ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 129, 24 October 1846, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Sydney Morning Herald, Oct. 9.] By the Trafalgar we have papers to the 2nd June. The Queen was recovering from her confinement with her usual celerity. No bulletins were issued after the sixth day. The Corn Law Bill may now be considered safe ; after a debate of three days in ihe House of Lords, the second reading was carried by a MAJORITY OF FQRTT-SEVEN. The following is the result of the division :—: — FOR THE SECOND READING. Present; 138 Proxies 73 AGAINST THE SECOND READING. Present .... 126 Proxies 38 Majority Forty-seven. Majority of votes present in favour of the Bill, twelve Majority of proxies in favour of the Bill, thirtyfive. That the second reading would be carried was always considered certain from the number of proxies held by the Government, but it was feared that in Committee, where proxies are not allowed, the Bill wonld be so altered as to render its rejection by the Lower House a matter of course. -But the majority of members actually in the House being in favour of it renders it impossible that any manoeuvre of this kind can now be practised, especially as a number of peers known to be favourable to the Bill, who were on the continent, were on their way to London to attend the committee. So determined were the ministers not to allow any. chance of defeat to remain, that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Ambassador to France had been specially summoned. The Bill was therefore quite safe, and the grand experiment of free trade in' corn is now in full operation. War between the United States and Mexico had actually commenced. A bcdy of United States troops amounting to two thousand were stationed on the back of the Rio Grande, when a strong force of Mexicans contrived to get between them and the only port whence they could obtain supplies. The Americans were in an entrenched camp ; but as they had only thirty days' provisions, it was feared they must surrender to them. The United States Congress had voted ten millions dollars to carry on the war, and had authorised the levy of fifty thousand volunteers. , The news of the war had not caused much excitement in Europe. Parliament was adjourned for the Whitsuntide recess from the 29th May to the sth June.

[From the Autlralian, Oct. 6.] By the arrival' of the Pandora on sth Oct. from London~2Bth May", we Bare morning and evening papers (Times and Globe) to the 27th inclusive, the latest-papers received.- • The Queen has -presented the country with another Princess. The birth took place on the aiternoon of Monday $he 25th May, at five minutes before three. A thanksgiving to be used in all the churches and chapels, has been composed by the Archbishop oi Canterbury, Prince Albert laid the foundation stone of the " Sailor's Home," in Dock-street, London, on the 1 1 th May. Great preparations are making at Liverpool to Teeeive Prince Albert, on the occasion of his laying the foundation-stone there " of the Sailors 9 Home." He is expected the first week in August. . Dublin, May 23. — A report is current at j th,e Bar, that Sir Edward Sugden would shortly retire from the office of Chancellor, and leave Ireland. A new distribution of silk gowns is

spoken of in the Hall, Mr. Smyly, of the north-west circuit, and Messrs. Rolleston, Wall, and Christian, of the Leinster circuit, are the persons, for whom the honor is said to be intended. Lieutenant Waghorn's pamphlet, we perceive by the Times of the 27th May, had been published to the world. Town tallow was quoted on the 23d May £44 per cwt., and Russian yellow candle at the same figure. Sperm cil was quoted at £77 : 10s. to £79 :10s. per tun, and South Sea Whale at £23 to £25. A Bishop's See is to be created in China. The Society for promoting Christian knowledge has subscribed £2,000 towards this appointment. This Society issued last year 200,000 Bibles and Testaments, 285,000 Prayer Books, and 4| millions of Tracts. Escape of Louis Napoleon from Ham. —The Times publishes the fallowing telegraphic despatch in a second edition: —" Boulogne, Wednesday morning. —Prince Louis Napoleon escaped from Ham on Monday morning."

Only 4| millions have as yet been paid up. Sugar is expected to rise in London, owing to Sir R. Peel's half measure as to this all-out-necessary of life. The supply is expected to iall off every month to the end of the year, which is exciting much attention in the British sugar markets. Mr. Hume on the 12th May, gave notice of a motion to remit the duty on colonial sugar imported lor the purpose of distillation. Emigrants from Germany and Prussia proceed in great numbers via London to the United States. Every New York packet ship, this present year (1846), has taken between two and three hundred. The regular "liners" leave the St. Katherine Docks every month ; the last three of them carried out 800 emigrants, principally from Prussia. Times.

