ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 205, 17 May 1848, Page 2

ENGLISH NEWS.

Treasury Warrant. — Postage. — Tuesday night's Gazette contains a warrant directing ceitain reductions and alterations in the rates of postage between this country md its colonies, establishing a Jocal post at Hong Kong, &.c. It is ordered that on every letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, transmitted by packet between the islands of Maitinique and Guadaloupc, and also between those islands and British North America and the West Indies (not forwarded through the United Kingdom), there shall be charged a uniform rate of fourpence. A local rate of one penny is also ordered on all letters transmitted through the post between any two places of Hong Kony, m the Chinese Sea. Piogiessive rates to be charged on such letters as exceed the above-named weight. The local rates already fixed for letters passing between the various British dependencies east of the Red Sea, the Cape of Good Hope, the Mauritius, the Phillipines, the Moluccas, Australia, and New Zealand, (namely, one shilling per half ounce), are not to be charged in addition upon letteis transmitted between the United Kingdom and the above places. — Newspapers conveyed between the United Kingdom and the above dependencies to be charged in future a uniform rate of Id. each, in addition to any rate of transit postage payable in respect of such newspaper, so far as the same shall be foi warded by land through Egypt or any othei foreign country. Ncwspapeis conveyed by post to any British colony in the Mediterranean and China, and the Philippines, aie to be chained a uniform rate of 2d. sea postage, irrespective of any land postage to which they may be subjected, Pamphlets and publications printed in the United Kingdom to be tiansmitted thence to the above named places at a penny per ounce, up to sixteen ounces, which is the limit. Rates on letters addressed to officers, warrant and non-com-missioned officeis, and seamen and privates in her Majesty's seivice in India and in the East India Company's seivice are to remain as before; but in the case of letters directed to officers in the United Kingdom, who may have removed fiom the place to which they arc addressed to any place beyond seas, the additional postage is to be chargei to the place of destination. All shipmasters and otheis belonging to private vessels shall give up on demand every scaled letter they have to the postmaster at Hong Kong, or any other port at which they may be demanded, under a penalty in default of £5 for each letter concealed. The wairant to come into operation on the Ist January, 1848. Fall of Abd-el-Kader.-— The Moniteur of the Ist, publishes despatches from the Duke d'Aumule, the Governor- General of Algeria, and from General Lamoricieie, giving details of the surrender of Abd-el-Kader to the Frsncb, and of the events which immediately preceded it. " The illustrious Emir was overpowered, not beaten,' says a Paris letter. His last was, perhaps, the most brilliant of all his achievements, and, like the last efforts of Napoleon in the vicinity of Paris, would of itself immortalize him. With a handful of faithful and devoted adherents, he, in the nights of the 11th and 12th ult., attacked the Moori h camps, and routed the immense army they contained ; but overpowered by numbers, and hemmed in on all sides by hourly increasing masses of Moors, he was gradually pushed back on the frontier of Algeria. The weather had been frightful, which impeded military operations. On the 2lst of December the fords of the Moulonia became practicable, and the baggage and the families of his brave companions proceeded towards the plains of Triffa, the resolve of Abd el-Kader having been to see them in safety in the French territory, and then cut his way through the

Moon with such of his adheientsas should dare to follow him. "He threw himself into the country of the Beni Saussen," says the Duke d'Aum ile, "and sought to again take fhe road to the south, which the Emperor of Morocco left free ; but surrounded on that side by our cavahy, he trusted to the generosity ot France, and surrendered on condition of being Bent to St. Jean dAcre or Alexandria." Commercial Markets.— Yesterday— Liverpool.— TheMdiket was steady to-day, and since Friday there has been an advance of \on inferior sorts. The sales were 4,000 bales, all to the tiadc Manchester. — There is no new feature to report in our market to* diy. Business continues quiet, with very little disposition in buyers to give out orders. A fair enquiry, however, is still expetienccd from the Greek houses, who continue to puicha e e pretty freely, the descriptions of cloths suitable for their markets. In yarns there is no change to notice. The official report of the state of employment in the borough of Manchester, for the week ending this day, shows an increase in the number of hands working full time, of 567, and a decreuse in the number of hands working short time, of 1,770. The number of those wholly unemployed, is increased this week, by 1779 Leeds. — This being the last market of the year, there was only a thin attendance at the woollen halls this morning, and very light busi« ness was transacted. Money Market. — Thursday Evening. — Tin publication of the levenue returns, showing a less deficiency than had been apprehended, caused the English funds to open this morning at an improvement, and the continued abundance of money has had the effect of leading to a steady fuither rise Unoughout the day. The fiist quotation of coh&ols for money was S5-| to jj, ami they giadu.illy lose to S(j to J, atwiiii h (hey closed. For the account on the ISth they were done at «S(j T , while that on the 21th the lango was from S7| up to M\. Bank Stock left oil" 187 to 189 ; Reduced Three per Cents , 30 to J ; Long Annuities, 8 11-lGths to Jj ; South Se.i Stock, 93; India Bonds, ss. to 10s. premium; and Exchequer Bills, 17s. to 20s. premium. Cokn Markets.— Yesterday— Liverpool.— Though the demand to-day was not active, tne general tone 'of tho trade was firm, and in the few sales made, of wheat an improvement of" about 2d. per bushel on last Tues! tlaj's prices was established. Four also advanced (>(]. per barrel on choice, and Is. per barrel on the partially sour. Indian coin was Is. per quarter, Indian meal, Gd. per barrel ; and oats, fd pei*bushel dearer, with a moderately fair sale for each. Malting barley scarce, and! would command fair pi ices. Thfie w.ia little passinz in beans ami peas, and the quotations remain unalteied Hull. — There was at to-day's market, a very good supply of wheat from our own farmers, condition good, and last week's prices fully supported, without our being able to quote an advance ; theanme may be said of Foreign wheat, which is held with much firmness. Bailey offering so plentifully, must be called Is. cheaper. Oats unaltered. But little doingin beans, and omyhaid dry samples looked at. More c quiry for peas, especially the finer qualities Leeds.— We have a tair supply of giam to this day's (liurktt. The wheat- trade is firm at the rates of last week, but the business passing is not extensive. Bar™ ley must be n >ied Is. per quarter lower, with a H in. ted demand. In beans, oats, and shelling, no variation.

