LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 762, 3 August 1853, Page 3

LATE ENGLISH NEWS.

The Revenue.—The abstract of the net revenue for the quarter and year present exactly the same characteristics that it has done for a considerable time past. If there is not in every case an increase, there is upon the whole an increase of £44,000 on the quarter, and of £920,000 on the year. On the Customs there is a decrease of £314,000 on the year, and nearly a proportionate amount on the quarter, is possibly a matter of account as well of increase in business. The considerable increase of the Income-tax may result from better collection, or more probably from better income during the year. But when we look back to the decided increase that these tables have presented for a considerable period, we must regard the very steadiness of the amount as an index of the national prosperity. That impression is strengthened by the evidences of the trading markets ; and, as it will be observed from our news columns, the repeated and continual yielding of the masters to the demands for higher wages on the part of the men throughout every branch of trade, indicates progressive extension of business, as well as the higher value of labour; otherwise the masters would stand out more than they do.

Civil Estimates.—The estimates for Civil Service for the year 1853 have been printed. They show an intention on the part of Government to ask Parliament for a much larger sum for purposes of education and art than has yet been granted. The proposed vote for public education in Great Britain is £200,000, being an increase of no less than £IOO 000 over the grant of last year. For public education in Ireland, the proposed grant is £182,000. A number f smaller votes swell the total demand for educational purposes to the very handsome sum of £508,423. This, of course, is in addition to the proposed expenditure on the part of municipal boroughs.

The Copper Coinage and a Decimal Coinage. —lt is understood that on Tuesday last the Government entered into a contract with Messrs. lleaton and Son, of Birmingham, for the manufacture of 500 tons of copper coin, at prices applicable to pence, halt-pence, farthings, halffarthings, and quarter-farthings. This course has been resorted to in consequence of the impossibility of the Mint, under the pressing demand for gold and silver coin, to ilevote an}' part of its establishment to copper coinage, and the inconvenit.nee arising from a deficient supply of copper being too great to a Imit of any further delay. It is, however, necessary to say that we are informed on good authority that the means taken to obtain this supply have no reference whatever either to the rejection or adoption of a decimal coinage. Whatever is done in relation to that subject, which we understand is receiving a careful consideration at the hands of the Government, the present supply of copper coin—a large portion of which is required lor the different colonics and for Ireland —could not under any circumstances, have been postponed. Nor will the existing copper coins interfere materially with the adoption of the decimal coinage, should it ever be determined to resort to it. In that case we may consider it certain that the pound will be the" unit of the system, and that a farthing would be the thousandth part of a pound ; at present it is the 900 th part of a pound. The The lowest coin therefore in a decimal coinage would be but 4 per cent, less in value than the present farthing; and as the margin between the intrinsic value and the nominal value of our copper coins is very great, the difference of 4 per cent, would be unimportant, so that probably, with little difficulty, the change might be made with our present copper coinage without any alteration. At all events, we are assured that the present coinage of this copper must not be considered as an indication that the Government has come to any decision in respect to the adoption of a decimal coinage.— -Econojnist.

Law Reform. —The Solicitor-General has surprised the p.iblic and the Parliament by announcing a ministerial measure as unexpected as it is important—thoroughly to clear out the Augean stable of the Ecclesiastical Courts by a new arrangement of their business in the matter of wills and registrations. The Prerogative Court of York will be abolished, and all business for matters of registration will be united under one centre. The actual registrars will be retained, as experienced persons able to carry out the transfer of the business; which will be placed under the Court of Chancery, with local assistance from the County Courts. The titular registrarships and all sinecure.-; wtll be abolished, with " the peculiars," that are annually suspended, and have long been " very dead indeed." In short, the plan will get rid of the wrecks of an old mediaeval jurisdiction, known to the public only through the ludicrous details of its abuses and its frauds ; and wil transfer the business to new or improved tribunals, which will be strengthened and further improved by this reform. The plan is a valuable contribution towards a process which is consolidating and simplifying the administration of the law.— Spectator, April ( J. Whitehall, April C—The Qi een has been pleased to order a writ to be issued under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for summoning the Right lion. George Stevens Byng (commonly called Viscount EnfieTd) to the House of Peers, by the style and title of Baron Straflord, of llarmondsworth, in the county of Middlesex. Letters patent under the Groat Seal of the United Kingdom, bearing date the 29th day of March, had been issued by the Queen, ordaining that the borough of Manchester, in the county af Lancaster, shall be a city, and shall be called and styled "The city of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster." , The chairmanship of committees will, we understand, be shortly vacated by the resignation of Mr. Wilson Patten, that hon. gentleman not finding his health adequate to the discharge of the arduous duties of the office. We have reason to believe that the Hon. E. P. Bouverie will he proposed as Mr. Wilson Pattern's! successor, and we have little doubt that the House will evince its appreciaiion of Mr. Bouverie's business capabilities by selecting him to fill the post. Globe. The Daily News says :—"The customs authorities have declined to permit gold dust, on arrival, to be taken out of the vessel and deposited in the Queen's warehouse until the owners can be apprised of its arrival, and cause it to be removed, being unwilling, even for a time, to become officially responsible for the safe custody of property of such value. According to present rules, on the

