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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 728, 6 April 1853, Page 3

By private courtesy we have been favoured with a number of late California and Honululu papers, brought by the William from San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands, which reached our harbour on Sunday last. They contain European intelligence to the 4th of December, the importance of which may be estimated when we briefly premise that it includes statements of the successful escape of the Derby Ministry from the dilemma in which Mr. Villiers's free-trade motion was calculated to place them, and an absolute abandonment on their part of the Old Protective system ; —summaries of the particulars of Mr. Disraeli's anxiously looked-for Budget;—the Proclamation of the Empire in France; —and threatenings of European war, coming; in such a variety of forms, and received with serious apprehensions in so many quarters, that the most sanguine and hopeful cannot regard them with total incredulity or indifference. The news, obtaining it as we do through the digests and brief extracts of Foreign journals, is not presented in as connected or complete a shape as we could desire; but, having before us several of the papers in which it is more or less fully given, we compile from them such a view of ihe leading fads and opinions as may place our readers in possession of the substance of the whole so far as it has reached us. We infer from the following, which we take from the llonululu Argus of Feb. 16, jth.it Mr. Villiers's motion and Mr. Disraeli's amendment, (which have already appeared in our columns), were both set aside in favour of a more uniting resolution proposed by Lord PaJmerston; — " Lord Palmerston's resolution declaring Free Trade the definite commercial policy of England, passed by a vote of 468 to 53. This resolution, our readers will remember, was proposed instead of another more offensive in ils terms, to save the Government from the necessity of resigning, as bul for Lord Palmerston's intervention it would have been compelled to do." The following passage from the correspondence (Of the New York Tribune, dated London, Dec. 5, indicates the same conclusion;— " Lord Palmerston's last move, by which he rescued Ihe ministry from imminent defeat, has estranged his former friends, the Whigs and Radicals, from him ; but il has proved thai he knows the machinery of English Constitutionalism inuch better than any jbody else, and that, like old Warwick the King T maker, he is always able to upset" or lo maintain the successive Governments of England." It remained that the House of Lords sbould also give in its adhesion to the

modern commercial policy. This it would appear, was likely to be speedily accomplished:— In (he House of Lords, on Ihe 2nd December, the Marquis of Clanricarde brought forward a notice of motion confirmatory of the principle of Free Trade, and similar to that recently debated in the Lower House of Commons. Lord Derby in reply stated that he had no objections to have this matter, involving as it did the future policy of the country, settled by a resolution of the House. He therefore suggested some verbal amendments merely, and handed to Lord Clanricarde the following resolution, which that gentleman substituted for his own, and gave notice he would move on Monday, 6th December, namely: " That this House thankfully acnowledgmgthe general prosperity, and deeply sensible of the evils attendant upon frequent changes in the financial policy of the country, adheres lo the commercial system recently established, and would view with regret any attempt to disturb its operations or impede its intentions.' It is expected the House will adopt the resolution without debate. On the 3rd of December the Chancellor of the Exchequer brought forward the Budgkt. The following is given as an outline of his speech on the occasion;—a meagre outline indeed it must be, considering that the report of the speech occupied sixteen columns of the Times: — Mr. Disraeli, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, remarked on introducing his financial statement, that the labor had been performed under peculiar circumstances. At the last general election, the principle of unrestricted competition was adopted ; since then he had labored to bring that system into harmony with the commercial policy of the country. The present, therefore, would not be an inconvenient opportunity to examine the claims and complaints of those great interests who alleged that they were suffering from the recent change of our commercial system. The shipping interest, the agricultural interest—all these interests complained of their liability lo peculiar burthens of taxation. By reducing taxes on these interests, there would be a diminution of theincomeof the country, to the amount of between three and four million pounds; but, besides, in a few months, one of the principal sources of revenue would terminate; namely, income and properly lax ; which produced between four and five millions. In considering Ihese, Ihe income and property tax, our direct taxation, should be as general as our indirect taxation. He also gave nolice, that he would bring before the House, a measure on administrative reform. He would propose some addition to the resources