The RTadi id mails of the 21»t, have arrived. ]t is admitted ny the Moder.ido party that there is a split in the cabinet on the question of imneaching the former ministries, ?nd this tact is the true origin of the reports of the probable dissolution of the Ministry. On the 21st the Senate was occupied with thf law to authorize tile Government to continue to levy the taxes until the end of the month On the same day the Chamber of Deputies was engaged with the law authoriz ng the Government to raise a lonn. It was understood that the budget was prepared, and would be immediately submitted to the Chamber. The Swi-s journals repoit, th it the Monks of Mount St. Bemaid hive rented the decree wh eh imposed on them a portion of the indemnity to be paid by the canton tor the expenses of the war. TJu\sc Ecclesiastics have assumed a bold and contemptuous tone towards the authorities, avowing their intention to seek the sup« poit ot foreign powers, and especially of the Court of Turin. Present of Irish Manufacture for Her Majr.srv. — Lyons, " the Gairyowen weaver," has woven a beautiful pocket as a present for the Queen. The fabric is of Orleans tw.st, and is not only woven throughout, and without seam, but two coloured harps, surmounted each by a crown, are woven into it, together with the initials of the Queen's name, " Y. R." surrounded with n wreath of iliamrocks, the rose, and thistle. It is a highly creditable work of Irish art, and is one of many proofs of the genius and skill of the Irish people in manufactures? which can only be fully developed when fostered and encouraged. A painful instance of the uncertainty of life occurred at the railway-station in Bath. The Rev. John Hampden, Rector of Hinton Mnrtcl, Dorsetshire, who had been visiting Mr. P. Caddell, of the Crescent, arrived at the station about eleven o'clock, a.m. on Wednesday, accompanied by his lady and Mrs. Caddell, intending to proceed to Clifton by the train •which, leaves Bath at that hour. Having secured his tickets, Mr. Hampden proceeded to the platform, where, in a few minutes, he was seized with a fit, terminating fatally, after a very short interval.

Ireland. — At Limerick there are ICI prisoners for trial. There aie nine mimlcr cases on the calendar, for which 21 peisons are in custody ; for aiding and assisting to murder there are five; haibouring suspected muidcrers, tliree; conspiring and soliciting to minder, tlnee; lor filing at, three; for attacking houses, or being of pai ties who did so, more than 30. There are a number of others charged with Whiteboy offences, robbery, &c. It is probable, however, that the heaviest only of the cases will be tried, and that otheis will be left over for the assizes. The judges will preside on the same bench, and unite in the trials. Since writing the foregoing, I have been informed of the death of Mrs. Hatchel,wife of the Solicitor- General, an event which has unhappily taken place since the learned gentleman left town, and which will probably cause the loss ot his valuable assistance at the approach, ing tiials. Lifh Insurance uv Ireland:— Sir W. Verner, in the House of Commons, in December last, in his speech upon the " Crimes and outrage" Bill, stated that " He had now only to refer to a letter he had received within the last week from a gentleman in the county (Armagh,) which he, Sir W. Verner, had the honor to represent, and whic/i would show to the Home the opinion entertained in this country, of the state of Ireland. The gentleman, who is a Clergyman, had applied to sevsial assurance offices in London, to insure his life for a small sum, he had received the same answer from them all, one of which he enclosed, and which the hon. member wonld read to the House ;— ' Sir, — In reply to your letter, I beg to inform you that we do not grant assurances upon the lives of persona resident in lieland,' »

' EmiOh'vtion — Loul Montcn^lc afiKpil the noble loiil at the head of the Colonial Pcpiitmcnt, ns to t lie* enormous extent to whirh cmiqiation had bron earned in the course of last year Jlc should wish to know whether hifi noble friend had received fiomthc colonial governments any communications on the subject, and whether there was any intention to lay thoie communications on the table of the house. If bo, they would be productive of very great advantage, Earl Grey saiil he hud received n gieat mass of vi-ry important information on the subject of emigration, nnd it was liib intention to lay it on the table of the hoiibC before the adjournment took place, the papers being already in print. — Times, Dec. M. Tur. "Great Biutain" a Royal Yaoht.— Her Majesty, it is c .iv', has expressed a strong desire that the Gnat Britain should be pui chased nnd fitted up as an additional yacht foi hciself and illustrious ccmf.ort' the l,vtt<'i suffering most especially from the lolling of the Vicloiia and Albert, in the course of the royal summer excursions. If secured for her Majesty, and it is presumed that no one will, by competition, picMimeto frustrate th ; s truly national object, it will be fitted up with utuivullid splendour, in accoidancc with 11. R. 11. Piince Albert's own peculiar notions of taste-— London Mcrauy,