LATE ENGLISH NEWS. [From the Sydney Herald.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 37, 21 June 1845, Page 3

LATE ENGLISH NEWS. [From the Sydney Herald.]

The brig Amelia, the first of January Post office packet, from London, arrived on Sunday afternoon last, bringing the heaviest mail which has ever been conveyed to this colony; its weight being estimated at about one and a half ton. This vessel, after she had sailed, was compelled to put back to Falmouth, from which port she did not sail till the 31st January; consequently we have news to within a few days of the end of that month.

Her Majesty the Queen and her royal Consort and family were well. The Queen and Prince Albert had paid strictly private visits to the Duke of. Wellington, at Strathfieldsaye ; and to the Buke til Buckingham at St'owe. There seems to* hwe been' no foundation for the mysterious rumours' respecting the Royal pair which were~afloat. It is believed that Queen Victoria' ahd ; the Prince will visit Paris^ in the enstaihg spring. Preparations are said to be making for the re- ' ceplion of these illustrious visitors at Fontaihbleau and Versailles. The winter continued very severe ; and so in-" tense was the cold in London, that the' supply of coals was not equal to the demand, and had consequently risen to 435. per ton. The number of colliers usually employed in this trade had been considerably reduced, by their having been taken up for the Guano trade. - The Royal Exchange was thrown open to the public on New Year's Day.

Fortification of London. — Tt will perhaps startle some of our readers to learn that his Grace the Duke of Wellington has been much occupied lately in the development of an ingenious plan for the fortification of London. His Grace is said to be persuaded that, on the death of Louis Phillippe, there is much reason to apprehend that there will be a war with a neighbouring- kingdom, whose belligerent tendencies have been lately expressed in no measured terms : and he wishes London to have the same security as Paris — viz., the security against being taken by a coup de main. We have this on unexceptional authority.

The Ministry. — There is no talk of any change. The Whigs seem quite shut out of the public minds, as regards returning to office. Sir Robert Peel has shewn so much inclination for free trade, that that section of the people, who care for no party, being themselves an immense third party, quite equal in the present day to either of the other two of Whig and Tory, are quite satisfied with him. Indeed, we do not think, in the present state of Irish affairs, that the people would trust any Ministry of which the Duke of Wellington, and such like meny were not members. Your Melboarnes and Russels are not of a calibre sufficiently commanding to constitute the Government of the country, in the present crisis". We think the Radicals, generally, are also pretty'much of this opinion. In the present crisis, the Country is like a sick- man, who wilt send for the best physician, although he dislike him individually. In the London Gazette, of the 10th January, the following notice appears : " The Queen has btfen pleased to appoint Major Matthew Richmond to be Superintendent of the Southern Division of the Colony of New Zealand." ** There had been dense fogs in Scotland, described as " quite suffocating."

Elevation of Sir Charles Metcalfe to the Peerage. — We have authority to state that the Queen has been graciously pleased to confer a peerage on Sir Charles Metcalfe, by the title of Baron Metcalfe, of Fern Hill.

France. — The Guizot ministry appear to be at a great discount, and it is not at all improbable they may be compelled to resign. The refusal of M. de Salvandy to take office has thrown the ministry into confusion. Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand, and from Australia, were received at the Colonial office on the 12th January. Mr. Somes, the ship owner, a Conservative, has been returned for Dartmouth, beating Mr. Moffat, a Radical.