production of requisite authority, an oi'der is issued by the proper officer for the specie to be landed from the vessel, and conveyed at once to the bank immediately on-the report of the vessel's ai rival."

Christ's Hospital.—The election of a successor to the Rev.Dr. Rice, as Head Master of Christ's Hospital, took place on Tuesday. On the present occasion the old rule of confining the choice to persons educated on the foundation, was set aside for the first time. At a preliminary meeting of the Court of Almoners, under the presidency of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the names of three gentleman were selected, among them Mr. Harper, head master of the King's school, Sherborne, who afterwards withdrew from the contest. The Court of Governors, as the superior power, met on Tuesday for the purpose of selecting one ef the two remaining candidates, namely, the Rev. Andrew George .Jacob, D. D., and the Rev. Henry Newport, M. A., head master of Exeter school, the latter being a " blue." The ballot closed at three o'clock, when the numbers were announced as follows: —Rev. Dr. Jacob, 140 ,• Rev. H. Newport, 80. The salary attached to the office is 800/. per annum, with a residence. Indisposition op Mas. 11. B. Stowk.—The following letter was received in Glasgow on Monday by the agent for the Glasgow, New Yorli steamer : " Andover, March 21.

• 1; My dear Sir—l am very sorry to be obliged to inform you that Mrs. Stowe is very sick, and unable to leave her bed. She has been confined for more than a week, under very severe treatment, attended by two able physicians, who both prohibit any expectation of her being able to leave her room, without extreme peril, for a week or ten days to come. 41 In these circumstances, we are reluctantly obliged to forego the privilege of taking passage in your vessel on the 26th. " With heartfelt thanks to you, and to the company you represent, for your very generous offer, I am, sincerely, yours, " C B. Stowe.

" J. M'Symon, Esq." It is more than probable that Mrs. Stowe will not visit England this season, as it is understood that the object of her husband's accepting the invitation was to attend the approaching May meetings. The trade and navigation returns for the month ending March 5 have been published. In the declared value Of British and Irish produce and manufactures exported, there is an increase, as compared with the corresponding month of 1852, of no less than £919,000; while the increase in the first two months of the present year amounts to £2,329,157. In imports there is an increase as compared with the same time last year, in coffee, wheat, flour, potatoes, flax, clover seed, palm-oil, pepper, brand)', foreign timber, tobacco, wine, wool, cotton, and hides. There is a decrease in-flax-seed, raw silk, rum, sugar, tallow, and tea. In the latter articles the falling off is something over ten per cent. The navigation returns for the two months show a considerable increase. Colliery Explosion at Wigan.—The total ascertained number of deaths resulting from this fatality now amounts to fifty, nine bodies having been recovered since Saturday, and one of the men recovered alive from the mine, named Robert Ainscough, having died on that morning. He appeared to be suffering from asphyxia. An inquest was held on his body on Monday, before Mr. Grimshaw, the borough coroner, and adjourned till Monday next, to await the result of the inquiry before Mr. Driffield From a careful examination of the appearance of the Arley Mine, Mr. Darlington, the Incehall Company's manager, has come to the conclusion that the explosion did not originate near the furnace, as was'at first supposed, but at a point about 300 yards distant from it, in the north workings. This leads to the opinion that the catastrophe must have been the result of neglect on the part of some of the colliers in leaving open one of the air-doors, so as to change the course of the ventilation, and allow the gas to accumulate ; otherwise it is believed that the immense ventilating power in the mine would have been sufficient to prevent such a disaster originating in that part of the mine. The gas was probably ignited By its being r ipidly drawn over the lamps, or by some reckless person having contrived to force open his safe-ty-lamp in order to obtain a better light The funerals of twenty-one of the deceased took place on Sunday. The Yeomanry.—Recent events have given a great stir to the English Yeomanry. The East Suffolk Militia is to be formed into an Artillery Corps. The object is, of course, the protection of the eastern coast. The West Suffolk Militia to he raised to 1000 strong. The new quota for the West Riding of Yorkshire Militia amounted to 0240 men, and is to be formed into six Regiments, of 1040 men each.—Dublin Telegraph. The authorities of the University of Oxford have appointed the Bth of June for the installation of the Earl of Derby, who was some time since elected Chancellor, in the room of the late Duke of Wellington. We understand that it is certain that Government will this year attempt the collection of the agricultural statistics of one or more districts of considerable extent in England and Scotland respectively. The Earl of Carlisle and Lord Panmuro attended a meeting at Edinburgh on the 4th of April, for the purpose of establishing an Industrial Farm in connection with the Ragged Schools of that citv. The freedom of the city wa's presented to the Earl of Carlisle on the same day, by the Town Council. 1 In a letter written a few days since by the Right lion. T. B. Macaulay, he says—"The state of my health is such that I shall probably be under the necessity of passing the next winter in a milder climate."

