LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 28 July 1881, Page 2

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

London, July 26. The B'ght Hon. W. E, Gladstone has been compelled to deciine the invitation to the banquet which is being organised to tha Ministry, on account of the present state of his health, his medical advisers having forbidden Ms attending.

Notwithstanding the aotive enquiries that baye t been made with the view of findiDg the owners of the infernal machines recently brought from America to LiAerpcol in the ship Malta, nothing as yet has been learnt either of the shippers or consignee!. InTestisationß are still proceeding both ia Ireland and America, which, it i% hoped* will throw some light upon the affair. The American press urges the British Government tomake an exhaustive search into the matter, and to punish the persons concerned. The whole tranr-'.ction appears to be shrouded in mystery. Paris, July 26. '; Despatches have been received to-day from Tunis announcing that after bombarding the town of Gabes for sometime a body of troops Was successfully landed from the fleet; and succeeded in driving back the Arabs and obtaining possession of the town, which is now occupied by the French troops. In the Senate to-day the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the course of his speech upon the North African question, declared that the French Government were not harr boring any designs against Tripoli, and strongly protested against the canards which have been circulated to the contrary. M. Bartholem Saint-Heloise subsequently dwelt upon the importance of preserving the entente cordiale, which he asserted existed at the present time with the British Government with regard to the policy which France is pursuing in North Africa.