The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 468, 9 October 1850, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 , 1850.

Be just ami feu not Let all the ends thou amis't at, be thy Countiy's, '1 hy God s, and JLiulli's.

The auival of the Emma in our poit yesterday has placed us in possession of our tegular Sydney files to the 19th, and, by the kindness of Capt. Fox, papers to the 21st of last month. We have no direct intelligence fiom England, hut the summaiies and extiacts of the lla aid give us news coming down to the Ist of June. The most recent pait of it, however, consists only of a few scraps obtained by way of California. The latest diiect news at Sydney was by the General Hewitt, from London the 28th of May. We legiet to find that the lumour respecting a ruptiue between the Great Powfrs was not wholly without foundation, although we still tiust that the appiehensions which it might well excite will not be found to have been realized. The Gieek question, as might ha\e been anticipated, was the point of difficulty That question had been settled — settled, of course, by the unavoidable submission of the weak to the strong ; — but so settled, notwithstanding, as to involve at least the contingency of an European war. How this came about is thus described in the Home Neivs of May 24 ; A IturTURE with France ! Such an announcement must come like a clap of thunder upon the good old gentlemen who hsve pined their faith to the sleeves of the soi'disant Liberal journals With the readeis of the Home News, however, it will excite regret lather than surprise to be told that our ill timed and mismanaged, as well as unreasonable proceedings in Giecce have terminated exactly as Loid Palmerston intended that they should, and yet have producpd a diplomatic misunderstanding with the Government of France, fiom which the most grave consequences may proceed. Yes; Gicece has succumbed, at the simple announcement of the renewal of hostilities : all that England asked is conceded by the King of Gieece, and our tiiumphant fleet is returning fiom its victorious expedition, liut the Minister of France, the mediator, has leturncd to Paris, the ambassador of Fiance, the negociator is recal'ed from London ! M. Gios, it seems, finding that his, "good, offices'' with England in behalf of Gicece pioduced no lcsult, as we have lepcatedly informed our leaders, at length saw, or fancied he saw, an intention to slight his mediation. He had induced Greece to concede several points ; apology and atonement weie to be made for insults and outiages; claims of a pecuniuy chaiacter wete to be acknowledged and paid ; the ques tion of the English claim to two Greek Islands was withdrawn for the present, and only against the claims of M. Pacifico did the Fiench mediator stand fnm, The demands were excessive, they tveie absuid, they had been already settled — he would not concede that point. Mr. Wyse had instructions upon which he must act. lie injected Baron Gios's pioposals, and the Baion found himself unable to act without consulting the Government. He suspended his good offices, cntiraling Mr. V, ysc to suspend also his hostilities against Gicece. Mr. Wyse acting on Loid Palmeiston's instiuctions (tbii amended order being delajcd by storms), announced the lenewal of hostilities, and the Coml of Gieece gave way ; all demands weie complied with in th^ absence ot the French Envoy ; Mr^Wybe visited at Court, piesented a letter announcing the death of the Queen Dowager of England to their Giccian Majesties, and was graciously received, Sir T. Parkes's squadron sa-