of the country, but he should not however, propose any increase by indirect taxation. He brietly recapitulated the leading principles of the policy which he had suggested, and sat down at a quarter to ten, amidst loud cheers from all parts of the House. From the several summaries in the papers before us (some of which; contain particulars not given in others) we compile the following details of the part icular financial measures proposed : Shipping to be relieved, and only to pay for lights which benefit it,—a change which will cost the country 100,000 L . . . Select Committee on pilotage and ballasting. . . . Royal Navy Salvage abolished. . . . "Important measures regarding manning the navy and merchant services." . . . Stamps used for Shipping to be considered. Mall duties lo be reduced one-half from 10th of October next. The duty on Tea, which is now 2s. 2|d. per lb., to be reduced 4'd. jthe first year, and then 2d. a year for five years, bringing the duty ultimately down to one shilling. The hop duty to be reduced one-half. No change in the sugar duties. ... Colonics may refine sugar in bond. Duties on rum and molasses to be considered. Measure of highway rates to be introduced. ... No change in county rates or local taxes. Drawback upon malt spirits in Scotland to be done away with. The Property and Income Tax to be modified so as to reduce the rate on moderate incomes from 7d. in the pound to s|d.; and in determining the profits on rents, on which the old rale of 7d. in the pound is retained, one-third instead of onehalf the gross rents to be taken as profit The Tax to be extended to Ireland. Increase of 600,Q00J. in the Army and Navy Estimates. The House Tax to be extended and increased. The subject of "administrative reform', lo be introduced. There are various propositions here which could scarcely fail to excite warm discussion; but, so far as we can judge from the following statement, the scheme on the whole met with a highly favourable reception: — The speech of Mr. Disraeli created extraordinary sensation in the House and with the Press. He closed amidst the warm plaudits of both sides of the Commons, and the comments of the morning press, both ministerial and opposition, are of the most complimentary character. The Times not only commends the ability of the Minister, by comparing the boldness of his propositions, and the whole financial statement, with theenergy of Sir Robert Peel, in his most exuberant moods, but qualifiedly endorses his position as being taken with thedexlerityof a master, and in view of the new commercial altitude, new resources and new capabilities of the English nation. The change in the Income Tax is particularly commended by this intluential journal, as giving general satisfaction. The Chancellor evidently wins new laurels at every fresh display of his truly remarkable ability. With respect to the apprehensions that the peace of Europe would not long remain unbroken, we must, for ihe present, content ourselves with the following American extracts: — Fbench and English Warlike Preparations. —The Paris Patrie, ultra government paper, has a glowingly complimentary article upon the American expedition to Japan, and says that it shall be delighted to hear that the squadron has sailed. The Paris correspondent of the New York Times thinks Louis Napoleon wants lo get our little navy out of the way. He is strengthening his navy, il is said, to an extent positively alarming. The same writer says : "The American government should take immediate and energetic steps to increase ils naval force, for the whole of it would be no match for the terrible screw steamer Napoleon, that carries 100 guns and makes twelve knots an hour, with her

engines and propeller out of (he reach of cannon shot." On the o(her hand, the British regard these warlike preparations of Napoleon with suspicion and are arming in every direction. A British writer says: " The government, it is well understood, mean to propose an addition lo the naval estimates sufiicicnt to provide 5000 more seamen, with a like proportion of marines. No one versed in naval matters doubts the necessity of this accession. The doctrines of Messrs. Hume and Cobden are just now at a discount, and the strong necessity is everywhere felt of maintaining the most efficient state of defence against any possible aggression. The constant preparations going on in the naval ports of France somehow make a stronger impression on the public mind than all the preachings of the Peace Society, and from the language lately held by Lord Derby in the House of Lords it is manifest that while fully appreciating the blessings of peace, he is anxiously alive to (he need of being fully armed against all contingencies. It is doubtless under this feeling that it has been determined lo increase our naval power, and for the increase of cost, whatever it may be, we may thank Louis Napoleon and the Empire. The latter, under its present smooth, flourishing aspect, bodes a volcano, which will be sure one day lo burst forth, and pour out itsrcvolutionary lava on surrounding countries. In short, the boasted 'Empire of Peace' is belied by the incessant preparations for war and the maintenance of the most powerful army of Europe; and we are too close neighbours not to know what results might be anticipated in the event, no