ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH JUNE MAILS.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 27, 25 August 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH JUNE MAILS.

The English news by the last Mail is of high importance, and we now give copious extracts bearing on the principal topics of interest. FRANCE. The French Government has issued an Imperial decree, according to which rice in grain and rice in straw may be admitted into France until further orders free of duty, coming from any country and under any flag. Another decree modified the tariffs upon unmanufactured and manufactured gold, silver, and platina imported into France. , Paris was thrown into a state of great excitement on June 10, owing to a rumor that the Emperor had been upset in a boat at Fontainebleau and seriously hurt by a blow on the head, inflicted by an oar thrown out to save him. On the following day, the true version of theciicumstance was received, and it turned out that His Majesty neither fell or received any injury, but only showed his agility by jumping ashore when the boat, which lurched, was filling with water. Domiciliary visits had been made in Paris to the houses of about 20 advocates, among whom were M.M. Carnot, Gamier, Pages, Dreo, Floquet, and others. They were suspected of having been members of an illegal association at the late election. M. Renan had been formally dismissed from his office of Professor j&t the College of France, and the decree appointing him to the Assistant-Curatorship of the Imperial Library had been cancelled. M. Munk, a member of the Jewish persuasion, is said to be the person chosen by the French Minister of Public Instruction to take the place of M. Renan as Professor of Hebrew, Syriac, and Chaldaic at the College de France. The Paris *' Siecle" says it has received a private letter respecting the treatment to which Polish women are subjected by the Russians, which contains such terrible details that it does not dare to publish them. The Polish women referred to are the wives and daughters of those who have taken part in the insurrection. " They are torn from their families, and transported to Siberia," says the " Siecle;" they are given, like the slaves of old, to pitiless masters, who force them to contract fresh unions; their marriage ties are broken. The ancient barbarism which Christianity destroyed is revived by this abominable transportation of women, and language of indignation has no terms sufficiently strong for such means of repression." ITALY AND THE POPE. The "Opinione" of Turin publishes a long article exhorting the country and the Government to be prepared for the death of Pope Pius. The " Opinione" insists that this event will afford an opportunity to Italy of taking a new step in insuring its independence and in completing its internal organisation. The cabinet of the Tuileries, it thinks, cannot at such a moment oppose the expression of the wishes of the populations. The " Italia" says that on the first announcement of the Pope's death more than 2000 Roman refugees, who haye been supplied with passes by the Neapolitan authorities, will at once return to their country. It is hoped that France will allow the King of Italy to be proclaimed on Roman territory, and accept the fait accompli. The following very ingenious dialogue was found on a placard posted on a statue of the Pope: — Query. What ails the Pope ? Answer. Tumore (tumore). Q. What's the cause of it ? A. Strike out the initial T—Umore (moisture). Q. What will be the consequence of it ? A. Strike out the initial U —more (he dies). Q. When is it going to happen ? A. Strike out the initial M —Ore —(within a few hours). Q. And who'll take bis place ? A. Strike out the initial O—Re (the king). Q. Which king? A. Strike out the initial R—E (Kuimanuele). Gaiibaldi has gone to the Baths at Ischia, in the Duke of Sutherland's yacht, for the benefit of his health. THE CESSION OF T'HE lONIAN ISLES. Greek troops were landed at Corfu on June 1. On the 2nd the Greek flag was hoisted upon the forts amid great enthusiasm. The protocol ceding the lonian Islands to Greece was signed on May 28, whereupon the Lord High Commissioner published a proclamation announcing the fact. His lordship then received a vote of thanks from the Senate. The British Consulates have been informed that, in compliance with the wishes of Greece, England will extend her protection over the lonian inhabitants in their relations with the Turkish authorities for another year. RUSSIA AND POLAND. The late allocution of the Pope, -condemning the conduct of Russia towards the Poles, has led to a rupture between the Vatican and the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, and letters of recall of the Russian minister at Rome, M. de KisSeleff, have been handed to Cardinal ,- Antonelli. It is asserted that a contract has been definitively concluded by Mr Hope, the manager of the International Financial Company of London, with the Russian Government for the construction of the Moscow and Sebastopol Railway. The works are to be commenced in the course of this year. THE INSURRECTION IN TUNIS. Much agitation and alarm prevailed in the town. The vice-consuls, with the exception of that of England, had gone on board the ships of their respective nations. The Arab Bey, Ali Ben Rdam, is said to have appointed a Bey of the Camp (this being the official title of the heir-presumptive to ihe Regency of Tunis), and to have despatched him with a force of 5000 horse to the neighborhood of Testour, 24 hours' march from Tunis. The Bedouins were disposed to recognise the sovereignty of the Porte, and to request the abolition of the Regency. Some of the i ships in port had been assailed by Tunis pirates. % WURTEMBURG. King William I. died at Rosenstein Castle at 5 o'clock on the morning of June 25. His majesty was born on Sept. 27, 1781.

