LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 129, 25 August 1847, Page 2

LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

Bv the 'Thomas King,' we received the English mul of April, which had reached Sydney by the' John Fleming,' p. 0.r., on the 26th ult.; and Sydney papers to tlie 6th inst. The following is an extract from an English letter, dated March 25, 1847. " This unfortunate lnnd (Iveland), is in such n horrible state, that it is not worth living 1 in, indeed multituden are flying from it ; it is calculated that by this time next year, the population \y\\\ have diminished, through famine, fever, nnd emigration, by at least two millions. When this state of things will end, no one can tell, but you may judge of how pioperty has already dppreciated, when I tell you that an estate was sold the other day, in Cavan, not GO miles from Dublin, at 15 years purchase, and the worst has not yet commenced. So good bye to Ireland, and give me New Zealand. You have of course seen the new constitution they have given to the colony ; it strikes me as a very curious one, to say the Iqast of it ; how it will ' work, time must show, but I confess I have no faith in it. ♦ * » We expect a general election in Au • lumn, when the struggle will be between the Peelites and the Protectionists ; the present ministry have no chance ' whatever, and will quietly go out without a lament from any one. Should there be any person in Auckland, still deluded enough to think of sending Kauri Gum te the English market, pray warn them against it. I made every enquiry in London among the consumers of such articles, and the result was decidedly unfavourable ; the best quality picked, is not worth more than *>'12, per ton, in fact, most houses will not use it. I was also trying to direct the attention of mining persons to our New Zealand miucs, but the specimens which have hitherio been sent from Kawau a.nd the Great Barrier, do not seem to be much liked ; native dressed Flax, however, of good quality, will obtain £20 to £25 per ton. I think Sulphur might be sent with advantage, the consumption is very great." ; From our English file we are enabled to make the following summary. The Bank of England has declared a dividend of 34 per ceut, together with a bonus of I percent, — and had issued a notice advancing its minimum rate of discount to 5 per cent. The Irish and Scotch Subscription Relief Fund, amounted to £250,000. A Committee of the House of Commons had been appointed to revise the Navigation laws ; and in the mean time they were suspended, in order to favor the importation of grain' into Ireland. In thp course of a debate in th.c House of Lords on the sth Maich, Earl Giey Btated, that "he was persuaded that the period had arrived, when the^ must extend the institutions of England, to those who lived in the Australian colonies ; and h * hoped to be able in the course of the session to introduce a bill for that purpose," — aud argued that with a system of free representative government, in the colonies, the continuance of the present system of transportation to them, was . not practicable. Jn the meantime there seems an entire cessation of transportation, excepting that of females to Van Diemdn's Land. In consequence of a letter received from the Chaplain of Nor folk Island, detailing the evils existing there, Earl Grey has directed Sir W, Pennison, to bivak up that penal establishment, and withdraw all the population to Tasman's peninsula. The system of Prison discipline and secondary punishments were ujider consideiation Four new Colonial Bishoprics had been instituted, viz :— of Melbourne and Newcastle, both of New South Wales j of Adelaide, S. Australia; and of the Cape of Good Hope. His' Royal Highness Prince Albert had been elected Chance,l}or of the University of Cambridge, in opposition to Earl Powis, by 948 votes to 839. His inauguration took place, at Jiuckingham Palace on the 25th March. Mr. Cobden in a visit to Rome had been entertained. with a public dinner, given to him by its most influential citizens. Mr. O'Connell was in the south of France journeying elowly towards Italy, for the benefit ol his health, aud it was scarcely anticipated that he would ever resume a part in public life. The Emperor of Russia, had prohibited in Ins empire, conversion to any othe,r religion than that of U-seeo-Russian. There seemed a probability of the appointment oi a Lritij.li Envoy to the Court of Komc •Mr Jtobeu Puel l«vk decision lately in '" > II iuse of Commons, tv pay a tribute t«, uiu ul-g.iLiH'd cudiitcier, and liberal policy o? Pope Hius IX It is said that his liberalized views have drawn on him the disapproval qf the. Courts of Austria aud of France.

An arrangement has been made between the, Royal Mail Steam Company, and the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, fixing tl c rate of freight across the Isthmus of Panama, so as to give every encouragement to the traffic between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Ahmy. — Captain Greenwood, 3 1st Foot, has been appointed Major of Brigade for New Zealand. The following officers had been appointed to the New Zealand Corps of Pensioners; Brevet Major Grey, Captain Kenny, h. p. OkhFoot; Captain Smith, h. p. Ist West India Regiment; Lieut. Hickson, h. p. 31st Foot.