very unlikely one, of a sudden political rupture." It is proposed to increase the land service of the artillery by 2000 men, 1000 horses and 200 guns. An augmentation of 4500 is spoken of for the marines. It is expected that government will And difficulty in enlisting the additional 5000 men for the navy, during the present demand for merchant seamen. We transfer a few additional items of Englisjj news as we find them in the Californian papers:— The celebrated Achilli case in England, is to be re-opened. Dr. Newman is to be allowed another trial, .so as lo give him another, chance of substantiating his charges against Achilli. The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce have issued a report in favor of a decimal currency. A Birmingham House has received an order lo coin 700 tons of copper into coinage of She new French Empire. Four thousand lons are required in all, and the work will take four years lo complete. Alderman Kinahan is elected Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Earl of Eglington was, on the 50th November, inaugurated as Reclor (Chancellor) of Glasgow University. Much alarm is at present caused among English sailors by the efforts of the shipowners to get rid of " the manning clause" of the Navigation Act, which compels Ihem to employ threefourths of the crews of British subjects. In a memorial to the Goven ment the seamen of the CSSlcm ports of England say:— " The unrestricted employment or foreign seamen will reduce, by a competition, the lowest in the world, the condition of British seamen and their families, and strike a fatal blow at their very existence; that thus they will be driven to seek employment in another Stale, speaking Ihe same language and possessing similar laws, where seamen's interests and seamen's rights are carefully attended to, and where thousands of British seamen have already found protection, so weakening Her Majesty's Empire and giving an additional strength to an already great maritime competitor." That this is no idle threal is evidenced by the numbers of seamen who go out as passengers from Liverpool to the United Stales ports. Death of Byron's Daughter.—The death of Lady Lovelace, " Ada, sole daughter of my house and heart," the only child of the late Lord Byron, occurred on Saturday, Nov. 27th. A melancholy interest is associated with the daughter of the illustrious poet, immortalized by him in nevcr-10-bc-forgollen verse, and the source of some of his most touching and mournful minstresly. The deceased lady married Lord King, afterwards (he Earl of Lovelace, and had the reputation of possessing talent and intellectual capabilities, but without the attributes of genius. After a lingering illness of twelve monlhs, she died in her thirty-seventh year—the age attained by Ihe poet himself. Her mother, Lady Byron, yet survives. Lieut. Gen. Wemyss, a distinguished officer of the Peninsula war, died, 50th Nov. aged 05. In the London Times of Dec. 2, is published the terms of competition for the prize of 1000/, offered by the Royal Agricultural Society of England, for the best substitute for Peruvian guano. The offer of this prize, it may be remembered, grew out of the threatened difficulty on the Lobos Islands question. It was mentioned at the monthly meeting of the Liverpool Free Library and Museum Trus lees, this week, that application had been made on behalf of the exhibition at New York, for the loan of Ihe model of Liverpool ; but the request was, for the present at least, refused. London, December 3rd—Lord Frankfort, a young nobleman, was to-day sentenced to twelve monlhs imprisonment in the House of Correction, for a libel on Lord Henry Lennox. Canal Across the Isthmus of Darien. —At a meeting of Ihe Eastern Steam Navigation Company, held at London, it was incidentally mentioned by Sir C. Fox, the eminent engineer, that he had, with his partner Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Brassey, contractor, signed a contract for the construction of a ship canal through the Isthmus of Darien, as designed by Mr. Gilborne, C. E. The Canal is to be a cut 50 feel deep at low tide, 140 feet broad at bottom, and 100 feet at low water surface. The locks will be 400 feet from metre lo metre; 90 feel wide between the gate quoins, and each lock will have a lift of 50 feet lo overweight the iron gales. Such a cut as that was considered equal to the trade of the world as well as for permanent safely and rapidity of transit. The annual meeting of the "Association for Promoting fhe Bepeal of Taxes on Knowledge," was held at Exeter Hall, Ist Dec. Douglas Jerrold in the chair. The only noticeable feature of Ihe meeting was a comparison by Mr. Cobden, of the free press of America with the taxed press of Britain, and an allusion to Mr. Greeley's evidence, last year, before the House of Commons Committee.

FRANCE. As might have been anticipated from the intelligence which had already reached us, the French People had completed the step on which thev had, for the time, made up their fickle minds, by re-establishing the Empire, with Louis Napoleon as Emperor. We have not space to make any comment on this new development of their revo'utionary spirit—for revolutionary it is even though clothed in the garb of Imperialism but proceed to lay such details as we have received, before our readers.

