LATEST ENGLISH ITEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 22, 24 June 1871, Page 8

LATEST ENGLISH ITEMS.

(dates to may 11.) The Pope gave a grateful acknowledgement to the English Catholics for heir sympathy and succour. The Emperor Napoleon is confined indoors by indisposition. The funeral of the Princess of Wales’ child took place at Sandringham on the 11th. The Court was in mourning for 10 days. The English press has denounced the Communists, who, however, are praised by Mr Auberon Herbert, M.P., in a republican speech at Nottingham, in which lie declared for a commonwealth, as conducting to higher national life. The Oxford crew gained the choice of sides in the boat race, hut the Cambridge men took the lead, and kept it. Oxford had greater strength, but the Cambridge men were better trained, shewed superior staying powers. Both were much exhausted. The lawless Southern whites in America are organising secret societies. Their murders and plunderings are causing great uneasiness. A new Fenian confederacy is forming in America. The pardoned Fenians are its leading spirits. The ecclesiastical struggle impending between Professor Dollinger and the Pope causes great excitement. Doctor Dol[inger is excommunicated. The Versailles army 150,000 strong is gradually occupying the northern suburbs of the city. The Germans remain at St Denis. The attempt at conciliation failed. Paris is closely invested. All supplies of provisions are intercepted. An eight hours’ armistice was granted for the starving inhabitants of Neuilly to escape from their ruined homes and the cellars in which they had taken refuge. Fighting has been resumed. There is a violent agitation against Mr Bruce’s licensing measure. The Women Suffrage Bill was defeated in the House of Commons by 63 votes. The Admiralty has approved of the supply of Australian preserved meat to the Navy. Dr Livingston’s safety is confirmed.

The Archbishop of Paris has been released through the intervention of Bismarck.

The London International Exhibition was opened on the Ist of May by the Prince of Wales.

On the 24th large crowds of workmen assembled before the Houses of Parliament petitioning against the tax on matches. Disorder ensued, and the crowd was dispersed by the police. On the 26th Mr Lowe withdrew the tax on lucifers.

A large breach of 1100 ft wide opened in the enbankment of the Mississippi, 45 miles above New Orleans, caused by a rise in the river, The loss occasioned by the inundation amounts to millions, The city is not endangered. The river is now falling. A league has been formed for supporting the liberties of Paris, and making a last effort at conciliation. If Theirs will accept the condition of autonomy in Paris, the league is to force the Commune to accept the terms.

Bismarck declared before the Reichstag on the 24th that the Paris forts were only to be surrended after the final conclusion of peace, even if the first instalment of the indemnity were previously paid. On the 10th the treaty of peace between France and Germany was signed at Frankfort.

Great discouragement exists among the insurgent guards in Paris. General Rosselle complained bitterly to the Commune of want of support, and tendered his resignation. There was a violent cannonading to the west of Paris on the 30th. The Versaillists advanced to the neighborhood of Issy. A panic seized the garrison, and the fort was nearly destroyed. The garrison have since abandoned it. General Cluseret sent fresh troops to the scene. On the Ist May Cluseret was dismissed and arrested ; next day he was released. Rosselle is provisionally appointed his successor. _ New fortifications are being erected inside Paris.

The bombardment of Forts Yanvres and Issy is continuing. A Masonic delegation from Paris proposed arrangements based on the recognition of the municipal franchise. Thiers replied that such an understanding was impossible, and he would adhere to the municipal law. Bismarck informed the Commune on the 28th, that the Germans would intervene if the Archbishop of Paris fell a victim to the mob.

The Freemasons have stated their adherence to the Commune, and were posting banners on the ramparts. On the 29th Cluseret proposed to release the Archbishop and the cures. A discussion arose in the Reichstag, on the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine. Bismarck dwelt on the necessity of preventing fresh attacks from France, and said that they would endeavor to gain the syampathies of the inhabitants.

The Commune has ordered the seizure of goods and furniture belonging to Thiers, and the demolition of his house.