburn will withdraw from the arbitration, and Government will repudiate the Washington Treaty. The Daily News says the position of the Government is backed out by the sentiment of the country. The Prince of Wales will embark for a cruise in the Mediterranean during April. An extraordinary storm occurred in the south of England. The streams overflowed, and whole villages were deluged. Great damage was done to property in the Valley of the Severn. Windsor suffered severly, and the upper portion of London on the river was flooded. Mr. Otway, M.P. for Chatham, addressed his constituents on political affairs; expressing the opinion that the state of Europe was pregnant with complications which might lead to war. He said if the claims of the United States were allowed in the Alabama question, war between the countries would become necessary. The African Mail steam packet M'Greggory, en route from the Cape for England, was wrecked on the Guinea coast. The passengers and crew were saved. In the Tichbourne case the defence says they have 300 witnesses. The claimant's chance is considered to be weakening. In answer to the representation made by the Anti-slave Trade Society with regard to the nonfulfilment of the treaty for the suppression of the slave trade, Lord Granville said it was undoubted that Spain had infringed the treaty ; but the matter was too intricate for the interference of England at the present time when Spain had an insurrection on her hands. Lady Franklyn offers a reward of £2000 for the recovery of the records of the ships Erebus and Terror. At the nomination of Mr. Nolan, the Home Rule candidate for the House of Commons, in Galway, Ireland, serious riots ensued. Many persons were wounded. The election excitement at Kerry runs dangerously high. It is reported that the Fenians are organising mobs to support Blemner Bassett (Home Rule candidate), and that the prie.sts are threatened with violence. John Bright has written a letter to The O'Donoghue denouncing the Home rule. London, February 5. — The tone of the Press on the Alabama claims has slightly moderated, and they now look forward to the Queen's speech to-morrow for a positive announcement of the stand to be taken by Government with regard to the American case. The Times of Saturday has the following language :— " We repudiate the construction put on the Treaty of Washington in the American case, and must withdraw from arbitration if this construction is insisted on. But this point once rectified, wo are ready to stand loyally by tip treaty." The Times to-day is afraid the attempt to solve the Alabama difficulty may prove abortive, and hopes the failure may rot excite bitter feeling. The Saturday Review thinks the United States prefe;s to have no settlement, and wishes to h- Id the Alabama claims as a perpetual nouuance for political uses. The Pall Mall Gazette claims to Have seen an early copy of the Queen's speech, to be delivered ab the opening of Parliament to-morrow, and gives the following

abstract : — " The Queen congratulates the Houses of Parliament and the country that the relations with all nations in Europe are of most friendly character. Considerable space is devoted to the subject of the Alabama claims, on which the Queen says : — 'To uphold the extent of ray International obligations, I have concluded a treaty with the United States for settlement of questions discussed for several years, it having become obvious that the horrors of war are avoidable by peaceful arbitrament instead of arbitrament of the sword have given consent to a reference of the Alabama claims to an International tribuual of the highest authority, to which their decision could have been entrusted. Through pardonable oversight on the part of the negotiators, the claims were not explicitly limited to direct losses, and, therefore, the President of the United States preferred considerable indirect claims, to many of which my Government have demurted,' " and we hope, adds the Gazette, the amount to be ultimately defrayed wiil not exceed the French payment to Germany. " The Queen deplores the existence of trouble in India, congratulates Parliament upon the condition of the finances of the country and the collection of unprecedented revenues, refers to the peaceable state of Ireland, promises the introduction of bills in relation to the Ballot, for the regulation of the modes for the acquisition of railways for the State, and for the regulation of licenses for the sale of liquors. Sir Charles Dilke organised a large meeting in Trafalgar Square to-night; fully 10,000 persons attended. The Prince of Wales attended Church at Sandringham yesterday. The Times complains that the American case has been translated into Continental language, and scattered broadcast over Europe. If the intention was to make retractation impossible, no method could be so effective. Calcutta, February 5. — Deputy-Com-missioner Cowan ordered fifty Kooka mutineers Jo be blown from the mouths of canons. — CONTINENTAL. Bonaparte's agents are actively distributing pamphlets urging the restoration of the Empire. The proposition in the Assembly to confiscate Napoleon's family property, was received with shouts of derision by the members. The French Government entertain the idea of ceding the monopoly of the sale of tobacco to the Rothschilds, and other bankers, for thirty years, on condition that they furnish funds immediately to pay the German war indemnity. The Emperor of Germany has knighted and conferred the German Order of Merit on Sir Edwin Landseer. The Radical party in Madrid denounce the outrage perpetrated by the Spanish authorities in Cuba. The French Assembly, by an overwhelming majority has authorised the Government to terminate the commercial treaties with England and Belgium. Spanish gunboats have captured an English schooner for landing contraband of war in Cuba. There is a strong religious excitement in Europe between the Old and New

