[From the Sydney Morning Herald, July 15]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 315, 5 August 1848, Page 2

[From the Sydney Morning Herald, July 15]

It was reported to the Captain of the Mahomed Shah, by the French brig spoken by him off Madeira, that not only had war been declared, but had actually commenced, an action having taken place in the Channel between two English and two Russian frigates, in which one of the latter was taken, and the other sunk. We must confess that this statement appears to be rather doubtful, as the date of the intelligence obtained by the French brig could net have been later than the 6th April, only nine days after the Mahomed Shah sailed. Great distress existed among a number of English workmen who had been driven out of France. A subscription was being raised in their behalf, which was headed by the Queen with £200. The following are the deaths reported — John Qnincy Adams, the eminent American Republican, died suddenly on the 23rd February, and his funeral received every honour from his countrymen. Vice Admiral Warren, the Hon. and Rev. T. Dundas, Admiral Honeyman, Admiral Matson, hi his 77th year, Mr. Currey, chief clerk to the House of Lords; at Cardiff Castle, the Marquisof Bute, aged 55 ; the Dowager Vicountess Doune, aged 74; Mr. Clive, late M.P. for Ludlow; Lieut.-Colonel Barnwell Brighton ; MajorGeneral Thornbury, Woodridge ; and Prince Alexander of the Netherlands.