PROCLAMATION OF THE EMPIRE. On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Corps Legislatif met to sum up the votes for the Empire. The Assembly adjourned at 7 o'clock, when the following was proclaimed as Ihe result of ihe Plebiscite : Yes, 7,8Gi,189 No 253,143 Null 63,326 Majority for Louis Napoleon, Emperor 7,547,718 Immediately afterwards the whole Corps Legislatif went to St. Cloud, en costume, to announce the result. Next day, Thursday, at one o'clock, P. M., Napolean made his public entry, as Emperor, into Paris. The following is the speech of M. Billault, the president of the Legislatif Corps, on presenting the number of voles: Siue:—We lay before your Majesty the solemn expression of the national will. In the midst of the ovations which were decreed to youby popular enthusiasm, you showed no anxiety to assume a crown which was offered to you on all sides, but desired that France should have time for reflection. You wished that the supreme decision by which a people, master of itself, disposes the sovereignty of its destiny, should only be taken cooly and in complete destiny. Your wish, Sire, is accomplished; a free ballot, seciet and open to all, has been honestly examined under the eyes of all, summing up 0,000,000 .votes. It gives to the legitimacy of your Government the widest basis on which any government in the vyorld has ever been established. From the day when 6,000,000 votes collected for you by the government itself "which they ■called you to replace, deposited in your hands the fate of the country, France, at each new ballot/has marked, by additional millions of votes, the contmued increase of her confidence in you. Without as within her municipalities, in her fetes as in her votes, everywhere h<r feelings have burst forth from one end of the country to the other, flocking on your steps —hastening from all parts to salute the man of their hopes, and of their faith—our people have sufficiently made known to the world that you are their Emperor—the Emperor chosen by the people—and that you carry with you that national spirit which, on the day marked out by Providence, crowns new dynasties, and seats them in the place of those which it no longer animates. Taking shelter under an immense recollection of glory, under what it holds most precious, its honor abroad, i a security at home, and those immortal principles of 1789 —the firm basis of new French society, so powerfully organized by the Emperor, your uncle—our nation again raises up with proud love that dynasty of the Bonapartes which sprung from him and which was not overthrown by French hands. But while preserving a proud remembrance of the great events of war, it hopes to find from you the great things of peace. Having already seen you at work, it expects from you a resolute, prompt and prosperous government. In order to aid you in it, it surrounds you with all its sympathies—it delivers itself wholly up to you. Take then, Sire, take from the hands of France that glorious crown which she offers you; never has a royal brow worn one more legitimate or more popular. Napoleon Ill's Inaugural Speech.—The Emperor, as we must henceforth call him, then addressed both chambers as follows: '• Messieurs: The new reign which you this day inaugurate derives not its origin, as so many others recorded in history have done, from violence, from conquest, or from fraud ; it is what you have just declared i—ihe legal result of the will of a whole people, who consolidate in calm that whicb they have founded in the midst of agitations. I am penetrated with gratitude towards the nation which three times in four —~ >!»s sustained me by its suffrages, and each time has only augmented its tzzjzrity to increase my power; but the more that power increases in" extent power, the more does it need enlightened men, such as those who every day surround me—independent men such as those whom I address—to guide me by their counsel, to bring back my authority within its proper limits, if it could ever quit them. I take from this day. with the crown, the name of Napoleon the Third, because the will of the people has bestowed it on me in their acclamations, because the whole nation has ratified it. Is it then to be inferred that, in accepting the title I fell into the error imputed lo the Prince, who, returned from exile, declared null and void all that had been done in his absence. Far from me be such a wild mistake. Not only do I recognise the governments which have preceded me, but I inherit in some manner all that they have accomplished of good and o r evil; for governments which succeed one to another, are, notwithstanding different origin, liable for their predecessors ; but the more completely that I accept all that for fifty years history transmits to us, with her inflexible authority, the less is it permitted me to pass in silence over the glorious reign of the head of my family and the regular, though ephemeral title of his son, whom the two Chambers proclaimed in the last burst of vanquished patriotism. Thus, then, the title of Napoleon the Third is not one of the dynastic superanuated pretensions which seem to be an insult to goi d sense and to truth; it is the homage rendered to a government which was legitimate, and to which we own the brightest pages of our modern history. My reign does not dnte from 1815, it dates from this verv moment when you have announced the suffrages of the nation. Receive, then, my thanks, gentlemen of the Chamber of Deputies, for the eclat you have given to the manifestation of the national will, by rendering it more imposing by your declaration. I thank you, also, gentlemen of the State, for having been the first to address congratulations to me, as you were the first to give expression to popular wish. Aid me all of you, and set firm in the land—upset by too many revolutions —a stable government which shall have for its basis religion, probity, and love. For the suffering classes, receive here my oath that no sacrifice shall be wanting on ray part to ensure the prosperity of my country, and while I maintain peace, I will yield in nothing which may touch the honor