The New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 270, 30 December 1848, Page 2

The New Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Tliy Gon's, and Truth's.

SATURDAY. DECEMBER 30,1848.

We are in possession of European intelligence to the 1 5th of August, by the Maukin, which sailed from Sydney on the 11th instant. The supplement to the Sydney Herald had not been published before she sailed, or we should have had the September news — received by Captain Neatby's splendid new ship Waterloo. However, we may hourly expect the Cheerful, which was to sail a day or two after the Maukin. The outline of that by the St. George is extremely meagre, and may thus be briefly traced : — The English excitement, caused by the French revolution, was, as we have seen, succeeded, if not exceeded, by uneasy expectation of an Hibernian counterpart ; but the intended doings of the Mitchels, O'Briens, and others, kin to the Call-aguins, Brawl-agains, having oozed away through terror of Trant and his policemen, the country has taken heart of grace to measure the bogle at which it boggled, and can now smile at the caricature which an j exaggerated phantasmagoria had invested with the dreaded lineaments of rebellion. The puppets of this illusion, miscalled its leaders, are being leisurely picked up and consigned, with the most stoical indifference on the part of the captors, and with the most ungracious apathy on that of the regenerators, to Newgate, and other suitable reception houses. The row has been so utterly ludicrous, that the national sting of vengeance has been drawn in exuberant indulgence of laughter and con - tempt. The life of His Majesty of Munster appears, therefore, to be safe. He has proved too much of the blockhead to dream of bringing his head to the block. Like other scions of misguided royalty, he must emigrate — not, indeed, to the realms of some sympathising potentate, but to the more genial regions of the far south, where the exile is cared for, and experiences a parental attention from the state he honours by probation. Jesting apart, the insurrection has been so contemptible, its powers for mischief have proved to be so insignificant, and it has been crushed so promptly and so effectually, and that without one drop of blood drawn from either military or police, that the nation can well afford to be magnanimous — sparing hemp, but providing quarters more suited to the excitable temperaments of the fools incapable of their own affairs, and who must be prevented from further disturbance of those of the country. Doherty, editor of the Irish Tribune, has been tried for felony under the new Act. The evidence was clear and conclusive ; but a conscientious jury, after a night's consideration, could not agree, and the prisoner was, in consequence, acquitted. Political jus - tice is, in Ireland, too frequently a farce j it \ seems, therefore, highly probable that trial by jury will be suspended, and a more efficient i tribunal created. To dally, when counties have been proclaimed disaffected, were the worst of follies. The Eoman Catholic clergy, with their | Bishops in the van, have presented a strong appeal to the Queen, imploring a general amnesty. It were idle here to comment upon the | propriety or impropriety of this appeal. We 1 give, however, in our extracts, the opinions of j writers upon the spot, who regard the movement in the light of an unwarranted, if not ! unwarrantable intrusion. Trade, we rejoice to perceive, was improving ; j the prospects of commerce having brightened and received an impetus, in nearly every branch, through the tetmination of the Irish outbreak. i Wool had advanced three half-pence a pound on the July sales. In discussing the Naval Estimates, Mr. Cowper, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, stated that the Government were considering the despatching of mail steam ships to Australasia. And, in an interview had with Lord Shelbourne, by Mr. Mark Boyd and other gentlemen interested in the Australian colonies, it was intimated to his Lordship that the Oriental Company possessed superfluous tonnage, and were prepared to enter into contract on the instant. By the way of the Mauritius, we learn that Ceylon has experienced an insurrection. The Kandians have risen — proclaimed a king of the native race, and committed several outrages. The threatened infliction of a poll-tax is the alleged cause of revolt. They had been beaten in two or three desultory skirmishes — and reinforcements from India had been received. Although in possession of many posts, the war cannot be protracted, as it was when the country was first occupied, Roads have ren-

dered it practicable. The European planters are perfectly conversant with the localities, and the Kandians are a debased and effeminate race. Such, at least, is the information we gather from a late, intelligent, resident, who knows the province thoroughly for ten years. Government had, on the 10th of August, in the House- of Lords, been tested on the question of emigration and found wanting. We shall, if possible, give the debate (or rather the extremely opposite opinions expressed by Earl Grey and Lord Monteagle) in our next. Earl Grey's explanation of the Ministerial policy, in reference to this mighty question, affords another incontestible proof how utterly behind the spirit of the age they pretend to guide, Earl Grey and his fellows are. They will originate no measure, and they will grant no money ; but they will graciously assist in expending the little which their injurious land system yet leaves to be wrung from the crashed but clamorous colonies. Fortunately, it exceeds the evil influence even of an Earl Grey to put a stop to emigration, or to place a fetter upon colonization.. The spirit of the Nation is aroused to inquiry. The disciples of the movement are untiring in their efforts to enlighten the people of England ; and to convince them that Colonization is the certain safety valve of Imperial supremacy, the surest path to individual prosperity. This doctrine has already become a dogma — which additional investigation but tends to strengthen and enlarge. Earl Grey and his confederates may disregard this " tide in the affairs of men." His lordship may refrain from giving it direction, but if he ventures to resist, he will be swamped by the under tow, and dragged in a wake too mighty for him, (with all the appliances of the Colonial Office to boot), to controul. " The high o'er-reaching Duke of Buckingham " has proved the reverse of" circumspect," having reduced himself to poverty and distress. He has recklessly sacrificed the proud possessions of a long line of Princely ancestors, and, by inducing his son to cut off the entail, he has destroyed the prospects of his descendants. Stowe and all its valuables were to be sold. The sale was to occupy one and twenty days ; the mob had made holiday in the halls of the fnora^-conservative Baron, and the bailiffs, to quote the language of Otway, " Had ta'en poiseision, Of all his ancient, most domettic, ornaments." Literature has to bewail one of its most energetic votaries, and the Navy an able and a gallant officer, in the decease of Captain Frederick Marryatt, C.8., who died at Langham, Norfolk, on the 9th of August, after a long and painful illness, caused by the bursting of a blood vessel — the effects of grief for the death of his son. Continental affairs appear to be experiencing a lull. Paris is quiet, per force. But poverty and privation are gnawing at the hearts of her citizens. And, those who were recently, cowed into abject submission, are, it is said, once more beginning to calculate contingencies. Mediation, it is probable, will cause the sheathing of the swords of Austria and of Italy ; and Germany looks as if she found the gobbling up of Denmark no such easy task. Cannonadings are, therefore, giving place to explanations — and counter-marchings to protestations. It is to be hoped, then, that mutual concessions may again restore tranquility to Europe — Peace to the world. The ships " General Hewitt," and " Thomas Fielden," were advertized at Sydney for Auckland. The former, we are told, was likely to be withdrawn, because of the insufficient depth of water at Newcastle, where she was designed to load. The " Blonde," was however, spoken of as about to be laid on. The " Duke of Portland," 533 tons, Captain Cubitt, was to sail from London for Auckland and Wellington, on the Ist, and the " Ajax," 767 tons, Captain Young, for Otago, Wellington, Nelson, and New Plymouth on the 4th of September. The Post Office packet for August had not arrived at Sydney. She had been out only one hundred and thirty three days — a very moderate time, when it is borne in mind, that she is the self same, antiquated "Louisa," w aited for, and towed into port by H. M. Steam sloop " Inflexible," on the 4th of December, 1847. The September packet, the " Alert," formerly a sloop of war, and equally active as her name implies, will, in all likelihood, arrive first.