luted tlio Fiench fi^g. the salute was icturncd by the ships of wni of thai nation, and the squadron sailed to Naples to cnfoice some claims of England upon that crown, and some of its ships jnocced to Malta. The affair of Greece is happily settled, 4 atul the Ministerial p.tpeis sing " Io tilninplie !" Of course, as Parliament was sitting, Miv isters weie questioned and cross 'questioned respecting the affair, but very little of real infoimation was elicited. They made comparatively light of the matter, but the impiession which we think their statements would make on any attentive hearer was that there was more of seriousness in it than their words seemed to acknowledge. Lord John Russell, when interrogated on the subject, " acknowledged that M. Drouyn de Lhuys had been recalled, which, on the previous day, Lord Palmerston had noticed, and the noble Lord added, ' I feel convinced that had not M. Gros, for some reason, which I cannot divine, so suddenly given up his mission on the 23id of April, and declared to the Greek Government his functions suspended, there Avould have been ample time for the arrival of the despatch from Her Majesty's Government, and then this misunderstanding could not have accurred. — (Hear, hear.)' " Loid Palmerston's own statement is given as follows : — " He slated the discussions between the British and Greek Governments had been so far settled that no apprehension need be entertained that commerce would be molested. The only matter lemaining was the investigation of M. Pacifico's claims relative to Portugal. With respect to the question whether the good understanding between the British and French Governments had been interrupted by the mode in which the settlement had been effected, His Lordship said, of course the French Government would have preferred, as well as the British Government, that the settlement should have been effected through their own intervention. Circumstances had, however, interposed to prevent this mode of adjustment taking place, but he trusted that nothing would arise from this cause likely to disturb the friendly relations between the two Governments." His Lordship's explanation was thus variously commented on by the daily press in the metropolis :—: — On the whole, we cannot but lay the blame of this unfoitunafe breach on the Ficnch, airl on the French alone. We cannot censure Loid Palmciston foi in stiuctions which he made fully Known to the French Government ere they despatched their negotiatoi.— Daily News, The explanations given by Loid Pa'merston last night in the Ilousa of Commons, with a dextcrty of evasion which did not conceal his own embamssment the weakness of his case, removed none of the subs-tin objections to which his late proceedings towaeds Giecce ami towii<lt> the French agents arc obnoxious —7 hues Lord Palineiston's explanations aie now before the pubho, and if the public docs not find them salisl.tctoiy it is only because no imaginable excilion ot m^nuiiy and addirss will pcimanontly mike a !>.ul rfi'-e nppcai a good one, and because the charms of llncnt and vivacious oiatoiyaic not sufficient to gloss over the defoi mityof a wilful depaitune from the truth.— Chronicle. The staiem-nt made by Loid Palmeistonlast night in (he House of Commons, calm and tempos to in tone, simple and clear in anangement, cogent and conclusive in deduction, disposes of the accusation bcfoieus in a m inner well worthy of the gieat countiy whose ioi - eign rojat'ons mo entiusted to his caic —l'osf, 1 lie speech of the noble loid was atiiutmhint vindicition of his condurti n tlm business. — Advertiser, The Australian Colonies, Bill had work ad its way thiough many difficulties (although,, perhaps, through few real dangers), to the point of adoption by the House of Commons. It passed that lion. House on the 13th of May, after a motion to postpone it till it had been leferred to the consideration of the colonies (bi ought forwaid by Mr. Gladstonl and suppoited by Mr. Uoebuck) had been lejectcd by a majoiity of 22G over 128; and another, to give the Colonial Legislatures the management of the waste lands, had been negatived by 222 voices against 82; but, of course, it still awaited the sifting, and was subject to the decision of the Upper House of the Legislature. Itt progress there would be greatly influenced by Lord Stanley's mode of dealing with it ; but it did not seem likely that he would seriously inteifere with its advancement. We have in the papers before us repoits of debates on amendments pertinaciously persevered in — which will keep for some of the days when a dearth of news fiom any quarter compels us to look about for matter having at all the aspect of noveHy. The Bill for the abolition of the Irish Viceroyalty was introduced by Lord John Russell on the 20th of May. The plan of the proposed change is stated thus -. — the abolition would be effected by an order in Council after the passing of the Act, and by appointing a fourth Secretary of State to cany on the business connected with Ireland, some of the functions appeitaining to the Lord Lieutenant being transferred to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who could more conveniently exeicise them. There would still be a Piivy Council in Ireland presided over by the Lord Chancellor, and the Irish Poor Law iJoaid would be reconstructed. His lordship also announced the Quebn's intention to vi&it Ireland from time to time, and to maintain the lesidence in the Phoenix Paik for Her Majasty's use. An opposition was raised even to the introduction of the measure, in which (as theatrical managers would say) there weie " combined the talents" of Mr. Grattan, Mr. Grog \n, Mr.' M. O'Connell, Mr. Reynolds, acd Mr. Disraeli — a more motley group than has often been found wot king together in Parliament. —

The House however seemed little , affected by this combination of talent, as the motion for leave to bring in the Bill was carried by 170 against 17 votes. The other proceedings in Parliament are reported very meagiely, and would not excite so much attention heie as to justify our exclusion of other poitions of our summary in older to give them place to-day. We shall return to them — with (on some of the older topics) the additional advantage, we hope, of our own files from England by the Barbrtia Gordon. The Quern had experienced another of her safe and rapid recoveries. She had been " chin ched" on the 21st of May, and (he Court was for a shoit time at Osborne. Preparations were in progress foi the christening of the new Prince, who was to be called " Atirnuii, Patrick, Albert,"— the first name, as we befoie mentioned, in honour of " The Duke ;" — the second, no doubt, as a gracious and gracefol remembrance of Her Majesty's recent visit to " The Dukes" native land; — and the last, obviously, from the womanly and wifely feeling which has led our beloved Sovereign — pattern as she is of feminine as well as of legal viilues and amiabilities — to connect her husband's name with the names of two ofhcis of the royal children.