or the dignity of France." The Moniteur contains a decree headed—"NAPOLEON, "By the Grace of God and the national will, Emperor of the French. To all present and to come greeting." Then follows a recital of the senalm conmlta, followed by a decree for its promulgation. The second article is as follows : "Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is Emperor of (he French under the name of Napoleon III." By a second decree the Minister of War, St. A maud, General Magnan and General Caslellanc are created Marshals of France, in consideration of the ability and courage displayed by them in defence of the country under the grave circumstances through which it had passed. The Courts of Appeal are to be called Courts Imperial, and law ollicers of the State are to take the title Imperial. The seal of (he Emperor is to be a crowned Imperial Eagle reposing on thunder (rcposant sur la foudrc). All official seals are to be after the same model. All offences committed by the press and publications arc pardoned, tines remitted, and imprisonments annulled. The warnings given to papers are withdrawn. National Guards under disciplinary penalties are relieved from them. The reserve of the Etat Major-General of the Army, surpressed 1848, is restored. A day's pay is allowed to non-commissioned officers, soldiers and sailors, in Ihe new copper coin, in celebration of Ihe promulgation of the Empire. The law courts, with the Bourse and public offices, are closed to-day. The Emperor would be proclaimed in all Departments, on Sunday, slh December. Politicians have found a subject of speculation in the circumstance that the Russian ambassdor, just returned from St. Petersburg, has brought an autograph letter from the Czar to Napoleon. It is now pretty certain that Jerome Bonaparte will be appointed Viceroy of Algie.ts. Gen. Bybinski, (he distinguished Polish General, has forwarded an address to iheEmpcror, saying that the Poles will range under his banner, should France renew her wars. Ceremonies of the Proclamation of the Empire.—Glowing descriptions are given of the grand pageant in Paris on the occasion cf the

proclamation of Ihe Empire, Dec. 2d. The Arch of Triumph was the grand feature of the whole. The wide circle in which the Arch stands, was lined with soldiers and National Guards, While in the centre of the Arch itself, were grouped a mass of generals in the old Imperial costume—green coals, white breeches, and hoots above the knee; and, with their aides de camp, made a brilliant group. By this time the whole of the Champs des Elyseesand IheNeuilly road, as far as the Bois de Boulogne, were lined on one side with soldiers, and on. the other with National Guards. In front of the Arch, down the Champs Elysees, the Lancers were ranged ready to lead the procession, as soon as the Emperor's arrival should be announced. Toward 1 o'clock the avant guard, composed of some squadrons of dragoons, were seen to ad vance at a rapid pace, their horses smoking, and without stopping they dashed right through the triumphal arch, raising their swords and shouting " Vive lEmperor Napoleon III." The effect was something magical. In a few minutes other squadrons came up more slowly, marching through, until the Emperor himself appeared surrounded by Ministers, Marshals, and a magnificently attired host. His Majesty wore the uniform of a general officer, was superbly mounted, and looked very well. It is needless to say that he was loudly cheered by the army, the National Guards, and the people. After an exchange of salutations with the Generals waiting, he proceeded onward, and as the cavalry poured through, the Cuirassiers in their steel coats, and the Carbineers in brass, the effect produced in the way of military spectacle was as fine as it was unique. As the artillery followed with a brisk pace over the pavement, and shaking with their heavy wheels and guns the granite roof and columns, the sound was like that of a stormy sea. The French certainly know how to do that kind of thing, but then they have the raw material in abundance ; while the city itself seems made expressly to do the work of grand opera-spectacle business. The Place de la Concorde and the gardens of the Tuilleries were crowded, and as the Emperor entered by the garden he was vehemently cheered. Having reviewed the troops drawn up in front of the Tuilleries, he entered his palace, where he was met by Ihe members of his family, and what their feeling must have been may be better imagined than described. Further we are not allowed lo penetrate. This evening the Emperor holds a reception, which will of course be brilliantly attended. The cily was illuminated in the evening, but the great fetes are put off till the coronation. The Imperial Crown was ordered some time since and is nearly ready. Lemonnier, the jeweller in the place Vendome, whose stall at the London Exhibition last year contained the Queen of Spain's jewels, is the artist. He is also preparing a casket of jewels for the future Empress. The royal forests of Crecy and Armainvilliers, belonging lo the Due de Montpensier were lately sold to M. Emile Pereire, chairman of the Bordeaux and Celle Railway. There were three competitors: Baron James de Rothschild, Baron de Sellieres, Ihe banker, and M. Pereire. It is understood that the estate of Chantilly has been sold at private sale to M. Mallet, banker, Paris, on behalf of Coutts and Co., of London, who are rumoured to have made an arrangement with (hp.Duc d'Aumale, that he may reclaim the__ estate within ten years, on payment of the puri chase price. Louis Napoleon is said to hav| T been keenly disappointed at this transaction! having intended himself io become the purchaF ser. Belgium. The warlike preparations making in Englanc and Prussia, taken in connection with the proclamation of the Empire in France, have causea much agitation al Brussells. The Belgian Chamber, in their silting of the 29tli November, discussed and voted the act relative lo the reduction of the five per cent debts of 1840, '42 and '4B into four and[ a half-a-per cents. Sixteen members voted for the reduction and two against.