DENMARK. The German papers speak confidently, of the possibility of a war with England. At the last sitting of the Conference, Earl Russell expressed a hope, in which the neutral powers concurred, that whatever might be the issue of the conflict, the independence of the Danish monarchy would be preserved. THESCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION. A letter from Berlin, quoted by the Paris " Presse" of June 25th, asserts that a diplomatic rupture had already taken place between Prussia and England, and that Mr Buchanan, the English minister at Berlin, was making preparations for his departure. According to the " Cologne Gazette," the total force of the Prussian troops now in Jutland and the Duchies amounts to 54 battalions of infantry of the guard and of the line, 2 battalions of chasseurs, 2 of pioneers, 14 field batteries, 7 siege batteries, 3 companies of hospital attendants, and 7 cavalry regiments, forming an effective of 29 squadrons —in all 60,000 men at the least. A telegram from Vienna states that the German sovereigns at Carlsbad had come to an understanding upon the Dano-German question. According to this understanding Prussia would, with the concurrence of Austria, propose at the Federal Diet that the German Confederation should declare war against Denmark. The semi-official journal of Berlin says:—"The fortnight's prolongation of the armistice, which was agreed to at the sitting of the Conference of the 6th June, expires on the 25th, so that hostilities will recommence on the 26th, and not on 27th of June. Prince Albert of Prussia was to leave Berlin on June 25 for the headquarters of the army in the Duchies, in consequence of a telegram sent by the King of Prussia from Carlsbad. The Danish envoy at London has announced to Earl Russell that the blockade of the German ports would be resumed to-day, June 27. The Duke of Augustenberg has been delivering a speech at a banquet, at Heide, in which he congratulates himself on his newlyacquired dignity of Prince of SchleswigHolstein—a fact which he seems to consider as accomplished. A telegram from Hamburg states that Prince Albrecht passed in great haste through that town yesterday morning, being the bearer of an order to the allies to recommence hostilities immediately. THE CONFERENCE The Conference sat on June 25, at 1 o'clock, for the last time, and broke up without result, after formalising the protocols, which will be presented to both Houses of Parliament this evening. There will be made at the same time a statement of the transactions in the Conference and the course of the negotiations, by Earl Russell in the Lords, and Lord Palmerston in the Commons. These statements will be most full as regards the past. The future—that is to say the immediate futm-e—will be indicated to some extent. But Ministers will probably at this sitting do little more than indicate their course of action. MEXICO. It is said the army which will replace the French army of occupation in this country will consist of 16,000 men, of which 8000 will be Fiench, 6000 Austrian, and 2000 Belgian. Letters just received from Mexico announce a series of encounters which resulted in favor of the French. A brilliant advantage had been obtained by Colonel Dupin at San Antonia. The Mexican loss amounted to 200; that of the French to 12. The Emperor Maximilian, on his arrival, it is said, will find the pacification of the country almost completed. Juarez was wandering about the country, and was unable to form any town into a centre of resistance. The Emperor and Empress Maximilian arrived at Vera Cruz on May 28, and left immediately for Mexico city. Another victory over the Mexicans by the French, on June 13, is announced. AMERICA. Our latest advices from New York are to June 15. The army of the Potomac had again changed its front; and while leaving enough force in entrenchments in front of General Lee's inexpugnable position, had shifted its centre of operations from the north-east to the south-east of Richmond. This brings Grant into immediate contiguity with Butler's army, which is in a strongly fortified position at Bermuda Hundred, a peninsula on the James River, and gives him the support of the Federal gunboats and Monitors. The only danger in the case was that Lee may break through the Federal lines 'on the Chickahominy, now weakened by the change of front, and make a rapid dash on Washington. In the meanwhile the Federal General Burbidge has defeated the Confederate guerilla chief Morgan, and taken from him 1000 horses, after killing 600 men; but, on the other hand, the Federal General Sturgiss in command of the Memphis expedition, has been defeated by the Confederate General Forrest, in Tennessee, with great loss of artillery and men. Sturgiss was killed in the action. The Federal General Sherman, however, keeps on the advance in Georgia, and is now in face of the Confederate force under Johnston, within a few miles of Atlanta, the capital of that State. A severe battle was, therefore, hourly expected at the last dates, as both armies were within 500 yards of each other. A battle is also believed to have taken place between the rear guard of Grant's army during the operation of changing hig base, and the Confederate forces before Richmond. It is in favor of the Federals that the army under General Hunter had succeeded in forming a junction with that under General Crook, at Stenton, Western Virginia.