Catholics — i.e., those who reject and those who accept the dogma of Papal infallibility. Bavaria is greatly agitated, and the Old Catholic movement is spreading in Germany under the leadership of Dr. Dollinger. A plan for a republican revolutionary uprising is organised over the whole of the south of France. The Pope granted an audience to the Grand Duke Michael, brother of the Czar of Russia. This is deemed indicative of reconciliation between the Latin and Greek Churches. The disturbances in Barcelona were fomented by the International Society. Many members of the organisation are under arrest. The Captain-General of Cuba sends reassuring dispatches to the Spanish Government. He had just made a journey through the disaffected districts, and declares from personal observations that he is certain the insurrection will be ended by March or April. He makes a requisition for 2000 fresh troops from Spain with which he promises to bring the war to a conclusion.

1,000,000 dols. per annum, which is double the present amount. The service 18 to be fortnightly instead of monthly. 7,400,000 lbs. weight of tea was imported by that route during the pasfc year. The Grand Jury of New York found indictments against the Tammany ring. Mayor Hall is reported as among those indicted. Small-pox is raging in New York and Philadelphia. The Cashier of Rhode Island National Bank is under arrest for embezzling 200,000 dols., (£40,000). The winter is unusually severe throughout the Northern and Western States of America. A series of heavy snowstorms have occurred on the Plains between Salt Lake and the Missouri river, completely blocking up the Trans-Continental Railway track. No mails have been exchanged between the East and West for several weeks. Trains have been snowed in at various points on the route, and passengers are reported a3 suffering from want of provisions and from intense cold. Great efforts are being made to clear the road. The blockade has given a new impetus to a scheme for another and more Southern road across the Continent. The Grand Duke Alexis continues his tour through the States, receiving a public entertainment in each city. In company with army officers, he had a grand buffalo hunt on the plains. Great excitement exists amongst Washington officials in consequence of the present relations with England, and there have been constant conferences between representatives of the English and American Governments. The English Legation represents that the situation is of the gravest character. President Grant is firm that the case, as presented by the United States, shall not be amended or withdrawn, regarding the Geneva Commission as a Court, leaving the question to its decision. Despatches from the American Minister are to the effect that the excitement in London is intense, but no recommendations are made. The English Minister agrees that the Geneva Commission should be treated as an amicable conference. The New York Herald says the British Representative at Washington being instructed to make proposals for accommodation, and for compromise of the Alabama claims is an insult to our nation from Britain. If Britain is liable for loss of our commerce, and prolongation of the civil war, the damages awarded must be paid peaceably, or they will be collected at the point of the bayonet. The New York Times says the action of the British Government will be a matter of surprise to all Americans. The Tribune says, if popular clamor in England should compel withdrawal by America from the Treaty of Washington, it is not the United States that will be the heaviest loser. The World says it looks as if administration, had overstepped its work in trying to make capital out of controversey, and, if the treaty is repudiated, the public verdict will be that the President and his advisers have bungled, instead of settling it. Strong efforts are being used to make San Francisco a free port. Heavy rains last month overflowed the rivers, doing much damage to property. The prospects are good for a bountiful harvest this year. The Legislature is debating the question of the repeal of the Offence Law. The Japanese Embassy, consisting of five of the principal Ministers of the Empire, accompanied by sixty secretaries, interpreters, and servants, arrived in San Francisco, and made close examination of the various branches of Government, and manufactories, and were entertained at a grand banquet. They have left for Washington, en route for Europe.