The Queen's Nurse. —Among the passengers going south by the Defiance coach this morning was Mrs. Mackintosh, of whom we lately mentioned that it was expected she would be selected as wet nurse with reference to the approaching confinement of Her Majesty. She has been appointed to this responsible duty, and is now on her way south. Mrs. Mackintosh is a native of Strathnairn, near Inverness, and is a tall, blackeyed, and handsome specimen of a Highland woman. She is accompanied by her sister and her baby. They all appeared in the most perfect and robust health. We believe Mrs. Mackintosh speaks English very indifferently, and relies a good deal upon her sister to act as interpreter. — Inverness Courier.

Mr. Feargits O'Connor.—The state of mind of Mr. Feargus O'Connor, confined in the asylum of Dr. Tukc, was growing worse, and bis friends were loosing all hope of his restoration. The Sheffield Independent says, Mr. Ernest Jones, who had lately visited him in the asylum, "describes the failure of Mr. O'Connor's intellect as a terrible change. He was requested by Dr. Tuke to speak to Mr. O'Connor on the old subjects Miat had been accustomed to create in him the strongest excitement, such as the Chartist movement, the Land Company, the Northern Star, &c. He found Mr. O'Connor perfectly harmless, and playing with a little child of Dr. Tuke's. He immediately recognised Mr. Jones, and showed great pleasure at seeing him. In person be is stouter, but a gradual paralyis_ is stealing over the frame, showing itself in disinclination to exertion ; and the dim and clouded eye indicates the decay of intellect. Mr. O'Connor's account of his habits is that he rises at nine and goes to bed at ten—that he is treated as one of the family, and spends his time at billiards, in playing "with the children, arranging books, &c. He told Mr. Jones that he knew he was in a lunatic asylum ; hut he was under no restraint, and all the people were mad there but himself. He could go away if he chose, and did not know why he did not. References being made to the Chartists, he asked 'How are you going on 5' and sung his old stave of ' The Lion of Freedom,'' asking with exultation, 'Do you know how I thrashed the blue lambs in Nottingham market-place!' He knew that the Northern Star was dead, and ejaculated—' How I was robbed !' He spoke with great indignation of the allottees in his land scheme, and others whom he thought he had befriended, but who had become his bitterest enemies; and he expressed great apprehension of seeing his sister, or being given up to her care by the Court of