In Francp, the principal point of discussion in the Legislative Assembly, was the possible " Ruptme with England." On the 1 6th of May, Geneial Laiiiitk, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a statement in the Legislative Assemble, which, with the reported mode of its reception, we subjoin. It forms evidently a feature in tins unfortunate Greek case, which is ominous in the present feverish state of European politics :—: — " Gentlemen — In the sitting of Saturday, I had the honour of announcing to the Assembly that, in consequence of our good offices in the negotiations pursued at Athens, the Government of the Republic had considered it its duty to apply to the English Government for explanations. The reply which was given to us, not being such as we had a right to expect from the good undeistanding which existed between the two conutries, the President of the Republic, after having taken the advice of his Council, gave me orders to recall from London our Ambiissador." (A loud buist of cheering from the right ; clapping of hands, — cries of bravo ! bravo ! — renewed cheers and clapping of hands from the same quarter. The left all this time remained silent. The agitation continued at least five minutes.) The King of Prussia had been fired at and wounded* in the arm.- The particulais wore not detailed. The name of the criminal was Sclfagf., and he was said to be insane. But it is the fashion with some of our modem philosopliprs in nseiiVie crimp to alipnation of the intellect, rather thau to any "deceitful and desperately wicked" state of the heait. The blacker the ciime — the clearer to them is the evidence that the perpetiator of it was a lunatic.

The intelligence from New South Wales had not much of piessing impoitance, although it may furnish us with matter woithy of notice in less pie-occupied numbers. A movement in opposition to the .revival of Transpoitation was going fomard with much animation, and with an apparently efficient organization. The contemplated Synod of Bisiioi's, to attend which, Bishop Sjxwyn, sailed in the Mo i, was exciting much inteiest. The Herald of the 21st ultimo, has this paragraph lcspecting it; Synod oi Bisnoi's, — The whole 'of the Bishops of the Church of England, in. the province of Australasia, will meet in Sydney, for the puippse of holding a Synod, in the month of October. The Bishop of Adelaide was expected at Melbourne on the 18th instant, and with the Bishops of Tasmania and Melbourne will arrive by the Shamrock about "Fiiday next. The Bishop of New Zealand airived ye&teiday. The Bishop of Newcastle will come up from the Hunter, and these with the Metropolitan Bishop of Sydney, will form the Synod. tVe believe this is the first meeting of the kind held by the Colonial' Bishops, and great interest respecting it is manifested by the members of the church. We shall return to a review of the news in these papers, which — although we have endeavoiueu to condense its harvest in this summary — will yet aflbid many gleanings.

Although we have happened to know a good deal of the sensitiveness of Amateur Mu&ical Associations under criticism, however gently administered, we confess we were not prepared to expect that the Committee or Members of the Auckland Sacred Harmonic Society would have taken amiss the comments we felt it our duty to make on a poition of the Miscellaneous Conceit, lately given in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute. Learning however, that they, — at least that some of them, — have felt annoyance at the aitxle, we have read it oveivagain caiefully, with a sincere willingness to amend, explain, or retract any portion of it that might seem even remotely unjust or unkind. We shall very briefly and frankly state the results of this le-perusal. We intimated an- objection to what are called " Nigger Melodies," on the ground of their tendency to vitiate public taste, and to degiade music from its lightful and dignified position.

We really cannot unsay this. We think so still, — and were it necessary to enlarge upon the point we could show that other, and far moio competent judops, are of the same opinion. But as there are many who greatly like them, and many others who, although they may not greatly like them, yet aie glad to get anything in the way of amusement in a place wheie so little recreation of the kin j is to be obtained, A\e did not so much object to the mere fact of their performance, as to their having been introduced covertly, under a title "which was not generally understood. We stand up for the principle of fair play and open dealing here. Let those who wish for such an enteitainmenl, have it by all means and to their heaits' content ; but let not those who would piefer absenting themselves from it be induced to go by an announcement in the progiamme which, however unintentionally on the pait of those who diew it up, was piactically misleading. Once more, we remarked upon the incongruity of a pcifoimance of these "Nigger Songs" in any connexion, diiect or indirect, with a Sacred Harmonic Socjety — an incougiuily which, we slated, had to our own know icdgp foic.Lly mi pie^sed some who had no objection whatever to the Songs themselves. On this point, we understand, the Committee feel sore,' especially as we did not, on being piivately conversed with on the subject by one or two of its membcis whom we happened to meet in the stieet, unsay what we had sail We now cordially give them the benefit of their own explanation. Their Honorary Sr>crktali y assures us "there was no connexion existing between the Society and the Miscellaneous Conceit, further than that the leceipts of the evening were to be applied to the aid of its funds." We are glad to hear it. It is becoming in any Society, aiming at the cultivation of the public taste in music — and especially becoming in a Sacred Harmonic Society — to be anxious to disclaim connexion with the "Nigger Melodies." We are happy to accept it as a hopeful auguiy for the future. Still, we may be allowed to say, that such facts as that these Songs were sung at the usual time and place of the Society's performances, that the principal perform cis in the Concert were the publicly known members of the Society, and that the proceeds of it were — according to adveitisements^in the newspapers and in the printed Dook of Words — to be handed over to the funds of the Society — made out collectively a case, if not of pioof yet of strong suspicion, as to a connexion between the Concert and the Society, which may plead our excuse with the public for having f illcn into the error which the Committee juige we are bound to correct, — namely, that of supposing that the Society was actually connected with the Conceit.