Rumoured Visit of the Queen to Paris. — GalignanVs Messenger puts an end to all doubts on a subject respecting which there have been so many contradictory statements. It states, "from unquestionable authority," that Queen Victoria will not visit Paris this summer. A Paris correspondent of the Globe says — " I ascertained yesterday, at the Palace, that the statement in Galignani's Messenger respecting the Queen of England was perfectly correct. Louis Phillipe himself announced on Thursday, to several of the household, that the Queen would not come to Paris this year. The cause assigned is the intended visit to Ireland. Her Majesty would not be able, it is said, to pay both visits, and it would justly create dissatisfaction to her Irish subjects to neglect them for a visit to France. The Presse of this day states, that this communication was only made to the King of the French within the last few days — This, however is only partly correct. A month ago the King was informed of the doubt entertained by Queen Victoria as to the probability of her visiting France ; but as there was still a possibility of such an eveht, none of the preparations for her reception were countermanded. But it is understood that it was only in the early part of the present week that all hope of her presence was abandoned.

The Cost of Soldiers anj> Seamen. — The daily pay of a foot soldier is Is., with a penny for beer ; the daily pay of a life-guards-man is Is. \\\d., and the annual cost is 74/. 4*. 1 Id. per man, besides horse and allowances, or 1/. Bs. 6d. per week ; dragoons, 56/. lls. sd. per annum, or 1/. Is. 9d. per week; foot guards, 34/. 16*., or I*s. 6d. per week ; infantry, 31/. per annum, or 11s. lOd. per week. A regiment of horse soldiers, of about 360, officers and men, cost 25,000/. per annum. The wages of seamen in the royal navy are 2/. 12s. per month, or 13*. per week; and 1/. 12. or Bs. per week more, are allowed for provisions.

Sub-Marine Telegraphic Communication BETWEEN FrANGE AND ENGLAND. — The British Government, by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and the French Government, by the Minister of the Interior, have granted permission to two gentlemen, the projectors of the sub-marine telegraph, to lay it down From coast to coast. The site selected is from Cape Grosnez, or from Cape Blancnez, on the French side, to the South Foreland on the English coast. The v soundings hetweea these, headlands are gradual, varying from seven fathoms near the

shore on either side, to a maximum of thirtyseven fathoms in mid-channel. The Lords of the Admiralty hive also granted permission to the same gentlemen to lay down a sub-ma-rine telegraph between Dublin and Holyhead, which is to be carried on from the latter place to Liverpool and London. The sub-marine telegraph across the English channel, will be the one first laid down ; the materials for this are already undergoingthe process of insulation, and are in that state of forwardness which will enable the projectors to have them completed and placed in position, so ti at a telegraphic communication can be transmitted across the Channel about the first week in June. When this is completed, an electric telegraph will be established from the coast to Paris, and thence to Marseilles. This telegraph throughout France will be immediately under the direction of the French Government, as according to the law of 1 837, all telegraphic communications through that country are under the absolute control and superintendence of the Minister of the Interior. Upon the completion of the sub-marine telegraph across the English Channel, it is stated that a similar one, on a most gigantic scale, will be attempted to be formed, under the immediate sanction and patronage of the Fiench Administration. This is no less than that of connecting the shores of Africa with those of Europe by the same instrumentality, thus opening a direct and lightning-like communication between Marseilles and Algeria. — Observer.

Millions Miles Sterling Long. >riginal Great Western 9J 118 imalgamation with other railways 21 170 'roposed further amalgamations 8| 329 liher railways leased or rented by Great Western 61 295 ither railways proposed to be leased or rented 16h 686 43 1598

The " Great Western" has bought up other railways, till the amount of capital required, and the miles it will occupy are estimated, as follows :—: —