Chancery. Such is the present condition of the man who a few years ago had a marvellous power over the masses of the population, whose prejudices bo fostered and flattered, and whom he beguiled from the path, of rational improve* I ment to spend money and energy without stint I upon wild dreams. The history Of the Chartist : agitation, under the guidance of O'Connor, is one i of the most humiliating passages in ourmational ! annals." The Conduct of Rajah Brook. —A commission is—it is stated—about to issue, under direction of the Foreign-office, to inquire into the conduct of j Rajah Brook, especially in reference to the charges against him so often urged on the attention of Parliamen and the public by Mr. Hume. The i investigation will, it is understood, take place at Singapore, where witnesses are to be examined. The Rajah sailed for India by the mail-steamer Bengal, on Monday last. "Strikes" for Higher Wages. The Spectator of April 9, states, —" The movement for an advance of wages continues spread. La-ge numbers of people employed in the woollenmanufacture at Batley, Dewsbury, and adjacent places, struck for an increase. Some of the masters who had orders on hand at once acceded to the demand; but others have stood out; trade is brisk, and it is believed the men will get the small addition to their wages which they have asked. The Barnstable carpenters ask for an advance of threepence a day. At Manchester the porters of the Lancashire and Yorkshire and East Lancashire Railway Companies have asked for an increase of 15 per cent; the managers offered 10 per cent; the men were not satisfied with this, unless an hour a day were struck off from their labour; but they have shown a disposition to yield that point. The Sunderland shipwrights say they mu: t have ss. a day in future—an advance of 6d. over the recent rise from 4s. to 4s. 6d. Some masters have acceded; no doubt all will follow. The waggonwrights of the York Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, at South Shields, "struck" on Saturday, after three weeks notice. They asked for an advance of sixpence a day. Some months since the shipwrights at Portsmouth Dockyard petitioned the Lords of the Admiralty for an increase of pay, in accordance with the increased value of labour and the augmented price of provisions. They alleged that in some private yards wrights were paid double what the Portsmouth men received. The Lords have just announced to the workmen that they "cannot entertain their request." The shipwrights of Bristol, and the men employed at several large factories, have struck. In some cases their demands have been agreed to. The workmen talk of forming a "union." The seamen of Ipswich employed in navigating coal-ships have turned out on the subject of wages. Seamen sailing out of the Tyne, Wear, and adjacent ports, to Lond >n, are now earning £4 10s. per voyage; and in the British American and Baltic trades £3 10s. per month, and small stores. Never since the war time has such a uniformly high rate of wages been enjoyed by the seamen. Higher wages than these were earned at certain periods of the war, but seamen then were always placed in jeopardy of the pressing. The demand fcr improved wages exists in Scotland as well as in England and Ireland. The quarriers of Iluntershill, and Kenmure struck ; their employers subsequently gave them the pay they demanded, and liberty to seek work in any quarry, with respect to which there had formerly been a restriction. The Ayr shoemakers are "on strik?," so far as their Ayr employers are concerned ; but are working for the agents, of Glasgow houses, at wages lower than they have been in the habit of*receiving from Ayr masters; this, however, enables them to hold out against the latter, who had offered some advance.

TURKEY. A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople states that Prince Menschikoff had made the following demands ou behalf of the Russian Government :—lst. Respecting the holy places, he requires the repeal of the concessions in favour of the Roman Catholics made to M. Lavalette; but he consented to modify his pretensions in such a manner that nothing should be decided without the assent of Russia. 2nd. The conclusion of an offensive and defensive treaty, according to Russia the right to enter the Dardanelles for the defence of her ally. 3rd. The abandonment of certain tracts of territory in Georgia. 4th. The Suzerainty of Montenegro, whose independence would be recognised by the Porte. sth. The independence of the Oriental Christians in all matters relating to their creed. 6th. The eventual military occupation of the Danubian provinces for the purpose of repressing the revolutionary spirit. An amicable arrangement of the difficulties was still hoped for, although Russia continued her warlike preparations at Odessa and Sebastopol. No decision was anticipated before the arrival of the English and French ambassadors.

We have accounts from Constantinople to the 31st of March. The negoeiationa between the Divan and Prince Menschikoff are progressing satisfactorily. It was asserted that a basis had been agreed upon between France and Russia on the subject of the Holy Places. The correspondent of the Journal des Debates states that Prince Menschikoff has requested that none of the notes which he has handed in shall be communicated to tlie-representatives of France sand England. This request lias been complied with. No reply has as yet been made by the Porte to the other demands of the Prince respecting the independence of Montenegro, the destitution of the Greek patriarchs, and the hardships which the Greek Christians have to endure. Porte endeavours to gain time, and hopes for the support of the ambassadors of France and England, whose arrival it awaits with the utmost outward tranquility. The sultana mother is seriously indisposed.